We just received the first production run of the new Curtis Hesselgrave G-10 “Pro-Elite” SUP racing fins (MSRP $200)…they were sold out upon arrival…but, we just received another couple of dozen…

We have these just in time for the 2nd Annual “Battle of the Paddle” SUP contest this next weekend in Dana Point…

We still have a few of the polyester Curtis Hesselgrave SUP racing fins (MSRP $100)…

You can benefit from these fins even if you don’t paddle race…with less vertical drag, they provide superior tracking with more lateral resistance to side chop and current…better directional stability…less paddle changes per side…more efficient transfer of energy…they also go through kelp, weeds, eel grass like a hot knife through butter…

We offer you a few more choices in standup paddle board selection since the days way back in 2006, when we offered you the world’s first production epoxy molded SUP’s in two sizes and two colors…

The 2010 Naish SUP line has expanded to 21 boards…and the Starboard line in 2010 will be at least 27 wide…with 4 construction choices…

We are starting to see lots of “paralysis by analysis” when it comes to selecting a standup paddle board for you or your family…we are the experts in this field and WE’RE HERE TO HELP!!!

We’re the #1 standup paddle board store in the country…our expert staff makes it easy for you…when you are ready to purchase a SUP, you’re gonna have to trust someone…fact is, thousands of folks have trusted us to help them…we have a proven track record of over 10 years of providing great customer service…

Simply call us toll free 888.805.9978 or email i n f o @ s u r f i n g s p o r t s . c o m…there’s a link at the bottom of every page on our site…you’re welcome to come visit our shop if you can get to beautiful Santa Barbara…we’re open every day 10 – 5 PDT…we’ll get your SUP buying decision sorted out for you in no time…then you’ll be smiling for miles…just like these happy customers…

We have the best selection…best value…and the bestest and most knowledgeable service of standup paddle boards and paddles on the planet…we’ve shipped SUP’s to all 50 states in the country…our shipping experts are the best in the business…

We have a real store staffed by standup paddlers…we host free demos, offer lessons, host standup paddle races, and are involved in the community…

Please remember that you get what you pay for…don’t fall for the newest scourge that we’ve seen lately of the dozens of cheesy SUP websites popping up with no storefronts shilling cheap SUP knockoffs…boards are not created equal…construction technology does matter…

When it comes to innovation and board construction technological advances…one company stands apart…Starboard…the world leader in board construction…

Some companies who have only been around for a couple of years are starting to play around with wood and sandwich board construction…why pay for their R&D?

Starboard has been producing the most durable sailboards in the world for over 15 years…sailboards are under way more stress than conventional surfboards…they have to survive speeds of up to 50mph…and jumps/loops to 50′…

Developed by Jean Louis Colmas in 1984, Wood Technology became Starboard’s trademark construction since 1995. Starboard’s production Wood boards then set the lead in lightweight sandwich technology, weighing in at a kilo under the competition, yet with higher impact resistance.

A sheet of 0.6 mm Australian pine wood forms the full outer shell of the board. Wood’s unique properties are its natural rigidity, superior resistance to compression and higher energy absorption compared to carbon. It is the construction with the highest dynamic shape stability.

Click image to enlarge…

In the continuing effort to reduce weight and increase performance without loss of durability, Starboard is once again leading the way with the new wood/carbon technology…

A combination of a wood spine with ultra light, flat-weave carbon. The first board construction in the world to utilize an ultra light carbon fiber that is flat-weaved for total mechanical efficiency at half the specific weight.

I just received a new Starboard quadfin waveboard with this wood/carbon technology…

IT’S INSANELY LIGHT!!!

I expect this technology to trickle down to the Starboard SUP line…there is ongoing osmosis between the SUP line and sailboard line…this quadfin sailboard progressed because of the quadfin SUP’s that Starboard has dialed in…

The World’s first Quad fin wave boards – more drive, more traction, the ability to generate more speed on the wave face, turn closer and tighter, ride more vertical with the ability to go where you want, when you want. When going out through waves, the Quads also help you to stay upwind better than single or twin fin boards, thus positioning you to catch more waves.

The Quad wave concept was born 2 years ago when Svein Rasmussen and Scott McKercher first started working with Quad fin setups on wave SUP boards, initially with single fin setups to thrusters and finally Quad fins. The unique fin size combination, with the larger fin in front and the smaller fin behind, as well as the exact fin box positioning, the fin foil/stiffness ratio and the fin box selection were the key in making the Quad concept work.

Quad action vid clip:

Quad technical discussion vid clip:

Scott McKercher: Something that I felt has been missing in wave boards is the ability to produce drive through the fins like a surf board. Singles and twins were all about the containment of speed and not the production of drive. The new Quads deliver the perfect blend of a smooth arc length when desired, combined with lightning acceleration through tight on rail snaps.

Svein Rasmussen: Experimenting with Quads has totally renewed my interest in wave sailing.

Tiesda You: For progressing wave riders who thought the Evo was a breakthrough in 2003, well the Quads are again another leap forward. On a wave face, they really do go where you want, when you want and then they’ll even generate more speed as you drive them through turns. Unbelievable stuff.

Question to Svein: is the Quad an innovation? “Some 12 years ago, our production Twister twin fin board was available worldwide, then suddenly in 2008 the twin fin concept was viewed as an innovation. Now in 2009 Starboard brings into production a totally refined Quad fin board and if bringing back twin fins in 2008 was viewed an innovation , then b
ringing in Quads in 2009 is truly an innovation which actually brings something NEW to wavesailing.”

One of our long time friends on the Central Cali coast, Kenny Krall, sent in a few fun pics sharing his enjoyment of the 12′ Hobie ATR and 12′ Naish Glide…

NICE FISH!!!

His wifey Toni rehabbing her tweaked ankle…

You get some nice views through the water on top of a SUP…

The 2009 North American Naish Summer Race Series Championship was held at Bonita Cove in San Diego yesterday…

The SUPsports paddle racing team did very well…

Rich Schroeder wins the event and a 14′ Naish Glide…plus, a trip to Maui and an entry into the 5th Annual Naish Paddle Championship…a 9.54 mile race from Maliko Gulch…NICE WORK!!!

Adam Kirkcaldie, our newest staff member, takes 3rd…Adam is just getting going in paddle racing and is already showing great potential with his triathlete background…

Rob Graham takes 4th…he’ll be moving up to the 14′ class…

EJ came down and raced in the open class taking 1st…his new 23″ wide Syzmanski worked great…

Brian Syzmanski…fierce prone paddleboarder…now piloting his standup creations…

Team rider, Andie Johnson, took 2nd place in the women’s championship race…not bad for racing a new board and new paddle for the first time…

The board did feel very nice and stable for 25″ width…

Prone paddleboarder Matt Friedman transitioning to standup paddle racing on one of Brian’s new shapes…

Who da guy?…;-)

They’re not all going to Maui with a free 14′ Glide…but, they’re a bunch of STOKED units, nonetheless!!!

EJ and MJ…two of my favorite humans on this planet…

Mucho mahalos to Naish for getting this classic grass roots event off the ground…

I’ll have a gallery up in the next day or two…or whenever this killer swell dies down…;-)

Just got the new 8’5″ x 28″ Starboard Tikis…

Waterkids, Connor Baxter and Zane Schweitzer have developed a board shape to suit their style and body size. The 8’5” x 28” is designed for waterkids looking for a quick learning curve.

It’s front section provides stability for paddling through the waves and the more stinger aft section offers acceleration, speed and rail to rail response. Despite its short length, it glides well on flat waters for light riders.

It’s tri fin set up provides plenty of directional stability to enjoy gliding down the rivers and over the lakes anywhere any time. It also rips behind a boat or on the Cable park. (MSRP $949)

Comparison shots of 8’5″ x 28″ Tiki and 8’5″ x 30″ Pocket Rocket…

Pocket Rocket is a quad…Tiki is trifin…

More pics in this GALLERY…

More comparison pics in this GALLERY…

We just received a couple of pallets of new SUP bags…6″ increments from 9′ to 12′…

Features include:

:: Shoulder strap
:: EZ grip offset carry handle middle of bag
:: Paddle holder
:: Extra large outside pocket
:: Large inner fin pocket
:: EZ entry zipper opening
:: EZ slide zippers
:: Reinforced nose & tail
:: Double stitching reinforced seams
:: Built in bag holder
:: Change out ground tarp included

Value based pricing…below 11′ $120 :: 11′ & above $130

We have heaps of SUP bags in stock…