History of Stand Up Paddling

 

KIALOA's introduction to the world of Stand Up Surf 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 paddle so he could propel himself into gigantic waves while standing on his surf board. He had gotten Dave's name from their mutual friend and surfing icon, Gerry Lopez. The long shafts on Laird’s paddles kept breaking and Gerry thought with Dave's background in paddle building that KIALOA might be able to help. The quick 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. And so a new paddling craze began.

 

Growth of Stand Up Paddle Boarding - 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 Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle, where in 2008 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 and Battle of the Paddle will offer more opportunities for paddlers to compete against the best.

 

Surfing, Racing and Fitness SUP

 

As the sport of paddleboarding grows, more forms of the sport emerge. Some of the most popular forms of paddleboarding 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.