Zen Sleek Photo

On the Waterfront

The first time Patty Pensel , owner of Boats by George, saw paddleboarders was just a few years ago in Seattle. "I remember how fun and beautiful it looked," she says of the sport, which involves standing on a flat board -- similar to a surfboard -- and rowing with a uniquely designed paddle.

Trying it for the first time herself, however, she learned it wasn't quite as easy as it looked. "I did fall at first," she admits with a laugh. "But once you perfect your balance -- you start out on your knees and slowly stand -- you can pick it up pretty quickly. It's a fantastic workout."

Paddleboarding is now Pensel's favorite water sport, over her former top pick, kayaking. "I love how you can look down into the water," she says. "You can see a lot more -- the wildlife, the scenery. And you work your whole core, not just your arms."

And if you fall off, you can simply get back onto the board ... gradually, Pensel advises, sliding your knees on first. "Remember, it's only water," Pensel says. "Just make sure you jump off the side so you don't hit the board."

Last summer, Pensel stocked her boat shop with Naish boards, a preeminent carrier in the industry. Founded by champion surfer Robby Naish , the SUP (stand-up paddling) line includes the Mana, a thick, relatively short board about 9 feet in length, considered ideal for beginners. Pensel prefers her Mana board , although visitors to her shop can also try the top-selling 11 X 4 or 11 X 6 Nalu boards. Pensel also carries the sleek Naish gliders, known for their streamlined design and speed, best for more experienced paddlers.

M.J. Reeves, sales and services representative for Naish's Northeast distribution, says paddleboards, made from top-quality wood and fiberglass, are lighter and easier to carry than traditional surfboards. "Women especially love them because they're easier to maneuver, getting them on and off the car." A rooftop rack traditionally used for kayaks works fine for transport, she adds.

Many of the women Reeves talks to are drawn to the sport because of its fitness aspect. "The harder your paddle, the more of a workout you'll get," she says. "It's like anything else -- a bicycle or the elliptical trainer -- the more intense you work out, the better quality of a workout you'll have."

Unlike machines at the gym, however, the paddleboard is unique because every muscle in the body is used, from the feet, through balancing, to the arms and shoulders, through rowing.

Creative Zen Sleek Photo 20 GB Multimedia Player (Aluminum/White ...

This is an awesome MP3 player and really cheap for 20 gigs and a color screen! One drawback: can't view photos at the same time as listening to music. I personally use Windows Media Player to sync all my music but other programs like Rhapsody will do the job. Don't install any of the Creative software that comes with it because it sucks. This player is very easy to use and sync. I plug it in, Windows Media Player syncs it with my licenses and music from my CD collection and my subscription at the Urge music store (get Windows Media Player 11 for this). Living up to its name, the svelte and elegantly designed Creative Zen Sleek Photo Multimedia Player can carry thousands of MP3 and WMA music files as well as your favorite snapshots. It is compatible with secure PlaysForSure WMA files downloaded from online music stores and subscription services (like MTV's Urge, Napster, and Rhapsody). This 20 GB digital audio player will store up to 10,000 WMA (encoded at 64 Kbps) or 5,000 MP3 (128 KBps) CD-quality songs. The internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers up to 19 hours of continuous play. The cutting edge, 1.7-inch OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) screen looks terrific from every angle and it draws less power than conventional LCD displays. It displays 262,144 vivid colors, ensuring every picture is sharply detailed and extraordinarily clear. In addition to standard slideshows, you can also set up custom slideshows complete with music. Tune in to the built-in FM radio (which features 32 station presets) and listen live or record programming for listening when you're ready. Use the built-in microphone to record your voice--dictate memos, record meetings, hours of notes, lectures and reminders. Sync with Microsoft Outlook to transfer your calendar, contacts and task list so you'll never forget important anniversaries and appointments. You can also use the Zen Sleek Photo as an external hard drive for saving and transferring your most important files. The equalization feature offers nine acoustic environments, such as "rock" and "jazz," enabling you to customize your listening environment. Other features include a 5-band graphic equalizer, easy-to-use touch pad control buttons, and upgradeable firmware. It connects to PCs via a USB 2.0 connection (cable included)--which features download speeds of up to one second per song--and it's compatible with Windows XP SP1/SP2 systems with Windows Media Player 10 software.

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