Archive for the 'Gear Previews' Category

Surf n Sea Demo Day Boards – Video

Here’s a video of the boards available for everyone to try at the Surf n Sea Demo Day.


(click thumbnail to launch video)

Steel Core Board Security Straps

A short video clip of Teene talking about the Steel Core Security Straps. Very good when you have to run to the market after a SUP session and have to leave your board on the car. Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to try these myself.


(click thumbnail to launch video)

Outdoor Retailer Expo – Surftech Gear

Sander from Surftech sent over these pics from the Outdoor Retailer Expo and demo day. I spoke with Joe Bark the other day and he was thrilled at the response from everyone. All in all, I hear it was a lot of fun and more proof that stand up paddling is here to stay. I wish I was there to try all the new stuff.
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Sam Pa’e 7-10 Stand Up Paddle Board

Sam Pa'e 7-10 Stand Up Paddle Board

I met Sam Pa’e at the Surf N Sea Demo Day and got a chance to check out his tiny stand up paddle board. I think he’s taken this in double and maybe triple overhead waves. As you will see, Sam’s not a small guy so it’s pretty unreal that he can ride this board. I tried and managed to paddle it although I spent a lot of time on my knees.

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Downwinder Insights

I’ve been doing a lot of downwind runs in the past 3 weeks.  I just did the Hawaii Kai to Kaimana Beach (9 miles?) today.  I finally did it under 2 hours and maybe that’s because I didn’t sit down as much as I normally do.  Yes, I’m the lazy paddler and I realize that time is still slow. Continue reading ‘Downwinder Insights’

Surftech Blacktip 9-0 Stand Up Paddle Surfboard

Surftech Blacktip 9-0 Stand Up Paddle Surfboard

Here’s a preview of the Surftech Blacktip 9′ SUP. I have this board and it’s super fun for the whole family to use. Continue reading ‘Surftech Blacktip 9-0 Stand Up Paddle Surfboard’

Blair 8-7 Stand Up Paddle Surfboards

Blair 8-7 Stand Up Paddle Surfboards

Here’s a preview of the Blair 8′7″ x 30″ x 4.25″ high performance stand up board. Joe shaped this from a thinner blank than I would have liked and it feels like this board should be for a person under 200 lbs. I’ve ridden it a few times and it is definitely smaller than the 8′9″ I have.

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Baby Queens Session with Duane DeSoto – Surftech Blacktip – Oxbow Stand Ups

Baby Queens Session with Duane DeSoto

I got a chance to ride two of the Oxbow stand up paddle boards on July 2. Duane DeSoto called up and said he was taking his family (5 kids and wife) along with a bunch of family friends and kids to Baby Queens in Waikiki. I took my family to meet up with them for a fun late afternoon get together. I really wanted my boys to play with Duane’s kids so that they get more comfortable in the water. Continue reading ‘Baby Queens Session with Duane DeSoto – Surftech Blacktip – Oxbow Stand Ups’

New Takayama Fins

Donald Takayama 4” side fins and 8” middle pivot fin

In an interview I did with Donald Takayama he mentioned some state of the art radical new fin designs. I asked when they will be available and he wasn’t sure so I called up Steve over at Surftech and he had some that I demo’d. They are so different that I didn’t even know which side was forward.

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Jimmy Lewis Distance Stand Up Paddle Board

I finally got a chance to try the Jimmy Lewis 12′6″ stand up board on a downwind run. It was actually by chance. My buddy Kekoa and I took out the C4 Waterman Vortice 14′ and Holoholo 12′ from Wailupe to Kaimana Beach. The wind was perfect side shore and aligned nicely with the swells. Once we came to Black Point I noticed out of the corner of my eye some stand up paddlers way out on the horizon. They were blazing.

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New Ron House Performance Boards

New Ron House stand up paddle surf boards at Wet Feet Hawaii. www.wetfeethawaii.com

rh9-1quad.jpg rh9-6lopez.jpg rh9-10quad.jpg
9-1 Quad9-6 Lopez 2+19-10 Quad

All under 20#

Surftech on Beautiful Lake Tahoe

Surftech on Beautiful Lake Tahoe

With all the focus on shorter stand up boards surfing gnarley waves it’s nice to see how stand ups are being used to explore nature. These are some pretty stunning shots of riders on Surftech stand up boards.

DaKine Downwind Paddle Leash

DaKine Downwind Paddle Leash

DaKine came out with a coiled stand up paddle leash designed for downwind runs or touring. The coils have a larger diameter than others I’ve seen and used and the leash cord is thicker.

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icon for podpress  DaKine Downwind Paddle Leash [0:40m]: Download
icon for podpress  DaKine Downwind Paddle Leash [0:40m]: Download

Kialoa Shaka Puu Stand Up Paddle (Part 3)

Kialoa Shaka Puu Stand Up Paddle

Dave Chun of Kialoa Paddles answers questions about paddling technique, paddle design and performance, his all-new Shaka Puu paddle, and general concerns about the stand up paddle surf culture. Dave also talks about choosing the right paddle, which all boils down to intuition that tells what type of paddle is best for the stand up paddle surfer.

We get to learn more about paddles and why design and performance are always relative to individual surfers.

The is the third and last installment of the Shaka Puu three-part series where Dave mentions that “paddle design is a compromise”.

Continue reading ‘Kialoa Shaka Puu Stand Up Paddle (Part 3)’

icon for podpress  Kialoa Shaka Puu Stand Up Paddle (Part 3) [5:58m]: Download
icon for podpress  Kialoa Shaka Puu Stand Up Paddle (Part 3) [6:00m]: Download

Kialoa Shaka Puu Stand Up Paddle (Part 2)

Kialoa Shaka Puu Stand Up Paddle

Dave Chun of Kialoa Paddles answers questions about paddling technique, paddle design and performance, his all-new Shaka Puu paddle, and general concerns about the stand up paddle surf culture. Dave also talks about choosing the right paddle, which all boils down to intuition that tells what type of paddle is best for the stand up paddle surfer.

We get to learn more about paddles and why design and performance are always relative to individual surfers.

In this video, Dave looks at the dimensions of the Shaka Puu paddle and talks briefly about the absence of data that could help in determining which paddle is right for the individual. Right now, he Dave says, the best way to find out what type of paddle is ideal for the surfer is to go out and try different designs and see what suits best.

Continue reading ‘Kialoa Shaka Puu Stand Up Paddle (Part 2)’

icon for podpress  Kialoa Shaka Puu Stand Up Paddle (Part 2) [5:15m]: Download
icon for podpress  Kialoa Shaka Puu Stand Up Paddle (Part 2) [5:16m]: Download