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.

Kalamalka Classic SUP Race in Canada June 19th and 20th

Kevin O'Brien from BC, Canada sent us this notice of a new major Stand Up Paddle race in Canada. Here's the info:

The warm waters of Kalamalka Lake between Vernon and Oyama, BC will be home to the first major SUP race in Canada – The Kalamalka Classic. It’s a 3-event SUP race at one of Canada’s prime flat water Stand Up Paddling locations and the organizers have partnered with Gatzke’s Farm Market to provide great food, a hammock hangout, bocce’ and accommodations.

Overview of the Event:

Dates: June 19-20, 2010
Location: Kalamalka Lake – Vernon & Oyama, BC (3.5 hrs from Vancouver, 4.5 hrs from Seattle)
Organizer: Kalavida Sports Ltd. / Kalavida Surf Shop, Vernon BC email: oksup@shaw.ca
Host: Gatzke’s Farm Market/Kalavida Sports Ltd.
Sponsors: To be announced
Nearest Int’l Airport: YLW Kelowna (20 mins)
Nearest Major Int’ Airport: YVR Vancouver

Friday: To be announced.

Saturday: (The Kaloya Crossover) It’s a short, loop course that has two different races; one for the newbie’s and one for the experienced paddlers. Newbies will do a short 2-mile version of the course and the experienced paddlers will ‘crossover’ the land at Kaloya Park as part of their 6-mile loop course. The afternoon will feature a more casual atmosphere with sprint races for prizes, board demos, vendor expo, followed by dinner at Gatzke’s Farm Market.

Sunday: (King/Queen of Kalamalka) The day that we’ll see the King and Queen of Kalamalka Lake crowned. This is the long distance paddle and the first male and female to cross the length of Kalamalka Lake (from Oyama to Vernon) will be crowned. Expect the winning time to come in around 2 hours for the 9-mile trek – An amazing chance to see one of the world’s most beautiful lakes up close and personal.

Event Fees and Registration: To be announced

Classes and Age Groups: To be announced

Contact: Kevin O’Brien – oksup@shaw.ca

Accommodations at Gatzke’s:

• 3 Cabins available (sleeps up to 6 people) *book now!
• Tent sites
• RV parking with no hookups
• Contact Lindsay Wong at: events@gatzkefarmmarkets.com

* We know you already have questions…. so stay tuned for more information *

Course Pics and Course Layouts (subject to change)

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

Race Event: Tahoe Nalu Stand Up Paddle Race - Bend, Oregon Award Winner!

The Tahoe Nalu stand up paddle seven mile race event this past weekend on Lake Tahoe, California was fantastic! There were 188 boards on the starting line for the mass start. The chop created by that many paddlers as they churned over the start line was enough to make the start more challenging that expected.

This inland flat water SUP paddle race truly was a trend-setting event and great experience. Two Oregonians were called up for trophies, Karen Wren from Portland, Oregon was second in the open race-board class and Isabella Barna of Bend, Oregon, (wearing the pink rash guard in the race photo) was first in the stock surfboard class. Good job!

Our local Bend, Oregon paddle company, Kialoa Paddle owners Dave and Meg Chun, had a booth on the beach at the Tahoe Nalu race event with examples of their gorgeous carbon fiber stand up paddle line. All of the Bend, Oregon stand up paddle racers were using Kialoa paddles during the race event. Thanks Dave Chun!!!

The race conditions were good with a very light, warm wind. The race started at 9:30 AM. The top winners were in at 57 minutes and our paddlers ranged from about 1:27 to 1:36. There was a lunch and a paddle shirt included in the race fee as well as some very lucky raffle tickets that won most of our group some awesome gifts. (You are lookin' good in those glasses, Eddie!!)

We highly recommend you give this paddleboard race a try -- it was a lot of fun and really worth the trip.

Photo: L-R Judy Shasek age 60 (2nd in women, stock boards age 60-70); Isabella Barna, age 15 (1st in women's stock surf boards); Randall Barna, age 59; Cristina Acosta age 49 (3rd in women's age group 40-49, stock surf board); Ed Shasek, age 59.
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Get your race gear at www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com, and remember to bring a life jacket if you're going to be doing any other paddling on Lake Tahoe as it's required. We appreciate your support! Thanks!

Rooster Rock Race Includes Standup Paddle Class

Over 200 racers are expected this Saturday June 27th at the west end of The Gorge. Primarily an Outrigger canoe race there will be a five mile division for smaller craft including Standup Paddle. Heres the link: http://www.maunahale.org/?q=Rooster_Rock_Race

Once you link to the site go to the Race Packet PDF at the bottom of the page for all the info. It looks like fun and adds another race to the Standup Paddle Race Schedule.

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

Plan for the Odell Lake Oregon Pioneer Cup Race July 25, 2009

(July 22, 2009) NOTE From John Milandin: I understand that the Forest Service is going to post a warning today. The race is still on and participation is each persons call. You can rinse off at the east end if you wish. The lake has been turning since time immemorial and during my 11 years as manager of the east end lodge when algae turns were heavier, there were no problems. I have seen no clinical studies based on the current science.

Time to plan for the Odell Lake Pioneer Cup Paddle Race at Lake Odell, Oregon this July 2009. This downwind paddle race is decades old and originally was just canoes. The race now includes surf skis, SUP stand up paddle boards, kayaks, canoes and most any other paddle powered craft. Janet and John Milandin will be running the race again this year.

The course is about 5 miles downwind, and at the end is a BBQ (additional fee - please support this effort by the lodge) on the deck at the historic Odell Lake Lodge. The race entry fee includes an official Odell Lodge Resort ball cap and a chase boat for those just-in-case situations.

The race is very non-intimidating and a good race for your first stand up paddle board race. It's a straight down-winder so even if you just stand there, you'll eventually blow to the finish line! Some years John has a special "Sightseers Award" for the last racer to cross the finish line. If you're an experienced paddle boarder you'll love the challenge of racing other seasoned athletes.

Please come join in this summer. If you're traveling, there are clean Forest Service Campgrounds both on the lake or nearby, or stay at the Odell Lake Lodge Resort.

Read our prior posts for more pre-race details. Remember that you can get your Stand up Paddle gear (maybe even FASTER gear) at www.StandupPaddleFlatwater.com

WHEN: Saturday July 25, 2009

• Registration 8 to 10 AM
• Race begins 11 AM
  
• Depending on the craft, the race is about 45 - 90 minutes. Most Stand up paddle board racers last year came in around an hour.
  

WHERE: Odell Lake, Oregon - Hwy 58 about 70 minutes from Bend, Oregon. Meet at the West end Shelter Cove Resort. The take out is at the East end, Odell Lake Lodge.

COST: Registration @ race $15/person (includes hat)

Odell Lake Race Classes: (If you need a canoe, let John know and possibly he can arrange a rental.)
canoe -open, local
kayak-solo, tandem
outrigger - solo, tandem
stand up paddle

BARBEQUE: This costs a little more, usually around $10.00 or so (I'm not sure). Barbeque following the race on the porch at the lodge! Be sure to plan to stay for the meal. We always take a group photo after the race.

WEATHER: Odell Lake, Oregon, is a high mountain lake. Summer paddling temperatures have been as cold as 49 F (note the photo of us in wetsuits and ski hats was an August day) and as warm as in the mid 90's F (the photo with Jason Bowerman - first place SUP paddle board race winner 2008). Come prepared with cold and warm weather equipment.

For further info call John or Janet Milandin at 541-782-2815

Note: Life Jackets are REQUIRED. We sell a waist pack life jacket perfect for stand up paddle boarding that doesn't get in the way.

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

Standup Paddle Bend Open Challenge

Notice of Open Challenge Race for the Record.

Anyone, at any time, on any standup paddle equipment, may challenge the record!

All records will be posted on the StandupPaddleBend.com(StandupPaddleFlatwater.com) website and the Standup Paddle Flatwater (standuppaddle.blogspot.com) blog.

The Course:
The stretch of the Deschutes River known as "Colorado to Southern Crossing". The start/finish line is the imaginary line from shore perpandicular to the first (downstream) HAZARD sign near the Bend Outrigger Canoes and Alder Creek Kayak launch. The turn-around line is the imaginary line across the river indicated by the Mt. Bachelor Villiage fence line.

Start from a standstill position, nose behind the line, and a timing person will give the start command with ready, set, go. The stopwatch begins on go. An independant, impartial timing person, with stopwatch, is required as witness and official timer.

The upstream paddle is approximately one mile and you may choose your channel. You must cross the turn-around line with the whole board, and paddle back to the start/finish line. The official finish is when the nose of your board crosses the start/finish line.

Classes and Categories

Categories
Each record will include the Cubic Feet Per Minute (CFM) that the Deschutes river is running that day, as published in the Bend Bulletin (on the weather page). As records begin to fall due to reduced current we will start another "CFM" category.

Classes will be as follows:
BOARDS- Unlimited, 14' and under, 12'6" and under, 11'6" and under, 10'6" and under. Rudders, foils and multi-hulls are only allowed on Unlimited.

AGE & GENDER- Men and Women, 10 and under, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-83, 84-86, 87-89, 90 and over.

Record Submissions

Submissions must include: Date, CFM, Name and address, gender, age, Witnesses/timers name, board brand/model and length, paddle brand/model. And, last but not least, TIME. Send to randall@footform.com

Be the first in your class to take the challenge, you're guaranteed to set a record!

Randall Barna StandupPaddleBend.com

14' Standup Paddle Boards - Racing & Touring

Take a look at a 14' foot paddle race boards and it challenges the usual definition of an SUP. Is this 14' long surfboard a watercraft, surfer, racer or adventure touring board? These SUP boards certainly have the heritage of a surfboard, like a giant "big gun," but the intention is open water and ocean racing and touring. In the old days surf contests were all about prone paddling, so now the sport is returning to it's island roots. Then, the fastest glide and speed would get you between islands and to next surf break before the tide turned. I can't wait to paddle one of these beauties!

The legendary paddle board shaper, Joe Bark has shaped a new 14' stand up paddle board racing / touring design for Surftech and it will be available next spring. The above flyer has the information and specs. The boards have a glossy white bottom and yellow or red decks.

The trend in SUP paddles has been towards the smaller blade (depending on your stand up paddle board speed). Pair this board with the Kialoa Shaka Pu'u paddle. For women paddlers or small (less muscular) men paddlers, I suggest you buy the Kialoa Methane paddle.

Another good reason to buy  your racing SUP boards at Stand Up Paddle Flatwater in Bend, Oregon is because Oregon doesn't have sales tax. To be guaranteed to get a Joe Bark Expedition 14', let me know now so I can set one aside for you.

Call me: 541-389-4547
www.StandupPaddleFlatwater.com

Gerry Lopez Interview on SUP Surf Mag

Hometown hero, Gerry Lopez is interviewed about his elite Stand up Paddle event, Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle race. It's a great interview with Barrett Tester and Gerry Lopez on SUP Surf Mag.com Here's the link to the page with the interview.

Gerry has a lot to say about the resurgence of SUP as a exciting sport. He has a lot to say about standup paddling as well as mentioning our local Stand Up Paddle Bend group of river and lake paddlers. Thanks for the mention, Gerry! One thing Gerry said that was news to me was this bit about the history of surfing: "Surfing contests in the beginning were all paddle races and they evolved into what people see now with people riding waves. . ." Lopez explained that this SUP contest is not the average "surf" contest. "We could have a wave contest, but a race would be a lot more fun and easy for the people watching it to understand."

The Battle of the Paddle event includes a $25,000. purse. That's enough to motivate a fitness program! Maybe we'll see some of our local group at a race like this next year!

Randall is ordering 14 foot Joe Bark SUP race boards and getting them in stock. Let him know if you want to order one. 541-389-4547

www.StandUpPaddleBend.com

Gorge Games Race: And the SUP Winners Were . . .

The 2008 Gorge Games Outrigger Canoe race was a big event. This July 18th, 19th and 20th the race included a Stand Up Paddle division. Read our earlier post with event details. Because this was the first year for Standups, and really an experiment for the Gorge Game organizers, events altered with the circumstances.

Randall Barna attended the race and sent back this report:
I had a blast paddling for three days in the glorious Gorge! All and all this is an event that can't be missed next year and in my opinion should be considered a Northwest Championship Standup Paddle Race!

The first day I teamed up with Michael Carpenter for the unofficial down-wind event. This isn't a race, but a gathering, where everyone arranges their own shuttle back and watches out for each other in case of emergency. I guess there's safety in numbers, and when you calculate all the risks in The Gorge you need to plan for anything: Wind, waves, current, barges, boats and obstacles. We went from Stevenson to Home Valley (about five miles). Winds were 20 mph and waves around waist high, what a blast! As first timers paddling in Gorge conditions we had no trouble, but definitely got schooled. The main thing I learned is how to judge the huge bends in the river. The one mile long bend around Wind Mountain is deceiving and kept pushing us to the northern shore. We had to paddle on the left side (without switching) for at least a half hour.

The next day (Saturday) Michael Carpenter, Al Paterson and I went out to test the race course and make sure we could handle the upwind legs. We had a great view of the 6 man outriggers racing and enjoyed the workout. We committed to do the race on Sunday.

Sunday, race day, was sunny and warmer with lighter winds in the 15mph range. It was exciting to line up at the start with all the outriggers and only seven Standups. We were doing one lap on the approximately three mile course and the outriggers were doing two. The two upwind legs (one at the start and one at the finish) seemed endless with a short break in between for the downwind. The fact that the current was going our way didn't seem to help much. This race is a true test of paddling technique and endurance. Also board design is a big factor in these conditions. The only Standup Paddler on a true race board was Dan Gavere and he finished in only 37:26 minutes a full sixteen minutes ahead of me! Everyone finished in less than an hour except for Michael Carpenter who had to drop out when his arms cramped.

The whole weekend was great for many reasons. The people are number one. The whole outrigger community is friendly and welcomed us standups with aloha! The venue at the Skamania Fairgrounds couldn't be better and the entry fee included free camping for the whole weekend. JD Davies ran the event, races and awards with skill and grace.

The 2008 Gorge Games Stand Up Paddle Race Winners:

Women: 1st Gold - Karen Wrenn (3rd overall! There were no other women.)














Men: 1st Dan Gavere; 2nd -Rick Graves; 3rd - Randall Barna;
4th - Al Paterson; 5th - Troy Butcher; dnf - Michael Carpenter
Dan Gavere, 1st Gold
Rick Graves, 2nd Silver
Randall Barna, 3rd Bronze

Thanks to Randall Barna for the photos and to the Gorge Games for the course map and event.

Buy your Gorge racing gear from Randall at www.StandupPaddleFlatwater.com

Odell Lake Race 2008: And The SUP Winners Are. . .

Nine Standup Paddle Racers entered the Odell Lake 28th Annual Canoe Race last weekend (July 26, 2008). Blue skies overhead, old growth fir and pine edging the cool waters and a light wind set the tone for a great paddle race on Odell Lake, located on the Willamette Pass off of Hwy 58. Six miles long and 1.5 miles wide, Odell Lake is known for the big winds that regularly blow through most summer afternoons.

This race has divisions for canoes, surf skis, kayaks, outriggers and stand up paddlers, so bring all of your paddling friends. The race is a lot of fun. The course is 5 miles downwind, and at the end is a BBQ (additional fee - please support this effort by the lodge) on the deck at the historic Odell Lake Lodge. The race entry fee includes an official Odell Lodge Resort ball cap and a chase boat for those just-in-case situations.

Please come join in this race next summer. If you're traveling, there are clean Forest Service Campgrounds both on the lake or nearby, or stay at the Odell Lake Lodge Resort.
Read our earlier post for more pre-race details.Remember that you can get your Stand up Paddle gear (maybe even FASTER gear) at www.StandupPaddleBend.com

Here are the names of the SUP entrants and their finishes:

• Women: Judy Shasek, 1st; Cristina Acosta 2nd; Isabella Barna 3rd; Marcy Boren

• Men: Jason Bowerman 1st and 1st Overall SUP; Michael Heidenreich 2nd; Randall Barna 3rd; Eddy Miller; Ed Shasek
  

Thanks to Anne Miller for the Photos.
In the top photo with all of the boards, the racers are L to R:
Marcy Boren, Jason Bowerman, Michael Heidenreich, Isabella Acosta Barna, Cristina Acosta, Randall Barna, Ed Shasek, Eddy Miller, Judy Shasek.

Race: Odell Lake, Oregon Pioneer Cup, July 2008

Hey everybody, it's time to plan for the annual Odell Lake Pioneer Cup race. Join this race whatever your preferred mode of paddling is: Canoes, kayaks, surf skis, Standup Paddle surfing, etc. It's all good! (And you get an official Odell Lake Lodge hat!)

2007 was the first year that Standup paddlers entered as a class. In order of finishing, the paddlers were: Randall Barna, Isabella Barna, Cristina Acosta and Kerry Raymond. We were slower than all other forms of paddling, so we were at the end of the race. Kerry Raymond won The Sightseers' Award -- a golden trophy we all thought was pretty cool.

The race is alot of fun. The course is 5 miles downwind and if we're lucky and the wind is up, we'll have some nice waves to ride. At the end is a BBQ on the deck at the historic Odell Lake Lodge. If you're traveling, there are clean Forest Service Campgrounds both on the lake or nearby, or stay at the Odell Lake Lodge. Remember that you can get your gear (maybe even FASTER gear) at www.StandupPaddleBend.com

Here's the Pioneer Cup Race info:
Date: July 26, 2008
Time: Registration at Shelter Cove 8 to 10 a.m. Race Starts at 11 a.m.
Cost: $15.00 per person which includes a official Odell Lake Lodge race cap.
For More Info: John Milandin 541-782-2815

Standup Paddle Racing

Standup paddle races are an aspect of the sport with a unique appeal. The same athletes that are running marathons and cross country ski racing are picking-up paddles and hitting the water. The blend of endurance and strength developed in standup paddling is producing very well-rounded athletes. Note the physique on the second-place finisher in the Florida championships!

The boards for racing are a different breed too. In open ocean racing 14' to 18' boards are common. The photo is the lineup from the Florida Championships.

Locally we have two races on the schedule. The Odell Lake 29th Annual Pioneer Cup is July 26th. This is a five mile down-wind race with a bar-b-que at the finish. Last year was the first for the standup class and it was a blast! Times were around one hour and 11'to12' boards worked fine. The other is in The Gorge July 18-20 with the outrigger paddlers. The 18th is an unofficial downwinder. The 19th and 20th involve both up and down wind legs. This is less desireable for standup but definately a workout. The 19th will include a standup class, details on this event to come later. Only experienced paddlers that are comfortable in big wind, waves and chop should consider The Gorge.

Photos provided by Trevor Gregson @ C4

See 11'to12' standup paddle boards suitable for racing at standuppaddleflatwater.com