New Soft Boards are one-of-a kind!
June 15th, 2010
Sizes -
11.0 x 31 x 4 3/4
10.6 x 30 x 4 5/8
8.0 x 29 x 4 - Kids size board
Quality Family Time – Stand-up Paddling
June 15th, 2010
Having a family with three teenage boys, I was keen to find a sport in which we could all participate and enjoy. Not having too much athletic ability or inclination myself, I was a bit limited in my choice! My boys were into soccer and surfing, but I wasn’t keen on either. About two years ago, my husband took up stand-up paddling and I became a “SUP widow”. He absolutely loved it! He’d would be in the water every day if he could possibly manage it and soon the boys got converted as well.
After much begging and pleading, they finally convinced me to go with them to Waimea Bay on Hawaii’s North Shore. The water was like glass – surely this couldn’t be too hard! My husband put me on his large SUP board, assuring me that “the bigger the board, the more stability”. To my surprise, I hopped on the board and was instantly mobile (give or take a thousand wobbles!). The main point is that I stayed on top of that board! The view into the water was amazing. Because I was elevated (standing up versus lying down), I could clearly see the bottom of the ocean with all the different shadows cast by the seaweed and rocks. it was simply breath-taking. I also chuckled to myself that I would surely be able to see any approaching sharks (another phobia of mine!) Not only could I see them approaching, but I was out of their reach! My fascination with the view of the ocean floor had a pleasant side effect; being sidetracked made me relax and not fixated on the fact that I was a first timer on a paddleboard, and consequently the nervous wobbles soon stopped. Within 15 minutes, I had my balance and switched to a smaller (and more hence more challenging) board. Who says this was hard to learn!
And talk about quality family time! My male family members took great delight in watching my beginner’s attempts as they glided past me with enviable ease. The male default to coach and instruct also kicked in – suddenly I had four personal SUP coaches, instructing me on my paddling stye, how to get more power out of my stroke, where to place my feet for maximum balance etc etc. Lots of laughs were had (myself included) as they watched me learn.
Since then, we have been on paddling adventures out around headlands of the North Shore to get to spots difficult to reach by land (or impossible to park near because of the crowds of tourists!). We have also had countless hours of fun jumping off high rocks located off-shore which can be reached by using the stand-up paddleboards to paddle out -the boys enjoying the challenge of who can jump the highest, make the biggest splash, do the craziest jump, or simply laughing at how loudly Mom screams every time she jumps!
The added bonus is that along with the fun comes a great workout. SUP is renown to exercise and develop your core – I found muscles that I didn’t know even existed! From my toes through to my neck, it seemed that every muscle was given a workout; both cardio and weight training (with the resistance of the water on the paddle). What an awesome way to exercise and train as a family.
As the saying goes, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Who knows, you may even find that you love it too!
(Sign it as “Converted SUP Mom” or something lame like that?? )
Stand Up Paddle is Sweeping the Nation!
June 15th, 2010
SUP is the sensation that’s sweeping the nation! With its rebirth a few years ago stand up paddle boarding has continued to grow at a tremendous rate as it makes its debut from sea to shining sea. Not only does SUP offer freedom, but it also offers versatility and functionality. From surfing the beautiful waves of the Pacific to exploring the waters of Lake Tahoe, SUP offers the freedom to do what you want, wherever you want to do it. How about exploring the natural beauty of the Grand Canyon? Just grab your board and paddle down the Colorado River. Or have lunch on the sandbar? Possibilities are endless! What you do is limited only by your imagination. So whether you and adrenaline junky looking for the wave of a lifetime, or you just want to see the natural beauty the water has to offer, paddle boarding has an activity to offer you.
Tommy Chun Ming takes 2nd in the Hawaii State Standup Paddle Finals!
June 10th, 2010
Hawaii’s 2010 state champions of surfing have been decided, following the three-day Hard Rock Cafe Skull Candy State Championships at Ala Moana Bowls, presented by the Hawaii Surfing Association (HSA). The state championships are the culmination of the regional Hard Rock Cafe Surf Series and determine Hawaii’s team that will compete in the US National Championships in California next month.
The HSA has been delivering champions for over 40 years, including some of the most famous names in surfing: Derek and Michael Ho, Eddie and Clyde Aikau, Gerry Lopez, Tony Moniz, Andy and Bruce Irons, and the list still grows today.
Ala Moana pulsed with surf in the two- to four-foot range over the three days of the state titles, with thousands of waves ridden by the best boardriders from around the Hawaiian Islands.
As the birthplace of surfing and the home of the many of the world’s most famous surf breaks, the HSA series is highly competitive and hotly contested by surfers of all ages, male and female, from around the state. This week, more than 200 surfers participated in the final round of competition, and Hawaii will send more than 50 surfers to California for the national championships.
Mahalo to the tireless, year-round work of the event organizers, judges and officials of the Hawaii Surfing Association, to Hard Rock Cafe for their undying support of surfing in Hawaii, to Skull Candy for their enthusiasm and support, and to these partners: Sticky Bumps, Surfer Magazine, Penske Trucking, Local Motion, HIC, Town & Country, and O’Neill.
Aloha.
Results listed in order of 1st through 4th.
Boys Shortboard 11 & Under Final: Kaulana Apo; Noa Mizuno; Loa Ng; Monte Grant
Boys Shortboard 12-13 Final: Dorian Blanchard; Joshua Moniz; Elijah Hunter; Alex Pendleton
Boys Shortboard 14-15 Final: Kain Daly; Kaimana Kinimaka; Kaito Kino; Keola Carreira
Boys Shortboard 16-17 Final: Matty Costa; Ezekiel Lau; Gavin Klein; Kylen Yamakawa
Girls Shortboard 11 & Under Final: Dax McGill; Mahena Maeda; Mainei Kinimaka; Kahanu Delovio; Moana Jones; Kylie Nagy
Girls Shortboard 12-13 Final: Bailey Nagy; Tatiana Weston-Webb; Jenna Forti; Tia Blanco
Girls Shortboard 14-15 Final: Lianna Patey; Kiana Fores; Makani Adric; Chloe Child; Jennifer Leon
Girls Shortboard 16-17 Final: Alyssa Gonsalves; Alessa Quizon; Maili Enos-Branigan; Kylie Rodman
Men Shortboard Final: Chatson Barrett; Aaron Swanson; Mac Feeney; Mitchell Alapai
Masters Shortboard Final: Scott Shimoda; Darren Mahoe; Alex da Silva; Bryce Yamashita; Kapila Ciancio; Collin Steinberger
Senior Men Shortboard Final: Young Tarring; Richard Patey; Kalani Ahina; Richard Tom; Brook Nottage; Adam Escobar
Legends Shortboard Final: Craig Sugihara; Eddie Pieper; Lance Ohata; Gilbert Perea; George Matsuda; Herb Pruse
Women Shortboard Final: Hana Harrison; Izumi Baldwin; Stephanie da Silva; Aleui Lyman; Dane Tortuga; Darlene Dubray
Grand Masters Shortboard Final: Tommy Reyes; Raymond Shito; Kal Faurot; Steven Riveira; Tomo Saito; Andre Derizans
Open Men Shortboard Final: PENDING AT TIME OF RELEASE
Golden Legends Final (70+): Koapaka Brown; Malcolm Ing; Roger Kinnemann
Longboard Junior Men Final: Crispin Nakoa; Gavin Klein; Akila Weber; Bobby Lusica; Colten Rivera
Menehune Longboard Final: Natalia Smith; Micah Liana; Kaoli Kahokuloa; Christopher Bluthardt
Girls Longboard Final: Natalia Smith; Tatianna Weston Webb; Liana Patey; Kui Adric
Longboard Men Final: Dustin Fernandez; Nick Riopelle; Dane McCallun
Longboard Women Final: Ashley Ahina; TJ Moller; Dana Tortuga; Hana Harrison; Jennifer Lee; Izumi Baldwin
Standup Paddle Final: Danny Tamonte; Tommy Chun Ming; Alika Willis; Noa Yap; Sam Pae; Nelson Ahina
Bodyboard Junior Men Final: Matthew Holzman; Henry Poisoda; Kanaloa Black; Reggie Ubilas
Bodyboard Boys Final: Shambaz Soaia; Connor Keale; Daniel Carter; Keanu Malama
Men Bodyboard Final: Ikaika Villa; Mark Gervacio; Marshall Orr; James Clancy; Jon Alcoran
Dropknee Final: William Perez; Ikaika Villa; Kaimana Wong; Mark Gervacio; Tyler Perez; James Clancy
Bodyboard Launch Final: Matthew Holzman; Patrick Orr; William Perez
Women Bodyboard Final: Malia Mizuno; Carolyn Orr; Vanina Walsh; Carol Orr
About KM Boards
June 9th, 2010
Originating in Hawaii, and with product about to launch in Australia and mainland USA, Kaimana’s range of boards are proving to be a crowd pleaser.
KM’s goal is to produce a range of boards that not only perform well but are visually appealing. We have collaborated with some of the best to produce a range of boards that perform well in both surf and flat water.