Stand Up Paddles by KIALOA

KIALOA's introduction to the world of Stand Up Paddles (SUP) began in 2003 with a phone call to Dave Chun from Laird Hamilton. Laird explained that he wanted Dave to build him a 7 foot long stand up paddle so he could propel himself into gigantic waves while standing on his surfboard. He had gotten Dave's name from their mutual friend and surfing icon, Gerry Lopez. The long shafts on Laird’s paddles were breaking and Gerry thought with Dave's background in paddle building that KIALOA might be able to help. The quickie solution to Laird’s problem was to graft one of KIALOA's small steering blades onto a piece of long aluminum tubing that was lying around the KIALOA shop. It wasn’t elegant but it didn’t break.

Growth of Stand up Paddles - A New Sport Emerges

Since 2003 the growth of the stand up paddling sport has been phenomenal. It is a fair guess that in a short time stand up paddling has surpassed Outrigger in popularity as a paddle sport. There are now numerous print magazines, blogs, websites and forums that are devoted to stand up paddles and paddling. Despite the slow economy, stand up paddles continue forward, with events such as the 2008 Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle, where Californian Chuck Patterson walked away with a $10,000 first prize. This is just the beginning. As the sport continues to grow races like the Moloka'i to Oahu Battle of the Paddle will offer more opportunities for paddlers to compete against the best.

Surfing, Racing and Fitness SUP

As the sport of stand up paddling grows more forms of the sport emerge. Some of the most popular forms of stand up paddles include surfing, distance racing, fitness paddling and recreation. Having the correct stand up paddles for whichever types of paddling you decide to do will help you maximize your performance and enjoyment. Discover which SUP forms you enjoy most, find a paddle that suits you, and get out on the water. Dave wrote a great article, The Disciplines of SUP, which has more detailed information and may help you decide where you best fit.

Stand Up Paddles - The Choices

When choosing a paddle there are a few questions you can ask yourself that will help narrow down the choice. Will you be surfing or flat water paddling? What is your fitness level? And what kind of board do you have? As a general rule, the slower the watercraft, the smaller the blade. Here is a quick list of our stand up paddles and what they are best suited for.

• Pipes – NEW for 2010 this paddle is designed for women. It is the smallest blade on our line up and is excellent for surf and racing.

• Methane – This full carbon stand up paddle is designed for surf. It allows for a quick tempo to catch the waves and for getting your board up and moving from a dead stop.

• Shaka Puu – This blade is the second smallest full carbon paddle and is ideal for SUP racing, flat water paddling, or for fit and strong surfers.

• Nalu – This is our biggest full carbon paddle and may be ideal for very fit and strong paddlers in flat water races.

• SUS – This stand up paddle is only slightly heavier than a full carbon and is fitted with the Shaka blade. It has a bomber strength aluminum shaft and wood t-top. Offered at a lower price it is ideal for people on a budget or feel they need the extra strength of the aluminum.

• Hinalea – This is our adjustable paddle which is ideal for families, beginners or rentals. It is constructed of an ultra durable sheet foam blade and an aluminum telescoping shaft with 19" of adjustability. Offered for under $200 it is our most budget friendly stand up paddle. NEW for 2010 we are now offereing a Hinalea One Piece without the adjustability for and even greater price and a Hinalea Keiki Adjuatable for the young beginner in the family.

Further Help Choosing a Stand Up Paddle

KIALOA is employed by experienced paddlers and paddle makers. We are always willing to help you with your decision by e-mail. We love talking about stand up paddles.