2nd Annual Adler Paddler This Saturday March 17th

We are proud to announce that the 2nd annual ADLER PADDLER will be back for 2012!

WHEN: MARCH 17th St. Patty’s Day 9am

WHERE: Belmont Shores, Long Beach Ca. (same spot as last year)

WHAT: A FREE 2.8 mile SUP & Prone Paddle Race/ Fun Paddle around Naples Island

WHY: To Remember our good friend Steve Adler and raise funds and awareness for the John Ritter Foundation and the Thoracic Aortic Disease Coalition

The second annual Adler Paddler is Saturday, March 17 – on St. Paddy’s Day - so mark your calendars and come out to support.

Steve Adler passed away at 40 from an undiagnosed thoracic aortic dissection two years ago. The well-known glasser who grew up in the Long Beach area was making strides in the Stand Up Paddle community when he unexpectedly collapsed while working.

Adler has a teenage son, Clark, and Steve’s mom will have a table with baked goods to raise money for his college fund. Proceeds from the paddle and raffle will go to the John Ritter Foundation. Ritter also passed away from a similar condition.

Amy Yasbeck will be at the event and will be signing copies of “WITH LOVE AND LAUGHTER,” about life with her late husband.
All books, raffles, and T-shirt sales proceed are all going directly to the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic health.

The event is a free, 2.8-mile SUP and Prone Paddle Race and fun paddle around Naples Island in Long Beach. It kicks off at 9 a.m.

Last year, nearly 90 dedicated paddlers showed up in strong winds, choppy waters and pouring rain to show support and do the paddle. Nearly $8,000 was raised.

Any questions e-mail info@thesupspot.com, or for more info go to www.PADDLEWITHPURPOSE.COM

Adler Paddler - A Great Way To Celebrate A Great Man!

So it's been just over a year since our buddy Steve Adler passed away and it's time for a memorial event. It's aptly named the "Adler Paddler" and it's happening this Sunday March 20th. Steve loved the sport of stand up paddling and this will be a free event open for both experienced and novice paddlers, in hopes to get people out together enjoying this great sport.

The other main purpose of this event will be to raise funds for Clark Adler's (Steve's son) college fund through sales of event T-Shirts and an amazing raffle. We will also use this event as a platform to raise awareness and educate people about Ascending Aortic Aneurysms. Also Amy Yasbeck of the John Ritter Foundation will be at the event! She is going to do a book signing with all proceeds to go towards the John Ritter Foundation & the John Ritter Research Foundation. The Thoracic Aortic Disease Coalition will be providing some educational information for the event.

So come on out for a fun or serious race around Naples island. Just under 3 miles. Bring down your paddle board, prone, or stand up, or borrow one from a friend. If you don’t have a board we will have a limited amount of boards and paddles to rent on site for a donation to the cause.

When: March 20th 2011 / 9am for a 10am start

Where: Leeway Beach/Belmont Shores/ Long Beach/ Ca

What: Fun/Stroll for a good cause or Race/ for a good cause/ Just under 3 miles around Naples island

For more info check the Facebook page or www.paddlewithpurpose.com .

See you there!

Jodie Nelson Stand Up Paddles from Catalina to Dana Point!

On Sunday March 28, Jodie Nelson of Surfside became the first woman to Stand Up Paddle from Catalina to Dana Point! Jodie is an accomplished pro surfer and currently commentates for ESPN, Fuel TV, and covers most of the streaming ASP events. Jodie also runs theSUPSpot.com a business that promotes stand up paddling through boot camps, lessons, and more.

In an attempt to raise awareness and money for breast cancer education, Nelson, of San Clemente, paddled nearly 40 miles from Catalina to Dana Point on Saturday, a feat that only three or so men – one being famous waterman Laird Hamilton — have completed.

"I wanted to go out there and do something that was big and overwhelming ... and something I had a good chance of failing at. It's nothing compared to what they go through," she said. "They don't give up."

After watching helplessly as close friend Angela Robinson become ill from breast cancer and chemotherapy treatments, Nelson wanted to somehow show support.

At first, Robinson didn't like the dangerous idea. But she soon realized there was no talking Nelson out of it.

Nelson trained hard, spending long days paddling along the coast. About two weeks ago, her trainer and good friend Steve Adler died from an aneurysm – making the paddle that much more emotional.

She started the paddle at about 6:15 a.m., hours earlier than others doing a relay as part of the Ohana Ocean Catalina Challenge. She was the only person doing a solo paddle.

A few hours in, a 30-foot minke whale came up beside her board – at first startling Nelson and the boat crew.

The whale – dubbed Larry – was close enough that she could have pet it with her paddle. He started making bubbles beneath her, fluking, and showing his tummy to her. The whale stayed with her for about an hour and a half.

"It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life," she said.



Not once during the paddle did she ask the time, or how far she had gone.

But after 8 hours and 51 minutes of paddling, loved ones cheered as they saw her coming to the finish line at Baby Beach. Her son Taylor, 15, held a sign that read: "I'm Jodie's biggest fan."

When she got close to shore, she lifted her paddle in victory, then threw it up in the air.

"I'm pretty sure, besides the birth of my son, this was the most monumental day of my life," she said.

For Robinson, watching Nelson from the support boat as she struggled for hours from exhaustion gave her a different perspective of what Nelson experiences as she supports her during her battle with cancer.

"The struggle she went through today to encourage me was just enormous," Robinson said.
Donations go toward Keep a Breast Foundation and Boarding for Breast Cancer. Nelson’s goal is to raise $100,000, and as of Sunday afternoon had raised about $8,000. To donate, go to paddlewithpurpose.com

Steve Adler Passes Away! RIP Friend

Tomorrow Tuesday March 15th we will be opening late (1pm) since we will be attending Steve Adler's Service at the St. Cyprian Church 4714 Clark Ave Long Beach, CA 90808.

Board Builder, Craftsman, Surfer, and all around incredible guy Steve Adler passed away last Thursday March 11, 2010. Steve was a lifelong friend and he had the idea to start Foam E-Z. He presented the concept to me on the way home from an evening mountain bike ride at El Morro. Within a couple of weeks of that bike ride we began Foam E-Z in May of1993. Foam E-Z and I would not be what we are today without Steve's involvement. Adler was an accomplished board builder having built his own brand under The Surfboard Board Factory name. Recently he was working with Tim Stamps helping to develop Stamps SUP line. Steve was incredibly involved in the SUP World and a business partner with Jodie Nelson in the SUP Spot.

Check out Steve's Facebook Page for more information on this incredible person. A college fund for his only son Clark has been set up at Farmers & Merchants Bank. Checks should be made out to CLARK ADLER, please still write Clark Adler in the memo. All payments can be mailed in or dropped off at any Farmers & Merchants Bank

He will be dearly missed by everyone who had the chance to meet or spend any time with him. It is hard to believe that he is gone.

RIP

Brad, the Nadell Family, and the entire Foam E-Z Crew.