Meet Joe Paddler: Chip Bock, Melbourne Beach, Florida

Where you were born and where you live now?

Born: Scarsdale, NY – Now: Melbourne Beach, FL

What is your occupation?

Director National Accounts – Argon Medical Devices.

Where do you SUP the most?

Indian River Lagoon behind home/Shark Pit surf break in front of home.

Do you have a favorite local paddleboard shop?

Paddleboard House, Indialantic, FL

What paddleboard, surfski or OC do you ride most?

Racing: 2016 14ft Infinity Custom Whiplash SUP with Larry Allison Twin Fins/18ft Custom Unlimited MHL SUP – Surf: 9’ft C4 Waterman SubVector Quad

Do you own any other paddleboards, surfskis or OCs and what kind?

2 x 12’6″ Custom Hand Shaped Dave Parmenter/C4 Waterman BOP Race SUP’s, 11ft and 12ft C4 Waterman HoloHolo SUP’s, 10’6″ C4 Waterman “Classic” 2+1 SUP, 10′ C4 Waterman “Thirty/Thirty” PinTail SUP, 2009 10′ C4Waterman SubVector Quad, 2016 10′ C4Waterman SubVector Quad, 9’6″ C4Waterman “Bruddah” PinTail SUP, 9ft C4Waterman Mark Richards “MR” Quad SUP, 10’9″ C4 Waterman XXL Inflatable SUP, 10′ C4 Waterman SubVector Inflatable SUP, 2 x 9′ Bob McTavish Performance Longboards, 9’11” David Nuuhiwa Nose Rider Longboard Single Fin, BrownFish Handplane and DaFin Surf Fins, **Soon to be added: Kai Bartlett “Antares” OC-1

What paddle do you use?

SUP Racing: Custom QuickBlade Trifecta SSI 42 Shaft/96 sq. inch Blade – SUP Surfing: C4 Waterman “Pohaku” 8.5″

Have you changed boards/paddles/equipment since you started? If so, why?

Race Boards: Yes – started racing in 2006 on a 12’1″ Laird all around surf SUP, then to 14′ C4Waterman Vortice, then 19′ Custom BARK Unlimited, then 18’6″ Custom BARK Unlimited, then 14′ Custom BARK, then 14″ Custom M&M, then 14′ Custom MHL, added Custom 18ft MHL Unlimited, then 14′ Custom Infinity Blackfish, now 14′ Custom Infinity Whiplash (These do not include 2 x Custom 12’6″ Dave Parmenter Race SUP’s used only for BOP races in Cali – Board changes have occured mainly due to board design evolution in relation to my body size (6’1″ 215 lbs.) – my body size has not changed, but the board Volume and designs have changed – Surf Paddle has changed the same since 2006 (no better than the original C4 Waterman Pohaku for surfing) – race paddles have changed from Surf style to Race specific due to efficiency and my power/stroke conversion (stiffer shafts needed etc.)

If you could travel to anywhere in the world to paddle, where would you go?

Mentawais Islands

Best piece of SUP advice you’ve ever received?

A Hawaiian phrase that roughly translates to; “Only an idiot paddles into the wind”

Weirdest thing that’s happened to you while paddling?

Ghosted by a 10ft bull shark while training in the Grand Canal on Christmas Eve Day, pod of dolphins swept in, drove the bull shark away and stayed with me for another five miles until I was back at my put in spot.

Favorite SUP nutrition? (During races/ during a long haul)

Organic Unpasturized raw honey mixed with water in a small squeeze bottle.

Goals for this year?

Win and break my course record at the 18.5 mile 2016 Causeway to Causeway C2C (finish in under 3 hours) and win the Unlimited Class at my first Chattajack in October 2016.

Favorite post-paddle nosh (snack/beer/recovery drink)

Hammer Strength Recoverite (first), then a tall cold hard cider (any one will do – totally Gluten Free so don’t do beer anymore)

Your favorite non-paddle thing to do.

ANYTHING in the water, on the water, under the water, anything competitive, any time spent with wife and daughter.

What piece of SUP gear do you wish someone would invent?

A better hydration pack – we are still not there yet regarding hydration packs – period. I have some ideas, just need some free time and a company willing to do it…like shapers there are still too many “experts” lol.

What’s your biggest challenge with SUP?

TIME – getting the spare time from work and family in order to train at the level now required to compete in the Elite Class.

What is your proudest moment in a SUP race or event?

First place overall at the 2012 Florida State Paddelboard Championships – Hurricane Sandy had blown by and was headed to NY – the race was held on the Indian River Lagoon that year with sustained winds of 30mph and gusts to 45mph – it was held as a pure downwinder – I chose the perfect board and fin and finished way ahead – best part was that we surfed for 11 miles straight – I had music going in my ipod and hooted and hollared all 11 miles with 300 yard runs – it was great to take first, but it was the most fin SUP race I have yet to compete in.

Tell us about the best friend(s) you made through paddling.

So many friends through paddling I have lost count – “foundational” people like John Beausang, Frank Dillenberg, John and Marie Hughes, Gary Wise, Chris Hill, Gerard Middleton, William Pope, Mark Anathacio, and so many more – Industry Leaders:Larry Allison, Reid Inouye, Todd Bradley, Erik Nordskog, Jim Terrell and many, many others – Legends: Brian Keaulana, Dave Kalama, Mickey Munoz, Dave Parmenter and others – SUP Foundation Pros: Chuck Patterson, Rob Rojas, Maximus, Jamie Mitchell, Collin McPhillips, EJ Johnson, Danny Ching and others – Current Driving Pros: Slater Trout, Candice Appleby, Anthony Vela, Connor Baxter, and many more – Pure SUP Legends: Betsy and Bob Risner, Mary Anne Boyer and Mini Cuhna and more – I am already in trouble because of names I didnt list, but the SUP Ohana/Friends I have become a part of globally could run on for pages (and thats not an exageration)

What was your best SUP travel trip?

Every Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle I competed in