Infinity | Twin Styling it with Bernd Roediger

Waterman Bernd Roediger, a paddler famous for his smooth downwind style at the Columbia Gorge Race, and for his dominating SUP surfing. More recently we witnessed some serious shredding on a radical new twin fin SUP surfboard. An idea developed purely by an experiment and the drive to push the boundaries of the sport, exactly like the origins of SUP paddling. This type of innovation keeps the SUP sport evolving and pushing new frontiers.  Recently signed by Californian brand Infinity SUP co, Bernd talks about his passion for the sport, the new twin fin set up and his exciting new partnership with Infinity SUP!

Hi Bernd, where have you been in these last few months?

Resting haha! I always need 6-8 months of recovery after my one race of the season. It used to be that I would compete in 5 big downwind races between June and August. That included the M2M and M2O races. That was at my peak! But I’m an older man now, lol!

Downwinding was my avenue into SUP, and is still my avenue into what Mihály Csíkszentmihályi calls the “flow state”. This is a state of being where time moves slower, where movements are so practiced they are subconscious in nature, and the world seems to collaborate with you as you flow through it. Nothing could be more fulfilling, and I get warmth just from thinking about it. The competition aspect is just a sprinkling of drama added to an already delicious sauce! And board design is uncanny fun! I’ve finally broken and started testing my favorite dugout boards, so I think next year I’ll ride an Infinity Downtown Dugout, or something to that effect. Working with Infinity is an amazing opportunity, playing around with different boards, in this special medium.

As for surf SUP, the conversation flips from “what am I riding” to “what am I not riding”. Infinity has fuelled my passion for the unique, by allowing me to play with asymmetric SUPs, twin-fins, long and short, wild aggressive concaves and alternative shapes. The possibilities with Dave Boehne (Infinity Boss), are seemingly endless. There are moments in life where you have to sit back and appreciate the fact that your life now is the good-life, the one your younger self anticipated.

What is exciting about this set up?

Why is it great to work with Infinity  SUP and Dave Boehne?

So what is next for Bernd?

APP events have already been postponed for next year, which is a pretty heavy hit, especially for SUP surfers who have little to no alternatives for large-scale competition. My focus will play to my strengths, and what makes me happy. Over the course of the past tumult, I’ve found my passion for water extending beyond performance. There’s an inclusive/community element that I have been turned-on to through traveling and competing.

I’m following that feeling more and more, I plan to hold clinics for surfing, paddle technique, and really anything!  Something I go into after doing some coaching with Ted Schatz at Gorge Performance, before and after the Gorge Paddle Challenge, I came to think of these water sports differently. Ted’s a professor of kinesthesiology, his study of movement is akin to the study of liberal arts. His approach to teaching a sport is that of the best teachers in the world, those who offer a path to higher knowledge and the means to attaining it. I really admire that.  Most paddle clinics rattle off some fundamentals and call it good. But there are coaches, like Ted -and I’d add my dad to that list- who help you explore your own technique, your own learning curves, and provide you with a roadmap to self-improvement!

To find out more about Infinity SUP, visit the official website:
www.infinity-sup.com