Friends of ASV

"A Tale About Bros Not Pros" I like that title. This is a new release DVD from KIALOA rider Ken Wilson of AwesomSurfVideos.com. Ken is a surfer from the Oregon Coast who recently won a record breaking 4 trophies from the Noll Longboard Classic.

Check out the DVD by getting a copy from the Oregon Surf Shop.

Meg Chun is Interviewed About Women in SUP

Interview with co-owner of KIALOA Paddles in Bend Oregon Meg Chun and interviews with the Ladies winning team from the Asthetic Clinic YOLO Race Series, Julie Ogle and Nancy Babin. Below is the link to 30A Radios podcast and the video from YOLO.

30A Radio Interview podcast

SHQ Cruise to the Cerberus

The SHQ Cruise to the Cerberus SUP flatwater race was held at the Sandringham foreshore in Melbourne Australia over the weekend. This is one of the biggest races in that part of the country and participation more than doubled from last year. The Seabreeze Forum has a great post and pics all about the event. The top three finishers of over 40 paddlers all used KIALOA's Shaka Puu.

The race was a 6km out and back and here are the results:

1 Matt Lumley 32.21 minutes

2 Dave Hunt 38.30 minutes

3 Dave Peterson 39.00 minutes

Here is a fun clip of the start:

KIALOA's New Adjustable Stand Up Paddle

KIALOA Paddles Introduces the New Adjustable Hinalea Stand Up Paddle

The Sage words of Gerry Lopez, "Don't forget the beginners," are the inspiration for KIALOA's stand-up paddle Hinalea. Featuring a foam-core blade and edged in Dynel, the Hinalea is tough enough to stand up to years of use. Add a bomber shaft of anodized seamless 6061-T6 aluminum and you have the perfect blend of lightness and durability. But the most exciting feature of the Hinalea is its 12 inches of adjustability. Lengthen or shorten the paddle to fit your entire family or let it grow with your young stand-up paddler.

The Hinalea is available in two sizes to cover the full range. Small covers from 62-74 and Large covers from 74-86

Blade width: 8 1/16th
Blade length 16 1/2
Surface area: 100 sq inches
Price : $199.00

Press Release

Go Pro Camera!

Here are some fun shots from a few KIALOA stand up paddlers using their "on board" and sometimes "on paddle" cameras.

The first Set are from Blaine Chambers of Paddle Surf Hawaii:

The cameras mounted on Blaines paddle

Noah Yap:

Chuck Patterson:

3 Disciplines of SUP by Dave Chun

There are three popular forms of Stand Up Paddle Surfing and having the right paddle can make a difference. Below is an article written by Dave Chun that was inspired by the ever growing aspects of SUP and KIALOA's promise to provide the best equipment while always listening to the stand up paddlers needs.



SUP Surfing:
Paddles used for surfing should be small. Surfers need quick short bursts of speed to catch waves, and small blades excel at this. Resistance is greatest on the surfboard when it is not moving, a common situation while waiting for a set. A small blade will allow for a high stroke rate and get the surfboard up to speed more quickly. The higher stroke rate facilitated by the smaller blade, also aides in balancing and maneuvering in the rough conditions associated with surfing. Performance surfboards are also getting smaller and less buoyant. Because these surfboards sink deeper in the water, they are inherently slower when paddling. As a general rule, the slower the watercraft, the smaller the blade. Good choices in the Kialoa line-up are the Methane, good for most surfers, or the Shaka Pu’u, if you are a big strong paddler like Mel Pu’u.

SUP Racing:
SUP race paddles should be chosen based on the length of the race, type of board, and fitness and strength of the athlete. In very short sprint races, a larger blade may be of benefit. Less paddle slip will occur with each paddle stroke, which in theory should translate into a more efficient transfer of energy. However, this must be balanced with fatigue. Race boards are faster than a pure surfboard, so this should allow for a larger blade.

The most important factor in choosing a distance paddle is the physical condition of the athlete. Strong fit paddlers have greater potential for high hull speeds and can use larger blades. A good choice for long events and most mortals is the Methane. For general use by a fit experienced paddler, the Shaka Pu’u is excellent. (The Shaka Pu’u is the paddle that was used by Chuck Patterson, to win the $10,000. first place prize in the 2008 Rainbow Sandal “Battle of the Paddle” ).

For an aggressive downwind racer who is able to link swell after swell and prefers a larger blade, the Nalu can be a good choice. Water conditions (the board moves fastest when it is flat on the water and not bouncing up and down), wind direction, the conditioning of the athlete, and type of surfboard, are all “moving targets” when trying to pick the optimum blade. Just keep in mind; if you are moving more quickly, you can use a larger blade, if you are moving more slowly, you need a smaller blade.



Fitness paddling:
SUP Surfing and Racing are both great fitness activities, but there are a number of SUP paddlers who do not use their boards to surf or race. Fitness paddlers generally use boards which cross over from surfing. Because of this, we recommend that paddlers use equipment similar to that used in surfing; with the first choice for most paddlers being the Methane for women, and the Shaka Pu’u being a good choice if you are stronger and/or more fit.

Paddle Core Fitness

In an effort to explore all aspects of stand up paddling, from wave riding to racing or just recreational paddling, we at KIALOA hope that no one is too intimidated to try something new. Understanding that we all need to respect each others chosen sport and experience level what better way to prepare yourself than to get fit and practice, practice, practice!! We think you should check out Paddle Core Fitness.

Reid Inouye, president of Paddle Core Fitness, LLC, is hooked on stand up paddling. From the fitness aspect, wave riding and open ocean crossings, he finds there is nothing better in life than connecting with the ocean. Living in Hawaii and being surrounded by the water, there is no place better in the world than the islands.

Paddle Core Fitness starts the world's first ever water workout this Fall/Winter season at Ala Moana Beach Park with it's certified personal instructors. During the month of November, come out for a free trial session and see if this is your way of getting both an instructional in paddle technique, isolation body workouts, as well as a good cardio session.

Please check out the program by following the link to their site. There is something for all levels of experience and it is a great way to improve or introduce yourself to this wildly crazy new watersport.

Battle of the Paddle

The first Battle of the Paddle and the largest purse at an SUP event to date had an incredible turn out. Gerry Lopez and Rainbow Sandals headlined the race that had paddlers battling for a 10,000 dollar prize. KIALOA is proud to have had our paddles in the hands of the first and second place postitions. Overall there were 5 KIALOA SUP's in the first 11 places.

Chuck Patterson took first place and Thibert Lussiaa came in second, both using our Shaka Puu. The pictures above, clockwise, show Chuck receiving his check, Guy Pere in 8th place with his Kole, and Thiebert with KIALOA's Meg Chun, placed second. Not pictured are the brothers Saemon, both using Shaka Puu's. Bryce came in 6th and TJ 11th. Congratulations to all paddlers and to such a successful event!

Chuck Patterson Places First at Joe Bark 200m Race

The photo shows a spent Chuck Patterson after he had just edged out Olympic paddler Jimmy Terrel for first place in the Joe Bark 200m Sprint SUP Race.

"It was one of the closest finishes I have ever had, literally by an inch," says Patterson. "Jim Terrel and I both did not know who came in first until we got to the beach."

It was a great event with races for prone paddlers and Stand Up in stock and unlimited classes.

SUP Getting Some Big Press

Huntington Beach California was host to the Corona SUP Challenge on July 27th. An estimated 100,000 people were watching the event putting Stand Up Paddle Surfing on the map. Competing were some of the most notable names in surfing but it was Noah Shimabukuro with his KIALOA Nalu surf paddle that won the day.

For more info on the event visit http://www.surftech.com/

Congratulations Noah!

Hennessey's River Race

Just a few days after placing 2nd in Hennessey's 8 mile SUP race in Dana Point Chuck Patterson dominated on the 9th at the River Race. The race followed the Colorado River from Laughlin, Nevada to Needles, Arizona, and was slated to be an 18 miles downriver paddle. But things changed, as things do, and race day calculations estimated a 28 mile gruelling test of their endurance.

"This was one of the hardest races I've ever done," said Chuck Patterson who had joked about a leisurely down river float with a few beers on his board. "Weren't we all wrong." You can read more at Surfers Village.

If you have read this blog before you know how proud KIALOA is of Chuck and his accomplishments as a waterman.

"Thanks again for all the great support and the awesome paddles!!" ~ Chuck

Cranking On KIALOA's Shaka Pu'u

Stand Up Paddle Surfing Magazine has given KIALOA a little teaser of their Mel Puu video interview. Here he is cranking on the Shaka Pu'u, KIALOA's SUP that was designed and tested with much help from Mel Puu. Visit their site for more information and the upcoming interview.