SUP
Since it all started with the early bands of surfers who made the trek down from SoCal and across the desert, it’s no surprise that Stand Up Paddling (SUP) has become hugely popular at Punta San Carlos (PSC). Because it is such an easy way to get into the waves, many of our guests arrive never having been on a SUP before yet leave completely stoked on a new sport. Most of the waves that are right in front of camp are perfect for longboarding – predictable, steady swells that favor the ability to trim the board and enjoy the glide – and we’ve found that SUPing is an awesome way to start the day before the wind kicks in. These days, most of our guests seem to include Stand Up Paddling to their daily activity to maximize their water time and work on improving their ability to read the sets and pick out the best swell. Whether it’s a post-coffee paddle to warm up the muscles and clear the head before the breezes blow, or a just a great way to play in the ocean with friends on a low-wind day, the empty waves right in front of camp offer ideal conditions for paddling.
Spots
PSC is set in a south-facing bay that sucks up every swell generated by storms in the southern Pacific. There’s a ton of terrain to cover, but most of the action is centered around the four main breaks that sit right in front of our Base Camp and extend down to the point. Check ’em out
If the Gods ever set out to design a spot just for novices, this is it! Located right in front of our camp and close into shore, it’s the textbook beginner break. From an easy launch with predictable swells and a channel to ease getting outside, it offers enough protection to keep from getting swept down current and facing the “walk of shame”.
Sitting just beyond the beach break and slightly upwind of camp, “the Bomby” delivers waves that are a bit bigger than the beachbreak. Since the Bomborra sits in that zone that is just on the edge of the open ocean and the protection of the bay it makes it a great “next step” in your progression
You’ve seen it in the videos and the magazines. You’ve dreamt about carving down its slow, hypnotically curling line. An insanely long point break wave for advanced wave riders. It has more juice than the Bomborra, it unfolds into the open flats of the Chili Bowl. If you’re looking to make more bottom- and top-turns than you can possibly count, the Point is ready and waiting.
Sitting just south of the Point, this is a bending reef break in an open bay. Since you get uninterrupted swell sweeping in from the ocean before smacking the reef, this wave is faster than the others and offers the options of going left or right down the line. Although it may take a couple of long tacks to get back upwind to Camp, the vast, open vistas of the Chili Bowl deliver a solitary wavesailing experience that you’ll never forget.
Info
Personal Equipment
We’ve got all the SUP gear you need, so the only thing you need to bring is your own wetsuit. Since air and water temperatures (and personal tolerances) vary throughout the year, we recommend bringing a spare suit just in case. Spring into early summer generally calls for 4/3 or 3/2 fullsuits; summer can be 3/2 full or comp suits to shortys. While we even get a few days that are trunk worthy, it’s always better to be prepared rather than miss a session cause your shivering!
SUP Gear
We have a wide range of Stand Up Paddle boards, from big boards for beginners to smaller, more wave-oriented shapes for experienced paddlers – all in the most current styles. Our SUPs from RRD, Fone, and Quattro are all leashed, racked and ready to go! Each one is paired with carbon paddles from Black Project, Fone, and Chinnook in a variety of lengths so you’re sure to be able to grab one that’s the perfect fit