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, HI

3.Danny Ching

4.James Billy Watson (AUS)

5.Chuck Patterson ,CA

6.Aaron Napoleon, HI

Elite Women:

1. Shakira Westdorp

2. Candice Appleby

3. Brandi Baksic

Open Men:

1.Mark Raaphorst

2.Dane Deboer

3. Barth Garrit

Open Women:

1. Nikki Gregg

2. Dian Wenzel

3. Sue Sheard

Full Results