New KIALOA Race SUP: The Hulu

New KIALOA Race Paddle: The Hulu

Our friends at KIALOA have just come out with yet another revolutionary new stand up paddle: the Hulu. We’re very proud to be among the first SUP shops to have it in stock (a perk of being located in the same town).

The KIALOA Hulu is a collaboration between Dave Chun and his friend, fellow Bend resident, Gerry Lopez. It’s a super light, super strong, top performance stand up paddle, designed to meet the specific demands of racing with excellence.

The Hulu features a plethora of super-smart, high tech elements that combine to provide maximum speed and efficiency, including a new shaft construction, trademarked by KIALOA, called CST (Compression Shaft Technology). 

The Hulu's UltraLight and Strong Shaft

The pre-impregnated carbon fiber shaft has an oval mid-section and 3K carbon weave.  The ultra thin blade has a KIALOA PowerHook, PowerFace Dihedral, internal carbon edge banding, precision ground edges, and a ten-degree angle.  In case you’re not familiar with the technical jargon, just know that it’s very, very strong, stiff and light. And because it’s a KIALOA paddle, you also know that it feels good in your hand, looks beautiful, and has soul.

In addition to Gerry Lopez’s input, prominent Pacific Northwest paddlers and KIALOA team riders, Karen Wrenn, Cyril Burguiere and Beau Whitehead were invited to test-drive the Hulu, as was Chuck Patterson of California.

Cyril stopped by Stand Up Paddle Bend the other day and had this to stay about the Hulu:

"The first and most obvious observation anybody will make about the Hulu is how light it is. It is so light; I was worried I would break it while paddling when I first picked it up. I raced and trained with the Hulu almost every day last season, in all sorts of situations (sprint, distance, downwind) without a shaft break. I have broken other paddles before and am amazed at the Hulu's strength-to-weight and stiffness. Dave Chun has explained the manufacturing process for creating the shaft and how he has been able to create an ultra light shaft, free of stress or weak points. Anybody that has the chance to learn about the design and manufacturing should take the opportunity - it makes you appreciate the time and effort that goes into making this high performance product."

The KIALOA Hulu is available
in black or a choice of several
all-new blade graphics...
or featuring the iconic Gerry Lopez logo!

"The Hulu is very different from KIALOA's older paddles, an exception being the Toro, the older sibling to the Hulu with a slightly larger blade. Some of the older paddles (besides the Toro) did not have the slight dihedral on blade to help with tracking in water. Also, the thin blade's shape is a longer teardrop with slight curve at tip. Without getting too technical, the Hulu just feels smooth and effortless in how it enters, tracks through and releases from the water. The oval shaft for lower hand grip and the top T-handle feel great in my hands - making for a comfortable 13 mile 'Round the Rock race in Seattle or the rare 18 mile training run down the Willamette River. This is truly a high performance paddle - It is for those that want to get as close as possible to feeling like they have nothing in their hands while getting a smooth, comfortable pull on the water."

The New KIALOA Hulu Race Paddle Shaft

The Hulu is available in three versions: the Hulu Light, the Hulu UltraLight and the Hulu UltraLight GL. The UltraLight weighs in at just 17 ounces! The UltraLight GL comes with the iconic Gerry Lopez signature logo and the Light and UltraLIght are available in black or a choice of several brand new KIALOA blade graphics.

Oh, Hulu means feather in Hawaiian in case you’re wondering!

6/10/13 Update: The KIALOA Hulu now comes in even more varieties.  Check out the new round shaft Hulu RST which comes with either a fixed length or adjustable shaft and in three price points.

KIALOA's New IKAIKA LineHigh-Quality, Sustainable Stand Up Paddles at a Welcoming Price Point

After getting to know Meg and Dave Chun a little better lately, I’m even more excited about KIALOA’s new IKAIKA line.

The Chuns are passionate about sustainability. I really don’t think Dave could sleep at night if KIALOA were to release a paddle that would one day wind up in landfill. Yet they also understand that the cost of a premium paddle might be daunting to beginners in this economy. They want to make the sport accessible to as many people as possible.

So Dave made it a mission to come up with a way to produce paddles at a price point low enough to be welcoming to beginners while also staying true to KIALOA’s core values of Po’okela (excellence) and Malama (stewardship).

The result is the IKAIKA line – Pupu, Hapa, and Lau Lau. Each paddle is very affordably priced yet also delivers a level of performance, durability, and visual appeal that will make you proud to keep it in your family’s paddle quiver for generations to come. They’re simply great paddles. And for the price, they’re unbeatable.

To achieve lightness (for performance) and strength (for longevity) that would meet the tough KIALOA standards, Dave used CRFT (Continuous Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic) technology to construct the blades of all three paddles. 

Ikaika means “strong” in Hawiian, and each paddle in the IKAIKA line is virtually indestructible. Dave had a lot of fun demonstrating this to us the other day by bashing one of them with a hammer and then holding it up to reveal that zero damage was done. 

Another cool thing about the IKAIKA collection is that, while all three paddles have that distinctive KIALOA look and feel, Dave managed to pack an impressive amount of variety within the lineup.

Now, not only can paddle shoppers find excellent quality and durability at a low price point, there’s also an array of choices within that price range -- different blade sizes, construction, and colors, different shaft construction, different palm grips, and different prices.

The lowest-priced paddle in the IKAIKA lineup is called the Pupu (which means "appetizer") in Hawaiian. The Pupu shaft is 100% fiberglass. The pretty green 8 inch wide blade is 100% solid CRFT. 

Pupu Stand Up Paddle by KIALOA - the first paddle in the IKAIKA collection. 

Next comes the Hapa (Hawaiian for half and half), so called because the shaft is 50% carbon and 50% fiberglass. The pretty blue blade comes in both Small (7.5 inches) and Large (8.75 inches). The blade is cored CRFT.

Hapa Stand Up Paddle by KIALOA - the second paddle in the IKIAKA collection.

And for the finale, there's the Lau Lau (the name of a Hawaiian dish). The Lau Lau has a 100% carbon fiber shaft and a cored CRFT blade. The blade is black and comes in both Small (7.5 inches) and Large (8.75 inches).

Lau Lau Stand Up Paddle by KIALOA - the third paddle in the IKAIKA collection.

Read this part if you're like Chip and enjoy knowing how stuff is made:

Basically, CRFT technology combines the performance of glass and carbon fibers with the strength of thermoplastic polymers. Over the last 25 years, CRFTs have been used in aerospace and defense applications. More recently, the technology has been adopted by other industries (car manufacturers like Ford and Toyota use it to reduce vehicle weight without compromising strength). KIALOA is pioneering the use of CRFT technology in paddle manufacturing. 

Known as "super-charged plastic," CRFT is extremely stiff, impact and corrosion resistant, and impervious to water and most chemicals. Yet it's 40-60% lighter and significantly less expensive to work with than competing materials. What's more, it doesn't produce any volatile organic compounds like the ones given off in the production of fiberglass products.

Read this part if you're like Lainey and enjoy knowing the meaning behind a name:

IKAIKA means "strong."  Kai Ikaika (“strong water”) is also the name of Portland’s KIALOA-sponsored dragon boat team.

Pupu is the Hawaiian word for appetizer. Items such as sushi and poke are “light pupus.” More substantial pupus like huli huli chicken and teriyaki beef are know as “heavy pupus.”

Hapa means half or part. The term is used when referring to fractions (as in hapalua which means 1/2). Hapa is also used to refer to people of mixed ethnicity (as in hapa haolie). Hapa is also used in such terms as hapa nui (majority), hapa ʻuʻuku (minority), and hapa makahiki (semi annual).

Lau Lau is a savory, quintessentially Hawaiian plate lunch dish that consists of salted butterfish, and either pork, beef, or chicken, wrapped in taro and ti leaves and usually steamed on the stove. Hawaii Magazine calls it "Hawaiian food Nirvana," and according to their recent poll, it's one of the five most popular Hawaiian plate lunch dishes. Lau Lais is usually served with a side of rice and macaroni salad. Dave knows a song about the Lau Lau. Hopefully, it'll be included in the upcoming IKAIKA video. 

"It’s not all that difficult to figure out why laulau has endured as a favorite Hawaii dish since ancient times. Besides its savory, uniquely Hawaiian taste, it’s also, arguably, Hawaii’s first real mixed plate. Laulau is a complete meal—pork, chicken or beef, salted butterfish and taro leaves wrapped in ti leaves and steamed. (In ancient times, it was cooked in an imu, a Hawaiian underground oven). Served piping hot when every ingredient within the ti leaves is cooked to tender, salt-kissed perfection, laulau done right is Hawaiian food nirvana". - HAWAII Magazine, March 2010.

Dave’s passion for sustainability has inspired me to be a more conscious consumer (and I was pretty good before). Click here for a moving reminder of the fragility and wonder of our precious planet.


Stay tuned for video of Dave Chun himself talking about the new IKAIKA line.

All three IKAIKA paddles are now available both in store and online at Stand Up Paddle Flatwater.

Questions about the IKAIKA line? You're welcome to ask them in the comment box. If you're one of the few who already have a brand new Pupu, Hapa, or Lau Lau, we'd love to hear what you think.

Ask Randall: Oversteering, Paddling on One Side

Hey Randall:

When I paddle, all external factors considered and neutralized (wind, currents, chop) it seems that I track well paddling on my right and not well on my left. So at the end of every session, my right side is dead and left side is still very fresh since my strokes on the left turn me so fast I barely get any in before I'm right side stroking again.
Any ideas? Thanks for your time.

Nick, from Lake Washington Seattle

_________________________________________________

Your answer in a nutshell is asymmetry. You're doing something on one side that you're not on the other. Here are some SUP paddling tips:

• When stroking on the left side, try bending your knee on the left a little more and keep weight on the heel and toes.
• At the same time, on your right foot put weight only on the toes.
• You may not be reaching as far forward (out toward the nose)on the left side. Try reaching a few inches farther forward and finishing the stroke sooner, de-power before the blade gets alongside your feet.
  

Whatever you're doing on the right side is good. Analyze it and do the same on the left. Most paddlers would love to be able to stay on one side for more strokes instead of switching all the time. Personally I like to do about ten per side before switching.

Purchase your stand up paddles from us on our website (or visit us in Bend, Oregon) www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Battle of the Paddle 2009

Dave Chun of Kialoa Paddle Company (we sell their paddles) sent us his report of the Lopez Battle of the Paddle race:

Day One of the Gerry Lopez Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle:

While some will want to use the clichés “Super Bowl of Stand Up Paddling” to describe the Gerry Lopez Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle, I think “Super X of SUP” is a better description for yesterday’s rough and tumble elite race. Gerry’s motorcycling roots were evident in the winding course laid out by the evil genius.

The course was an in and out affair, taking the racers through the surf zone and into a shallow section referred to by the locals as the Bone Yards. While twisty and technical, a healthy south swell breaking the length of the bay proved to be the triple jumps of the day. I thought the first buoy turn was going to be a cluster f*#k. I was wrong. Mother nature thinned the herd by sending a timely set of waves at the mass. Rider-less 18’ unlimited boards mow a wide path. If the sprint out through the surf didn’t get the heart pumping, I am sure having a carbon fiber missile firing at your legs surely did. Karen Wrenn from Portland, Oregon, had asked my opinion on wearing a lease. I told her a lease would complicate remounting the board if she took a spill. 30 seconds into the race and I’m thinking “man, that was some bad advice”.

Aaron Napoleon and Chuck Patterson had great starts and my fingers were crossed for a 1 and 2 Kialoa finish. My 2010 advertising campaign was quickly smashed as my friends crashed in a pack which included Danny Ching, Slater Trout, and Jamie Mitchell. It was a mad scene as some of the best big wave riders in the world participated in what looked like a surfing lesson at Waikiki. My head was buried in my camera and I didn’t catch the order of finish, but I know Jamie won.

My classic moment of the day was watching Aaron longboard his way to the finish on his last wave. Aaron looked like the Duke as he carved his way “right” though the finish line was to the left.

A side note: Kialoa Paddlers Vicki Mills and Beau Whitehead met for the first time at the local Immediate Care. Vicki needed a few stitches for her head wound; Beau has a new scar on his wrist.

Aloha, Dave

P.S. While the order of finished was definitely “altered” by a rider’s position on the course when the sets came rolling in, Jamie Mitchell was clearly the best this day. If the condition had been dead flat, I believe he still would have powered away from the pack.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Bend, Oregon Standup Paddling Subject of Register-Guard Article in Eugene Register Guard

Euegene, Oregon, Register-Guard reporter Mike Stahlberg interviewed Randall for his article, Stand up and Paddle!, on stand up paddle boarding in Oregon. The Pacific Northwest is renowned for water - lakes, rivers and the coastal waters give paddleboarders a choice of adventures every weekend. Thanks to the Register-Guard in Eugene, Oregon for spreading the word about stand up paddle boarding. Here's an excerpt of his article:

____________________________________________________________________

Stand up and paddle!Some Oregonians are getting their feet wet in ‘new’ board sport

BY MIKE STAHLBERG

The Register-Guard

Appeared in print: Tuesday, Jul 7, 2009

Sports: Outdoors: Story

BEND — A spinoff of the world’s oldest board sport is the newest wave to hit the Oregon outdoor recreation scene.

It’s called Stand Up Paddling (SUP), although the Polynesians who invented it thousands of years ago no doubt had a different term for it.

The sport is exactly what the name implies — you stand on an oversized surf board and propel yourself with a long paddle.

Surfers — led by big wave icon Laird Hamilton — began returning to their roots several years ago, using paddles to propel themselves to catch waves rather than lying on their board and “swimming.”

It turns out stand-up paddling is a surf sport that doesn’t require an ocean. Hence, the emergence of flatwater SUP on inland lakes and rivers.

The most visible venue for flatwater SUP in Oregon is in Bend. Here, in view of patrons of riverside eateries in the tony Old Mill District, a dozen stand-up paddlers can be seen plying the Deschutes River between the Bill Healy and Colorado Avenue bridges on a Friday afternoon.

“It was phenomenal! Super fun!” said Kip Roseman of Bend shortly after completing his maiden SUP voyage — with his 3-year-old daughter, Pema, sitting on the board in front of him.

“She’s already asking when we can go again,” said Roseman, who grew up surfing. “It’s a great core workout, but also really mellow.”

Learning to stand up and paddle is simple, said Tom Dean, a Bend yoga instructor who also loves whitewater kayaking.

“If you can stand on one foot, you can do it,” Dean said. “You’re just balancing on your feet. … If you want an easy paddle, it’s easy. If you want a challenge, you can make it challenging. It’s good for everybody.”

Stand-up paddling and kayaking “are complete opposites,” Dean said. “One is full of adrenalin and a rush of excitement and fear. Then the paddle boarding is calming and peaceful and meditative. Both are full of fun.”

Stand-up paddlers make surprisingly good time going upriver, some moving faster than people walking on the riverside paths.

Paddling upriver — or even across a lake — can be quite a workout. Some call it “the best workout on water,” which is part of the appeal. Stand-up paddling is used as a cross-training exercise by some professional athletes, including Lance Armstrong.

Bend’s emergence as a stand-up paddling hot spot can be traced to a trio of former surfers, including Gerry Lopez, who moved his board-manufacturing business from Hawaii to Central Oregon a few years ago to pursue snowboarding. Dave Chun also moved his Kiola Paddles here. Both were among the first stand-up paddlers on the Deschutes.

Most active in promoting stand-up paddling locally, however, has been Randall Barna, an Orthotics maker with a long history in board sports.

Barna was among the pioneer Oregon surfers who braved the cold coastal waters without wetsuits in the 1960s.

He eventually took up the then-new sport of windsurfing and opened the first windsurfing school in Oregon in the 1980s.

He now operates an online SUP business (www.standuppaddleflatwater.com) and spearheads outings, including a weekly 4:30 p.m. Friday paddle that begins at the grassy area near Alder Creek Canoe and Kayak, where rental SUPs are available. . . . 

. . . The sport’s popularity isn’t hurt by the fact that Jennifer Aniston, Tom Hanks and Pierce Brosnan are among those who have been photographed being stand-up celebrities.

Meanwhile, lake marinas are also getting into the SUP act. Resorts at Elk Lake and Floras Lake are among those renting stand-up boards.

Other waters where one can see stand-up paddlers in action include Odell Lake (where a stand-up paddle division is included in the 29th annual Odell Lake Pioneer Cup canoe and kayak races, set for 11 a.m. July 25.)

The boards themselves are thicker, wider and longer than most standard surfboards.

SUPs range from 9 1/2 feet to more than 12 feet in length, and retail for $700 to $2,500. Adjustable-length paddles go for $90 to $500.

The expense is related to the amount of ultralightweight epoxy used, said Tom Werner, another Bend boarder.

“The sport just evolved because of the technology,” Werner said. “They’re able to make them wider and thicker and longer and still keep the weight down.”

Some SUP boards come with a mast-mounting slot that allows them to be used for windsurfing as well.

One controversy involving SUPs is whether they are legally a vessel — and thus subject to life jacket requirements — or a surfboard, for which life preservers are not required.

An article in The Bulletin newspaper of Bend earlier this year quoted a U.S. Coast Guard memorandum that stated SUPs are considered a vessel when “used for transportation” but not when being used inside “the narrow limits of swimming, surfing or bathing area.” . . . READ MORE at the Register Guard

________________________________________________________________________________

Buy your stand up paddle boarding paddles, boards and accessories from us at Stand Up Paddle Flatwater. We'll guide you to get the gear that's best for you and the conditions you paddle in.

Meg Chun Passes on Some Paddle Tips

Meg Chun, co-owner of Kialoa Paddles and a seasoned paddler passed on a few tips to me. When I asked her if I could make her post public she responded, "These are just things I have learned after being coached and coaching and reading and watching videos, etc. for the past 21 years. I do not consider myself an expert." Though she may not consider herself an expert, I certainly have learned something from her. I'm passing on her advice to me after I asked her the following question:
_________________________________________________________________

Hi Meg -- While SUP paddling past your outrigger this week, I heard you mention the word "whirlpool" in reference to paddling (you were teaching your crew). I looked down at my paddle and saw not just one but 3 whirlpools! Yikes! Are whirlpools good or bad? I was playing with seeing what I could do to eliminate them, but before I get too into it, I thought I'd check with you to see what's up with whirlpools.

___________________________________________________

(Meg's response)

"As for whirlpools, I need to look at this while I'm on a SUP board but here are some thoughts: The goal is to sink the paddle before you pull yourself to it. This is the catch phase of the stroke. If you begin the pull phase of the stroke before you have total catch/adhesion, air can catch behind the blade thereby causing slippage of the blade in the water and creating whirlpools.

Whirlpools are an indication of a less than perfect catch.

HOWEVER, other things do come in to play here - in particular speed of craft. Let's talk about race starts in an outrigger for a moment. When the boat is at a dead stop, well that's some low boat speed - none in fact. So when we go to do our race starts, we think of our first four paddle strokes as short and deep.

Because the speed of the boat is nil there is great, great resistance and our paddles cause big whirlpools. They have to slip through the water a bit. The paddles have to slip because we are not strong enough to propel a 400 pound boat PLUS six people forward without some slippage. As the boat speed starts to pick up, within the first ten strokes or so, we can now fully submerge our paddles and get full adhesion without slippage because the boat is up and running.

This is why it is important NOT to have a paddle that is too big. In a perfect world we would use a smaller paddle going upstream and a bigger one going downstream. Stand up paddle boards are SLOW and upstream there can be great resistance on top of that. So, you want a paddle that you can submerge and have a good clean catch with but that won't overpower you and cause you to paddle inefficiently. When I go out next time I will look to see if I have whirlpools while SUPing."
________________________
Looking for a Kialoa Paddle? Check out our shopping cart.
Photo: Isabella holding our 2 favorite Kialoa Methane paddles with the very hot looking custom aloha print.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com
Thank you for buying your SUP gear from us, we appreciate your support.

The Disciplines of Paddling by Dave Chun

Artisan paddle maker and owner of Kialoa Paddles (with wife, Meg Chun), Dave Chun wrote this piece to help make some sense of the variety of answers a person may get from the seemingly simple question, "What kind of SUP paddle should I get?"
We think Dave's paddles are wonderful. Buy a Kialoa paddle from us by calling Randall at 541-389-4547 or emailing him at Randall@Footform.com. Here's Dave's advice:

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.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Standup Paddle Edge Guard

Paddle protection is a good idea to prevent damage to your paddle, board and even your body!

• Black tape around the edge keeps from scratching the paddle.

Mastic tape is better and protects the board too. Mastic is rubber and about 1/16" thick.

The best protection I've seen is Paddle Guard (TM) from Surfco Hawaii.

Paddle Guard is specifically designed for paddle edges and is a molded shape for hydrodynamics. It's extremely durable and provides more protection than anything else. It slightly changes the balance of the paddle but barely noticeable in weight. The self installation kit runs $25 at standuppaddlebend.com

We think Paddle Guard is such a good idea that we're having a Paddle Guard party this Friday, May 9th, 2008 at our business location in Bend, Oregon. We're offering a special party price to introduce everyone to this new product. After this event, the price is $25.00 for the kit. Call us and let us know if you want to come so we can have enough Paddle Guards for everyone. 541-389-4547

Stand Up Paddles - You Get What You Pay For

Getting what you pay for is easy when you know what you really need. If you've taken a look at SUP paddles and been surprised by the prices, here's what's going on.
Standup paddling is a new sport, so until just recently all of the paddles have been handmade. On the handmade, handcrafted or custom end of the spectrum, the price varies because of time and materials. Carbon fiber blades will cost more than wood, etc.

Custom paddles are beautiful, expensive (approx. $300.00 to $500.00) and if they are made using modern engineering and materials (either natural or not) and purchased to perform in particular conditions, there is nothing better.

That said, a custom paddle may not be right for you. For beginners that can't justify an expensive paddle an aluminum shaft plastic blade paddle will do. If you can only buy only one paddle to share with a family of paddlers or a pack of kids, you will need an aluminum adjustable-shaft paddle. It will hold up to abuse and you can change the shaft length to suit the height of the paddler at hand. It will also be quite a bit cheaper (less than $100.00 for a fixed shaft or no more than $120.00 for an adjustable shaft).

Here's some paddle guidelines:

• Stand up paddle shaft length is determined by your height and your conditions. The rule of thumb is about 8" to 10" more than your height.
  
• Surf conditions - a shorter length can be easier because the water is active and changes height and the surfer is often crouched down.
  
• Flat water conditions - the longer length is easier so you can stand straighter & get more leverage.
  
• The strongest force on the paddle is when you are pulling it through the water. A carbon fiber blade keeps it's shape under the stress and is much lighter. That means you can paddle longer and faster.
• SUP paddle shafts are made out of: carbon fiber (the lightest/strongest), bamboo or aluminum.
  
• Buy a Paddle Bag. Over time it'll save you a lot of wear and tear and uv damage.

Now you have a idea of what you want, so it's time for a link to our SUP website so you can buy some gear! We offer both the handcrafted and the inexpensive models. Kialoa SUP Paddles, our local favorite (Dave & Meg Chun live nearby) run from $269.00 to $329.00 for their made-in-the-USA handcrafted paddle and the Aquaglide Adjustable Length paddle for $109.00 or the fixed-length for $89.00 are our choices for the inexpensive paddles.

www.StandupPaddleFlatwater.com

Recent Articles by Gerry Lopez and Dave Chun

Our local friends and industry SUP dignitaries Gerry and Dave have some great articles up on the internet magazines and blogs recently. I'd like to point this out with some links so they don't fade into the archives.

Gerry's is a very personal and wonderful story about his fire for surfing and how it was kindled, burned, smoldered and flamed again with standup paddle surfing. Find it at: http://kialoapaddles.blogspot.com/ Thanks Gerry for writing this and providing a preview for your book that's coming out in March. Now all we ask is for you to make us some SUP boards!

Dave has been interviewed and filmed so much lately that I don't know where to start. You'll need to navigate a bit to find all these articles, (two four-part interviews). Start with http://www.supsurfmag.com/ then go to page three of "articles." Part four of Dave Chuns interview on paddles will come up and at the bottom of the page will be listed the first three articles as well. Next, go to http://standuppaddlesurf.net/ click on articles for December and scroll all the way to the bottom of the page. Click on Entries(rss) and the whole list will come up. Scroll down till you find the four interview articles with Dave Chun.

These articles are super informative and Dave is very generous with his knowledge on paddle design, materials, paddling technique, and the industry. It shows why we all love our Kialoa paddles!

http://standuppaddlebend.com/