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