Dec. 21, 2011, Victoria, BC – Giving whiskey- and nature-loving paddlers something to look forward to, the team at Ocean River Adventures has just announced six new lessons and tours for 2012, ranging from kayaking Scotland’s Inner Hebrides to stand up paddleboarding the Gulf Islands.  

“This industry is one that moves quickly – we have to constantly think ahead, offering our clients new places to discover and sports to try,” said Brian Henry, founder and owner of Ocean River Adventures, a Victoria, BC-based company that specializes in on-the-water paddling and exploration excursions and lessons. “Our 2012 season is packed with awesome on-the-water adventures, including six new tours and lessons: join us for an eight-day tour of the beautiful Scottish Hebrides or learn how to SUP, stand up paddleboard – a new sport that’s slowly taking the world by storm.”

Photo Credit: Mariah Sievers Photography 

A water world dreamland of turquoise and deep rich royal blue. I wondered if it was the jet lag or a waking dream. I had just traveled half way around the world and leap backwards through the dateline but there was one thing I knew for sure: I just arrived at one of the last great paradise island chains on earth, the Maldives. I was here for an epic four day event at the Six Senses Resort on Laamu Atoll that my company Positive H2O collaborated with others to create. Taking one look around at the stunning setting I just knew it was going to be good!

With the opportunity to windsurf the world there is no greater stoke for me than finding the perfect peeling wave and epic sailing conditions in a beautiful location. But more and more my attention is drawn to the disturbing amount of petrochemicals and plastics polluting the ocean. A couple years ago I started asking myself: How can I help keep the ocean and shoreline clean? What can I do as a pro-windsurfer to influence others to focus on clean water issues and take action? These questions rattled around in my head and out of this an idea was born; to join other pro-watermen who also felt the desire to raise awareness for clean water issues. Levi Siver, Keith Teboul, Pascal Bronnimann and I formed +H2O, a company dedicated to promoting water awareness ranging from global access to clean water, local beach clean ups or connecting corporations with non-profits that focus on water conservation and sanitation.

SOUTH AFRICA, BIG BAY, BLOUBERGSTRAND 16 - 18 DECEMBER 

3 Days of non stop action. Surf slalom, wave riding and long distance racing at its best. 

This years Coreban Summer Series event saw the largest field of SUP entrants in Africa with over 100 entrants ranging from 7 year old Cameron Tripney in the kids division to Novice Men and Ladies divisions, the highly contested Junior division, Legends over 45 and Open Men and -Ladies divisions. After 3 perfect days of weather Justin Bing was crowned overall winner of South Africa's most prestigious SUP event.

Day 1 saw surf slalom racing as heats of 8 riders battled it out with the top 4 advancing to the next round. Tight, close up action, though the surf saw the best riders advancing to the final round.

Los Barriles, Baja Mexico (December 12, 2011) - The Lord of the Wind Showdown (LOWS) is back! Considered one of the top extreme water sport events of 2011, LOW will again seek out the world’s top talent in kiteboarding, windsurfing and SUP, January 12-16, 2012.

Unique to the 2012 event will be the filming of Sand Masters 20th episode for the Travel Channel, produced by Painless Entertainment.