Surftech BARK 14 EXP
The Surftech BARK has been a “staff favorite” here at CKS for quite a while (click here to read a detailed review on the BARK). It’s a lean, mean, speed machine, that’s as easy to learn the fundamentals of SUP’ing on, as it is to win distance races in open seas. We have been using it both as a learning board and training tool. I had some great experiences this summer on the BARK, and because of this it is no surprise that it has been voted the SUP of the Year by Men’s Journal. Here is what they had to say.
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Surftech’s 14 foot Bark Expedition awarded “Gear of the Year”
The 14 foot Bark Expedition was named “Best Stand Up Paddleboard” in the Dec 2009/Jan 2010 issue of the Men’s Journal. The “Gear of the Year” issue awards top honors to the best outdoor products of 2009. Other “Gear of the Year” honorees included notable brands such as Oakley, Canon, Rolex, BMW, Mountain Hardware and GoPro among other prestigious brands. “We couldn’t be happier with this honor.” said the board’s designer Joe Bark. “I worked with my top team guys here in California and in Hawaii testing out countless 14 foot boards over the course of more than a year until we found the magic formula. We were designing boards that would paddle well in flat, calm water and in rough, choppy seas. We had our guys test the boards in oily glass conditions as well as open ocean wind swells. This board far exceeded expectations in both conditions.”
“An Everest size pile of new products materializes every year, each one claiming to be the next big thing. The majority are unremarkably satisfactory; a few are laughably pathetic. Rarest of all are the 25 superlative objects on these six pages.” stated the Mens Journal article. In honoring the 14 foot Bark, the article went on to say, “As stand up paddleboarding grows from niche to mainstream, the gear only gets better. Case in point: the new Joe Bark 14 foot Expedition from the legendary South Bay shaper, made by Surftech. The sleek silhouette makes quick work of multi-mile trips, yet still feels stable in choppy seas.”
The Expedition was tested in a variety of diverse conditions. Check out the gallery below to see the team putting it through its paces.
Even though the BARK is 14' long, it is really easy for 1 person to carry. The grab handle is exactly in the middle of the board, which makes it perfectly balanced when you carry it. The ends will not drag on the ground... guaranteed.
Surfing the BARK
Flatwater touring on the BARK
Open water paddling with the BARK
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