To celebrate the launch of our new store and monthly newsletter, we're stoked to offer all subscribers 20% off our Fitzroy Island tour for the month of April.

Our Fitzroy Island SUP & Snorkel tour departs Cairns daily at 07:30am and returns at 04:30pm. Once we arrive at the Island, we spend the morning learning to SUP, exploring the island by board, and snorkeling the great barrier reef - we may even snap you with a turtle too. Then you've got the afternoon free to relax at Nudie beach and nail a few cocktails at Foxy's Bar. The price includes island transfers, all necessary SUP equipment, instruction & guiding, and snacks during the tour. Booking is easy, just click on the book online tab above, and scroll down to the 'April Fool's Fitzroy Island deal'.

Or click on this link http://www.whatsupcairns.com.au/book-online

We're also clearing out boards this month to make way for new stock. We've got some foolish deals going on our range of hard, inflatable, race, and all-around SUP boards. Prices starting from just $899 for a board and paddle.

Here is a few of the deals we've got going...

SUP ATX 10'6 with adjustable paddle WAS $1199... NOW $899

BICSUP 9'2 Inflatable river board WAS $1199... NOW $999

NSP 14'0 Race board WAS $1950... NOW $1299

Starboard Atlas 12'0 WAS $1599...NOW $1445

Starboard Widepoint WAS$1780... NOW $1445

Ocean & Earth 10'4 Bamboo Cruiser with adjustable paddle WAS $1400... NOW $1250

We also have a fresh batch of Red PaddleCo 10'6 and 10'8 in stock from $1599!!

Come see the range in store!

With a turbulent and on-going wet season, we were dying to get back on the beautiful waters of the Barron River, up in Kuranda. The weather gods answered our call and we managed to score an absolutely beautiful morning to take the crew from Mates4Mates our for a paddle.

Mates4Mates is a not-for-profit organization who support current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members who are wounded, injured, or ill as a result of their service.

With 16 paddlers out on the water, our guides Hannah and Sonny were ready for all kinds of thrills and spills, but they were sorely disappointed! All beginner SUPers, the guys managed to master the art within 20 minutes. Standing up, turning, twerking (we're look at you Brucey!), they were looking good... until we threw a few balance challenges into the mix. A fine effort by all to try nail the 'pivot turn', and a hell of alot of entertainment. In the end it was Rolly who impressed us the most with his acrobatic manouveres, and took out the MAD-DOG award and prize. Congrats mate, see you on our Fitzroy Island tour soon!

A big shout-out to Brucey & all of the Mates4Mates crew who came out for a spin. We had a blast!

Looking for a fun activity for a big group? Give us a shout.

We've moved! But don't worry, we haven't gone far.

With our recent retail expansion into more outdoor activities, we needed more space to fit in all the goods. We've got a new name, a huge range, and a whole lotta fresh energy.

Our new store 'Active Precinct' is only a stone's throw from our previous location. You'll find us still in Oceana Walk arcade (in between Grafton & Lake street) at the Lake street end, straight across from the tattoo parlour and record shop.

We've dedicated half the shop to What'SUP Cairns, and the other half to our recent venture the Scooter Shack.

At What'SUP Cairns we're stocking a large range of SUP boards including hard boards, race boards, inflatable boards, and all-around boards. We've got a huge brand range to choose from - Ocean & Earth, BICSUP, Starboard, SUP ATX, Red Paddle Co, and NSP. We've also got plenty of SUP accessories in store.

The Scooter Shack is Cairns only dedicated scooter shop, and is your one stop shop for MADD Gear Pro, Apex, Envy, Crisp, Grit, District, Phoenix,Fasen, Root Industries, Tilt, UrbanArtt, Adrenalin, MFX, Drone......parts, accessories and custom build scooters.

You can shop in store, or on our new online store www.scootershack.com.au

We're stoked to be offering Afterpay as an interest-free payment plan for all of our products.

Infact, we're just stoked all around... Come and check out our new shop!

The ASI (Academy of Surfing Instructors), is the worlds leading professional training, education and accreditation organisation for surfing, body boarding and stand up paddle boarding. What'SUP Cairns is proud to work under the ASI banner with our instructors being trained by ASI professionals.

Our little jaunt down to the Gold Coast led us to Justin Mitchell of JM SUP Co., Burleigh Heads, ASI Trainer. Justin has extensive training experience across the globe over all disciplines of surf, SUP and racing. Not to mention his personal world championship achievements, including the Moloka'i World Championships. Needless to say he was a very interesting guy as well as being the best possible mentor!! A true professional with invaluable experience.

We are so pleased to bring this professional recognition to our SUP school. We provide lessons in enclosed flat water (level 1), as well as exposed open water (level 2). Whether you are a complete beginner looking to start out in safe calm waters, or you want to improve your technique and advance your skills, contact us for group and private lessons.

info@whatsupcairns.com.au

1300889957

If you are on the Gold Coast looking for SUP instruction, surfing, hire etc contact Justin.

http://www.jmsup.com.au/

What'SUP On Fitzroy....??!! Yeah Baby!!!

The opportunity to work alongside some truly amazing locals has arisen. The guys at Cairns Dive Centre have been running diving and water sports at and around Fitzroy Island and the Great Barrier Reef for decades. As well as raising awareness of the Great Barrier Reef, and providing first class diving instruction and tours, these guys have implemented a number of activities at Fitzroy Island, We are honoured to be a part of the development on Fitzroy, providing stand up paddle board tours, lessons and services.

We will be offering day trips from Cairns, including transfers, a SUP lesson and tour. In addition we will be conducting lessons and tours for guests of the resort and day trippers, as well as implementing some exciting plans for the future.

This is truly one of the gems of Far North Queensland, if not the world!!

Fitzroy Island is located twenty-nine kilometres south-east of Cairns, with transfers taking only 45 minutes by high speed ferry. One of the most unspoiled islands on the Great Barrier Reef, the majority of Fitzroy Island is National Island Park - this includes mangroves, open woodland, tropical pristine rainforest and coral beaches best experienced by the walking trails around the island.

Our day trip from Cairns includes:

- Hotel pick up

- Return transfers to the island

- 2-3 hour paddle board tour with full instruction

- Snorkelling

- Snacks

You have a full day to spend on the island after your paddle board tour where you can relax, swim, check out the walking trails or enjoy a beverage at the bar.

Ferry times: Depart Cairns 7.30am

Depart Fitzroy Island 3.30pm

Visit our website now for information and bookings:

www.whatsupcairns.com.au/fitzroy-island-adventure-sup

For information on Cairns Dive Centre visit:

www.cairnsdive.com.au

For information on Fitzroy Island Resort:

www.fitzroyisland.com

We are delighted to be joining forces with YogaHub Cairns to bring you this fabulous SUP Yoga workshop. We have a unique opportunity to bring the spiritual and challenging practice of Yoga into nature and onto the water. Relax with the movement of the water and the sounds of nature and simply… Be.

SUP Yoga provides the additional challenge of an unstable platform, so traditional poses require more balance and concentration. Our workshop is run with ASI (Academy of Surf Instructors) trained SUP instructors who will take you through the basics of stand up paddle to get you confidently cruising along the river. Enjoy the peace and tranquility of the FNQ rainforest and see the world from a completely different perspective.

After honing your SUP skills, lock your board into the specially designed docking system to begin this unique Yoga experience. Our Yoga teacher, Rachel, has spent decades building and deepening her practice to deliver a unique and unforgettable session. With her expertise, you will be challenged and fulfilled whether this is your first time or you are an experienced yogi. You have the opportunity to challenge yourself further as your confidence grows, or just relax and unwind with the environment.

In our busy lives, we often forget to just stop and breathe. We are always looking forwards or backwards. Take this time out of your life to connect with yourself, and with nature…. And have some fun!!

To complete this experience, we will take you to a special place where we can meditate and draw our workshop to a close. Do not miss this fantastic opportunity!!

Saturday September 17th 2016

Saturday November 12th 2016

Stand Up Paddle (SUP) boards are available from several one-man band businesses priced as low as $500-$600’s. Well as good as it sounds……and as the old saying goes “You get what you pay for”. Speaking from experience this is correct. Not to mention the hidden freight costs.

Cheap boards are exactly that……cheap. They use inferior, heavy materials, have minimal fibreglass and poor quality epoxy resins. Quality control of the product is limited or non-existent and the first sign of problems is when the customer opens the box and notices imperfections or damage from poor packaging/mishandling. All of a sudden the bargain buy is not anymore and your supplier who happily took your money is nowhere to be seen, as half of their shipment is the same. In the SUP industry we call this a “race to the bottom”, as it’s not sustainable.

However, in the world of SUP boards there are good quality, durable boards available at good price points. Reputable SUP companies have strong brand development and good quality control of their product and only supply reputable retailers. The beauty about bigger brands, is that in the event there is a warranty issue with a board they will replace it at no charge to the customer. All reputable brands have a minimum of 1-year warranty against manufactures defects.

So you ask……. what’s a good price point? Well, $1200 will get you a starter package including carbon paddle. From there, pricing increases in relation to enhanced construction and materials used. From basic fibre glassing and reinforcements to AST (Advanced Sandwich Technology), to Carbon Sandwich. Increasing price reflects greater technology and materials used.

So you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get into the sport you love, but you just might spend a lot more than you bargain for if you buy the cheapest board on the market.... only to have to replace it in a few months. If you need any advice or want to check out different price points then head into our shop and have a chat with us.

What'SUP Cairns has joined forces with The Yoga Hub Cairns to bring you all the joys of Yoga- on a padddleboard!

SUP Yoga is the latest challenge being taken on by fitness enthusiasts, yogi's and paddleboarders alike. It is exceptionally good for your core, improves balance, concentration and strength. Not only is it good for you body, it's good for your soul! With the gentle movement of the water and sunrise over the Cairns skyline you can't help but relax.

When you combine yoga practice with the natural elements of sun, water and fresh air, you get all the added benefits nature provides. Due to the unstable platform, it enables advanced core strength, increasing the challenge of the traditional yoga moves. And.... Its just FUN!!!!!

Anyone can take part. You do not have to be an experienced yogi. Come and start your yoga journey here. We have connected with the Yoga Hub Cairns to bring you Cairns finest yoga teachers. They are skilled in teaching all levels so everyone is welcome.

Sessions will commence in mid-June, so watch our Facebook page for announcements or contact us now to pre-book your spot.

www.whatsupcairns.com.au

Ph: 1300889957

info@whatsupcairns.com.au

What'SUP Cairns have joined forces with Cairns Wake Park!!

With the wind and tides being unpredictable (and the risk of crocodiles anywhere that looks inviting!!!), we have found the perfect place to teach people the basics of stand up paddle. Cairns Wake Park will be hosting our brand new SUP school.

Cairns Wake Park is Tropical North Queensland’s one and only Cable Water Ski park. They offer wakeboarding, water skiing and a fabulous inflatable aquapark as well as food and beverages.

With a huge body of fresh water, 2.5 metres deep, the wake park provides the perfect environment for learning stand up paddle. No waves, no underwater obstructions, no beasties lurking beneath!

We will be commencing Level 1 (enclosed water) lessons from late May. This entails the basics of paddle stroke, turns and water safety in an enclosed flat water environment. Once you are confident on the flat, we can then take it out the ocean for the next level.

In addition, we will be commencing SUP Yoga and SUP Fitness classes from mid-June. What'SUP Cairns is working with the Yoga Hub Cairns to bring the finest Yoga teachers onto our boards. More information to follow soon...... Watch this space!!!

We are super excited to bring our SUP school to this awesome place. We very much look forward to working with the Cairns Wake Park and Yoga Hub Cairns to bring you these awesome classes.

Please contact What'SUP Cairns for bookings on 1300889957

For more information visit our website

www.whatsupcairns.com.au

For information on Cairns Wake Park visit

www.cairnswakepark.com

We have so many people coming into the store wanting to buy a SUP board, with no idea which one is best for them. Everybody is different. Height, weight, balance ability and how and where you intend to ride your board. So here is a few pointers when considering which board to buy...

All round- versatile and multi purpose. Fantastic first time boards as they allow you to explore all facets of the sport with one board. Long enough to obtain a nice glide, tracking in flat or exposed waters and offers rocker and rail shape to allow for jumping on a wave. All round boards are generally wider to aid stability and equal to or longer than 10 foot. An example of all round boards we have instore is the SUP ATX 10'6 Scout, BIC SUP 10'6 Performer, Starboard 10' Whopper or Starboard 10'5 Wide Point.

Touring/Race- optimized for flat water, down-winders or ocean paddling. Longer and narrower than an all round board achieving speed and greater tracking. They have a nose area that is often shaped like a "V" on the bottom to enhance the glide. The rails are squarer to provide more speed. Most touring boards are stable enough for beginners however race boards can be a bit more challenging for beginners due to the narrow design.An example of race board in store is the Starboard 12'6 Carbon All Star.

Surf- SUP surf boards are usually shorter, narrower and have more tail and nose rocker (curve in the board). These attributes allow for greater performance when surfing waves, however the trade off is that the boards are slower in flatwater, less stable, and don't track as straight. We don't usually stock Surf SUP's in Cairns due to the ahem.... lack of surf. They are available to order on request, and the 10'6 All Rounders are perfect for catching the available waves in our area.

Inflatable - The inflatable SUP (ISUP) range is becoming more popular day by day. People who have storage issues, live on a boat, want to travel with their boards or run freshwater/whitewater locations are looking more towards inflatables. ISUP's have become the way to get around these little head aches. The trade off with ISUP's is performance. They don't have the same performance as a hard board, however with enhancements in technology the gap is narrowing rapidly!!An example of ISUP's that we sell are the Red Paddle Co 10'8 Ride and BIC SUP River Boards.

Well there you go.......some short and sweet information on the different types of SUP boards available. However the easiest way to get the best SUP board for your requirements is to head in to our shop and we'll sort you out with the right gear. Make sure you get the right size board, the right shape and one that you will love to ride! Demo's are available for most of the boards if you just wanted to get the right feel before you buy.

Shop 20 Oceana Walk Arcade

62 Grafton Street

Cairns City 4870

Ph: 1300 88 99 57

info@whatsupcairns.com.au

We have been waiting months for these babies to arrive! Introducing the Ocean and Earth Bamboo Cruiser 2016. After selling out in less than a week at Christmas and no more available in Australia, we made sure we got the order in quick for this year. With the old school bamboo surfy style, she not only looks amazing, but the 10'4 x 32" (178L) volume, she is the perfect all rounder for both flat water and a bit of small surf (like we get anything else in Cairns!!). This absolute beauty is just $1100!!!!

Belinda has been using her Cruiser non stop since Christmas and gave the following review:

"I absolutely LOVE my board. It has awesome glide with great stability. Everyone in the family has had a go and loves it".

I can't think of anything more rewarding than being a parent. OK, so you don't sleep, they drive you nuts, its a constant battle to clean up after them, they give you attitude (age 3!)... Sorry, where was I going with this? Ah, yes. We love it, right? Well at least we appreciate our own parents more!!

Since my bub was big enough not to slip out of her life jacket, shes been riding the rivers and tides with me. Stand up paddle is so much fun, so easy and it can be enjoyed by the whole family. But it's the best when its just you. The freedom. The peace. Time to simply.... breathe.

We have gift certificates available for tours, lessons and hire, monetary values to spend in store, or just buy her a paddle board.... Why not? She deserves it ;o)

Order your BIC Sport Wahine Performer package now (includes paddle and leg rope) for $1349 in time for Mother Day.

Also Available is the BIC sport Ace Tec package deal (includes paddle and leggie) $1249.

Come on in and have a chat with us to organise gift certificates, book tours, and see our whole range of SUP boards, accessories and clothing.

Shop 20 Oceana Walk Arcade

62 Grafton Street

Cairns City

Ph:1300889957

info@whatsupcairns.com.au

We have just introduced our new SUPtastic location! Beautiful Goldsborough Valley, just South of Cairns, is part of the Wooroonooran National Park. Not only is it an absolute delight to see and SUP, it has an awesome history...

Once the setting for the 1870's gold rush, the Goldsborough Valley campsite marks the start point for the 19km walking track called the Goldfield Trail. This takes you through Mount Bartle Frere to Babinda and takes between 7-9 hours. While we would love to walk that, we would prefer to enjoy the crystal clear waters by means of paddle board (enter sales pitch for SUP tour)!!! Its hard to believe that the area was once home to so many Europeans suffering from gold fever, that the settlement had 17 hotels and pubs. As the gold ran out in the mid 1900's, the majority of the miners moved on, leaving the remaining few to embark on a career change as farmers in the local area.

Kearney Falls is accessed from the campsite via a 1.7km return track. Although you are not allowed to swim in the falls due to high risk of injury and flash flooding (inflatable white water SUP territory), it is quite a sight to behold.

We are super excited about this spot. It's just a magical, breathtaking place and we want to take you there.....

While the stingers have been rife and wind has continued to blow, our paddling has been limited. But alas, the dry season is nearly upon us and once more we can venture out into the wonders of the ocean. For now we are just loving our spectacular river in the rainforest, where we can SUP to our hearts content!!!

On other matters.... It is with great excitment (and trepidation) that we open our first ever shop! Having always been the shopper and never the "shopee" there is much for us young Jedi's to learn. But, oh, the fun of selecting just the right paddleboards, and paddles, and accessories, and rashies, and boardies, and bikinis..... Wow. This takes my shopaholic tendancies to a whole new level. We are located in the Oceana Walk Arcade that links Grafton St to Lake St in the Cairns CBD. There has been an amazing welcome from our fellow Oceana shop dwellers. There is everything you need here: coffee, food, nik naks, arts and crafts, gifts, clothing, waxing (!), records, guitar repairs, toys.... this is a magical arcade. Pop in and see our range of SUP boards, acessories, clothing and sunnies.... or just come in for a chat. We like chatting.

The stinger season is upon us once more!! Living anywhere north of Agnes Waters during the wet season leaves us all petrified of these little murderous blobs beneath the waves. Box Jellyfish tentacles range from 10cm to 3 metres long and pack a punch that can kill an adult in 3 minutes. As the most venomous animal in the world, it’s no wonder so many people refuse to enter the water during these hairy months of the wet season. But fear not my SUPtastic chums- something as simple as long sleeves and pantyhose provide enough protection from the nematocysts (pointy bits on the tentacles that cause the ouchies). So something as protective (if not so attractive) as a specially designed stinger suit can keep you safe and still enjoying the lovely warm water! Stinger suits are available for purchase from What'SUP Cairns, starting from $59.99 and for hire throughout the wet season so… no excuses! SUP it up all year round…. Now where did I put my croc suit?