Blue Nose Surf
Blue Nose Surf grew out of a desire to enjoy all of the fun water sports in Alaska that people take for granted "down south." In particular... surfing and paddleboarding.
The emergence of Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP) offers the opportunity to get out on a board and have fun, even in wave-starved Juneau, Alaska. And modern wetsuit technology makes it absolutely enjoyable year-round. So get yourself a Stand-Up Paddleboard, and see what it’s all about.
We offer SUP sales and rentals, so you can explore Alaska on your own (lessons if desired), and we lead group tours in the summer. If you don’t have your own wet or drysuit, we rent those as well. We also offer surfboard rentals and lessons for the intrepid to take advantage of the surfable wind swell we occasionally get in winter.
Our Staff
Our staff has many years of surfing, kayaking, paddling, boating, sailing, and Alaska experience. Instructors and tour guides are First Aid/CPR qualified and learn cold water survival techniques, emergency rescue, and signaling.
Neil Nickerson
Neil considers himself a “waterman” as he loves anything to do in the water with a particular passion for surfing. He has been surfing, waterskiing, kneeboarding, skin diving, sailing, whitewater rafting, and boating for over 34 years. He is retired U.S. Coast Guard, a licensed Captain, and is a survival and safety instructor with the Alaska Marine Safety Education Assoc (AMSEA). He also teaches Maritime Transportation at the University of Alaska-Southeast.
What Is SUP?
Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP) is the fastest growing water sport in the world right now. This ancient Polynesian practice consists of the rider standing on a large surfboard and propelling themselves with a long canoe-style paddle. The extra large surfboard provides great stability and floatation which in turn allows significant speed.
SUP’s have proven extremely effective at catching small waves, as well as getting the speed required to catch very large waves. Outside of surfing, however, they have become extremely popular as cruising vehicles as well as a great fitness activity. As flat water cruising vehicles they are smaller, lighter and easier to carry than kayaks. In many ways they are safer than kayaks as well, since it is easier to get back on a surfboard than to re-right, climb back in and de-water a kayak.
For fitness, SUP’ing also works practically all muscle groups, but has been touted primarily for its effect on the abdominal core.
I Don't Want To Get Cold!
Fortunately for us, modern wet and dry suit technology can keep us comfortable, even in the middle of winter! Water temperatures in Southeast Alaska range from a low of around 34° in some areas, to as high as 50° in the summer. Lakes can get even warmer after periods of sunny, high pressure.
So, depending on your planned activity and desired comfort, there are two main choices for main body protection: wetsuits and drysuits. For SUP’s, most people prefer dry suits for the obvious reason that you don’t ever have to get wet. You can layer as much warmth underneath as desired and be very well protected from an unexpected dip or rain. If you’re planning on surfing or spending more time in the water, a wetsuit is the more comfortable choice. A 3mm wetsuit would keep you plenty warm paddling on a nice summer day (too warm if sunny). For surfing or paddling in winter you’ll be more comfortable in a hooded 5mm or 6mm wetsuit.
Feet and Hands: In the summer and early fall, neoprene booties are normally worn for the feet, and some thin neoprene gloves as well. In the winter, you’ll want 7mm booties and 5mm gloves.
Head: In summer, some kind of hat or light hood should be worn to protect from rain and/or wind. In the winter, a hooded wetsuit is recommended.