Ke Nalu
Twenety six miles–Oof
My arms feel kind of dead, but not terrible. I did 26 miles round trip today, with some nasty currents and wind tossed in. I think the effective distance was more like 30 miles. It took me a little over six hours. I got in the water about fifteen minute before … [Link]
Pony Up, Ya Big Sissy
Part of doing the paddle from Plymouth to Provincetown is supposed to be getting your friends to pledge contributions. I can't do that for a number of reasons–one reason is that I'm a big sissy: I've never been even the least bit comfortable bugging people for money, even for a … [Link]
Training Log
I'm training for Brother Bob's (or Stoneaxe as he's called in the Forums) Plymouth to Provincetown paddle–24 miles in open ocean. I've been doing some long flatwater paddles in the Willamette river and Multnomah channel to get in some semblance of condition. Somehow I've gained about ten or so pounds … [Link]
Free SUP Demos on Oahu
Two Free Stand Up Paddle demos in July: C4 Waterman, Boardworks Hawaii and Blue Planet Surf are hosting two free SUP (Stand Up Paddle) demo events in July. All ages and first timers are welcome to try this great sport. See for yourself how you can improve balance, core strength and … [Link]
Liam’s Alaskan Adventure
Liam Wilmot of C4 Waterman submitted this interesting story of an Alaskan SUP adventure using a ULI inflatable SUP board. –ALASKA June 6th. Field Report. Being a surfer in a surf-orientated family that lives on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, a trip to Alaska in the middle of summer may seem … [Link]
Cape Cod Bay Challenge
On August 9, 2008, a small group of stand-up paddle surfers will attempt a grueling marathon paddle across Cape Cod Bay from Plymouth to Provincetown to raise awareness and money to help stop the ever growing problem of pollution in our oceans and along our shores. All proceeds from the event … [Link]
Paddling Plymouth to Provincetown
My brother Bob is organizing a distance paddle event to go from Plymouth Massachusetts across Cape Cod Bay to Provincetown on the tip of the cape–22 miles. In a moment of weakness I said I'd participate. I'm kind of looking forward to it, but I need to train and there … [Link]
New Look and Feel
I have the new site pretty well built. Now I need to tune the load times–it's pretty awful right now. But I think everyone will find this a much more accessible site. You can take a sneak preview at http://www.kenalu2.com . Please let me know what you think. [Link]
A few more changes, and then back to it
For those of you that have been following along, the migration to Dreamhost is complete, and I'm working on the new look and feel. I think people will like the new navigation–there will be several feature stories, selectable by tabs according to the topic. Below that will be picture-oriented articles, … [Link]
Up on a new Server
We've changed hosting, thanks to some fast and smooth work by the nice folks at ContentRobot (www.contentrobot.com). Now we'll work on the interface. Should be ready for prime time in a couple of weeks. I'll put a version of the new interface up for your comments soon. [Link]
How To Fall On A Reef
You're blissfully riding a shoulder, planning your next turn, when suddenly you see coral heads and seaweed just past the nose of your board–ah, that's why everyone else was cutting out of the wave fifty feet before. As the reef grabs your fin and you sail through the air you … [Link]
Rework
I've been really busy with Ke Nalu lately, but it doesn't show much. It's all in the background. I got really tired of slow loading times and lousy customer service so I'm switching hosting companies from Godaddy to Dreamhost. Since I'm doing that I decided to rework the interface for … [Link]
Training Log
I'm training for Brother Bob's (or Stoneaxe as he's called in the Forums) Plymouth to Provincetown paddle–24 miles in open ocean. I've been doing some long flatwater paddles in the Willamette river and Multnomah channel to get in some semblance of condition. Somehow I've gained about ten or so pounds … [Link]
Free SUP Demos on Oahu
Two Free Stand Up Paddle demos in July: C4 Waterman, Boardworks Hawaii and Blue Planet Surf are hosting two free SUP (Stand Up Paddle) demo events in July. All ages and first timers are welcome to try this great sport. See for yourself how you can improve balance, core strength and … [Link]
Liam’s Alaskan Adventure
Liam Wilmot of C4 Waterman submitted this interesting story of an Alaskan SUP adventure using a ULI inflatable SUP board. –ALASKA June 6th. Field Report. Being a surfer in a surf-orientated family that lives on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, a trip to Alaska in the middle of summer may seem … [Link]
Cape Cod Bay Challenge
On August 9, 2008, a small group of stand-up paddle surfers will attempt a grueling marathon paddle across Cape Cod Bay from Plymouth to Provincetown to raise awareness and money to help stop the ever growing problem of pollution in our oceans and along our shores. All proceeds from the event … [Link]
Paddling Plymouth to Provincetown
My brother Bob is organizing a distance paddle event to go from Plymouth Massachusetts across Cape Cod Bay to Provincetown on the tip of the cape–22 miles. In a moment of weakness I said I'd participate. I'm kind of looking forward to it, but I need to train and there … [Link]
New Look and Feel
I have the new site pretty well built. Now I need to tune the load times–it's pretty awful right now. But I think everyone will find this a much more accessible site. You can take a sneak preview at http://www.kenalu2.com . Please let me know what you think. [Link]
A few more changes, and then back to it
For those of you that have been following along, the migration to Dreamhost is complete, and I'm working on the new look and feel. I think people will like the new navigation–there will be several feature stories, selectable by tabs according to the topic. Below that will be picture-oriented articles, … [Link]
Up on a new Server
We've changed hosting, thanks to some fast and smooth work by the nice folks at ContentRobot (www.contentrobot.com). Now we'll work on the interface. Should be ready for prime time in a couple of weeks. I'll put a version of the new interface up for your comments soon. [Link]
How To Fall On A Reef
You're blissfully riding a shoulder, planning your next turn, when suddenly you see coral heads and seaweed just past the nose of your board–ah, that's why everyone else was cutting out of the wave fifty feet before. As the reef grabs your fin and you sail through the air you … [Link]
Rework
I've been really busy with Ke Nalu lately, but it doesn't show much. It's all in the background. I got really tired of slow loading times and lousy customer service so I'm switching hosting companies from Godaddy to Dreamhost. Since I'm doing that I decided to rework the interface for … [Link]
Back to the Future
Regular readers will probably notice the paddle test is back, replacing the Laird Hamilton article. The load times for Ke Nalu have gotten horrific, and I'm working on a new interface to fix that. I think everyone will like this one better anyway, it give quick access to lots of … [Link]
Ernie’s Van For Sale
Ernie Johnson (Johnson Big Stick Paddles) is selling a custom van he has on the big island. Why is this in Ke Nalu? Well, its just about perfect for an extended Hawaiian SUP trip. I sure like the looks of this thing. I'd guess you could go about anywhere … [Link]
Back to it
Tough week, but I'm back home and getting back into the things I do, including Ke Nalu. I'm working on a new set of instructional articles and some fun stuff. Still looking for any and all contributions of articles, photos, great places to SUP surf or paddle. All the best to … [Link]
Funeral For A Friend
Sorry for not being very active with Ke Nalu this last week. I'm in San Diego helping the family of my closest friend, Barney Li, who died last Saturday in a motorcycle accident. It's just kind of taken the air out of me, but I really do feel a lot more … [Link]
New Toy: Foote KeNalu board
I asked Bill Foote to build me a board and asked Diane to design the graphics. I'm delighted with the outcome, except that I haven't had a chance to do much more than paddle it around–the surf kind of sucks lately. Here's some pics (as always, the pictures are letterboxed–click … [Link]
Learning From The Masters–In Photos
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Future Standup Hot Spots…or Paddling in the Land of the Pilgrims
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Comments Welcome
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New Standup Journal Out Soon
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Ke Nalu Forum
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Grand Gremlins and SUP
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At Long last: Tell A Friend
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Team Industrial and the Catalina Challenge
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Noosa! Big Fun Down Under
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Waterproof Artwork: Malama Paddles
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How to Paddle Straight
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Long Lens
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Surf Guest–That Soap Is Not For You
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New in the Board Showcase
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Lightning Bolt Maui
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Do It Youself Paddle Protector
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Link to us and tell a friend
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Jimmy Lewis 12′6″ Distance Board Slide Show
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SUP Camping Catalina
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Second Issue is Ready…Sort Of
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Gear for SUP
This is chapter two of the BOOK section–we're doing one chapter a month Boards and why you would choose them The first issue is the right board. For a rank beginner there’s almost no such thing as too wide or too long. But once you start catching waves or riding in … [Link]
Surf Guest–That Soap Is Not For You
Once again this column is aimed mostly at guys. It's not that I'm some kind of pig (though I am) it's just that I'm male. The notion that I might understand a woman's viewpoint about guest etiquette is laughable. I'm simply describing reactions and taboos from the position of dispassionate … [Link]
New in the Board Showcase
Three new boards in the showcase–all representing the performance trend in Paddlesurfing. The SRX4 from Sandwich Island Composites is an aggressive little ripper. Tightly pulled nose and tail, hard rails and a lot of leading edge shaping by Mark Raaphoorst (who said he was NEVER going to build a small … [Link]
Lightning Bolt Maui
In the heat of the shortboard revolution, the summer of 1972, young surf phenomenon Gerry Lopez and Jack Shipley realized the old established shops were buried under inventories of boards that were obsolete. They decided to open their own surfboard shop dedicated to the leading edge of surfing–and Lightning … [Link]
Do It Youself Paddle Protector
Paddles can be very tough on your SUP board rails, when you're learning you whack the board with the paddle pretty frequently, and once you are catching waves a little paddle flailing when you're losing balance can result in a nasty and very hard smack to the board. It's possible … [Link]
Link to us and tell a friend
If you have a website of any kind, I'd appreciate a link to Ke Nalu, it will help our search standing. And if you have a friend that you'd like to encourage to try standup paddling, please send them here. They'll find a lot of supporting information and encouragement. Thanks, Bill [Link]
Jimmy Lewis 12′6″ Distance Board Slide Show
An interesting introductory slide show for the new Jimmy Lewis distance board, narrated by Trip Forman [Link]
SUP Camping Catalina
Paddling through the Blue Caverns at Catalina Ernie Johnson (of Johnson Big Stick Paddles) and his wife Andie, along with friends Allan Cheateaux and Jamie Peterson, recently hit Catalina for four days of paddle-touring and camping. They carried all their gear strapped to their boards and spent four days camping … [Link]
Second Issue is Ready…Sort Of
I'm feeling pretty good about this second issue. Yes, it's staggering to it's feet a little, I still have numerous articles and features to finish up and add to the mix, But it's not April 1st yet–I'm about a week ahead of schedule in releasing this issue. I've decided that … [Link]
Gear for SUP
This is chapter two of the BOOK section–we're doing one chapter a month Boards and why you would choose them The first issue is the right board. For a rank beginner there’s almost no such thing as too wide or too long. But once you start catching waves or riding in … [Link]
Learning to Not Breathe
A lot of Paddlesurfers are returning to the sport of surfing after perhaps a long hiatus, or perhaps never surfed at all. Many of you will eventually get into bigger waves and experience the joy of bouncing around in whitewater or retreating from a crashing lip by hugging the bottom. … [Link]
Handling a Close Out Wave
I'm writing this article in large part because I'm trying to get better at this myself. I've run people over trying to get out of their wave, and been clobbered by closeouts more times than I care to admit. This are big boards we're playing with, you can't just … [Link]
2008 Maui Paddle Showcase
The Paddle Showcase is complete. It took almost as much effort as the board showcase, we hope you find it useful. You can just click on the Paddle showcase tab to get right to the index, or there's a copy of the index at the end of this article. The showcase … [Link]
Making Waves: Predicting Your Next Great Day
“Where do waves come from, Master? Why are there forty foot waves at Jaws when they’re just head high at Kenaha. Does swell period have anything to do with pregnancy or sanitary napkins? Why are there sets? How come we surf monks can’t get chicks.” “Ah, grasshopper. These are all hopeless … [Link]
Sure Are A Lot Of Janitors
Diane and I went to Kihei this morning to paddle some. When we got to Kam 1 beach the horizon was lined with Paddlesurfers–janitors, in surfer parlance, because they all look like they're sweeping up. And they are–when the surf is small like it was today it's about the only … [Link]
Cut Feet and Sore Shoulders
I'm losing my marbles. The wind has been excellent for the last week, and the surf sucks, but I'm doggedly trying to Paddlesurf. Why I don't just go windsurf is beyond me, normally I'd be happy as a clam about these conditions. I guess I'm an addict. Yesterday I took … [Link]
Sunday WOW
I joined Sol Morey and a few of his friends in their weekly WOW (walk on water) paddle this Sunday morning. They've been doing it for a while and generally have eight to twelve paddlers, leaving from the Canoe hut near Kenolio Park in West Kehei and finishing up at … [Link]
I Got My Camera Back!!
What an odd day. I spent most of it sewing new sleeves for all the rack pads on the funmobile. the surf looked big, and I bet it was going off in a reasonable size on the west side (ho'okipa was closed out and very windy), but I was home … [Link]
Big Sissy
I sure am glad the wind came up at Kanaha early this morning, it gave me an excuse to get off the water without admitting that I was scared. OK, I was. When I showed up Randy (from StandUpZone) and Frank (Lightning Bolt) were screwing around with Randy's new gorgeous … [Link]
Take Ten
Man, Kanaha is looking really shabby. I’ve got an idea about what to do with all the plastic bags we get from the grocery store. I’m going to take one to Kanaha with me every morning I go there and spend ten minutes picking up trash. Yeah, I don’t like picking … [Link]
Paddle Showcase
Boy, did we get a lot of heat on this. I should have made an announcement right away, but we decided to do the Paddle showcase in the next issue. I felt the board showcase would just overshadow the paddles, so I made an executive decision (good) and didn't tell … [Link]
Boneheaded Kook
I made a real bonehead move at Kanaha today–knocked a longboarder off his board. I had moved inside and to the right of the lineup to catch some smaller stuff. I paddled for a wave and missed, then looked back to see a big face bearing down on me with … [Link]
Hawaiian Island Surf and Sport
This shop has been on Maui since the lava first cooled. When I stepped off the plane in Kahalui the first time back in the early 80’s I rented my windsurfing gear there. I think the same people were working there–the only difference (other than the location) was that Lenny … [Link]
Top 20 beach shots from the Showcase
The most fun at the showcase wasn't in the water (though you'd never know that from watching) it was the people on the beach. Here's our top 20 pick of the beach shots: [Link]
Want to Demo the Showcase Boards?
Two Maui surf shops: Hawaiian Island Surf and Sports and HiTech Maui bought almost all the Showcase boards and paddles and put them in their rental fleet. Both stores now have an extensive rental fleet of new boards–it's a unique opportunity (if you're on Maui) to try the latest Sup … [Link]
How To Fall On A Reef
You're blissfully riding a shoulder, planning your next turn, when suddenly you see coral heads and seaweed just past the nose of your board–ah, that's why everyone else was cutting out of the wave fifty feet before. As the reef grabs your fin and you sail through the air … [Link]
Stylish Riders
Who says you can't surf an 18 foot open water race board? Some of the stylish riders at the Showcase. You can view this gallery two ways–click on any picture to see it full size, then you can browse a picture at a time, of click on slideshow. [Link]
Tandem Showoffs
The kids at the Showcase were great fun-enthusiastic, talented, fun to be around. And could they SURF! Slater Trout and Zane Schweitzer did tandem standup with toes on the nose, butt on the nose, helicopter spins–you name it. While Ashley and Conner Baxter did some funny ballet on a big … [Link]
Diane’s Favorite Photos
Diane Jenkins did the photography for the 2008 Maui Standup Board and Paddle showcase. Here are her favorite images [Link]
Introduction–Cautions and Precautions
The tips section is where each new chapter of the book: Stand Up Paddlesurfing will appear each week–one chapter per week. Chapters posted here will be moved to the Book tab after publication. Before you start paddle surfing you need to assess your swimming skills and your ability to handle yourself … [Link]
