SurfingSports Standup Paddle Surf & Standup Paddling BLOG

Pretty In Pink

2009-11-21T08:23:00.000-08:00

Well it didn't take long after I posted a piccie of a new colorful QuickBlade Kanaha carbon standup paddle, with pink graphics and edging, sitting on a pink Bill Foote SUP before the bees came to the honey...or, should I say a worker bee coming to take some honey back for the queen bee...;-)

Vik from Calgary stopped by the shop on his way to La Ventana, Baja Mexico for a couple of months, to pick up a bunch of SUP stuff and scored a pink Bill Foote that we had in the showroom for his sweetie who has just started standup paddling...

We're sponsoring a SUP race there in January...click on the La Ventana link above for details...

SAILBOARD BLOWOUT SALE :: SAVE HUNDREDS!!!

2009-11-18T08:21:00.000-08:00

We've just updated our BARGAIN BIN page with hundreds of 2009 (and earlier) sailboards from STARBOARD...EXOCET...& NAISH...

If you've learned to windsurf on your standup paddleboard and are ready to graduate to higher wind sailing...or, already possess higher wind, windsurfing skill sets...then this is an incredible opportunity to add a sailboard to your quiver of toys...

These are brand new and in the wrapper...in most cases they are onesy/twosy quantities, so don't procrastinate because they won't last long...

You can also easily throw a sail rig on your SUP and cruise, if it has an attachment...our Starboard and Naish SUP's have sail attachment points...we've had lots of interest in longboard windsurfing...our clients are prepared to take advantage of whatever recreational opportunities crop up...be it using a paddle or sail rig on their SUP's...

No wind...no waves...no worries...

Longboard wavesailing...

If you want to tackle the winds and waves head-on, you can rig up some higher wind windsurfing gear and ride some waves...or, go bust some big airs and loops...it's all good...we've been surfing and windsurfing for several decades...with SUP, you're totally covered no matter what the wind and waves are up to...

Wardog on an epic Cali day...

Wardog hunting down some bigguns at Jalama...

Maui lip launch...

Jalama liftoff...

One hand tail grab...it's all good...

QuickBlade Spectrum of Colors

2009-11-15T10:36:00.000-08:00

*** Congratulations to team rider EJ, for winning the men's SUP stock division in Puerto Rico's 1st Pro SUP event (7.5 mile) today...and, 2nd place overall racing against the 14' class on his 12'6" stocker...***

Just got another batch of the colorful QuickBlade standup paddles...
These are the popular 8.3" fiberglass blades...MSRP $275...

Also available with carbon blade...ABS edging matches QB graphics...MSRP $339...

Pretty in pink...
L(©¿©)Ks sweet matched up with a pink Bill Foote...

Standing Up

2009-11-14T08:34:00.000-08:00

Standup paddling has been a blessing for everyone who has experienced it...
Just the word(s) StandUp denotes action...and/or a call to action...
Who hasn't moved or been moved by Bob Marley's anthem "Get Up Stand Up"?

Without getting too preachy preachy here are a few things to think about...

As of November 14, 2009, the world's population is estimated by the US Census Bureau to be ~6.8 billion...

The world's population is projected to be over 9 billion by the year 2050...40 years from now...that 2.5 billion people differential is equal to the number of people that existed on this planet in 1950...

Obviously, this is gonna continue to put tremendous stress on the entire ecosystem...

Let's put the global warming debate aside for the moment...and, just L(©¿©)K at an issue that seems a little more straightforward...and one that perhaps we can act immediately to do something about...the epidemic of animal extinctions and the decimation of animal life on earth...

Animal species are dying out at a rate not seen since dinosaur extinction...

Check out this article...

An epidemic of extinctions: Decimation of life on earth

"The world's species are declining at a rate "unprecedented since the extinction of the dinosaurs", a census of the animal kingdom has revealed. The Living Planet Index out today shows the devastating impact of humanity as biodiversity has plummeted by almost a third in the 35 years to 2005."

"Ben Collen, extinctions researcher at ZSL, said: "Between 1960 and 2000, the human population of the world has doubled. Yet during the same period, the animal populations have declined by 30 per cent. It's beyond doubt that this decline has been caused by humans."

Alrighty then...it prolly doesn't take a rocket scientist...or any scientist...to figure out that we humans are to blame...more precisely, it's human ignorance...

Here are a few examples...

For the life of me, I cannot conceive how anyone could murder 7 of the last 700 remaining mountain gorillas on the planet...this photograph of Senkwekwe a 530-pound silverback, from Virunga Park, stirred worldwide outrage...click on pic below to read article...

Who murdered the Virunga Gorillas?

Photographer Brent Stirton and writer Mark Jenkins STAND UP to unravel the mystery of the Virunga gorilla murders in this movie...

We just can't seem to play nicely in the sand box with other animals...

Closer to home...last month a 400 lb black bear that was frightened and climbed up a tree in nearby Ojai...was killed by Fish and Game...there was a public outcry and a new group was formed to assist in future large animal encounters.

Why the bear couldn't have just been taken up to the nearby Sespe Wilderness area and released is baffling...maybe things haven't changed much since 1922, when the last California grizzly bear was shot. It survives today only on our state flag.

Polar bears , the world's largest carnivores are under tremendous stress...diminishing habitat due to climate change...and, the past unrestricted hunting...

A couple of weeks ago, this picture and story of a wolf hunted down just outside the border of Yellowstone Park appeared in the L.A. Times...

Montana wolf hunt is stalked by controversy

By Kim Murphy
October 25, 2009

Alpha female Wolf 527 killed on Buffalo Plateau on Oct. 3.

Credit: Dan Stahler / National Parks Service

Wolf 527 and her pack, the Druids, are the most celebrated wolf pack in North America...she appeared in the PBS documentary In the Valley of the Wolves in 1995...

Here is a petition to Secretary Salazar to stop this senseless killing of wildlife...

The blue whale is the largest animal that has ever lived on Earth. They are one of the rarest of the whales, and most biologists consider them to be among the most endangered of the great whales. It is estimated that there are only about 8000-14000 blue whales world-wide, (some say less than 5000) which makes them an endangered species. We humans need to do anything we can to help them survive.

It is not that common that the blue whale shows it's tail flukes before diving...
on a recent trip to the Channel Islands, I captured this sequence...

The ~ 2000 blue whales that feed along the California coast make up the largest concentration of blue whales in the world. During the Fall of 2007, four blue whale mortalities were confirmed to be caused by ship strikes in the Santa Barbara Channel off Southern California.

Blue whale factoids:
* Blue whales grow to be about 80' - 88' long on average, weighing up to 150 tons...

* The heart of a blue whale is about the size of a VW beetle and weighs 1,000 pounds or more.

* Blue whales can dive for up to an hour, going to a depth of 350 feet.

* Blue whales are very fast swimmers; they normally swim 3-20 mph, but can go up to 24-30 mph bursts when in danger.

Hopefully enough caring humans will continue to STAND UP for these marvelous animals on the planet that are rapidly disappearing...

WHAT ABOUT NOW?

2009-11-13T19:37:00.000-08:00

SEACOLOGY is an international environmental nonprofit organization that focuses on saving endangered species, habitats and cultures of islands throughout the world.

SURFAID INTERNATIONAL is a non-profit humanitarian organization, who's mission is to improve the health, wellbeing and self-reliance of people living in isolated regions connected to us through surfing.

Windsurfing :: The Early Years

2009-11-12T16:40:00.000-08:00

You guys (and gals) will always remember the first time that you did it...
Standup paddling, that is...what did you think I was referring to?...;-)

In many cases it is love and passion at first sight...you just have to do it...

Surfing was like that for me...and here I am over three decades later still doin' it...

For other people it might take the original planting of the seed and then a period of gestation...windsurfing was like that for me...

I got to try windsurfing for the first time in the early 80's while in college in the Pacific NW...one of my Oceanography professors was an early adopter and had an original Windsurfer...windsurfing ads and pictures were starting to appear in the surfing magazines at the time...but, as a hardcore, big wave surfer, it didn't immediately grab me...the sailing I did was in flatwater, and the board and sail rig was big & clunky...

The next Summer on a surfing trip to Baja, the light went on as we watched some competent wavesailors from Maui tear the smithereens out of the windswept point waves...riding the waves in at mach speed and then turning around and jumping over them on the way back out to do the same routine all over again...this, while we huddled in our tent waiting for a potential afternoon glass off that never happened...

It didn't take us long to figure out...

IF YOU CAN'T BEAT THEM...JOIN THEM!!!

By 1984, when Santa Barbara hosted the Olympic exhibition windsurfing event...it seemed that everyone in Santa Barbara was doing it...there were a number of shops...including windsurf accessory manufacturer Windsurfing Hawaii...windsurfing was touted as being the fastest growing watersport in the world...just like SUP is now...matter of fact...there are a lot of parallels that can be drawn between the two sports...and, others like snowboarding for example...

Early days of windsurfing in Santa Barbara...

Deb didn't get into windsurfing right away because she was still running and doing triathlons...it wasn't until she had an injury that she gave it an honest go in the Summer of 1985...

Trying to windsurf in light wind was hard because the rigs back in the day, were heavy and unbalanced...holding up the laundry at Santa Barbara Harbor...

Lake Lopez had better Summer winds so we started going there...I had learned to waterstart at Leadbetter Beach...and, was learning to duck jibe...feeling the need for speed...as Deb was just getting going with her tacks...

My custom George Greenough speed board and custom sail from my brother in law in Alaska...

Our love affair with Chocolate Labs was well under way...camping and sailing at Lake Lopez whenever there was fog on the coast...

We knew about this place in Oregon that had nukin' winds called "The Gorge"...
So we loaded up the freshly painted VW Westphalia...we were running out of space with the dogs and all...so we built a box on the boat trailer and filled it with windsurfing gear, and joined the Summer migration of wind gypsies to the mecca of windsurfing in North America...seemed that most everyone was living in their cars/vans up there chasing wind...we ended up getting our Sprinter van from up there...the land of the fun hogs...

I taught Deb how to waterstart in the Gorge...not an easy feat...

NOTE: Don't teach the person you sleep (or intend to) sleep with...
Almost cost us our marriage...;-)

By the end of the 80's we had become involved in the windsurfing industry...we were deeply involved in product development working with the top sail, board, and fin designers...and, attending the windsurfing trade shows...we're still at it 20 years later just as deeply involved in the standup paddle board industry...this ain't our first rodeo...;-)

By the end of the 80's Deb had mastered rigging her own sails...and mine...;-)

Simmer down...Central Cali circa 1999...

We continued to do annual windsurfing treks up the Cali Coast to the Gorge and Oregon Coast up to the end of the century...then the gear went through a rapid evolution...sail aspect ratios changed...draft was stabilized...new materials made boards lighter and faster...the line of custom epoxy trifin waveboards that we developed with Mark Bassett, made it a lot funner to enjoy the great conditions we have locally, and within a short driving distance...

Deb in the 21st century on one of our many windsurfing trips to Maui and the Baja...

Check back as I continue to fill in the blanks on this blog post...

...to be continued...

Veterans :: We Salute You

2009-11-11T09:26:00.000-08:00

Mahalo for making our country the "land of the free"...

I remember seeing this video clip of Laird Hamilton paddlesurfing with an American flag at Malibu on September 11, 2002...and, being affected on several levels...
Here it is again if you didn't see it when it was shot by James Queen over 7 years ago...

Speaking of the land of the free...this next story totally embodies that concept...

If you are ever driving up or down Highway 101 past Rincon Pt. near Carpinteria, Ca. stop by disabled Vietnam veteran, Bill Connell's "Surf Dog" hot dog stand and have a bite to eat...

Story by Steve Chawkins

October 22, 2009 Los Angeles Times

Carpinteria hot dog vendor relishes his sales-tax victory

"As light on his feet as the prizefighter he once was, Bill Connell moves quickly around his Carpinteria hot dog stand, jabbing hot sausages, whipping Monster Dogs into buns, and boasting about the recent knockout he scored against state tax officials.

"They told me the law didn't mean what it said in plain language, and I told them: 'Are you kidding me? I was educated in Catholic schools! I know what the law says!' "

For 16 years, Connell sparred with the state Board of Equalization over the interpretation of an 1872 statute exempting street peddlers who are disabled veterans from paying various taxes. This morning, he'll celebrate his victory by giving away hot dogs and carving up sheet cakes decorated with the Stars and Stripes. Politicians who supported Connell's cause will speechify on a platform set up at his Surf Dog stand, a cart commanding an ocean view that would be the envy of any five-star hotel.

"This was a real David-and-Goliath struggle, and Bill never gave up," said state Sen. Jeff Denham (R-Atwater), chairman of the Senate Veteran Affairs Committee. "It's an emotional issue for him and it's an emotional issue for all veterans."

Denham sponsored a bill, inspired by Connell, allowing veterans with service-related disabilities not to pay sales taxes when peddling things such as T-shirts, tacos and incense on the street. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed it into law earlier this month.

At the heart of the new law is the notion of the state giving a boost to self-employed veterans. Connell, a former toxic-waste disposal specialist who knows his way around a law book, contended that's exactly what the state wanted to do when it passed laws to that effect in the 1800s. State attorneys disagreed, pointing out that state sales-tax laws weren't imposed until 1933, didn't mention veterans and superseded rules from the previous century.

"It really galled me terribly," said Connell, a 55-year-old Vietnam-era veteran who partially lost his hearing when he was boxing for the Army in Germany. He said a vet in San Francisco who peddled decorated seashells and a fellow hot dog vendor in Northern California were unfairly put out of business. "I was just the last one standing," he said.

Mid-life crisis drove Connell from his native New Jersey and, at the age of 38, into the hot dog business. Since then, he has testified before the Board of Equalization, a state tax agency, 18 times. By his estimate, he has spent 1,000 hours in the law library at Santa Barbara's courthouse, poring over case law and thumbing through dust-laden statute books. Along the way, the state briefly shut down his business for nonpayment of taxes.

An animated man who talks death, taxes and local politics with his regulars, Connell fumes over some of the lawyerly tactics used against him.

"A comma!" he sputtered. "For years, they tried to tell me I was wrong because there was a misplaced comma in the law."

The 1872 legislation says veterans may peddle "without payment of any license, tax, or fee whatsoever." Connell said his opponents claimed the comma after 'license' was a mistake.

Bill Leonard, a Board of Equalization member since 2002, agreed with Connell.

"I argued on his behalf and lost," he said. "I tried to get our regulations changed and lost. But he made such a good argument that we should honor our veterans -- and that itinerant-peddler-veterans didn't represent a huge drain if they were exempted -- that the board agreed to meet him halfway and support legislation to clarify this conflict in the law."

The state figures the new law will cost it about $25,000 a year in foregone sales taxes. Only disabled veterans who have no employees but themselves are eligible.

"It's a very limited business opportunity in the 21st century economy," Leonard said.

That may be, but it suits Connell just fine.

One afternoon this week, a customer dropped by with a framed line drawing of the Surf Dog stand and the inscription, "Thanks for helping our veterans!" A couple of drywall installers ordered end-of-shift hot dogs. Regulars such as contractor Jon Jorgensen asked Connell about plans for the celebration.

"He's an individual," Jorgensen said. "In Sacramento, they hate people like him."

For Connell, all is well. He claims the state owes him $30,000 in sales taxes he paid over the years, but his pending lawsuit is a fight for another day.

"I love California," he said. "The people are great. The attitude is great. I love it -- except for the tax lawyers."

Waves...waves...waves

2009-11-09T15:34:00.000-08:00

Sure is nice that there's been some surf already this Fall...waves on the brain...saltwater lobotomy...

I've seen, surfed, and photographed heaps of swells since the 70's...here are a few select waves...

All rights and lefts reserved © 2000-2009 SurfingSports.com, Inc.

These shots might put the size in perspective...but, maybe not the power...
H20 is 8lbs/gal...lots of gallons on these waves...I've experienced two wave hold downs with my 9'2" rhino chaser tomb stoning...having to climb the leash only to get a big gulp of foamball...yummy!...;-)

Snap...crackle...pop...

Steekers

2009-11-06T08:51:00.000-08:00

New Standup Paddle Sports stickers will be representing all over the planet...

From the crane in my new man barn...to who knows where?

Our high quality vinyl die cut stickers have been spotted at all corners of the earth...

Click image below to view more amazing Standup Paddle Sports shwag...

Behind the Redwood Curtain

2009-11-04T11:24:00.000-08:00

I can't believe the response that I've received from around the world after my last blog post..."Small World :: Big Trees"...seems that ya'll didn't mind the low rez images...heck, I was lucky to have any photographs remaining after they spent years in "mold butt" (Humboldt) country with little protection from it's perpetual high humidity...some of my slides seemed to have fared better...

The bigger issue was getting pics at all...student budgets back in the day had little room for film and processing fees...a far cry from today's digital revolution...today's college kids have better cameras on their cellphones...low lighting was also a plague...most of the better waves came with the fog...or, rain and low pressure systems...and, you had to get somebody to sacrifice the time behind the lens...

While I wouldn't mind going back to the halcyon surfing days of yesteryear, you have to admit that we are living in pretty good times with the digital technology advancements...hard to believe that my new Canon EOS 7D shoots 18 megapixel images AND HD video...

Due to the response of the last blog post, I cranked up the scanner so that we can revisit life behind the Redwood Curtain back in the 70's and 80's, again...

Ubiquitous banana slugs...

As mentioned previously, Craig Spjut was synonymous with Humboldt surfing during this time period...he was one of the few locals that accepted the new student surf refugees fleeing the crowds and small waves of Southern Cali...as long as they could surf well...there were only around a dozen regular surfers in Humboldt during the mid-70's...most were lacking style because of the hard core nature of the surf...and the crude homegrown surfboards...

I think Spjut was always a frustrated musician...he'd always ask me (or anyone with an ear...;-) "wanna hear my new song?"...I have one of his demo tapes around here somewhere...along with the legendary Humboldt reggae band, Airhead...

Spjut...pre-flight check...

hmmmm...interesting...

hmmmm...very interesting...

Base camp...two weeks of supplies...

Camp scout...Tosha packed in her own provisions...

Humboldt surf dog...

Surfing in Humboldt back in the day was all about exploration...before the internet and surf forecasting services, we relied on our own savvy and luck...and the trusty little "weather or not" box...;-)

Around the next bend could lie a cold water nirvana...a perfect uncrowded wave going off just waiting to be named...

Arcata and Humboldt State University...

Many of the pics here and throughout the website were taken by my wifey, Deb...
She liked to mat surf at the more sharky spots, for whatever reason...;-)

Deb with Mole (MO lay)...the start of our obsession with Chocolate Labs...
Speaking of which, today is Molly Claire's 2nd B-day...

Deb with Molly...SUP'ing in Humboldt...

Annie Mae and Molly Claire getting a little Humboldt water time behind the Redwood Curtain...

What a long strange trip it's been...

We're still together...and, I'm still catching waves in Humboldt over 3 decades later...the VW van has turned into a Sprinter van...still about the same mileage...but, with a little more horsepower...;-)

to be continued...

Small World :: Big Trees

2009-11-02T08:33:00.000-08:00

Serendipity...

So we take a break from working on my new "man barn" on Saturday to drop some supplies off down at the shop...and, to give Rob a hand since boards and paddles were flying out the door...

The "man barn" was built to house a few of my hall of fame surfboards, sailboards, and SUP's from the ages...and, to absorb a few odds and ends left over from the garage remodel this Summer...a project that was long overdue...

The shop is packed with people...but, this couple shopping for SUP's L(©¿©)K vaguely familiar...Deb is talking with them as I was closing another deal...when I hear them "ask do you know Craig Spjut?"...OF COURSE, we know Spjut...legendary Humboldt hellman...the first to tow Nelscott Reef...we used to scout out waves in his airplane...and, we lived next door to his state of the art shaping room in college...spent lots of time surfing with him and hangin' at his cabin at Big Lagoon overlooking Patrick's Pt....yada...yada...yada...

Craig Spjut (hat) surveying "Killers" on a huge day at Patrick's Pt.

Then he goes..."oh yeah...I remember you now...you're that Wardog dood who used to ride really small boards in really big waves"...if you're gonna be remembered for something, I guess that's no so bad...it could have been worse...what went on behind the "Redwood Curtain"...stays behind the "Redwood curtain"...;-)

Ironically, now that I'm involved up to the tips of my ears in the SUP industry...
I could be remembered in Santa Barbara as being the dood that got people into riding really big boards on the really small waves that exist around here...I'll have to pass on the "King of Leadbetter" title...that's been claimed by someone else...;-)

Anyways...it was heaps o' fun chatting it up as we started connecting the dots with Don and his wifey about all things behind the "Redwood Curtain"...a real blast from the past...Don owned the Whole Earth health food store on the Arcata Plaza (click for Arcata Plaza cam)...his presence even brought back the patchouli scents and other herbal fragrances wafting around at the time...;-)

So, the chat becomes a whos who...where and what...catalog of people, places, and things during the halcyon years of the initial Humboldt big wave surf scene over 30 years ago...memories and names come flooding back like it was yesterday......lots of very unique characters...prolly blew Rob away as he listened in...;-)

It's gonna be fun spending time and chatting it up with our new "old friends" as Don is building a house in Montecito...and, starting to paddlesurf...

It was too kewl as Don remembered the work that the late Tom Pratte, (my classmate from the Humboldt State Univ. Oceanography Dept.) and I, did to start the nucleus of what was to become the Surfrider Foundation...

"Tom Pratte was a co-founder of the Surfrider Foundation and surfing's first full-time environmental advocate," said Kira Stillwell, Chapter activist and Chair of the Program Committee of the Board of Directors. "He dedicated his life to the study and preservation of waves and beaches. It is a reflection of the growth and health of our Foundation, and our unwavering commitment to supporting our membership, that we are now expanding our level of assistance to those who are following in the path that Tom has blazed."

The Surfrider Foundation Thomas Pratte Memorial Scholarship program, established in 1994, previously awarded scholarship grants of $2,000 to selected applicants at California's Humboldt State University, Pratte's alma mater. Pratte graduated from Humboldt State in 1982 with a degree in Natural Resource Planning & Interpretation. Along with surfer/activist Glenn Henning, he founded the Surfrider Foundation in 1984 to confront dredging and discharge practices that were destroying Malibu's famous point break wave. From 1985-1989, he served as the Foundation's first Executive Director and paid employee and received a Coastal and Ocean Management Award for his landmark work in organizing the surfing community as an effective public interest group. His environmental victories were many, including his pivotal role in a legal precedent setting settlement with Chevron Oil Company in El Segundo, California that represents the first time a government agency, department or office at any government level, has recognized the significance of a breaking wave as a natural resource deserving of protection. Pratte died on April 7, 1994 after a short battle with cancer."

I used to take Tom down to surf the "Lost Coast" in the King Range Wilderness in the Karmann Ghia that I bought from the guy (Jim, now deceased) that bought Don's health food store...

I cracked open a photo album that hadn't been opened in years and selected a few gems...sorry for the resolution...a good chunk of my better pics were "borrowed" by a renowned surf book author and never returned...might still have some negatives of a few keepers...

I did like to ride short boards in bigger surf back in the day, despite the thick wetsuits...wetsuit technology has definitely advanced so that now surfing in places like Alaska and Iceland is quite doable...

Here I am talking with a local Hupa Indian kid who was fishing with his dad...after a session at the Jetty...sporting a state of the art, O'Neill 5/3 hood and a 6'2" Channel Islands single fin "Tri Plane Hull"...shaped by Al Merrick...who didn't use machines or ghost shapers at the time...

Here is the first thruster in Humboldt...a custom kevlar, channel bottom, 6' "Progressive" thruster from another Santa Barbara shaper, Dave Johnson...
I'm showing it off to legendary tube rider "Duster"...now a captain with American Airlines...lots of naysayers on the 3 fin design at that time...didn't take almost all of them long to be convinced, however...

Humboldt quiver...the sidebiter on the Progressive was busted off and re-glassed after I hit a submerged log floating in the take off zone at the Jetty...

I still have the Dick Brewer single fin gun...it made many trips to the Mexican Pipeline in Puerto Escondido, Mexico with me...

I liked to surf the hollow, uncrowded beach breaks on the "lost coast"...reminded me of surfing Pt. Mugu and some of the Oxnard beach breaks that I grew up surfing on in the Summer, when the Santa Barbara points were asleep...they were a little too sharky for most guys considering the number of great white attacks on surfers in the Humboldt Nation...

Wardog slowing down time in a deep, long, rivermouth barrel...

Then there was the pioneering days of Humboldt and Oregon Coast windsurfing...
Most of the guys that I was surfing with at the time were waterman types...after being introduced to windsurfing in Humboldt by one of my Oceanography profs, and seeing pics of Robby Naish and other early Maui wavesailing pioneers in the surfing magazines at the time, it was no wonder that most of us got into it...the area bounded on the North by Cape Blanco and on the South by Cape Mendocino, is relentlessly pounded by surf and wind...they are the two furthest most Westerly points on the continental US...

I have heaps of stories and pics from the early pioneering days of windsurfing...
We'll save that for another day...let me segue back to standup, and the present, by congratulating one of people behind the Naish SUP brand, "Mr. Windsurfing"...the legendary, Robby Naish, on being a grandfather...man, how time flies...

Terri Wargo wins Starboard (TAC) Drive at Battle of the Paddle

2009-10-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

Wow...speaking of appreciation...check out the heartfelt thank you letter that Terri Wargo wrote to the Starboard team after winning the 10'5" Drive Terje Haakonsen (TAC) model at Battle of the Paddle...we all said that it couldn't have gone to a nicer person...serendipity...

"Wow, this adventure of living and sharing the dream just keeps getting better and more exciting by the moment. How blessed we are to able to explore God's beautiful creation, especially on my new SUP that we won at the Battle of the Paddle (thank you so much, we are ever so grateful.) Everyone who sees it can't get over the fact that I'm cruising on a piece of art that is so unique and so versatile whether on flat water or catching waves, I literally feel like I'm flying. I knew when Ekolu Kalama blessed it at Doheny, it was going to have the power of turning moments on the water into mini vacations. As an educator, mom, dog lover, ocean dweller, humanitarian, and one who believes that it is important make the world a better place just by being in it, let us never take anything or anyone for granted.

Celebrating life by living life to the fullest.

With much appreciation,
Terri, Allison, & Benny"

It's people like Terri that are poster children for our byline :: STOKED FOR LIFE

Here is Starboard's Scott Currie holding the TAC Drive, as Terri's winning number is pulled from the bag...

BTW, Ekolu Kalama's band rocked it off the hook...
L(©¿©)K for his new CD soon...he'll be sending us news when available...

Note the StarTouch traction deck finish...the TAC version will not come with mast foot option...

The TAC will be replacing the popular Sportech (wood) version...and, will be priced at $1749 10' & below...$1799 above 10'...we already have a long waiting list...should have the first models in a couple of weeks...

Customer Appreciation :: Mahalo

2009-10-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

We'd like to give a big shout out to all of our new, and repeat, clients that helped us grow our business this year, taking it to an even higher level...despite the stagnant economic environment...mahalo...

Our byline is "Stoked For Life"...thanks for being a part of our ohana...and, choosing us to provide you with the gear that makes you stoked for life...

We know that you have lots of choices, so again, mahalo for your patronage...

Many of you have found us online...we do have a strong online presence...and, have for a dozen years...our web traffic is phenomenal...however, one of the things that separates us from the dotcom ecommerce sites with stoopid domain names, popping up all over the place, trying to lure you in with bait and switch tactics, is the fact that we have heaps of inventory actually in stock...with a real brick and mortar retail storefront presence, not just a collection of small images with click & buy links...going to products that don't exist...or, are getting drop shipped from another store for them when they finally get a board or two from the manufacturer...

These are big ticket items...we want you to feel as comfortable making your purchase from a distance, as the clients we have walking in and out of our doors daily...we want to have a conversation with you...and, customize your purchase to perfection...not just try to sell you a "one size fits all package" based solely on low price...might as well go to your local Wally World for that...

Those online only entities will never be able to post up images of stoked clients and friends leaving their stores...because the posers don't have a store...;-)

I suppose they can always "borrow" our images...unfortunately, sad but true...whatevers...they will always be frustrated trying to play catch up...as we have years and years of *REAL* customer testimonials...and, years and years of pics of *REAL* stoked clients...their smiles are each worth 1000 words...

Starboard Pin

2009-10-22T16:32:00.000-07:00

We finally have an abundant supply of the hard to get Starboard 12'6" Pin...

Available in Classic ($1349) , TufSkin ($1499), & Wood ($1799)...

Dan Gavere on the Starboard Pin...

Adam Kirkcaldie on the Starboard Pin...

More pics of the Starboard Pin in this GALLERY...

Why Standup Paddle?

2009-10-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

WHY STANDUP AND PADDLE?

Undeniably fun!!!

IT'S WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT...

There's no better way to describe the new "old sport" of standup paddlesurfing (or standup paddling if sans waves) to "never-evers", or SUP newbies...

George Greenough used to tell me, when we windsurfed together years ago, "whatever gets you in the water"...and, in Santa Barbara and prolly wherevers you are, there's no better way to get out on the water and commune with nature, at least 300 days per year...basically, any time you have free time you can get a soul satisfying session or workout right in your backyard...doesn't that sound appealing especially after this flat as heck Winter, that's had even the most patient of surfers experiencing wave withdrawals? A saltwater lobotomy is just what the doctor ordered!
Definitely less expensive than psychological counseling...

I'D RATHER HAVE A PADDLE IN FRONT OF ME THAN A FRONTAL LOBOTOMY...;-)

It also makes economic sense to do "stay-cations" at home, rather than burning jet fuel in search of the "Endless Summer"...one of the pleasant surprises with standup is that you can trunk it, sans wetsuit rubber, most days here in Santa Barbara...even, all Winter long...

AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR HEALTH WITH A SUP WILL SHOW YOU BETTER RESULTS THAN A STOCK MARKET INVESTMENT...SUP INSTANTLY PAYS DIVIDENDS...

It's a no-impact sport...improves balance and coordination...strength and endurance...stress reducing...relaxing and invigorating for people of all ages ,ability, & size...perhaps the biggest plus with SUP, is that it's the funnest core fitness exercise on the planet...leave the world behind at the water's edge and let the dance take over...

World class waterman, Dave Kalama, on standup paddle surfing:
"I really like the fact that I'm learning and there's still a lot to learn about it. It makes mediocre surf really fun again and it gives you that excitement and that enthusiasm to keep you driven to go out and play in the surf every day which keeps you healthy and keeps your attitude right and keeps life good."

Standup paddling, even without the wave component, is very satisfying in a zen sort of way...it washes the daily frazzle away...recharges your battery...puts the stoke back in your stroke...

NO WIND...NO WAVES...NO WORRIES...
LAKE SUP

I've described standup paddling as "Yoga on Water" ™...giving you a surf-satisfied feeling that soothes the soul...it has a mind-clearing property that washes away the stress of the day because it forces you to focus on board balance and paddle insertion...the return of soul surfing...it harkens back to a simpler time...board and paddle...there's something prehistoric and primitive about it...glide...swoosh...glide...swoosh...resonating with our DNA connected to the early drumbeats of humanity...

A primo day along the Gaviota Coast...standup paddle cruising through the kelp beds...click image above for gallery...

It doesn't take a whole lot of imagination in Santa Barbara (insert your hometown) to discover the nooks and crannies on a SUP that get overlooked daily by the masses on their way to the same old same old parking lot...to do their same old same old workout routine...you can't step twice on the same piece of water...

The waterman way ethos, that is rooted in Hawaiian culture, is available here right to us in the Santa Barbara area, or wherever you live, just ready to tap into for the more adventurous souls...we explore our local watering holes in all of their moods...amazing, unconditional fun is there to be had, like low lying fruit, as we savor the views and experience sharing the ocean with marine life that is visually more apparent from a standup perspective...

The bottomline is that as surfers, we need to paddle...the legendary Tom Blake helped to bridge the surf lifestyle with paddleboarding back in the 1930's...standup paddling hits that note, and unlike sitdown kayaking, it also engages your balance as well...yoga on water...then, throw in the surf component and glide factor, and no wonder it's the fastest growing watersport on the planet...you can't help but notice the explosion of standup paddleboarding in Santa Barbara...it's become the mecca of the sport in North America...

As far as standup paddlesurfing with our laydown brethren is concerned, follow surf etiquette and don't come into the surfzone until you have the skill sets to control your new toy...if we all practice respect...give it and you will get it in return, then we should all be able to play nicely in the sandbox...remember, it's not what you ride...it's how you ride it!

The next time you have an opportunity to try a standup paddleboard, just do it!

You just may be surprised by how challenging, and fun, doing it standing up really is...

More 2009 Battle of the Paddle Pics

2009-10-14T17:42:00.000-07:00

Here's another round of images from the 2009 Battle of the Paddle...130 or so images...
Still lots more editing to do...

EJ heading home to victory after making the buoy turn at the halfway mark...

Distance race shot from the end of San Clemente pier...L(©¿©)King towards Dana Point...

Friday afternoon practice before the contest...from our hotel room...

L(©¿©)Ks like a woodstock SUP festival...;-)

OUCH!!!

Chuck Patterson, last year's BOP winner...running for the finish line...
He took 4th in the distance...and 5th in the Elite event...

Testosterone man!...;-)

Battle of the speedo winner...;-)

Naish team rider, Jerry Bess, gets a soul ride on the new 17' Naish Glide...

Jim Drake (co-inventor of windsurfing) with Ashleigh Parducci...her grandfather Allen Parducci, was also a co-inventor of windsurfing...also pictured is David Drake...Jim's youngest son...

More pics in this GALLERY...

La Ventana, Mexico SUP Race

2009-10-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

Congrats to new Starboard SUP team riders Ernie (EJ) Johnson and Brandi Baksic for winning the First Annual "World Championship" Paddleboard competition in Lake Havasu City, Arizona on Saturday.

We should be receiving a few pics soon taken from the London Bridge of the race...we'll post them up here...

Due to the volume of requests that we have received, our standalone JUKEBOX full of toons is back for those with Flash V.10 installed...leave it on in the background while you surf our site or others...

We are stoked to be working with Tim Hatler at Palapas Ventana to sponsor a SUP race in La Ventana Baja Mexico...a place that we've spent a bunch of time windsurfing and have vacation property at...sounds like a good excuse to paddle, surf, and see our friends and neighbors down there!

La Ventana sunrise...

Rainbow over Cerralvo Island...

Tim is owner of Palapas Ventana, a Baja water sports hotel -
He runs a KiteBoard and SUP charity race every January here in La Ventana to
benefit the local schools - last year was the 4th annual and we raised
$18,000 USD and accomplished great projects at the schools.

This year we hope to raise $25,000 USD for the local schools...

La Ventana is a small Baja town 35 minutes from La Paz that has a
poplulation of 800 and is growing with tourism every year - this event helps
direct tourist dollars where they are needed and brings foreigners and
locals together in a very fun 4 day event.

The SUP race last year was a 2 miler and then a one mile final...

This year by popular demand the SUP race will be expanded...
Contestants will be transported to Cerralvo Island via pangas early in the
morning and then contestants will cross the channel 11 miles downwind back
to La Ventana...

This is the same course that the kiteboarders will follow the following
afternoon during peak wind hours...

There will also have a shorter 2 mile SUP race closer to shore that will be
very visible to all spectators...

In addition during the four day event major kite and sup manufacturers will
be displaying their latest gear for free demos (last year there were 15 brands
on site)

The KiteBoarder magazine will be
covering the event...

More SUPsports Shwag

2009-10-09T06:59:00.000-07:00

Our new Standup Paddle Sports shwag was a huge hit at the recent Battle of the Paddle in Dana Point last weekend...people were blown away by the quality and vibrant colors of our killer new line...

High quality embroiderd FlexFit Cool&Dry hats...

Heavy duty 1/4 zip fleece sweat shirts...

High quality cotton embroidered henleys...

Colorful eye-popping graphics on quality tshirts of all sizes...

With the latest production run you would think that we're becoming a soft goods company...;-)

Click image below to see more pics of our extensive SUP tshirt line...

These tshirts are going so fast that we have to handle orders over the phone and email to ensure that we have what you want still in inventory...you can use this generic secure and encrypted ordering link to get your billing and shipping info into our system...

Stay tuned...we have lots more kewl SUP shwag coming down the pipe...

Starboard 2010 SUP Board Pics

2009-10-08T09:59:00.000-07:00

Fresh piccies of a few boards in the 2010 Starboard SUP line from the Battle of the Paddle...

This is the new 7'11" in the Terje Haakonsen (TAC) construction...

Here's the raffle winner, Terri Wargo, with the 10'5" Drive in TAC...note the StarTouch traction deck finish...the TAC version will not come with mast foot option...

The TAC will be replacing the popular Sportech (wood) version...and, will be priced at $1749 10' & below...$1799 above 10'...we already have a long waiting list...should have the first container before Christmas...

Here is the new 9' x 33" "Hero" in blue touch...the guys at Starboard executed our suggestion on the blue touch perfectly...awesome L@@K...priced at $1249 10' & below...$1299 above 10'...

There will also be a HOT L@@King orange touch version as well...

A few new 12'6" prototypes to wet your appetite...

New Starboard wahine team rider, Brandi Baksic...she won the BOP SUP distance race for the women...and took 3rd in the women's division for the Elite SUP event...completely shattering dozens and dozens of competing men's egos...;-)

More 2nd Annual Battle of the Paddle Pics

2009-10-05T18:51:00.000-07:00

The youth brigade was in full force...

Here's 10 year old Riggs Napoleon fully soul surfing...I saw guys who were supposed to be "surfers"...5 times older than this kid, running from waves like this...;-)

Slater Trout...what a kewl kid...
I paddlesurfed with him and his dad on Maui 3 years ago...he was still sponsored by our friend, and world class shaper, Bill Foote...I gave him a coiled leash because his was getting in the way of his cross-stepping...and he still remembered it...this 14 year old has really stepped it up...finishing 2nd overall in the Elite race after waterman extraordinaire, Jamie Mitchell...coincidentally, the kid has a business card with his title as "Waterman"...this is actually very doable as a 14 year old on Maui...

Thomas Gallagher cleared by flight control...

Rob Rojas...super nice guy...humble...hard working Fish & Game warden...makes time to train every morning at the crack of dawn...here he is finishing 2nd in the distance race...

Danny Ching...SUP distance Men's winner...cross-stepping back...his board was oscillating something fierce...

The wahines catching up with the men at the southern buoy turn...

SUPsports team rider, Rich Schroeder (54), trying to thread the needle...one of the only guys in this group to execute a proper kick turn...a move that Rich has worked on the last couple of months...

MY WAVE!!! I GOT IT!!! COMING DOWN!!!
What a cluster f*ck...just as Sparky planned...;-)

Aloha surf riding seven decades ago...wave etiquette is wave etiquette...some wave riders get it...others do not...

These guys totally get the "aloha" thang...the song remains the same...

One of the sweetest buoy turns of the contest...a SUP wave contest surfed on race boards...;-)

We saw lots of guys make this turn on their knees...some took as many as 15 strokes on their knees...so much for the "5 stroke rule"...;-)

Obligatory group shot...

to be continued...

2nd Annual Battle of the Paddle

2009-10-05T10:33:00.000-07:00

After initially being called a fad (like rollerblading...etc) the sport of standup paddling, and paddle surfing, is now undeniably chiseled into legitimacy...

It will take several days to go through all the images we have...so until we get the galleries up, I'll start by putting up a few that capture interesting moments for us...

Beach scene at the start of the open race on Saturday...around 300 people finished...

Brian Syzmanski...he has really stepped up the R&D on his unique L@@King SUP race hulls...he has produced over a dozen new racing hulls for Starboard and their new SUP racing team...

I think the results that Brian achieved throughout this 2 day event has definitely elevated his profile...

14 year old Zane Shweitzer wins the stock division with Brian right on his tail for 2nd...Brian's partner, Matt Friedman, finishes 3rd overall stock...that's a sweep...also, Nikki Gregg wins the women's division on a Starboard/NCP prototype...

Matt Friedman...

Nikki Gregg with Nui...1st place Women's Open stock class...

Nikki's SO...Dan Gavere...snags a nice wave on a Starboard/NCP proto...

New Starboard team rider, Brandi Baksic, firmly established herself as one of the top elite women standup paddlers in the world by taking 3rd in the Elite race in the waves...and, 1st in the distance race...she only has a few months of SUP under her belt, yet she smoked (and humbled) many so-called "top notch" racer dudes...quite amazing...even more amazing, is the fact that she beat 2nd place finisher, Candice Appleby, who was riding an unlimited SUP with rudder, in the distance race on the stock Starboard/NCP...

Ernie (EJ) Johnson guts out a win in the distance race stock division despite a shoulder injury...that nice new contract with Starboard will buy him a few beers to ease the pain...;-)

The start of the men's elite race...

The inside buoy turn log jam...

Typical carnage at the inside turn...bowling pins...the sickening crunch of carbon...kaching...kaching...;-)

Impressive wins by the Aussies...Jamie Mitchell 1st place Men's Elite...

Shakira Westdorp 1st place Women's Elite...

A shout out to one of our great SUPsports staff, Adam Kirkcaldie, for winning his age group in the open race...(Open Age Group Race - STK M30-39)...

There were 35 contestants in his grouping...

New SUPsports Shwag :: Stand Up Paddle Tshirts

2009-10-01T17:11:00.000-07:00

We'll have the new line of eye-popping Standup Paddle Sports (SUPsports) shwag in our booth at the 2nd Annual Battle of the Paddle this weekend in Dana Point...the sweetest standup paddle tshirts in the universe...

For those not making the trek to the OC event...the Woodstock of standup paddling and paddle racing...our Santa Barbara store will also be open as usual 10-5 every day of the week...nice swell today and the next couple...full moon and a heat wave...AWHOOOOOO!!!

2010 Starboard SUP Lineup

2009-09-29T10:10:00.000-07:00

BREAKING NEWS!

Here's a glimpse of what is coming down the pipeline for Starboard's SUP line in 2010...

The new blue StarTouch Classic...

The new Terje Haakonsen TAC Edition...

SUP Racing News

2009-09-29T07:57:00.000-07:00

With the 2nd Annual Battle of the Paddle coming up this weekend there's lots of SUP racing news to catch up on...

Last Saturday's Hennessey International Paddleboard Championships held in San Francisco
offered a glimpse of the competition that will be present next weekend...

There was a 6 mile Stock SUP (12'6") and a 9 mile Unlimited SUP (12'6" +) who did the same course as the prone paddleboarders...

In the Men's stock class, Hobie rider Byron Kurt edged out EJ by 7 seconds...picking the wrong line at the finish cost EJ a few pesos...Byron picked up $1350 to EJ's $200...$1150 is a lot of cervezas...especially, the kind EJ drinks...OUCH!...;-)

Byron Kurt is on a tear lately...he just got back from winning the Starboard sponsored 11 City Tour across Holland...you can read about this race on the Hobie blog...

Byron also won the 3rd Annual Ta-Hoe Nalu Stand-Up Paddleboard Festival held at North Lake Tahoe, Aug 15th...

The Hobie SUP team totally dominated this event...Mark Johnson's race SUP's are definitely working...that can't be debated...

Several of our SUP race team members will be sporting them at next weekend's BOP...including Rich Schroeder who just won the Naish North American Summer SUP Race Series on his new 12'6" Hobie CR-1...Rich finished in 5th place (out of 250) at last year's BOP Open race...only his 2nd race...

Australian Billy Watson, took 3rd place ahead of 4th place Dan Gavere, who was on one of the new Brian Syzmanski/Starboard collaborations...

On the women's side in stock SUP, Brandi Baksic continues to dominate...also on one of the new Brian Syzmanski/Starboard collaborations, beating Australian Shakira Westorp and Hawaiian Morgan Hoesterey...Morgan was the first solo female SUP paddler to finish the Quiksilver Edition Molokai Race this year...she also placed 3rd at last year's BOP...

Also noteworthy, Karen Wrenn who won the women's division of the Naish North American Summer Race Series finished 4th...Candice Appleby finished in 6th place...she placed 2nd at last year's BOP...

Karen Wrenn on her new Hobie...

Men's unlimited SUP saw Thomas Shahinian took the field...a couple of minutes in front of last year's BOP Open Men's champ, Thomas Gallagher...following up in 3rd place was last year's BOP Pro class stock winner, Chuck Patterson...Jared Vargas and Ekolu Kalama finished in 4th and 5th...

Danny Ching and Rob Rojas were no-shows...hope to see these top contenders at the BOP...

Division results here...

Overall results here...

Born to be Wild :: SUP t-shirt line

2009-09-26T08:50:00.000-07:00

I was down along the Rincon paddlesurfing the other day...and, as I was heading back to the shop, a biker goes blazing by me wearing one of our older SUPSports t-shirts...what else are you gonna wear on a gorgeous sunny Cali day while going for a ride letting your freak flag fly?...;-)

I grabbed the Canon digicam and snapped a pic...

It was difficult to recognize the rider (I think I know...Scott)...anyways, it's not uncommon now to see our shirts and shwag almost everywhere we go...fact is, we do have the most recognizable icon in the SUP world...it must drive our "competitors" nutzo...;-)

Our shwag is about to become even more ubiquitous across the planet as we are getting ready to fully launch our new t-shirt line this coming week...

Here's a few of the graphics that we will be using...

Here's a sample of the new offerings...sweet wahine styles and colors...
Amethyst...Iris...Peacock...

Men's style shown in Deep Black...other colors will be Cricket Green...Redwood...Tree...& Bluegrass...

A few of the approval samples...these puppies are definitely eye poppers...

We'll also have high quality embroidered hats and visors...

MORE PICS OF OUR STANDUP PADDLE TSHIRT, HAT, AND SWEATSHIRT LINE HERE...