Original Seed

Sup's Cali Connection

- Matt Argyle

San Diego’s Rick Thomas was the first person to bring standup paddlesurfing to mainland America, and you could argue that from that day on, his influence—combined with the Hawaiian pioneers—has helped play a role in spreading sup love all over the world. Bob Long, owner of West Coast Paddle Sports, one of the US Mainland’s oldest sup shops (it started as Mission Surf), told me that there are 6 degrees of separation between Rick Thomas and anyone in California who has learned to sup. On a visit to Cali, I managed to get a couple of sessions in with Rick. He has such a fantastic fluid style—a real joy to watch.