Kialoa Paddles
KIALOA Paddles helped carry the Olympic Torch
KIALOA Paddles was proud to help the Canadians paddle the boat that carried the Olympic Torch on it's passage across Canada. Dave made these custom paddles for False Creek Outrigger canoe club some years ago. Go Canada. 
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This was shot by our friend and European distributer, Jean Phillippe Wuilmart of sunshort.com 
Pipes
Introducing KIALOA's new SUP the Pipes. Although designed for women we're finding that their men seem to digg it as well. Our friend Casso in Australia has some fun with his wife's new Pipes. He "borrows" it while she's at work. 
www. australianpaddlesurfer.com.au 
Friends of ASV
“A Tale About Bros Not Pros" I like that title. This is a new release DVD from KIALOA rider Ken Wilson of AwesomSurfVideos.com. Ken is a surfer from the Oregon Coast who recently won a record breaking 4 trophies from the Noll Longboard Classic. Check out the DVD by getting a copy from the Oregon Surf Shop.
Cold Stroke Classic in Wilmington, NC
Meg and Dave Chun, founders and owners of KIALOA Paddles, are at the Cold Stroke Classic this weekend in Wilmington, North Carolina. Cold is definitely and apt title this year as they are currently experiencing freezing weather. The SUP races start at noon on Jan. 9 at Dockside Restaurant & Marina, 1308 Airlie Road and tonight there is a pre race dinner where Chuck Patterson is the key speaker. Paddlers will do a 3.5-mile recreational course or a seven-mile “elite” course. The race is put on by Coastal Urge and proceeds benefit the Cape Fear Surfrider Foundation. Stay tuned to KIALOA's blog, facebook and twitter to get results! 
SUP in Bend Oregon
Bend Oregon is home to KIALOA Paddles and famous surfer Gerry Lopez so it is no wonder the SUPing has some great support here, even if we are more than 3 hours from the ocean.
Treasure Island Classic in Florida
Hi Everyone,
First I want to thank everyone for coming to the Treasure Island Classic. When I first started organizing this event we had three six man outrigger canoes, all from the same club, and a handful of single/tandem participants. This past weekend we had 16 teams of OC6s on Saturday and 48 paddlers racing on Sunday. That's a record!! I want to acknowledge Michael Sieber, Cortland Reilly and Jean Rass for steering three short course boats on Saturday, then coming in and paddling on their teams in the long course, plus they paddled single/tandem canoes on Sunday. Quite amazing, and thanks!!
Second I want to thank all my sponsors and helpers. Harry Black has supported this event from the beginning and has let us “take over” his hotel every year. This year he not only supplied the beer, but also the lunch on Sunday. He and his wife cooked and served all that food, and I can't thank them enough for their hard work. Sloppy Joe's catered the delicious food on Saturday.
Meg of Kialoa supports me every year, and congratulations to Mike Owens of the South Carolina Canoe Club for winning that beautiful paddle from Kialoa. I also want to thank Bill Edwards of MIC, Darry Jackson of Bill Jackson's and Mike Siebel of Canoe Country for their support and contributions every year. I wouldn't have all those cool raffle prizes without them.
I also would not be able to race or run this event without the people who volunteer to help me. Lewis and Erin, great job on the timing with 3 seperate starts on Saturday. Thanks to you two, and Pat, Jeannie and Glenda for helping with lunch and the awards. Beans, I needed your voice for the raffle. That was great!
In addition, I want to thank Angela, who I'm so happy to have met on the beach 4 weeks ago. She's and experienced paddler who paddled in California and recently moved here. She joined Kai aniani a few days later, and showed her Mahalo spirit by immediately volunteering to help me. She helped with timing on Sunday, which is always a sterssor for me, and was there helping to the end. My friend Glenda was also there for me this weekend, with lots of experience at doing this. Terri Bezuidenhout was in charge of photography, and we wouldn't have all these great pictures without her.
I’ve attached a few. To see more pictures please visit the Kai aniani website, which Terri also created at: http://www.clearwatercanoeclub.com/. Then there was Rob Mirlenbrink who had the beer there for us when we all came in!! That liquor run is most important!
I also want to congratulate my team mates for an awesome job. We had never paddled together as a team. Our steers person Mike Owens from South Carolina, Larry Frederick stroking from Gainesville, Doug and Belem who I had never met, but are from this area, and Carolyn, who I have paddled with, all did a great job. We missed John Kee and some of his team, due to a prior planned event. Anita, you did a great job getting a team together from Ft. Lauderdale, and thanks for the advanced registration mailed to me. You are quite organized. I appreciate everyone who came from out of State and to my New York friends who traveled the furthest.
Until next time…. 
Rea SieberRace Organizer, Treasure Island Classic 
SUP on Lake Padden, Bellingham, WA
KIALOA would like to thank Heather and Brandon Nelson for being such enthusiastic ambassadors for KIALOA paddles and the sport of SUP in the Northwest. They did a demo over this last cold November weekend and had a good showing. Check out the video. www.bellinghamsup.com 
Hawaiian Youth Paddler Award
This year at the Hawaiian State Chamionships for Outrigger a student athelete from each island was chosen for the "State Youth Paddler " award. The young paddlers are chosen because they best embody the spirit of Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Paddling, they perpetuate all Hawaiian tradition, show a passion for the sport, show humility, exhibit teamwork, and showcase leadership abilities. Each student was awarded a KIALOA custom hybrid paddle, hand-made by Dave Chun. We gave paddles directly to kids from Oahu, Maui, Hawaii (Big Island), Kauai and Lana’i. Moloka’i had not chosen an award so they took theirs home to choose their paddler at a later time. Pictured above is Meg Chun awarding Jaslynne Chang her custom "orange burst" paddle. Jaslynne paddles for Imua One Blade on Oahu. Jaslynne wrote us a very kind letter and said, "Much mahalos for the beautiful paddle…I'm never going to forget this. You made my whole summer truly amazing and showed me that commitment and dedication really pays off."
Oregonian Ken Wilson Brings Home a Record from Noll
The Noll Longboard Classic debuted in 1996. A True "Longboard" contest, all boards ridden in the Classic must be 9 feet or longer. This year was number 14 and was held in Crescent City, California on Oct 3-4th. The event has a category for all ages and all skill levels are welcome.
KIALOA Rider and Oregonian Ken Wilson took home a record breaking 4 awards in 4 different divisions. Longboard age 30-39, SUP, Tandem and the Superheat, which you had to qualify for from the previous years contest. "So it was kinda 2 years in the making because without qualifying for the super heat contestants can only enter 3 divisions," said Ken. Congratulations Kendog! Be sure to check his website Awesome Surf Videos 
Moloka'i Hoe 2009
Team Shell Va'a uses an all wood Tahitian double bend paddle and the steersman uses KIALOA's Foti Steering Paddle. Keep an eye out for KIALOA's Tahitian Style paddle coming out in 2010. It will be available in all wood single and double bends as well as a Hybrid version.
We’re excited about this new addition to ouroutrigger paddle line-up!
Team Lanikai uses KIALOA's, you guessed it, Lanikai Hybrid Paddle named after their club.
Order of finish:
1st Shell Va’a 4:40:17 Tahiti
2nd Team Primo 4:52:24 Hawaii
3rd Paddling Connection 4:57:51 Tahiti
4th Era’I Va’a 5:02:15 Tahiti
5th Lanikai 5:05:22 Hawaii
Battle of the Paddle 2009
Day One of 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 Yard. While twisty and technical, a healthy south swell breaking the length of the bay proved to be the triple jumps of the day. I had thought the first buoy turn was going to be a cluster. I was wrong. Mother nature thinned the herd by sending a timely set of waves at the mass. Riderless 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 leash. I told her a leash 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 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 surf lesson at Waikiki.
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 More pictures of the event at KIALOA's facebook page.
Top Results:
Elite Men:1.Jamie Mitchell (AUS)2.Slater Trout, HI3.Danny Ching 4.James Billy Watson (AUS)5.Chuck Patterson ,CA6.Aaron Napoleon, HI
Elite Women:1. Shakira Westdorp2. Candice Appleby3. Brandi Baksic
Open Men:1.Mark Raaphorst2.Dane Deboer3. Barth GarritOpen Women:1. Nikki Gregg2. Dian Wenzel3. Sue Sheard Full Results
Karen Wrenn at the Hennessey's Cup and Battle of the Paddle
The Hennessey's Cup in San Diego was this past weekend and Karen Wrenn is becoming quite a contender. Karen was happy with her race, here's what she said, "The Hennessey Race went really well. I got 4th. Which was really good considering who was there. I can tell I have improved a ton just since Tahoe."
The next big event is this weekend, Battle of the Paddle. KIALOA will be on the beach with a booth ready to demo! We are all excited to see Karen compete there as well as defending champ Chuck Patterson.
Both Karen and Chuck will be competing in the elite category with the possiblity of winning the largest cash purse offered in SUP racing, and on Sunday they are teaming up to do a relay.
Good Luck and see you there!
SUP Catch and Release With Michelle Woo Bowan
KIALOA is excited to introduce Michelle Woo Bowman. She is the latest addition to the KIALOA family and has been using her experience in fly fishing and surfing to combine the two sports with SUP. She is an avid fisherman and a full time marine biologist.
http://www.bowmanbluewater.com/ Her husband, Conway Bowman, is a well know fisherman and IGFA record holder. He runs a guide and outfitter service in San Diego.
Southeast SUP Championship in Wilmington, NC
KIALOA Paddles is proud to support the Fastest Growing Water Sport Races through Intracoastal Waterway
Coastal Urge will host the largest Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) race on the East coast this Saturday, September 26, 2009. The South East SUP Championship will draw people hundreds of miles to race the 3.5 mile course around Harbor Island to compete for great prizes from race sponsors and the coveted bragging rights.
Hosting two races earlier this year, Coastal Urge owner Jeoffrey Nathan predicts this race to be the largest yet. Originally 4 classes were established: a 12’6” and under board division and a 14” and longer division for both men and women. This race will bring a new element to the water adding a Lifeguard class.
Dockside Restaurant will host this Saturday’s big event as well as a private racer’s dinner the night before. With the gun sounding at 9am Saturday, racers and their families will be able to join in on Dockside’s community wide bash featuring music and food to celebrate their 25th year in business.
Want to get involved in the world’s fastest growing water sport? The Coastal Urge crew will be running SUP demos out of Dockside all day Saturday. Also, monthly SUP Cleanups are open to all types of paddlers.
While all proceeds from Coastal Urge’s first race, the Cold Stroke Classic, went toward the Wrightsville Beach Sea Turtle Project, all proceeds from May’s Intracoastal SUP Cup and the upcoming South East SUP Championship will benefit the Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and enjoying the beaches and oceans.
For more information, contact Jeoffrey Nathan at (910) 256-6468 or Jeoffrey@CoastalUrge.com.
Footage from the Intracoastal SUP Cup can be found at www.vimeo.com/5551962. 
Portland Dragon Boat Races
KIALOA attended our first dragon boat race last weekend on the Willamette in P-Town. The weather was great, the people were friendly and Kai Ikaika had an awesome beer garden. KIALOA would like to thank everyone who stopped by our tent to check out the Hybrid Dragon Paddle. Mahalo! 
Congratulations Ken Wilson 1st at Rogue
Ken Wilson won first place at the Rogue SUP division in Newport Oregon. Ken is one of the KIALOA riders in the Northwest. 
Here is an older photo of the Ken Dog in action.
Check out Ken's website Awesome Surf Videos. 
Meg Chun is Interviewed About Women in SUP
Interview with co-owner of KIALOA Paddles in Bend Oregon Meg Chun and interviews with the Ladies winning team from the Asthetic Clinic YOLO Race Series, Julie Ogle and Nancy Babin. Below is the link to 30A Radios podcast and the video from YOLO.
30A Radio Interview podcast
Ta-hoe Nalu SUP Classic 2009
Vicki Mills 1st place overall for women.
Chuck Patterson 1st pl men and Karen Wrenn 4th place women
Congratulations to Chuck Patterson and Vicki Mills for first place overall in the Men's and Women's categories. The Ta-hoe Nalu had their 3rd annual event this last weekend on beautiful King's Beach at North Lake Tahoe. The weather was kind and the water was a sparkly blue. Both Chuck and Vicki were using KIALOA paddles to take first place out of the 200 plus participants in this year's event. The race is 7 miles from King's Beach to Crystal Bay and back. The Ta-hoe Nalu provides a venue for paddlers of all skill levels from beginners to elite and has become a popular race over the past three years. Here are some pictures and we have a bunch more on our Facebook page and KIALOA's photo gallery.
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First Race in the So Cal 9 Man Series
Congratulations to Team California's men who came in first in Masters and 2nd overall in the first of the Southern California 9 man race series. An excited Chuck Patterson told us that it was his first water change race but not his last. The Whitney Harris 9 man race is a 20 mile course that runs up the beach from Dana Point to Laguna Beach then back towards San Clemente to Dana Harbour.
The men used KIALOA’s Lolo paddle. Check out the video of this race from Andrew Waldron on our facebook page. Click the facebook badge in the left column of our blog. 
The Coolest Underwater SUP Video Eva!
Stand Up Paddle Underwater View from Blane Chambers on Vimeo. 
King and Queen of Dog Patch
The King and Queen of Dog Patch Surf event was held May 16th. KIALOA is proud to have a place with Noah and Chuck in the top two places for SUP. Here is a message from Chuck Patterson about the fun event:
“Hi everyone, just finished a long fun day of fun competition at The Rainbow Sandals King and Queen of Dog Patch SUP surf event.
There was a huge attendance, with over 100 SUP athletes competing and several SUP industry companies supporting the event with demos etc.
The conditions were glassy 2-3' with a couple 4' ft sets on incoming tide, with a slight bump from the West in the afternoon.
There was a cool Aloha vibe with several competitors competing in costumes and wigs.
Final Results
1st. Noah Shimabakura
2nd. Chuck Patterson
3rd. Kyle Mochizuki
4th. Leleo Kinimaka
5th. Tommy Loy
6th Byron Kurt
A huge Thanks to Rainbow Sandals for putting on another great SUP event and to all the supporting sponsors for being there." Chuck Patterson 
Saeman Brothers
We’ve got some cool Go Pro shots from the Saeman Brothers out for a nice day of SUP. A glimpse of summer weather!
Chuck Patterson video
Chuck Patterson with his Go Pro camera.
Chuck’s SUP surf Go Pro (OH) camera mount from Chuck Patterson on Vimeo. 
Rhino Kaiwi Channel Relay
Congratulations to Kai Bartlett and Mike Judd on their relay win last weekend. They beat out a field of 90 paddlers holding off some tough competition.
Bartlett and Judd completed the 40.2-mile course from Kaluako'i, Moloka'i, to Magic Island, O'ahu, in 5 hours, 29 minutes, 43 seconds.
A flat Kaiwi Channel, calm winds, and hot temperatures combined to create a relatively slow crossing. The winning time was almost one hour behind the course record.
read the full article at the Honolulu Advertiser.
Young Bobbie Cooper Takes Home Some Hardware
Bobbie Cooper is one of KIALOA's young sponsors in the UK. She won the BSUPA Championships in 2008 and is well on her way to a repeat victory this year. The first in the British SUP contest series started last weekend and Bobbie placed in several Categories. The 17 year old placed first in Womens Sprint and Wave Expression while taking second in the Women's distance.
Good job Bobbie! We'll keep checking in with her throughout the season. 
Surfers Paradise Outrigger
Surfers Paradise Outrigger won Australia’s Gold Coast Cup race in April beating out their strongest competition, Mooloolaba, by four minutes! An impressive spread in distance outrigger racing.The girls use KIALOA’s Axel II Hybrid but are considering having seats one and two use our Hollyakala Hybrid. It is not uncommon to have the front two paddlers use a smaller profile blade. This allows them to keep up the pace of the boat without fatiguing.Good job ladies! 
Rusty Iron 2009
6 Man Paddling season in the northwest always starts with the Rusty Iron in Portland Oregon on the Willamette River. The weather is ususally suspect and this year was no exception. We had rain, drizzle, wind, cloud cover, and the occasional showing of sun. The constant putting on and removing of layers is classic Spring in Oregon.
Demo Days on the Deschutes
KIALOA was on the water this Sunday for demo days with Alder Creek Canoe and Kayak. Lots of people in Central Oregon got to try out SUP. Alder Creek rents boards and paddles so check them out this summer and join the SUP craze.
British Stand Up Paddle Association
The British Stand Up Paddle Association in conjunction with 2XS.co.uk will be running the first of the British Series at West Wittering beach on 2nd & 3rd May 2009. The event will be wave and distance – the wave event will be run in a heat format and groups of riders will be judged on their best surfing moves. Distance event will be held along West Wittering beach and will be based on the fastest paddle surfer over a fixed distance.
Also at the event will be the SUPGlobal.com big board bash which will allow new comers to the sport to try boards for free all the brands will have paddle boards on demo. There will also be free coaching by head BSUPA Simon Bassett for beginners and Neal Gent.
There are many good local SUP riders who will be competing at the event including British wave champion Neal Gent from Bracklesham, British junior Champion Bobbie Cooper from West Wittering and British ladies Champion Claire Blacklock from Chichester – all hoping to defend their titles in 2009. Second place junior Holly Bassett, aged 10, from Itchenor, will also be gunning for the junior title in 2009.
To win the 2009 British Stand Up Paddle Association series competitors will have to compete in 4 events, West Wittering is the first event for the title race. The other three will be held in Gwithian (Cornwall), Swansea (Wales) and Watergate Bay (Cornwall). It is currently the only stand up paddle series in the world, last year it attracted competitors from all over the UK and beyond.
Sponsored by 2XS Gong Kialoa
Supported by www.supglobal.com Matunas, Indo Board, Da kine, X-trian and Propsort
Cheers,
Simon Bassett
2XS
Tarifa Barn, Carthagena Farm
Bell Lane
Somerley
Chichester
West Sussex
PO20 7HY
Mob: 0774 775 8883
Tel: 01243 512 552
http://www.2xs.co.uk
simon@2xs.co.uk 
SUP Beach Clean Up in North Carolina
Coastal Urge organized the first SUP Cleanup in Wilmington, NC to help clean up the beaches and marshes. A popular place for boaters sometimes the trash doesn't make it all the way to that elusive recepticle called a TRASH CAN, or BIN as the English say, and much of it washes on shore to litter the beaches. Local paddlers came together on a windy and rainy spring morning to clean up Money Island.
“We picked up so much trash we ran out of trash bags! We hope you can join us on April 25th for the next SUP Clean up," says Jeoffrey Nathan of Coastal Urge.
We hope this effort inspires more beach Clean Ups! Let us at KIALOA know of any efforts you are making to keep your beaches and coastal waters clean! We would love to help promote your efforts on our blog and website. 
Ocean Ohana Catalina Challenge 2009
Congratulations to the Catalina Challenge winners Vicki and Julie!The Ocean Ohana Catalina Challenge was held on March 29th and is a 39 Mile OC-1, OC-2, Surfski, and Paddleboard relay. It starts in Avalon California on Catalina Island and ends in Dana Point. The Open Women winners,Vicki Mills and Julie Wolfe, won with a time of 6:04:18 on a Hurricane using custom pink KIALOA Ponos.Complete race results and photos can be found at OCPaddler.com
April Fools!
Hope you enjoyed our April Fools posts teasing our friends Mel Puu and Blane Chambers. FYI Mel is wearing speedos under those fins but apparently he wasn't thrilled to be seen in them and his daughter refused to bring him a towel! Dave, of course, had to maximise Mel's embarassment by taking a picture. 
Exclusive Scoop on Blane Chambers New Board
“Hey!! I told you, no photos of my double top secret prototypes!!" Blane Chambers
Photographed above is Curtis Miyashiro of Dakine, showing Paddle Surf Hawaii's newest top secret SUP board. In Curtis' words, "It doesn't float, it won't turn, and if it hits you in the head it will probably kill you. But for the price of a piece of plywood, you can own a board that will survive flying out of the bed of your pickup at 60 mph. It's not pretty, because it's a prototype."
For more information contact Blane Chambers at Paddle Surf Hawaii. Blane has a stack of sub-floor in his backyard, and we are sure he will cut you a deal on volume orders.
~Dave 
Mel Puu hydrodynamic as a seal
If you want to go fast in the water, you have to minimize friction. Mel is built for speed with his shaved head and no floppy board shorts to slow him down.
I took this photo as Mel exited the water after his body surfing heat at the 2008 Buffalo Contest at Makaha. With Mel, it’s anything to win!
~Dave 
Bonga Perkins finds another use for the KIALOA dragon blade
With the release the KIALOA Dragon Hybrid paddle, I thought this photo might be of interest.
This is Bonga Perkins with our SUP paddle we call “da Oar”. In our discussions about SUP paddle design, BP mentioned that he wanted a straight blade, symmetrical on both sides; so when he is scrambling around after a crash, he doesn’t have to figure out which side of the paddle is front and back. My solution was to glue one of our prototype Dragon Boat blades on a SUP shaft, which when I looked at it reminded me of an oar you would use in a row boat. Hence, “da Oar”.
If you look closely at the photo, you will notice that BP has “Bongafied” his paddle. He rounded the corners of the tip area, and than fiberglassed over the exposed foam core. I don’t recommend modifications such as this unless you are a very confident craftsman, as doing so voids the warranty.
Bonga is the 2008 World Long Board Champion, and has a signature line of long boards and Sup boards through South Point Surfboards.
Dave
Hawaii State Championships 2009
The Hawaiian Outrigger State Championships were this weekend in Hilo, HI. The State Champs are held annually on different island but every other year on Oahu. This year it was in Hilo on the Big Island. States is a Regatta with 39 different events and hundreds of heats that run from about 8:30am to 6pm. The races are held in beautiful boats that are made from traditional Koa wood.The overall top places went to:1. Hawaiian Canoe Club from Maui2. Kai Opua Canoe Club from the Big Island3. Kailua Canoe Club from Oahu KIALOA Paddles had Meg and Dave Chun at the event with a booth. KIALOA was proud to have donated custom paddles to some select young paddlers. Each Island chose a outstanding young paddler whom they thought represented outrigger paddling best and KIALOA presented them with a custom colored hybrid paddle.Congratulations to all the winners and I hope everyone had fun!
Hanna and Superboo Paddle the MR 340
The MR 340 is a 340 mile race on the Missouri River running from Kansas City to St Charles on August 4th – 7th . Hannah and Marissa, aka "Boo", are the youngest to ever attempt this race and they are doing it to help raise as much as 10,000 for breast cancer research. KIALOA Paddles was proud to sponsor the girls with a pair of custom pink hybrid paddles. Check out The Adventures of Superboo and follow their race!
Here is a great video the two girls did about their upcoming adventure.
KIALOA's 2009 Scholarship Winners
The 2009 Live Like You Paddle Student Scholarship was a huge success. The Scholarship commitee had a hard time choosing just 10 winners, in fact, we had to change it to 11 winners this year! We just couldn't compromise. This year was the 6th annual Student Scholarship where kids 18 and under are eligible to apply for the opportunity to win a KIALOA Hybrid outrigger paddle. They were asked to express their love of Outrigger Canoe paddling and how it ties into Hawaiian cultural values. We received essays, poems, videos, collages and drawings, just to name a few. Below is a video by one of the winners, Ho'oulu Bueltmann. He is a 6th grader from Hilo and a first year paddler. Congratulations to the 2009 KIALAO Scholarship winners:Haile Brant, Ho'oulu Bueltmann, Rebekeh Mersbergh, Katie Amberg-Johnson, Ricki Alao, Makana Macomber, Wren Prouse, Alakahea Familar, Rosie Smith, Iris Tung, and Chelsea Kennedy.Check out the KIALOA website soon for a complete winners page and view their projects.Press Release:PDF : http://www.prlog.org/10284558-kialoa-announces-student-scholarship-winners.pdfHTML: http://www.prlog.org/10284558-kialoa-announces-student-scholarship-winners.html 
Gorge Outrigger Races
The 12th annual Gorge Outrigger Races are taking place July 17-19th on the famous Columbia River Gorge! This race draws paddlers from all over the Northwest, Canada, California and Hawaii. The unique waters and beautiful gorge make this the premier race in the northwest and the most anticipated event of the season.
On Friday there is a fun downwinder for OC1, OC2 and surfskis. If you're lucky you can get behind the Sternwheeler for a really fun ride! Saturday is the 6-man races and Sunday is the 1-man races and an SUP category as well. Camping is free at the Stevenson Fairgrounds where you really get a chance to visit with all the clubs for the two nights we're there.
KIALOA has always been a proud sponsor of this race and we haven't missed one in all the 12 years. Most of KIALOA employees are paddlers and we look forward to the event every year! KIALOA will have a booth at Bob's Beach with many good deals to be had!
For more information go to Waterwalker or Bend Oregon Outrigger. Watch a fun and informative video!
Rooster Rock Outrigger Race
The Rooster Rock Outrigger Race was this last Saturday hosted by Mountain Home Canoe Club in Portland, OR. The race was on the Columbia River and about 10 miles long. It was a beautiful summer day and we had crews there from all over the northwest and Canada. There was OC-6, OC-1, OC-2, Surfski, and even an SUP division. I was in the Bend Oregon womens OC-6 boat and we had a lot of fun and did pretty well too! Mahalo Mountain Home for such a great event!
Here are some pictures to share by photographer Paul Cunningham. He has pictures from the race for sale at his website.
Laura Ricker was a key organizer from the Mountain Home team for this event. KIALOA was proud to donate a paddle for the raffle.
“What a great race," said Laura, "but only because of the amazing group we had there. I'm telling you, I was drooling over Dave's KIALOA paddle for months! It was great to see that it brought smiles when it was won. I KNEW we'd have two walk up for that prize!"
Race Results:
Women OC-6
1. Mountain Home (Portland, OR)
2. Bend (Bend, OR)
3. Jericho (Vancouver, BC)
Men OC-6
1. Kai Ikaika (Portland, OR)
2. Mountain Home (Portland, OR)
3. Sail Sand Point (Seattle, WA)
Mixed OC-6
1. Tri-Cities (Richland, WA)
2. Seattle OCC (Seattle, WA)
3. Waikinakona (Seattle, WA)
[Galapagos underwater SUP Camera
Happy Galapagos Sea Lions from Blane Chambers on Vimeo.Austin of Paddle Surf Hawaii was in Galapagos recently having fun with the Sea Lions and his Methane. 
Paddle Round the Pier, Brighton UK
The Brits are celebrating the 4th of July (but probably not Independence Day;) by having an outrigger race in Brighton. Click on the picture for more info. 
TJ Saeman in Indonesia
GoPro Footage: Kandui & Hawaii from TJ Saeman on Vimeo. 
Another Fun Blane Vid
Blane Chambers of Paddle Surf Hawaii on his 12' Gun/Ripper and custom KIALOA paddle. Fun soundtrack!
