Posts Tagged ‘standup paddle surfing’
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Saturday, October 25th, 2008
We’ve heard the chatter for awhile now…legendary waterman
Dave Kalama signs with
Naish…
Naish International is pleased to announce the addition of legendary waterman Dave Kalama to both the Naish stand up board team and Naish product design
group, where he will work alongside Harold Iggy, Rick and Robby Naish and product manager Michi Schweiger in our ongoing efforts to keep Naish at the
forefront of SUP development.
Dave Kalama has been a fixture in Maui’s “heavy water” scene since it’s inception, and is famous for his spectacular surfing at Jaws, his background
as a champion windsurfer, and his open-minded approach regarding pushing the limits of what is possible on the ocean that, together with together with fellow master
waterman Laird Hamilton, has revived sport of stand up paddling.
Product Manager Michi Schweiger notes: Dave is a great asset. He brings the same “on the water” philosophy to the table that has been the central theme
of Naish product design since Robby started the company – the whole philosophy of building rock solid equipment that helps people improve their riding instead
of limiting it.
Dave was a immediate fit, and we are stoked to have him on board.
With several new products already in the development pipeline, and lots more to come, there is no question that Dave will be a key player in the future
of this new industry, and Naish is proud to have him on the team!
Dave (Naish), and his cousin Ekolu (Starboard), have solidified their ohana as true paddling champions…
They came in with the fastest overall time in the 2008 Quicksilver Edition Paddleboard Race.
That was their third consecutive win in the SUP team… division
Here is an interview with Dave Kalama…
Now that Dave Kalama is with Naish, I’m sure we’ll see him here in Santa Barbara sometime soon…
posted by WARDOG AT 7:21 am
Check out this picture of Chris Bertish riding a Naish (production) 10’6″ on a South African GIANT! Based on what’s coming of the back of the board it looks like he’s holding a pretty good line on what is clearly a steep freaking wave. I’d like to see the rest of the ride, but from this shot; I think it’s safe to say Chris either got completely shacked, or stuffed into a coffin.
Ride on!
posted by WARDOG AT 6:00 am
This segment with Laird Hamilton aired on Good Morning America May 28…
Asked if he could only do one thing, what would it be?
He chose standup paddling…”because of the diversity…lakes…rivers…bays…giant waves…small waves…cross the English Channel…like a dance on water…great for hangovers”…
Gotta give Bill Weir a little credit…first sesh on a standup board in the wind/chop without pad and with slippery wax…the pressure of the TV camera…and King Laird as instructor…can you say “humble pie”?…;-)
posted by WARDOG AT 5:36 am
All the leaves are brown…And the sky is grey…I’ve been for a walk…
On a winters day…I’d be safe and warm…If I was in LA…
California dreamin…On such a winters day…
– Mamas & The Papas –
Wayulll…not quite…
Everything here on the Central Cali Coast is actually quite green…and the sky is quite blue…& the swells are real swell…nice, old school song, though…;-)
Here’s a streaming Real Player Central Cali Coast vid clip I put together several years back that has a newer version from the original…segue is about halfway through…
Oh…but, I digressed…back to today…
One of LAFD’s best…fireman Doug, came up for a Jimmy Lewis (10’4 & 10’8″) demo today and scored…
Whatup with all these fireman surfers and all their time off?!?!
Yesterday, I went with my next door neighbor, fireman Brian…and seshed at a spot in the 805, that Patagonia’s surfing ambassadors…the Malloy brothers learned to surf at…last week it was with fireman John…
Digressing again…back to today…
Sweet, hollow, and down the line…P&S H20 pics don’t really do it justice…but, it’s better than nuthin’…you get the idea, anyways…
Here’s the rest of the gallery…
R E S P E C T…
The world’s first big-wave standup paddle surfing contest went off at Makaha (Westside Oahu) on Valentine’s Day…QUIKSILVEREDITION KU IKAIKA CHALLENGE
photo: Covered Images/Sarah Towner
Notable quote:”I’m addicted!” said Chuck Patterson. “This new sport is so exciting. It’s as much fun as anything I’ve ever done and it’s the most humbling. It has its glorified moments that leaving you feeling amazing, but then you can turn straight around and fall on a small little bump on the water. It’s a humanizing experience – you’ve just got to get back on your feet and start over. You’re always learning and it’s never boring.”
41 year old Aaron Napolean won the event taking out 3 other twenty-somethings in the finals…
photo: Covered Images/Sarah Towner
Sarah Towner provides more images here…
and here is a rough cut vid clip…
Electrifying win for Napoleon
By Dayton Morinaga
Honolulu Advertiser Staff Writer
MAKAHA — Aaron Napoleon took a day off from his job with an electrical company yesterday to pull off a shocker at Makaha Beach.
Napoleon won the inaugural QuiksilverEdition Ku Ikaika Challenge — a big-wave contest for stand-up paddle surfing.
The one-day event was run in picturesque conditions, with wave-face heights ranging from 10 to 25 feet.
“I just went out there and said you gotta be kidding me — this is so much fun,” said Napoleon, who resides in Pearl City. “Better than working.
“It wasn’t super big, but it was beautiful. I said this is just epic.”
Napoleon is 41, and twice competed in the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational surfing contest in the 1980s.
“When does a 41-year-old win a meet?” he said, laughing. “That never happens.”
Yesterday, his big-wave experience played a key role. In the 30-minute final, Napoleon caught the two biggest waves of the heat and was rewarded with scores of 8.67 and 8.5 for a total of 17.17.
The other three finalists are 20-somethings in age, so Napoleon said his strategy was to wait for the bigger waves.
“I know they were turning better than me,” he said. “But what helps with the bigger waves is you don’t necessarily have to turn.”
Napoleon’s age was not the only surprising aspect of his victory. He said he rarely practices stand-up paddle surfing — which requires a combination of paddling and surfing skills.
He even tried to enter a contest last month, but did not make the cut because of his lack of practice time.
“Kind of ironic, yeah?” he said.
For yesterday’s contest, Napoleon had to start from the trials round. By the end of the day, he competed in five heats.
His momentum started in the first round, when he received a perfect 10 for a barrel ride.
After the victory, Napoleon talked at length about the respect he has for all the top watermen in Hawai’i. Now, his name can be added to that list.
Napoleon’s resume includes victorious stints in professional surfing, one-man canoe paddling, six-person canoe paddling, and paddleboarding. He is also an avid fisherman. His father is legendary canoe paddler Joseph “Nappy” Napoleon.
Keoni Keaulana, another member of a famous ocean sports family, placed second. He had a two-wave score of 14.0 in the final.
“You had the best of the best in this sport out here today, so I’m happy I got second,” said Keaulana, 24.
He is the grandson of Buffalo Keaulana, and nephew of Brian and Rusty Keaulana. They all grew up surfing at Makaha.
Ikaika Kalama of the Big Island placed third, and Kamu Auwae of Wai’anae was fourth.
The contest was a benefit for the West Side Junior Lifeguard Foundation. Napoleon’s winning check of $4,000 was donated to the foundation. Every competitor in the contest received $350.
FINAL RESULTS
1, Aaron Napoleon. 2, Keoni Keaulana. 3, Ikaika Kalama. 4, Kamu Auwae. 5 (tie), Brian Keaulana and Chuck Patterson. 7 (tie), Bonga Perkins and Kelii Mamala. 9 (tie), Raimana Van Bastolear, Duane DeSoto, Russ Keaulana and Dave Parmenter. 13 (tie), Noland Martin, Keone Downing, Garrett McNamara and Sam Pai.
Getting more impressed with the new “SuperFish” from Starboard…
Bennett Williams took it out after I was done and had some light air wavesailing fun…
Click here for more pics…
“When the power of love overcomes the love of power then the world will know peace”
Jimi Hendrix
We just received the email attached below this flyer from some super stoked standuppers from Buenos Aires, Argentina who have opened up the first standup paddle surf school in their country…they also are manufacturing their own line of paddles and standup paddleboards…
Click on the flyer below to see pictures of their first event…
“Aloha everyone
My name is Sabrina Paoloni and I work in the major surf company in Argentina called Camaron Brujo. Owned by Latinamerican Surfing Champions Sebastian and Marcelo Galindo.
I write mostly to tell you that you have been a major source of inspiration since I just opened the first Stand Up Paddle Surf School in Argentina. Its a pretty new sport here, people hardly know about it.
We hosted an event sponsored by Red Bull to show how the sport is done and gather up the whole surfing/kite/and wakeboarding scene. The school is located at the shore of a nautical city called San Isidro, surrounded by calmed waters. Ideal for everyone to start paddlesurfing.
We also manufacture the boards and paddles ourselves.
Mahalo, I love what you do. Hope to hear from you soon…Happy New Year!!”
Stay stoked…and pay it forward…
Introducing several new standup paddleboard models for 2008…
The Jimmy Lewis 2008 SUP Catalog is now online…click on index image for more pages…
In addition to the standup paddleboards that we’ve recently highlighted on this blog, notably the 10’4″ & 10’8″ in the “Surf Series”…and a 9’10 & 10’6″ in the classic “All Around Series”…
There will be a killer big wave gun for those standuppers with cajones…this is a serious weapon for big wave hunting…
Also, a distance board for point to point crossings…this board will be available as a charter so you won’t have to lug your distance paddler to competitions…
For the browser navigation impaired, we’ve added some clickable visual cues for our extensive standup paddle content…just click on the thumbnail indexed standup paddle surfing picture galleries…
