STAND UP PADDLING with Mark Jackson
Les Millsrebels
Our regular Stand Up Paddling (SUP) contributor is the energetic Mark Jackson, North Shore native and owner of Stand Up South Pacific Ltd. After 25 years competing and teaching in Hawaii, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, Mark Jackson has brought Standup South Pacific to New Zealand. As a water sports instructor he has taught for many well known sports stars and celebrities. Some of his competitive results include: 1987 Wailea Speed Crossing 1st Place; 1988 Maui County Slalom Championships 1st Place; 2nd 3rd & 4th places in the Papa He’e Nalu Tandem Maui Surf; 2007 Maui Canoe & Kayak Club S.U.P. Division Champion; 2007 SUP Starbucks Maui to Molokai Challenge 1st Place.
Les Millsrebels
A rebellious yell of “More More More” from the Les Mills Rebels hasn’t fallen upon Idol ears!
Back by very popular demand is our Les Mills SUP Team Training Programme with Stand Up South Pacific Director Mark Jackson and Les Mills SUP Team Trainers Damon Overington and Scott Thompson.
Our Les Mills Rebels are, at present, a 30 plus team of guys and girls with “give it a go attitudes”, who’s first step on a Stand Up board both opened and blew their minds.
They are all back again for more and you’re invited to join us. You don’t need to be a Les Mills member. Book now while boards are available. Phone Mark on 0220 PADDLE, or Damon on 0211 672 585. It’s a two hour session at Takapuna Beach with all equipment provided for just $35.00. It’ll change your life so JUST DO IT! Another 30 plus VERY STRONG team of new SUP recruits are the French rugby players being hosted by Takapuna at The Spencer on Byron.
Recently the Takapuna Boating Club’s Manager, Aurelle Bonneau, invited the team to try “walking on water”.
Our gorgeous Waitemata provided the platform to launch about 2000 kilograms of paddling power – “palette du puissance” “puissants rameurs”. Their SUP Tour de Takapuna was tres triomphal and they all passed with flying tricolors... Cocorico!!
The French have produced not only champion Rugby players, but champion watermen as well. Pascal Maka is a French windsurfer, who broke the outright speed sailing record in 1986, and again in 1990 on our Jimmy Lewis Speed boards. Last year Pascal and his teenage daughter spent several months in Whangamata. They were astounded and delighted to find Jimmy Lewis SUP boards available for hire at Pete Murray’s SurfSup store and spent countless hours ripping up the waves on the Whanga Bar.
A special mention must go to Jean-Luc Arnaud (AKA: Arnaud Surfzenegger) and Emile Ntamack (AKA: Spartacuz), who are both outstanding watermen. Jean-Luc, is an incredible longboarder and Emile is an equally incredible Kite boarder and Windsurfer.
On behalf of the TBBA (Takapuna Beach Business Association), the TBC (Takapuna Boating Club) and Stand Up South Pacific Ltd, I would like to thank the French players and their staff for their wonderful attitude deenthousiaste, and for the “la joie de vivre” they have brought to Takapuna.
Aloha and Mahalo, Mark Jackson.
For more information contact Mark Jackson a call (0220 PADDLE = 0220 72 33 53) or get online: www.standupsouthpacific.co.nz
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