Chuck Patterson (California)
Beaux Nixon (Australia)
Uluboi Napeahi (Hawaii)
Makua Rothman (Hawaii)
Yuri Daberkow (Brazil)
Kainoa Hauanio (Hawaii)
Ekolu Kalama (Hawaii)
Benoit Carpentier (France)

Today is a lay day for the contest, with the next call on Wednesday at 7 a.m. In the meantime, checkout some photos from the first two days of the Sunset Pro contest including shots from both Sunset Beach and the Na Kama Kai youth clinic and contest at Turtle Bay Resort.

[Show as slideshow]

(Huntington Beach, Calif.) – Quiksilver Waterman Collection recently partnered with Mother Ocean and Tahoe SUP to launch a yearlong project in 2013 called Expedition Florida 500 (XF500). XF500 is a modern-day exploration of Florida’s coastline, waterways, and marine ecosystem as seen through the eyes of the waterman. 2013 is Florida’s 500th anniversary since Ponce de Leon discovered the land back in 1513; in celebration of this momentous occasion, the three organizations will unite to embark on a year-long journey combining the best of exploration, adventure, stewardship, science, and sport into a package that will include the full gamut of the waterman’s lifestyle.

The team will consist of watermen from all three organizations, spending the first half of the year exploring the coastline: chasing hurricane swell in the Atlantic, freediving Spanish shipwrecks, sailing in the Gulf of Mexico, stand up paddling the state’s coastline, catching mini-season lobsters in July, spearfishing in the Dry Tortugas, stopping into local beachside communities and hosting cleanups. They’ll encourage others to paddle with them, including team riders from Quiksilver and various celebrity paddlers. They’ll also be mapping the coastline and waterways with the help of Below the Surface and their Riverview Project (imagine Google Street View for rivers). In addition, the team will be collecting research and data along the way to further ocean science.

Team XF500 will then turn inland, spending the second half of the journey along the rivers, lakes, estuaries, and marshland – the intricate network that makes up the Florida marine ecosystem. They’ll document, map, and explore the waterways in similar fashion as they did with the coastline. They’ll camp and airboat through the Everglades, canoe the natural springs, drive old pickup trucks that run on algae biofuel, film amazing Florida wildlife and scenery, kayak and stand up paddle the rivers and waterways, and leave the land in better and cleaner condition than when they arrived. Camping and living off the land will be the norm.

The expedition’s primary goal is to highlight the importance of stewardship efforts as they relate to the ocean, coastlines, waterways, and the marine ecosystem. Florida is unique in that it embodies the entire marine waterway system from source to sea – one of the few places on Earth with such thriving wildlife and a natural environment based around water. The team will document their journey through daily blogging, daily photos and videos for social media outlets, filming for their own documentary and filming for Tahoe SUP’s EXPLORE project series.

XF500 was designed by Justin Riney, founder and Executive Director of Mother Ocean. Riney recently launched Mother Ocean on January 1, 2012 with the purpose of creating, inspiring, and empowering ocean advocates worldwide. “Our goal with Expedition Florida 500 is to merge our passion for ocean advocacy with an incredible storyline that resonates with the masses. With the help of Quiksilver and Tahoe SUP, our voice and platform will reach a global audience. XF500 is just the beginning – we’re rallying the troops.”
Riney will lead the expedition with Peter Mel of Quiksilver Waterman Collection, Matt Kechele of Quiksilver, and Nate Brouwer of Tahoe SUP rounding out the project management team. In addition, both Quiksilver and Tahoe SUP have designated Riney an ambassador and team rider for their brands.

For more info, visit: TahoeSUP.com or XF500′s facebook page
Contact: XF500@motherocean.org

Words by Joe Carberry

In a world fraught with uncertainty, escape is an oft-sought commodity. And there’s no better place to lose yourself than California’s Big Sur, a 90-mile section of rugged seascape between Monterey to the north and San Simeon to the south—a perfect place to lose ourselves on a fall weekend.

“Where are you guys?” crackled Vince Shay through the cell phone. “Bad news,” I answered sheepishly. “We were stuck in L.A. traffic for three hours … and I just locked my keys in the van.”

My passengers, SUP Art Director Rob Zaleski and Associate Editor Dave Shively, seemed ready to leave me at the Chevron pump with the locksmith. But the van—loaded with four standup boards, paddles, camp stoves, drybags and enough processed food to keep us alive for weeks—was mine. So they were stuck with me.

It was close to midnight when we rolled up on Vince and Fletcher Burton, who were bedded down on a dark roadside. Vince, a 39-year-old videographer and Fletcher, a 31-year-old contractor, had driven up from Pismo Beach hours before and scouted what little of our route was visible from the road.

Our plan was to paddle a 10-mile stretch of coastline faced by vertical cliff walls and towering rock spires, and affording no access to the outside world. We’d search out a campsite somewhere along the way, our criteria being shelter and, most importantly, an empty surf break.

We slogged the boards down an old dirt road through a shuttered state park, where Dave and I strapped drybags onto the noses of our 12-foot boards. Fletcher and Vince, who opted for smaller rides in anticipation of the surf to come, seemed to be second-guessing their choice. Fletcher’s overloaded 10-footer was sinking up to his shins, and Vince wobbled like a drunken carnie on his 11’0”.

He’d be off his board soon enough. Our first stop was the carcass of a blue whale that Vince had spotted during his reconnaissance the previous day. The blue whale is far and away the largest living creature on the planet, stretching more than 100 feet and weighing nearly 200 tons. This one had been struck by a passing ship a few days earlier, and sharks had been feasting on the giant mammal’s greasy flesh.

As we paddled towards the whale, I noticed streaks of oil spreading rainbows across the dead-flat water like gas spilled from an outboard. Before the endangered species was protected in 1966, whalers would routinely take more than 13,000 gallons of oil from a single blue—a factoid the boys were clearly unaware of when they decided to clamber onto the whale’s belly-up carcass. Dave, Vince and Fletcher apparently had a bucket-list item to check off: whale walking. They hopped on the great beast’s underside, taking pictures and ooing at the sizeable chunks taken out of its tail by passing great whites–which, fortunately, we’d yet to see.

Rob and I sat back and enjoyed the shit show, which got markedly better when the three stooges tried to remount their boards. The dead whale blubber was caked to their shoes and as they stepped back onto their rides, each of them began slipping and sliding, falling repeatedly into the potentially shark-infested waters. Blubber was everywhere, and the smell of dead fish hung like a pall. Vince fell in near the whale’s head, blubber covering his face. “I just threw up in my mouth!” he screamed.

We moved on but the whale remained with us the rest of the trip, a silent but very smelly rebuke. Thankfully, the ocean did not hold the same grudge: The miles slipped by easily as we wove in and out of sea caves, playing with the soft swell. Big Sur’s notoriously rough seas were calm, glassy as a mountain lake. Aside from overcast skies the conditions were ideal. A little swell here goes a long way.

After passing a few different waves that looked surfable, we came to a pristine cove with a grassy shelf just above the beach, a perfect spot to bivy. A small wave broke off a castle-sized rock in front of our camp, with a right and left-hander on either side of it. We were home.

We dumped our gear, cooked some lunch, and then surfed till we couldn’t walk. The waves were anything but big, but the faces were clean. And our egos were boosted.

The whale-walkers had a hard time getting traction on their boards, slipping and sliding on the leftover blubber. They rubbed sand and kelp all over their boards until they gained footing. Fletcher shredded every wave he caught, while Dave paddled into the biggest wave of the trip, a head-high, peeling right that came out of nowhere.

We built a fire at the high-tide mark and huddled close to it during the cool evening. I can’t remember Campbell’s Chunky ever tasting so good. We crawled into our sleeping bags on the soft, grassy chaparral and slept heavily.

In the morning, we enjoyed one more exhausting surf session, packed up and paddled the last of our eight miles to our takeout, enjoying the awe-inspiring coastline’s vertical rock-walled channels and exploring thick kelp beds.

Big Sur has a history of playing host to wanderers like Jack Kerouac, John Steinbeck and Henry Miller. Count us among the lucky. Count us among the lost.

See more of Zaleski’s fantastic photos here.

This piece originally appeared in the Fall 2009 issue of SUP magazine.

The Standup World Tour kicks off early February at Sunset Beach, but to get everyone geared up, exclusive SUP clinics will be held with legendary waterman, Dave Kalama, and two-time Standup World Tour Champion, Kai Lenny. The clinics will be held Feb. 1st — 2nd at the beautiful Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s North Shore and will feature:

• 2-day clinic with the Champions (morning & afternoon clinics with on & off the water tuition)
• Video analysis
• Edited video from trip to take away
• Access to all special events of the Sunset Beach Pro
• Accommodation at Turtle Bay Resort
• Breakfast and Lunch on both days at Turtle Bay
• Special rates for stays at Turtle Bay Resort through the Sunset Beach Pro (directly following the clinic)

Learn to improve your paddling, surfing and ocean skills in the company of the world’s best in surfing and SUP’s birthplace.

For all bookings, click here.
For more info, e-mail: clinic@watermanleague.com

SUP magazine is the official media sponsor for the Standup World Tour. Follow all the events from the surfing to the World Series of racing in realtime at SUPthemag.com and look for the World Tour preview in the spring issue.

Here is Part I of Myers’ adventure……DEFLATED: PUMP. IT. UP.

Stay tuned to SUPthemag.com for Part II.

Here is Part I of Myers’ adventure……DEFLATED: PUMP. IT. UP.

Stay tuned to SUPthemag.com for Part II.

(Encinitas, Calif.)–– The Outdoor Industry Association is hosting the second annual OIA Outdoor Inspiration Awards presented by Adidas Outdoor at winter Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City January 19-22 to recognize the programs, people and companies that are breaking new ground and getting people active outdoors.

This year they had 250 nominations and Boardworks has been nominated as one of the SMALL COMPANY category winners, and is one of three finalists for the award. Final selection of the winners is being made by a panel of outdoor business and community leaders who have their own inspirational track records to draw from. Winners will be determined by Monday, January 9.

Hundreds of business and outdoor leaders will gather during the evening of January 20, 2011, at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Salt Lake City to recognize the winners and formally present the awards. Mountaineer Reinhold Messner and champion climber Sasha DiGiulian will be on hand to talk about their own inspirations and to take part in the Award presentations.

For more information on the awards and the celebration, please visit Outdoorindustry.org

Tell us about your year.
Looking back, I realize that I’ve done quite a lot in my first year in the SUP scene. I started my SUP racing career here on Kauai and my confidence and support unexpectedly began to extend off-island to the outer islands, the Mainland, and even internationally. The first high-profile paddleboard race I competed in was [Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez] Battle of the Paddle (BOP) Hawaii, where I was humbled and impressed by so many physically and mentally strong female athletes. From then on, the ball just kept rolling.
Teva Mountain Games (TMG) was my first trip with my C4 ohana and we had a blast! I won both events at TMG, Kalani Vierra and I were featured tandem surfing the Glenwood Springs wave in the sports section of a local Colorado newspaper, and we made a 6-man IMAT run down the river! Since I was having so much fun on my SUP, I continued to compete in events such as Cline Man, Na Pali Challenge, Duke’s OceanFest, North Shore Paddle Challenge, and unexpectedly, Molokai to Oahu.
After doing my first proper downwind run this past year on Kauai with Uncle Dave Parmenter, I was hooked! From then on, paddling from Molokai to Oahu became a tangible goal. I didn’t think I’d do it my first year of starting open-ocean standup paddling. What an experience. Being so fresh to the sport, every event I’ve done thus far has been a fun learning experience and it’s been such an exciting year for me. I’ve been fortunate to do a lot of traveling for races, as well as fun adventures, including SUP surfing in Tahiti, and paddling throughout the lush Peruvian Amazon. I’ve met– and continue to meet– so many amazing water sport legends, industry people, fellow competitors, and genuinely nice people. I’m stoked and feel so blessed to be part of such a great sport and growing industry.

What’s your favorite experience been with SUP this year?
Teva Games was definitely a favorite, but I have a “top three list” and each experience is phenomenal for different reasons. My Peru trip was especially a unique favorite since it felt like we were pioneering SUP in the Amazon. We were the first people to SUP in the most remote area. We surfed standing waves, charged rapids and camped in the boonies. The trip was an amazing cultural experience as well as a true test of character.
My first Molokai to Oahu race was epic as well. I was fortunate enough to get invited to ride on Uncle Archie Kalepa’s boat from Maui to Molokai with Uncle Dave Parmenter and skipper Terry Hee. Despite getting a little seasick, to view and take in the mana that the backside of Molokai exudes– and doing so with such legendary watermen and good-hearted men was an amazing experience for me. Thus, on a tactical side of things I definitely think the boat ride helped prepare myself mentally and physically for the paddle.
Lastly, paddling 17 miles for Evan Valiere’s Na Pali Challenge was one of the best, most beautiful, and most challenging downwind runs I have yet to do. In the beginning I wasn’t even paddling, I was just surfing for miles on epic coastal swells! The challenging part came when we hit a headwind and had to paddle another 3 or 4 miles in flat water ‘til we hit land. That event was particularly special because my Dad also paddled this grueling race with me at age of 60. I was so proud of him and will definitely cherish that day for the rest of my life. The event and the power of SUP stoked out my Pops and because of that, I am grateful for this sport. It was such a great day that brought together families, friends and the community in a positive event that supported standup paddling.

What is your greatest accomplishment in SUP so far?
Surviving the Amazon! I’m kidding. I think my greatest accomplishment in SUP so far has been the Teva Mountain Games. When I heard about this event from C4 Waterman, I watched YouTube videos of people standup paddling down river rapids. I couldn’t pass it up. Right from the get-go I was having a blast, even when I was “superman-ing it” over the falls during practice runs. To enter the event as a major dark horse and paddle in river rapids for my first time, winning both events felt so rewarding. I was especially proud of my victories because I was competing in new territory and an entirely different body of water from what I am accustomed to. My results and presence at the event also allowed me to make a lot of connections with some really rad people, as well as great companies within the industry. TMG was definitely one of the most fun and craziest adventures I’ve done so far. I can’t wait for next year!

What’s the SUP scene on Kauai like?
It’s primarily geared towards surfing. There are a lot of uncles as well as youngsters that rip on SUP. But that’s not to say it’s welcomed with open arms at all the surf spots. As far as races go, there aren’t many “SUP only” races, so we usually have the option to jump in on the OC-1 races. When we do have [Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez] Battle of the Paddle formatted races it usually turns out to be a fun SUP community gathering with limited competitors. Nevertheless, we have a small, yet talented, paddle surf and SUP community here on Kauai to motivate and encourage one another. My paddling buddies and mentors here on Kauai consist of Uncle Parmenter, Kawika Carvalho, Kalani Vierra, Kainoa Lum, and my Dad. Mahalo for all the support and awesome downwind runs this past year. Hopefully more girls on Kauai will continue to get involved in SUP!

Do you have any plans for next year?
I definitely want to continue traveling inter-island, nationally and internationally to compete in races, as well as experience new cultures around the world. Australia for the Noosa Festival might be the next adventure! After finishing up my first year of SUP races I’m really excited for next year’s racing season. A couple personal goals are to defend my title at the Teva Mountain Games, better my results in both Hawaii and California’s Elite BOP race, paddle Molokai to Oahu solo, and enter SUP as well as OC-1 at the OluKai Ho’olaule’a event on Maui. And to get more high-profile racers to come over to Kauai for one of the greatest downwind races, the 17-mile Na Pali Challenge Race. I’m also going to do my best to get over to the outer-islands as much as possible for weekend races. I’m enjoying the journey and stoked to be part of such a great water sport involving so many good people. Aloha.

To read about Helga Goebel, click here.

How’d you get into paddling? I started paddling when I was 16. As a kid, I grew up doing surf lifesaving, which is big in Australia. I started competing on outrigger canoes. I was a small kid, so they taught me how to be a steersman. I learned how to have ‘feel’ for the water and how to control a canoe, which made the transition to standup really easy. The first time I saw an SUP was in 2007 in Hawaii when racing the OC-1 series. I remember thinking, ‘This sport won’t take off’. It looked silly.

So why’d you get into standup? When I finally tried it, I was immediately really good at it. At the same time, there was a ton of buzz about standup and it started to blow up. I realized there could be a lot more opportunities with the sport than I originally assumed—from sponsorship to coaching. In 2009, I entered my first race in Noosa and won the whole thing. Someone told me I should enter the Battle of the Paddle in Hawaii. I didn’t really train for it … just mucked around, and somehow took second place. After that, I decided to take the sport a bit more seriously. I am stoked to be part of it now, and I’ve become a huge ambassador for the sport.

Why do you think outrigger paddlers make great standup racers? You’re just standing versus sitting, and using a longer paddle. Little things, like knowing where to stand and how to use the paddle, have really given myself, and guys like Danny Ching and Jamie Mitchell (also canoe steersmen) a huge advantage. The canoe and surfski guys have an advantage because they have that feel. Surfers have balance; they just tend not to have technique.

So you ready to be a pro? I have a full-time job building outrigger canoes and I’m not fully sponsored like a lot of the guys, so I try to train smart. I usually train at 5 a.m. or 5 p.m., but only one session a day. I don’t really do any gym work. I just stay on the water.

Is there a scene there? In Australia, standup is the fastest growing water sport. There’s a training squad that goes every morning at 5 a.m. out at Currumbin on the Gold Coast with at least 20 people on the water. Girls are really getting into it, and since everyone in Australia is fitness-oriented, creeks are becoming littered with standups. It’s drawn athletes from all different backgrounds—Aussie football or surf lifesaving guys—and this is their new sport. There’s a huge range of ages from 15- to 50-year-olds.

Is there tension in the water? In Australia, surfing culture is massive, and it’s our biggest sport. A lot of standup paddlers are beginners and when they paddle right into the lineup, the shortboard guys get really pissed. I’ve seen quite a few fights. There are certain places where standups aren’t allowed in the lineup, but other breaks like Currumbin Alley are becoming standup-only waves. Overall, surfers and standup guys don’t really mingle. I don’t know if that will ever change.

— as told to Shelby Stanger

Photos by Andrew Shield

This piece originally appeared in the Fall Issue of SUP magazine.