Standup Paddle Magazine V9N5

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MORE ORSI TRAVELS: SÃO TOMÉ

A REID INOUYE PUBLICATION

IDEOLOGY

Featured: Alana 10’6” GTW with Alana paddle , Nalu 10’6” GTW with Kevlar Wave paddle, Mana 9’5” GTW with Kevlar Wave paddle

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IT’S TIME FOR

BETTER

MANA GTW

NALU GTW

9’5” | 10’0”

10’6” | 10’10” | 11’0” | 11’4”

GLIDE GTW

11’6” | 12’0” | 12’6” | 14’0”

ALANA GTW 9’5” | 10’6”

When it comes to SUP boards, most any all-around can cruise and catch surf—but not every board can elevate your riding and your session. Through quality materials, meticulous engineering and better design our boards work with you to bring out the best in your riding style. We strive to build lightweight shapes without sacrificing durability and each curve is refined for accessibility while allowing you room to grow. Whether seeking a stable, wide-bodied Mana; longboard-style, nose-riding Nalu; effortless, straight-tracking Glide; or lightweight Alana design for women, Naish offers a full range of shapes that truly deliver.

Discover the Naish difference and start making the most of your session.

Pacific Boardsports LLC

•

pbs@naishsails.com

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(509) 493-0043

NaishStandUpPaddling

NaishSUP

Photo: frankiebees.com, Riders: E. Koopmans, B.Roediger, A. Reickert

11/22/17 5:34 PM

2017 BOARD LINEUP

Whether you surf, practice yoga, fish, cruise or race we’ve got you covered. Visit us at yoloboard.com to learn more about our exciting 2017 lineup.

Celebrating10 years of living the yolo lifestyle. Thanks to our tribe for the endless support.

YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE, MAKE IT COUNT.

(844) YOLO-BOARD | YOLOBOARD.COM

www.cova.com #foundmycova cova ambassador | chuck patterson

TRIDENT PERFORMANCE SPORTS INC., CANADA/USA Ph: 866 929 9626 e-mail: info@tridentsports.com Rider : Ollie O’Reilly, Product Manager Photographer : Georgia Schofield

AIRLINE CHALLENGING THE FUTURE

OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT BREAKTHROUGH IN TUNING ROCKER LINES AND DEFLECTION. The free flowing external aramid cable locks the board in shape when inflated, creating a trustworthy hull sensation.

Can this efficient lightweight technology change the future of Inflatable board technology ?

Hook Cable tension adjustment point. 4 different positions to easily set the wanted tension and stiffness.

Nose Cone Guiding the cable at the bow’s center line, while creating a perfect nose shape.

High Tension Aramid Cable Pre-streched aramid fiber cable providing unparalled stiffness and rigidity.

Running change to upcycled fishing net material for the 2018 AIRLINE nose cone, black color.

Airline Fin Box Locking the cable at the tail of the board, ensuring tighter rigging.

XCEL-SUP MAG AD-2PG.indd 1

2/16/17 6:09 PM

D E ST I N AT I O N BARBADOS

:: BATHSHEBA

Bathsheba Beach, known locally as Soup Bowls, is home to one of the best right-handers in the world.

The north-east facing reef has been weather-worn perfectly, to suit swells generated offshore in Caribbean waters. We wait for the arrival of those swells, we read forecasts and plan, but ultimately, we must sit idle. It is fortunate then that the island of Barbados is as suited to north-east swell as it is to the surfers who await it!

Bernd Roediger paddles out to greet the arrival of the long awaited swell. PHOTO: Simon Crowther

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A

BEACH ::

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M A ST H E A D VOLUME 9Nยบ5

PUBLISHER Reid Inouye EDITOR Paul Ensyde MANAGING EDITOR Lucy Lucille DESIGN First in Flight Creative ADVISORS NUTRITION COACH Scott Estrada YOGA INSTRUCTOR Jeramie Vaine, Anna Levesque TRAINERS Casi Rynkowski

STAFF WRITERS Jim Freeman, Paul Ensyde STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Jim Freeman, Eric Haka, Paul Ensyde CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bernd Roediger, Ian Balding, Franz Orsi CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Franz Orsi, Vania Marques, Simon Crowther SALES sales@standuppaddlemagazine.com EDITORIAL AND CONTRIBUTION CONTACT info@standuppaddlemagazine.com SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

$59.95 includes shipping in the United States of America.

Printed bimonthly February, April, June, August, October and December. subscriptions@standuppaddlemagazine.com

STANDUP PADDLE MAGAZINE LLC A REID INOUYE PUBLICATION P.O. Box 23083, Honolulu, HI 96823 contact info@standuppaddlemagazine.com printed in Hong Kong Copyright 2017

S TA N D U P PA D D L E M A G A Z I N E . C O M

facebook.com/standuppaddlemagazine instagram.com/standuppaddlemagazine twitter.com/supmagazine pinterest.com/spmagazine ISSN 2372-2274

N A I S H PA D D L E S

KEVLAR WAVE

PRO PERFORMANCE WAVE

CARBON ELITE

PERFORMANCE RACE/WAVE

CARBON PLUS

RACE/TOURING/WAVE

CARBON

ALL-AROUND/ CRUISING/WAVE

POWER, PRECISION, PERFORMANCE. Naish’s paddle range strikes the perfect balance between

ALANA

WOMEN’S ALL-AROUND

high-performance materials, precision engineering and power enhancement. The blades feature pre-preg laminates and high-temperature molding technology for the best possible strength-to-weight ratio and long-term durability.

From the continuous blade-to-shaft design, which promotes better power transfer with each stroke, to the vario shaft and hydro seal, which improves buoyancy and prevents water-intake, every detail has been engineered and refined to maximize your performance

PERFORMANCE

RECREATIONAL ALL-AROUND

on the water.

When it comes to paddles, every detail makes a difference and Naish takes that very seriously. You should too. **Patent No. US D739,804 S

PERFORMANCE JR.

KID’S RECREATIONAL ALL-AROUND

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Pacific Boardsports LLC

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NaishStandUpPaddling

pbs@naishsails.com NaishSUP

•

(509) 493-0043 Photo: Frankiebees.com, Rider: Kai Lenny

9/5/17 4:42 PM

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

IT’S THE ONLY PLANET WE HAVE Photo: HAKA

The World’s oceans are filled with plastic and it’s up to us to take care of these playgrounds we have taken for granted. Regardless of where you go, every beach these days you will find some non-degradable object either floating on the surface, sunk to the bottom, on the sand or flying across land and sea.

Many a time I’ve seen, with my board and paddle in hand, while walking to the shoreline, or playing in the ocean, trash that everyone else ignores. Disposed of on the spot, with no respect to the sea, or sea life.

Let’s start now — set an example for others in being responsible, respectful, and being role models to the environment, remember its the only planet we have.

Reid Inouye Publisher, Standup Paddle Magazine

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C ON TEN TS V O L U M E

9 N º 5

: : 2017: : 14 OPENING SHOT 18 PUBLISHER’S NOTE 22 HOW TO

Scott Estrada: The Protein That Connects Us

Casi Rynkowski: Wall Ball — Increasing Your

Athletic Performance

Anna Levesque: Shoulder Health for Paddling

Jeramie Vaine: Awareness and Confidence

Paddle Core Fitness: After Paddle Stretch,

SUP Smart, & Fin Selection

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36 IDEOLOGIST

Bernd Roediger on Travel, Barbados, Beach Culture

58 TRAVELS

São Tomé

74 BOARD BUILDER

Ian Balding

80 BOARD GUIDE 88 PRODUCT GUIDE

ON THIS PAGE: Franz Orsi sharing waves and stoke with local surfing young gun Jejé Vidal on his last trip to remote São Tomé and Principe - a country mostly forgotten by modern tourism but blessed by many incredible waves.

Photo: Vania Marques

ON THE COVER: Bernd Roediger coming off the bottom at Soup Bowls, Barbados. Photo: Simon Crowther

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H O W TO H EA LT H w i t h Scott Estrada

COLLAGEN PROTEIN::

THE PROTEIN THAT CONNECTS IT ALL In the sea of protein powders flooding the market, now the choices are endless. If you are the average person looking to add nutrient value – whey, pea, soy, brown rice, egg white, isolate, hydrolyzed, sugar-free, low carb, bone broth, organic, raw, grass-fed — this can be an overwhelming dilemma. Which is best for us?

The answer is unique to each person and what works for them. Most of what is on the market, in my opinion, have lots of filler and un-natural ingredients, so they cost less to produce and yield more significant profits. The sourcing of quality raw ingredients is what sets brands apart. How ‘clean’ is the end product and does it deliver results to the customer?

One protein blend, called Collagen Protein, has made its way into the market and many people love the results of this unique combination of amino acids. Collagens (& gelatin) are insoluble proteins that makeup 1/3 of our body’s total protein and about 70% of the protein in our skin. Many people in the beauty/skin care industry know of collagen as its added to many topical creams to improve skin health.

The problem here with collagen creams is the size of the collagen molecules prevents it from being absorbed into the skin. So the solution is getting it from the inside out via a good quality powder you can add to smoothies, soups, coffee, teas and other recipes especially since its mostly a tasteless powder that adds extra creaminess.

Collagen’s distinction is that its molecule is made of over 1,000 amino acids, mainly, proline, glycine, and hydroxyproline. It’s not a complete protein but one that is incredibly strong in nature, gram for gram stronger than steel! Gelatin and collagen are about the same thing with small differences.

Gelatin will thicken anything it’s added to where collagen doesn’t have the same action. Both contain about 6 grams of protein per tablespoon with no taste or odor really to mention.

COLLAGEN’S PROTEIN SUPPORTS: • Hair, skin & nail growth • Joint health • Tissue repair, post-workout recovery • Elasticity of the skin, anti-aging • Gut health, digestive support • New cell growth, connective tissue,

wound healing • Better sleep • Liver function Bone broth’s surging popularity and ease have made this an excellent source or collagen/gelatin proteins. Always source grass-fed brands or make it yourself with pastured bones. Broth can be consumed like hot tea alone as a snack or with meals adding vital amino acids to build your connective tissue.

MY FAVORITE BRANDS OF COLLAGEN PROTEIN: BULLETPROOF BRAND UPGRADED COLLAGEN PROTEIN www.bulletproof.com/ collagen-protein-net-wt-16-oz GREAT LAKES COLLAGEN HYDROLYSATE www.greatlakesgelatin.com/storefront/buy-products/ hydrolysate-single-can.html A critical piece to getting the most from collagen protein is to make sure you’re getting consistent vitamin C intake since the two elements work together or synthesize the collagen. With regular consumption of fresh veggies/greens and citrus fruits, this should be relatively easy to accomplish.

Collagen protein now comes in snack bars from Bulletproof and another great brand, Primal Kitchen, making it easy to pack for your adventures. www. primalkitchen.com

Getting more of this type of protein in your regular intake might just be a key to helping with better repair and performance as we age, slowing the aging process by adding specific amino acids to keep us looking and feeling younger.

One thing is for sure- we need these proteins to be at our best, the choice is ours to get them or not. Try adding Collagen for 60 days and notice the difference in how you feel, move and recover.

SIMPLE RECIPES FOR A COLLAGEN BOOST: KETO CHOCOLATE AVOCADO MOUSSE • 1 large, ripe avocado (chilled) • 2.5 tbsp. Bulletproof Collagen Protein • 2.5 tbsp. Cacao Powder (raw chocolate) • 1/3 cup full-fat coconut milk • Stevia or xylitol to taste 1. Chill ripe avocado for 1-2 hours prior. This step assures the blender stays cool, which helps maintain the temperature of your dessert just in case you want to consume it immediately.

2. Add avocado to your blender, along with chocolate and protein powders, followed by the coconut milk.

3. Add sweetener of choice (optional).

4. Put the lid on and blend for 10 seconds then rest for 10 seconds in intervals until mousse reaches silky consistency. This helps to avoid overheating, which can destroy the protein in the powder as well as the consistency of the mousse.

5. Transfer to bowls and add your favorite toppings like chopped nuts or sea salt!

MATCHA FAT BOMB TRUFFLES • ½-cup melted coconut oil • ¼-cup creamy coconut butter • ¼-cup raw cacao butter • ¼-cup full-fat coconut cream • 2 tablespoons collagen protein powder • ½-1-tsp. fresh vanilla seeds/powder or extract • 1 - 2 tbsp. honey/maple syrup (optional) or 2-3 tbsp. powder stevia FOR COATING • ¼-cup shredded coconut • 1 heaped tsp. Matcha Green Tea Mix on high speed with a hand mixer, until light and fluffy, and then send to the refrigerator to firm up for about an hour or the freezer for 30 minutes.

Remove and whisk so that you have a firm “dough.” It might a little off inconsistency, a little curdled before freezing and initially a little bit wet before mixing from the freezer but the chilled harder parts mix with those less frozen to form a more even consistency.

Use a mini ice cream scoop or your hands to create truffles.

Blitz matcha and coconut together in a high-speed blender to form a nice powder.

Roll the balls quickly between the palms of your hands to shape them into perfect little spheres, then drop each ball into the coconut/matcha mixture and roll them until thoroughly coated.

Transfer your finished fat bombs to an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

These can be eaten straight out of the fridge, but they are even better when you let them sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes before to eat them.

For info on this or other health/nutrition topics email Scott Estrada directly scott@risesup.com or IG scott_estrada

For info on this or other health/nutrition topics email Scott Estrada scott@risesup.com / Instagram: @scott_estrada

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RIDER: 3X MOLOKAI WINNER SONNI HONSCHEID

WATERWEAR RECONSIDERED. BLUESMITHS HYDROPHOBIC APPAREL

LEARN MORE OR BUY NOW AT BLUESMITHS.COM

H O W TO TRAINING with Casi Rynkowski

WALL BALL::

INCREASING YOUR ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE If you are new to following my fit tips, I want you to know that functional exercises are essential when it comes to training for stand-up paddling and wall ball exercises are functional to the core. Love-em or hate-em, they are a super potent metabolic conditioning tool which can increase athletic performance. Squatting and launching a weight overhead is also a frequent movement made in real life. This makes the benefits of wall ball extend beyond the gym.

Using more than ten muscles in this wall ball exercise, it’s not for those that don’t like to sweat. Squatting down with a weighted ball then pushpressing it above your head is just part of the challenge. The catch and reload of the weighted ball requires deceleration that can be equally taxing.

And let’s not forget about the cardio smack-down produced when doing high volume sets. This repetition increases both your aerobic and anaerobic capacity. Mental toughness comes into play when the cardio component kicks in, and the lactic acid builds up. All of this goodness will benefit any SUP racer, distance paddler, or recreational paddler who encounters a variety of paddling conditions.

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photos: Rachel McCarty

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Determine your starting position by holding out the ball at chest height with your arms straight out until it touches the wall. You can slightly adjust forward or back during the exercise if you need to.

Stand with your feet hip-width apart and hold the ball against your chest similar to a goblet position. With your shoulders back and chest high, lower down into a full squat position. If you keep the ball in the correct position, it will help you get deeper into your squat.

Explode upward driving through your heels and push press the ball up the wall.

Absorb the weight of the ball as it rebounds off the wall. Slide back down into the full squat position, ready to explode up again. Keep repeating this movement fluidly until failure.

Since 2007, Casi Rynkowski has been living her dream as a personal trainer, training athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and those who want to live a healthier lifestyle. Her passion for outdoor fitness exploded when she launched her business, exposing clients to the idea of fitness outside the gym box. Casi is an ACA level 2 stand up paddle instructor and an AFAA certified personal trainer. She is sponsored by BIC Sport - BIC SUP/SIC, Werner Paddles, MTI Adventurewear, NRS, Unsinkable Polarized and Virus Sports Performance. She is also the BIC Sport Ambassador Team Manager for BIC SUP and SIC. www.casiperformancetraining.com

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H O W TO Y OGA w it h An n a L e v e sq u e

SHOULDER HEALTH FOR PADDLING Shoulder health is critical for paddling performance and comfort whether you’re a beginner or a pro. Paddlers tend toward chronically contracted pectoral muscles that pull the shoulders forward, resulting in upper back muscles that tend to be chronically lengthened.

This imbalance in shoulder alignment can lead to a higher risk of shoulder discomfort and injury. Here are some of the key poses that I practice to help me strengthen my shoulders and reduce the risk of injury.

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1 DOLPHIN POSE Dolphin pose is excellent for strengthening the upper back, opening the shoulders and strengthening the core. It also stretches the hamstrings and is a good prep for inversions. Start on your hands and forearms with your hands clasped. Curl your toes under and press your hips up toward the sky. You may have to walk your feet toward your hands a few steps.

Press the floor away with your forearms, draw your shoulder blades toward one another and down your back. Release the head toward the floor. Hold for five deep and relaxed breaths.

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2-3 SHOULDER BLADE PUSH-UPS This pose moves the shoulders through their full range of motion and strengthens the upper back.

Come to the forearm or full plank position on your elbows. Squeeze your shoulder blades together on your back. Next, press your forearms into the floor and stretch your shoulder blades apart pressing your upper back toward the ceiling. Repeat these motions for ten reps. Isolate the movement in your shoulder blades without bringing movement into your lower body.

4 SPIDER COBRA This is one of my favorite poses for strengthening the upper back and gently stretching the pectorals. Lie on your stomach with your hands off your mat, up on your fingertips, with elbows bent to toward the ceiling and forehead on the floor. Press your fingertips into the floor to squeeze your shoulder blades back on your back lifting the fronts of your shoulders away from the floor. Breathe easily and deeply through your nose. Next, press your fingertips into the floor to draw your chest slightly forward and slightly up to get a little lift, but don’t lose the squeeze and strength in your upper back. Hold for five breaths.

Anna is the author of Yoga for Paddling, now available online in reputable outfitters. She is an ACA SUP Instructor Trainer, and RYT 500 With Yoga Alliance and founder of Mind Body Paddle. Anna has been paddling and practicing yoga for over 20 years. For more information visit www.mindbodypaddle.com

H O W TO YOG A wi t h Jeramie Vaine

WARRIOR III As we step onto our stand-up paddleboards and begin to paddle out. Our boards roll side to side with each stroke. We balance and absorb these movements starting at the feet working up the legs and into the core. But sometimes the water conditions challenge our limits of balance; and we become unstable, losing our connection to the water.

Warrior III is a challenging pose that is aimed at helping to strengthen all of the muscles involved in this balancing act.

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Starting in a standing pose, Mountain Pose. Hands down by your side palms facing forward. Ground down through the feet. Soften the knees. Encourage the connection of four corners of each foot. Engage the core, as if to flex the muscles. Lengthen up through the crown of the head. Creating space in the spine.

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On the next inhale sweep the hands up overhead, keeping the length and space in the body and the connection with your feet.

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Palms planted, step the right leg back into a high lunge. Bending the left knee. Re-connect the left foot to the ground.

Lean forward into the palms of the hands using the core to raise the ball of the right foot off of the earth.

Point your right toe down. As your foot rises, push back through the right heel, engaging the right leg.

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Exhale bringing the hands down to the Earth. If you cannot forward fold all the way use a prop (yoga block) so you are supported and connected.

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Using the breath to steady the body, remove the weight in your hands, checking the balance. Start by rising up onto the fingertips. If the balance stays, reach the hands out in front of your body. Reach the fingertips away from the right foot, creating length.

Continue to push through the right heel and rotating the right toe towards the earth. This is Warrior III. Keep your breath steady. If the legs begin to shake stay a bit longer. The body is building strength. After three to five full breaths, come back into a forward fold, repeating the pose on the other side.

Jeramie Vaine is SUP Coach, SUP Yoga and Yoga Instructor. He shares his knowledge and the benefits of yoga at clinics, demos and races around the country. Contact him at jvaine1@gmail.com.

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BUI LT

FOR

O U T S I D E R Sâ„¢

Jamie in Leadbetter Oasis Kaenon.com

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5/16/17 9:53 AM

H O W TO PA D D L E T I P WIT H Paddle Core Fitness

PADDLE STRETCH :: HIP OPENER Whether you are a paddler, runner or sit for hours at a time at your desk this stretch for stiff hips is for you. Some hip openers increase the external or outward rotation of the femur bone in the hip socket. Others lengthen the psoas muscle which is a primary hip flexor connecting the torso and legs that becomes chronically shortened in our chair-bound society. This stretch is an extremely effective hip opener that addresses both areas with the front leg working in external rotation and the back leg in position to stretch the psoas. When we paddle properly engaging our core and hips it is important to release these muscles helping maintain proper alignment.

Be mindful as you work into this stretch avoiding stress on the knee and sacrum. If you gradually work into this stretch you not only will your hips open but your lower back will feel the benefits. Practiced consistently you will notice more ease in your lower half as you sit, walk, stand and paddle.

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Use your arms for support, adjusting your hipbones keeping them parallel and your sacrum even (meaning one side hasn’t dipped closer to the ground then the other) gently lower stretching your left leg back, straighten the knee and point the toe. Bring your right leg forward, balancing your weight on both legs.

Come onto all fours with your hands shoulderdistance apart and about a hand span in front of your shoulders.

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Place your hands in front of your right shin and use your arms to keep your torso upright. Slowly, keep moving your right foot forward, working to make your right shin parallel to the front. Make sure that in doing so you maintain the alignment in your hips and sacrum. The right leg will be in external rotation, the left leg in neutral—each position giving access to a different type of hip opening. The left leg will stretch the psoas and other hip flexors, and the right side will get into the group of rotators in the buttocks and outer hip.

BENEFITS • INCREASES EXTERNAL RANGE OF MOTION OF FEMUR IN HIP SOCKET • LENGTHENS HIP FLEXORS

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS • KNEE INJURY • SACROILIAC ISSUES If your knee is sensation free, fold forward only after you’ve spent time checking your alignment and paying attention to your body, walking your arms out in front of you and placing your elbows on the ground pressing your palms together. Your right knee will be to the left of your torso and right foot flexed alongside the right side of your rib cage. Hold the stretch and breathe for a count of five. Come out of the stretch by pushing back through the hands and lifting the hips, move the legs and hands back into all fours and switch sides.

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H O W TO PA D D L E T I P w i t h Paddle Core Fitness

SUP SMART IN THE LINEUP :: If there is one thing every SUP surfer should know, it is etiquette and awareness in the surf. Safety first for others and yourself —it’s the difference between a good or a bad session in the lineup. A detrimental incident could affect you getting back in the water, while a safe time on the water could make the rest of your day, even week, and be a most memorable experience.

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OBSERVATION Always watch from the shoreline before paddling out. Observations to keep in consideration are wave height, what the tide is doing, crowd conditions, and wind direction. These are always excellent safety tips.

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LOOK BEFORE YOU GO Before you take off, always look to the side the wave will break to assess if there is someone in the critical section of the wave. Usually, that person has priority unless of course he or she tells you to go.

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EQUIPMENT CHECK Make sure your fin(s) are correctly set-up and tightened, you have the right size paddle, and your leash is appropriately put on both your board and your ankle or below your knee. While you’re paddling out, observe what the personalities are like in the lineup, so you know who the aggressive riders are and where everyone is lining up at the break.

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SITTING ON THE INSIDE OF THE PACK By waiting on the inside, chances are you’ll have a lot more waves to yourself especially if the entire pack is on the outside. If the conditions are inconsistent, you’ll have more to catch, which can equate to more fun.

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THE LINEUP When you get to the lineup, watch to see where the waves are breaking and make your adjustment as to where you should be. If it’s crowded, stay further in but make sure you can paddle away or stick to the channel if it seems as though you may impede the path of a rider.

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RIDING THE PEAK Finally, riding the waves that peak are more fun because you can fade — in this case, to the left, then swing your board to your forehand direction without the worry of someone else on the wave. Etiquette, safety, and fun always make a great SUP surf session.

H O W TO

Fins By Larry W. Allison

PA D D L E T I P w i t h Eric Haka for Paddle Core Fitness

SELECTING THE RIGHT RACE BOARD FIN :: FLAT-WATER How important is it to have the right race fin on the water? Here are four fins that were tested and paddled on the Paddle Core Fitness one-mile stretch. All fins were tested by Eric Haka (6’ and 185 pounds) and designed by Larry W. Allison at: allisonsupracefins.com.

6” STINGER KICK Height: 6” Base: 7” Sq. Area: 32”

7” STINGER RACE Height: 7” Base: 7 3/4” Sq. Area: 45”

This is a great fin for flat-water paddling especially when super glassy. Even at a six-inch height, it’s a good easy fin to ride and great for training, building core and leg balance — especially for bouy turns. A novice might find it unstable if conditions are choppy due to the Stinger Kick’s height. Recommended as an all-around fin for someone under 135 pounds.

The Stinger Race fin works great for flat-water training and even with a little chop or side shore to onshore winds, and maintains stability and control with a nice seven-inch base. Ideal for someone between 140 to 165 pounds.

STEALTH NINJA Height: 7 1/4” Base: 7 3/4” Sq. Area: 44”

Paddle Core Fitness Height: 7 7/8” Base: 8 7/8” Sq. Area: 53”

This is one of the best all-around fins for someone between 160 to 195 pounds (plus). It works in all conditions, whether flat water, in wind, choppy waters. The Stealth Ninja also is a great go to fin when you have a hard time deciding what fin to race with when conditions may vary. If you don’t like a lot of fin height in open water, the Stealth Ninja provides a better pivot or turn in cross bumps.

The PCF fin works in all conditions and can be considered a go to fin for any paddler regardless of their size and ability. We’ve tested it in flat-waters that have gone from calm and glass, to wind blown and on-shore halfway through a course. Utilize this fin from the time you start paddling all the way to becoming a podium finisher.

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www.mahiku.com

C U LT U R E

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IDEOLOGY

BY BERND ROEDIGER PHO TO S: SI M O N C RO WTHE R

Few ever venture out to the island’s North-Eastern territory, Bathsheba. The land here is callus and worn from time, tide and the confluence of unrelenting elements.

According to the Hebrew Bible, Bathsheba was the mother of King Solomon. Here, the land has birthed Soup Bowls.

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(this page) St. Lawrence Gap, Oistins. If there’s one place that’d keep you entertained day and night, it’d be the Gap. The water is pure, the skies bright and the local scene is vibrant.

(Right page, middle left) Brian Talma shares his home with all those who would seek him out. (From left to right) Brian, his son Lion, World Champion kitesurfer Airton Cozzolino, World Champ windsurfer Golito Estredo.

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I G O T MY STA RT as a windsurfer, as many in the sport of stand-up paddling have.

Long before our eyes grew dewy with the newness of paddle surfing, before our retinas reflected revolution, these glittering eyes chased the wind! Seeking out the wind was a tricky thing, and you’d be lucky to travel somewhere and see any of it. Once, down in the desert of Northern Baja, I contracted extreme bad luck and spent two weeks without a whisper in my sails. It was here that I met Brian Talma.

Two weeks, camped out in the desert, watching the Pacific — wholly pacified by late summer doldrums. And yet, Brian saw the same opportunities to celebrate life, regardless of con-

It was creative overload, excessive use of natural decadence; as if the ocean had woken up from some slumberous respite and, with renewed energy decided to hand us a super session!

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“Barbados shares a similar music culture with its Caribbean neighbors. Reggae turned to drum ’n’ bass after a few software updates. Evocative dance is both a celebration and a playful way to rattle tourists.”

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ditions. Brian led our group, roving out through the desert in the spirit of what I’d come to know as, ‘Beach Culture.’ Beach Culture was a manifestation of his lifestyle, a sort of continuous narrative that he took with him on his travels, promoting positivity, ocean-mindedness, and fun! We took advantage of stand-up paddling as a way to be on the water — always, regardless of conditions. This experience altered my path. I still chase the wind, but there so many ways to hear its song.

Now, I’m going to be completely honest here and say, the images you see before you are from only a single day, at a break called Soup Bowls in Barbados. The rest of the week we spent blissfully unburdened by the search for good conditions, as it was stingingly evident through the seaside window of Brian’s home, there were none to be found. Still, Brian showed us his island, his people’s culture — Beach Culture. We dove for conch with a man named ‘Full Moon’, and ate their fleshy rubber muscles raw, on Silver Sand Beach. For the local monkeys, we saved our peanuts!

“THIS

AND

KEPT

SOME

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THINGS

SEC T I O N S

FRESH

ARE

AND

C A P T I VAT I N G ;

AMAZING

R AMP S

SO

WHILE

G;

SOME

W HILE

WAV E S

O THER S

SUITED

R EQU I R E

POWER,

A

MORE

OTHERS

FINESSE,

S U B TLE

TOUC H .”

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“This experience altered my path.

I still chase the wind, but there are so many ways to hear its song.”

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Everywhere we went on the island; there was someone calling to us, waving, recognizing ‘deAction Man’, ‘The People’s Pro.’ He decided to hold a parade celebrating Beach Culture and the Bajan Fishermen.

We painted and hung signs all through town. Decorated the streets with colorful epitomes of fish, surfers, sun, and sand. Poems ran along the walls of our home. Hundreds attended, the sounds and sights of joyous revelry were like something you would read about in novels, from times long since past. For each participant, Brian had a colorful shirt of his design, so that, combined with the banners and paintings, the whole street looked like one substantial flowing mural of wondrous kinetic joy! I called Brian the longlost mayor of this town; Full Moon called me Brian’s long-lost son, I had to laugh! Brian has five children, Sunshine, Starlight, Rainbow, Lion, and Ocean. They all glow with facets of his character. Sunshine has his keen mind for aesthetic. Starlight will run her own business one day. Rainbow loves the whole world and wants to give it a hug. Lion climbs coconut trees and tumbles into the sea. Ocean is the youngest and full of gleaming potential. Breaks like Surfer’s Point and Sandy Beach were perfect places to take the kids for playful longboard sessions. It’s remarkable how tired you can get surfing waist high waves when you’re in the company of hyperactive children!

Luckily, the fishing village is bustling with restaurants, stocked with bounty, caught fresh each day. The

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“THE ISLAND’S LIFESTYLE REVOLVES AROUND THE SEA, AROUND THE FISHING CULTURE. A GOOD DAY ON THE WATER IS DIFFERENT THAN OURS, BUT THE FEELING OF SATISFACTION FROM A SOLID CATCH IS THE SAME! THE PURE TASTE OF FOOD THIS AMAZING IS REASON ENOUGH TO LIVE IN BARBADOS!” STANDUPpaddlemagazine.COM /

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“On and on and again, we ventured around the island, in keeping with Beach Culture,

until it became a sort of repetitive mantra, a meditation in happiness.”

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Few ever venture out to the island’s North-Eastern territory, Bathsheba.

The land here is callus and worn from time, tide and the confluence of unrelenting elements. According to the Hebrew bible, Bathsheba was the mother of King Solomon. Here, the land has birthed Soup Bowls.

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island’s lifestyle revolves around the sea, around the fishing culture. A good day on the water is different than ours, but the feeling of satisfaction from a solid catch is the same! The pure taste of food this amazing is reason enough to live in Barbados! Each evening, we danced to reggae in dying light while the sun gave way to brilliant stars and the gleaming sounds of techno. Fisherman, tourists, and unhinged surfers celebrated; donating sweat to the living streets and boulevards, the heart of the town. On and on and again, we ventured around the island, in keeping with Beach Culture, until it became a sort of repetitive mantra, a meditation in happiness. And we lived that way for days and days, without much thought for chasing the wind. I think it was when we stopped searching that the wind found us, and blew those wondrous waves onto our shores.

The only thing is, I don’t believe Soup Bowls shares all the same fun-loving quirks and qualia of the laid-back, Beach Culture. In fact, it’s actually a pretty intense wave to surf! It very thoroughly washed away the sleepy island trance I had fallen into, over the past week. The take-off at Soup Bowls is a hop-and-skip over a ledge into fast-firing sections inundating the shallow reef, wallowing up to square barrels that peel through like many shattering chandeliers cascading down. After a minute, I felt I had the place figured, but it quickly showed me otherwise — the face of the beast changed with each new set! This kept things fresh and captivating; some waves suited power, others finesse, and some sections are amazing ramps while others require a more subtle touch. Hours went by and I still never felt as if I’d surfed two waves the same. It was creative overload, excessive use of natural decadence; as if the ocean had woken up from some slumberous respite and, with renewed energy decided to hand us a super session! As the day wound down, I

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“EACH OF US HARBORS OUR PERSONAL BEACH CULTURES; AND WHILE I’M NOT CERTAIN OF EVERYTHING JUST YET — I KNOW THIS BLISSFUL EUPHORIA OF TRAVEL AND EXPANSION, THIS MIND-SHATTESRING EXALTATION FOUND IN TESTING BOUNDARIES, THIS FEELING IS A PART OF MY IDEOLOGY.”

couldn’t help but feel undeserving of such a magnanimous gift — I rarely do. In the wake of such magnificent beauty, your synapses fire away processing everything you’ve witnessed, felt, heard and seen. It seems too good to be true — it feels as though you may, at any moment, wake up.

Every color looks brighter with unnatural hues; every face you see is a smiling one, as if they are mirrors to your windswept soul. We all have our concepts of happiness, how life should be lived. Each of us harbors our personal Beach Cultures; and while I’m not certain of everything just yet — I know this blissful euphoria of travel and expansion, this mind-shattering exaltation found in testing boundaries, this feeling is a part of my ideology.

OUR WORLD IS POETRY AND SONG. PLACES FILL UP WITH SUBTLE LITTLE METAPHORS LIKE SO MANY VERSES SPOKEN IN TIME. IT IS THE OCEAN THAT MAKES UP THE SPACES BETWEEN THE LINES, BETWEEN THESE CULTURES AND PEOPLES, THE THOUGHTFUL PAUSES THAT EXPRESS WHAT WORDS CANNOT. ALL SILENTLY ROLLING TO A QUIET RHYTHM THAT KEEPS US HOLDING OUR BREATH, STILL AS MORNING DEW, MINDS REELING IN INTROVERSION, EARS PRICKED INTUITIVELY, WE AWAIT THE SEA AND WHAT IT WILL BRING.

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TRAVE Sร O TO An Alternative History on the Discovery of Surfing

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VELS OMÉ

BY F R A N Z O RS I P H OTO S: BY F R A N Z O RS I A N D VA N I A M A RQ U ES

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I

am sitting on a steep ground overlooking a nicely shaped righthander rolling in shallow pristine waters over a slab punctuated by sea urchins and corals. Around me, a bunch of local kids approximately eight or nine years old screaming for every wave coming in and talking to me in Portuguese, commenting on how they could have caught that wave as any surf dude from any other place on Earth would do. The realization hits me that I just happened to arrive in one of the

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liveliest surf community I have ever met in my life.

As we spoke about the surf, a bunch of other kids appears from behind the cliffs, paddling through the channel on some very special boards. Those boards look very flat and thin. As they get closer, I understand that what they’re riding is a local version of a bodyboard made of wood. “Corre barra! Corre barra!” the kids around me started to shout. I asked what it means. They explain it to me by pointing at the

S

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TRAVELS Who’s learning from whom?

Franz as he came across a local tradition of stand-up paddle present on the island for countless years. It’s really appropriate saying then that we never invent anything.

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LS

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OTOMÉ

young surfers in the water. As we keep on watching the scene we see this bunch of young kids dropping on every wave with their rudimentary boards. It is surfing in its very infancy – or so I thought.

The surf scene on remote São Tomé is as extraordinary as its setting is exotic.

I spent part of my summer surfing the perfect point breaks of São Tomé together with a small bunch of local surfers who grew up catching waves on their wooden tàbuas and that now are ripping on regular but usually obsolete foam boards, mostly

left behind by the few Portuguese surfers that happened to pass there. The island is, in fact, a former Portuguese colony. It’s now half of the tiny twinisland African republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, the smallest country in Africa after Seychelles, sitting some 300km off the coast of Gabon. The islands present themselves to the traveller as a miniature African version of Hawaii, which to some extent they are, with volcanoes, lush green vegetation and shallow point breaks. The only difference I find is the roads are terrible, and the electricity

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Franz exploring the surfing potential of the island on his SUP board. This picture was taken on a trip down south, where the crew found a great reef just a few miles from the equator line.

“The Best Surfer Out There Is The One Having The Most Fun.” —Phil Edwards

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SÃO TOMÉ is scarce. Here tourism remains an afterthought, which made it all the more intriguing to me.

I was there not only because the waves in São Tomé were so good but also because I wanted to witness with my own eyes the vibe of this little African Hawaii where the invention of surfing, as I later learned, happened independently from anywhere else in the world.

Yes, São Tomé as Hawaii has been one of the cradles of surfing. As for many other inventions in the history of civilization, similar discoveries happened independently in different parts of the world.

It was Sam George who first witnessed this independent invention of surfing in São Tomé. When he visited the island in 2000, the Californian surfer intended to ‘pioneer’

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TRAVEL SÃO TOMÉ

AVEL TOMÉ

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its waves; what he found instead was an indigenous surfriding culture – well and thriving – corre-barra as the locals call it. Corre-barra as I later learned means ‘ridewave.’ Wave riding, as we know it — has a long history on the island.

No one knows when this tradition started, but kids on São Tomé have ridden hand-carved bodyboards on their bellies for as long as anyone can remember. It is part of the local culture as much as fishing or dancing.

After that first visit to São Tomé, Sam George returned to the island in 2006 to make a film about this incredible discovery: The Lost Wave: An African Surf Story. What he found during his second visit was a small bunch of locals that started to carve their surfboard out of wood and learned to ride on their feet. As he and his film crew left modern boards behind, a small

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AWAIIBLAC

Danilk, one of the young guns of Santana waiting on the line up for yet another perfect African wave. Danilk is the oldest of the team who participated in the ISA Junior Worlds, he is 17 and keeps a diary about his surf sessions and surf experiences all illustrated by him that would leave you speechless. There’s so much stoke for surfing and life on this island!

stand-up surf community on São Tomé emerged.

Surely it can be considered one of the youngest contemporary surf scenes in the world, but with a very long history coming from decades or even centuries of the corre-barra tradition.

Such state of transition (or coexistence) between corre-barra and modern surfing created an interesting dynamic within the local community. As kids learn to ride waves on the traditional wooden boards, using them almost as bodyboards and then trying to stand up from time to time, they also climb the ladder of the local surfing community. A specific hierarchy applies here: as kids evolve in their corre-barra skills they even start to be entitled to use more regularly one of the few modern surfboards spread over the local surf community. Carefully managed within the community, the foam boards stock is limited; sharing is vital in São Tomé.

Witnessing the growth, and stoke of one of the youngest modern surf scenes in the world it was for sure some of the most interesting experiences in my life. As my days on the island were running by, I got to know virtually everybody involved in this lively surfing community. From the pioneers, like Chum, the king of the point break of Porto Alegre in the South, to the boys of Santana, who grew up riding waves on their wooden planks and now have become progressive young surfers with

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no less talent or style than any Californian or European young gun.

Their names are Jejé, Danilk, Zezito, Ailton, Assis, and Edu. I started to spend my days with them, inside and outside the water, getting more and more interested in their stories and ultimately witnessing their growth as surfers and young men.

While I was with the boys of Santana, they were granted the chance to participate at the ISA Junior World Surfing Championships to be held in Azores, Portugal later in the year. A few surfers from Portugal who came across the surf scene of Santana — the surf capital of São Tomé — and got to know the local young guns, were impressed by the pool of talent and stoke, decided to raise money and find sponsors to help these guys live their dream, bringing them to compete at the World Championships.”

You can just imagine how excited these boys were about that. For all of them, this was the first time traveling outside the country and of the first international surfing competition. That opportunity was what they

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dreamt about. As for myself, I ended up booking a flight to Azores as well to meet up with them again in a few weeks time and to be a firsthand testimony of this modern surf fairy tale of the boys who learned to surf on some wood planks that were now going to the World Championships. Not only was that a historic moment for surfing but a touching one for me and for all the people who helped make this possible.

It’s not essential to talk about the Championship here. History was made. I hold the belief that surfing benefited from getting in touch with the youngest modern surf scene in the world and for sure the one with more stoke and vibes.

Long live to the corre-barra tradition and the history of an alternative surfing culture in Africa. Upon my return, I got back to my place with the mind full of images of stoke, happiness and exuberant laughter on and off the water. Long live to the corre-barra because we may find out that surfing was indeed first discovered in Africa and that indeed “the best surfer out there is the one having the most fun.”

T T

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B O ARD BUI L DER

By Ian Balding

IAN BALDING

THE ALLURE OF THE

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I built the Bateau initially because of my love for our local saltwater environment here in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, and all of the activities that are part of my life here. So, I guess you could say that it’s somewhat personal, but I knew I wouldn’t be alone. I’ve been a lifelong surfer, fisherman, crabber, oyster lover, camper, and just adventure lover overall. When paddling came into my life 10 or 11 years ago, it ignited an entirely new design spark in my mind, and along with surf and race designs, I immediately started designing the Bateau in my head, and on paper.

Then I got busy with production, and it wasn’t until four years ago that I was able to carve out the time to bring the first Bateau to life. I wanted to be able to build a paddlepowered board that would allow me to do all of the water activities that I’m passionate about while paddling, and I wanted it to have beautiful lines too. A lot of classic maritime inspiration went into the Bateau. From Greenough’s boats to Simmons Sea skiffs, to Latin American Pangas, all of these traditional lines were in my head, but the function was always paramount. I have designs for including

some other propulsion options, but to me, the beauty in the Bateau is its simplicity. It’s like a sailboat in a way — if you’ve ever been on a power-assisted sailboat you know that when you shut the motor off relying solely on the sails, you hear nothing but the boat moving through the water, that’s when you feel the beauty in it.

The dimensions of the Bateau can be either 16’ or 14’ lengths, or 36” wide. It’s 5 1/2” thick from deck to bottom, not including the gunnels, which are 2 1/4” high in the center of the board. Most people are gravitating to the 14’ length for portability, but the 16’ board adds a lot of usable surface area too. The board weighs in at about 45-48 pounds that is good for something as big as it is, and it’s easily enough managed single-handedly on land over short distances. I do include handles on the nose and tail allowing for two-person handling on land too.

It took my guys and me a total of about 40 hours to build the Bateau, and we created it virtually the same way we make paddleboards. We started out by hot wire cutting the overall foil of the board (bottom rocker and deck sheer line)

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BOARD BUILDER Ian Balding

From truck bed, van or racks to the water, the launch is relatively easy for such a big board.

out of a considerable billet of EPS foam. Then we slice it to get the deck height and cut the outline. Vacuuming the veneered bamboo to the deck is next, and all of the gear fastening points, of which there are a lot.

Next, I shaped the whole thing by hand, just like a surfboard or paddleboard, and glassed it using standard materials for paddleboards like fiberglass and epoxy resin. A lot of reinforcement panels of carbon fiber were used to strengthen the key areas of stress. The first prototype was built to be beautiful, but the real question I wanted to know was how did it perform in the water? I have to admit, I was blown away by how well it achieved everything I wanted it too. As development continued we added more high-performance materials like Innegra fabric, which provides us the strength to weight ratio that we ultimately wanted because durability is vital.

Put simply — the Bateau can hold A LOT. I’ve had a full Yeti 50 quart cooler, myself, and two other adults on board. I’ve also managed the cooler and four kids, and myself on board. So as for human weight, it can hold a lot, and it still paddles well too. As for gear, I don’t think there’s much you can’t get on it either. I think you’d probably run out of

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things that you want to take with you well before you hit the buoyancy threshold. Ultimately it was designed to be a journey type of board. I take it on shorter trips to go surfing, crabbing, and fishing most often, but it can handle long journeys — even long fishing trips. I paddle out the inlets and put two rods out in the adjustable rod holders and troll up and down the beach, or in and out of the small bays. It’s stable enough to do that. Speaking of stability, I stand on top of the cooler for added height whenever I need it — either for casting or just for sighting different areas, and two people can fish from it comfortably.

So far the Bateau has had lots of local fishing, and camping journeys.

I’ve loaded up with multiple surfboards, camping and fishing gear, and a full cooler to get out to the uninhabited islands we have around here, but to date, the most impressive journey was taken by a Canadian customer. He loaded it with all of the above gear and made his 800-mile trek down the entire Ottawa River searching for new standing river waves, and camping and fishing the whole way! It was impressive. We talked about it before the build, and I knew that it would have to hold up to some pretty rigorous testing along the way, from river rocks,

“PUT SIMPLY — THE BATEAU CAN HOLD A LOT. ULTIMATELY IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE A JOURNEY TYPE OF BOARD.”

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BOARD BUILDER Ian Balding

stumps, fallen trees, rapids, and different portages. He was confident though because he had come to us in the past looking for a fish surfboard that wouldn’t fall apart in their rocky river, and surf zones, where boards typically take a beating. We built him a carbon railed board with bamboo veneer on top and bottom that has more than stood the test of time. In fact, it still looks next to new three years later.

Every time I take a Bateau out, it gets a tremendous response. It is a real head turner — everyone has been fascinated by it, and it always gets a long second look. People have used the words salty, sexy, and classic to describe it, and that’s a huge compliment, because that’s exactly what I was shooting for. I kept it under wraps for some time because I didn’t want the design to get ripped off, but I’ve finally started to put it out there now that we’ve got it firmly dialed in. I entered it in the Garden & Gun Magazine, Made in the South Awards. Garden and Gun is a high-end publication targeting the hunting, fishing, and all things ‘posh’ demographic, and the reward was being one of the finalists. To me that speaks volumes.

Fishermen love it! I’ve had a number of local guides come up to check it out at events, and they are all super stoked on it, and want one!

Around here we fish for Red Drum as a prized fish, and they get into sometimes 4” of water, and deep up in the marsh grasses where no boat

“...Bateau in French means light, flatbottomed boat. I just started using it and it just stuck. It has a beautiful ring to it...”

can go — the Bateau can put right in there with them, stealthy too with nothing but the paddle to make any noise. One wants me to build one so he can take it duck hunting! The duck blind Bateau — that’s something that I didn’t even see coming initially, but it’s do-able.

For now, we’re keeping the Bateaus made in-house in Wilmington, NC, and as demand ramps up, which it already is, we plan to keep it that way. We’re proud of being able to build it here by hand, and we enjoy the interaction with our customers. Our customers become like family in a lot of ways, and most are return customers. Whether they’re looking for a Bateau, or a race board, or a surfboard, they know that I’m into all of it myself, and the same crazy amount of design and R&D goes into everything I make. However, I don’t want to limit availability either. I desire to have everyone who wants one to be able. So we’ll see where that demand takes us in the future, but regardless we firmly believe in building products here, even though it seems like it can be tough to buy something made in the U.S. these days.

The Bateau as a name is currently in the pending TM phase, but the actual word is a French word meaning light, flat-bottomed boat. I just started using it, and it just stuck. It has a beautiful ring to it, and it couldn’t be more fitting for what it is.

we’re made in the USA.

follow us on www.mahiku.com

SPMAG’S BOARD AND GEAR GUIDE Standup Paddle Magazine focuses on bringing you a look at some of the top favorite boards by the board makers who bring them to you and 12 essential gear items to perfectly suit any stand-up paddler. Some of the best products on the market for you!

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NAISH

naishsurfing.com

NALU – CLASSIC ALL-AROUND OR ALANA GTW 10’6” X 30” The Nalu GTW is the one-board solution for riders wanting versatility, stability and waveriding performance. It features classic longboard outline, recessed deck and full rails for increased stability and wider range of use. The single-concave nose flows into a double-concave midsection and V tail, making it adaptable to everything from flatwater cruising, to ankle-slapper waves, to double-overhead surf. Available in a variety of sizes, the Nalu is the perfect board for anyone from first timers to seasoned longboarders. **It is also available as an ALANA GTW 10’6 for women

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ROVER CLASSIC 14’ X 40” It’s a stand-up paddleboard. It’s a microskiff.

It’s everything in between. No matter what you call it, one thing’s for sure, it’s a BOTE. The Rover’s revolutionary modular racs allow this board to go from paddle to power in seconds — A Powerboard™.

BOTE BOARD boteboard.com

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YOLO BOARD yoloboard.com

YOLO 12’ ORIGINAL 12’ X 32” X 4.8” Once again, The YOLO 12’ Original is a stunner. Superior performance in a recreational board with the artistic beauty you have come to expect from a YOLO Original. Hammer-strength molded epoxy with bungee grommets both front and rear, as well as cooler tie-downs, make this a perfect all-around board for your adventures.

With a lift SUP handle, great stability and tracking, this board is built for easeof-use and can be a great fit for any paddler, beginner to pro.

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STARBOARD

#ARTYOUCANRIDE

star-board-sup.com

STARBOARD INFLATABLE TIKHINE SUN 10’2’’ X 31’’ This fun compact board’s wide tail makes it easy to step back and make quick fun turns. The glide sensation of the very light hull makes it a top choice for riders below 198 lbs. The Tikhine boards are available in three art options, as Sonni Honscheid takes her inspiration from the ocean – and gives it back. Her signature artistic style now has a new home – the deck of Starboard Tikhine Line. Target rider: The perfect inflatable introduction for first time paddlers and riders who want style. Key features: Built in shoulder strap, paddle holder and bungee tie-downs on the nose. Paddler Weight range: 88- 198 LBS / 40-90 kg.

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10’6” OXBOW SEARCH – BAMBOO 10’6” X 34” From first-timers to families or for fitness, fishing and yoga, the Play series is designed to inspire confidence and deliver performance for a wide range of SUP disciplines and riders of all sizes, including beginners up to 350 pounds! With a flat deck area and multiple deck attachment points it’s easy to customize the board for your intended use. Full rail-to-rail volume and ample width create amazing stability while a unique keeled nose design and full waterline increase speed, efficiency and glide. (10’6” Bamboo shown, also available in 10’, 11’ and 12’ sizes).

OXBOW SUP oxbow-sup.com

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IAN BALDING BOARDS ianbalding.com BLUNT NEEDLE 14’ X 25�

The Blunt Needle SUP race board incorporates the bulk of the flatwater design embodied in the Original Needle, but the wide point in the outline is pushed forward towards the center, and more width is distributed forward towards the nose. This redistribution of width adds stability to the board, and ultimately allows the paddler to narrow their boards overall width, which equates to speed.

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OLUKAI

#anywherealoha It started as a different approach to a footwear company. OluKai creates footwear that combines durability for the waterman, ocean lifestyle, and a brand that has strong values and roots with style, comfort, and craftsmanship.

olukai.com MENS

WOMENS

NOHEA LOLE MSRP: $85.00 This handsome shoe is a special sun washed canvas in earth tones, made with their patented Drop-In Heel® which offers the wearer dual functionality as a shoe or slide. OluKai once again has crafted this shoe with their hand-sewn stitching, elastic gore for customized fit and added embroidered logo details. Due to the nature of the fit, we recommend ordering a half size down.

COVA

NOHEA MOKU MSRP: $95.00 New this season is the Nohea Moku, equipped for wet conditions it is inspired by and designed with nautical life in mind. This shoe/slide has stretch bootie construction for barefoot wear, medial water drainage ports and no-tie bungee laces. Due to the nature of the fit we recommend ordering a half size down.

‘ALOHI MSRP: $100.00 This slip on leather sneaker for women offers ease, comfort and sophistication for all day wear from the beach to street. OluKai’s attention to detail with their hand-sewn whip stitching details, embossed upper and foot bed logos, make this an attractive casual shoe. We recommend when ordering this shoe order a half-size up to avoid being to tight, though the leather does soften nicely with repeated wear.

PANIOLO SLIDE MSRP: $90.00 This women’s sandal offers, rich character and is the perfect accompaniment with a pair of jeans or casual dress. We loved the anatomical compression molded EVA midsole that offers arch support and fits comfortable for long hours at a time.

Cova is a premium apparel collection. It is designed for the waterman and his active lifestyle as he navigates the long road of adventure ahead.

cova.com

SEVEN SEAS MSRP: $25.00 Cotton tee shirt with taped back neck and shoulder seams. Front screen print using water based ink for soft hand feel. Hidden “fortune cookie” screen on interior left bottom of shirt.

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CRATER LAKE MSRP: $75.00 Long sleeve flannel shirt with two chest pockets, and button through flaps. Fabric is brushed on both sides before sewing to give added comfort and soft hand feel.

RIDGEWOOD MSRP: $98.00 Heavy weight hooded fleece with front zipper and storm flap. Woven trim on pocket flaps and storm flap.

ISLANDER MSRP: $98.00 Lightweight, cotton linen walkshort for comfort and breathability. French fly to hold waist in position. Chambray contrast in waistband. Side entry pockets with two back welt pockets

BLUESMITHS bluesmiths.com

Maui based BLUESMITHS is a brand for the core waterman or woman. Solid construction, well thought out functional wear — simple, clean and durable for all your water wear. John Smalley and his water testing crew always putting it to the test.

KULA WINDPRO HOODIE MSRP: $255 The Kula is the go-to surf and travel hoodie — that one garment you always grab when you leave for the day.

Wind, water and abrasion resistant thanks to Polartec’s lengendary Windpro® Hardface® fabric. Kula has won multiple Gear-Of-The-Year Awards. It’s the ultimate hoodie for any water athelete. Smaller sizes tailored for women.

BLUESMITHS HYDROPHOBIC SHIRTS MSRP: $85 - 95 These shirts are designed to solve the problem of cold, wet, clingy rash guards and sun protection shirts. Their shirts stay drier thanks to NanoShere®, a high-performing water repellent fabric technology from Switzerland. By staying drier, you’re more comfortable and you perform better both in and out of the water. Men’s and women’s sizes, long and short sleeve available.

XCEL

It’s no wonder Xcel Wetsuits was voted Wetsuit of the Year in 2017 by the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association, they’ve made both comfortable suits and sun protection war for both hard core water individuals that also apply well for the everyday consumer from extreme cold regions of the world, to sun protection from all the harmful rays of the sun!

xcelwetsuits.com WIND/WATER BREAKER JACKET MSRP: $129.95 This water repellent jacket is perfect for this cold days above the surface as it also keeps you warm inside with its plush inner lining. Its heavy duty front zipper, two hand pockets and front chest zip pocket with drawstring cinch hood also keeps you looking clean, stylish and functional.

Perfect for paddling during the winter through spring.

WOMEN’S KAMMIES HEATHERED FRONT ZIPHOODIE MSRP: $79.95 Premium 6-ounce, 4-way stretch fabric hoodie with maximum sun protection. This long-sleeve top has thumb hole cutouts, a drawstring hood, full front zipper and kangaroo pockets. Also tested and UPF rated to block over 98% of UVA/UVB radiation from the sun. Super soft, comfortable and perfect for leisure paddling and touring.

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SHELTA HATS sheltahats.com

OSPREY MSRP: $64.50

#sheltatestpilot Shelta has developed their product line focusing on building and designing product

that addresses the performance needs of world-class outdoor athletes and adventurers. They believe that they can impact the lives and health by reducing a wearers long-term exposure to harmful UV rays. Shelta is visionary sun protection!

The Osprey features our “No Flop” brim shape which protects you from harmful UV rays without getting in the way of your paddle stroke.

Performance driven sunhats for athletes & adventurers.

KAENON

#builtforoutsiders

Deep Ocean Collection Unique to Kaenon, their purpose-driven lens tints are offered in various levels of color contrast from neutral to extreme, and are designed to meet your needs in any environment.

kaenon.com

STRAND MSRP: $229.00 Round out the look. Strand pairs an iconic silhouette with details like concealed hinges and inset nosepads to deliver all-day comfort.

LEADBETTER MSRP: $229.00 Classically cool. With straightforward style, iconic details, and built-in performance, the Leadbetter goes one better.

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BURNET MSRP: $239.00 Just a little bit retro. The Burnet is a perfect fit for smaller to medium sized faces that demand everyday performance.

SEA TO SUMMIT

Sea To Summit cultivates a culture of design perfectionism to develop ingenious functional products that provides outdoor enthusiast and active travellers better made and better performing gear around the world.

seatosummitusa.com

HYDRAULIC DRY PACK WITH HARNESS DRY STORAGE|HEAVY DUTY DRY BAGS MSRP: $149.95 - $219.95 The removable harness on our Hydraulic™ Dry Pack makes portaging a whole lot easier – whether on the river, in the airport or out in the field. The Hydraulic™ Dry Pack is a great option for carrying large volumes of gear when a traditional backpack just isn’t suitable. Features include: Quick drying EVA foam straps and air mesh construction. Aluminum buckles are robust and fail safe. Fully adjustable back length and height adjustable sternum straps. Low-profile attachment points to reduce snagging when harness is not attached. Easy to put on and take off • 600D TPU laminated heavy-duty waterproof fabric. Non-wicking TPU roll top closure with innovative interlocking profile that is secure and waterproof.

Welded construction for permanently sealed seams. Durable UV resistant PVC-free fabric withstands cold temperatures. High performance abrasion resistant fabric. Oval base to resist rolling.

Replaceable buckle with stainless steel pins. Lash loops for secure attachment

WEST MARINE westmarine.com

#mywaterlife

Personal Flotation Devices have been modified and function better than ever before. Quick and easy to use with the awkward bulky vests, these PFD’s are copact and easy to use, making water life a whole lot safer!

COASTAL AUTOMATIC INFLATABLE LIFE JACKET MSRP: $149.99 The fine line and small easy to wear PFD by West Marine is one which is not cumbersome, bulky difficult to wear. a slim fit for open water, it almost feels like there is no vest one, yet when safety comes into play, it deflates and keeps you above water with efficiency and ease. Key features include:

• Wide neckline for freedom of movement • Reflective accents on bladder for increased visibility • Low-profile design for lightweight, comfortable wear • Fits a wide range of chest sizes from 30”-56” • 3D mesh collar and Air Mesh yoke for breathability and ride-up prevention • A large zippered pocket provides a place for your car keys, wallet, VHF radio or PL • Attached safety whistle for signaling help

THERMACELL thermacell.com

Thermacell repellents liberates people who love the outdoors from the harmful effects of insects.

PATIO SHIELD HALO REPELLER MSRP: $39.99 Just click it on, and the new Halo Mosquito Repeller provides odorless, invisible, continuous protection from mosquitoes, including those that can carry Zika, West Nile, and other illnesses. Contemporary in design, the Halo features a new long-lasting 48-hour fuel system, as well as a Zone Check system that provides a visual indication that the Halo is creating a Mosquito Protection Zone. The Halo is incredibly effective and easy to operate. The design is sleek, and color options include white, gray, and brown/black to complement every outdoor living ensemble. Thermacell repellent devices repel mosquitoes by creating a 15ft x 15ft zone of area repellent. This repellent, allethrin, is a synthetic copy of a natural repellent found in chrysanthemum plants. Thermacell repellent devices are powered by a butane cartridge. Butane provides the cordless, portable heat that activates the devices. The heat generated by the butane cartridge is directed to a metal grill. A small mat saturated with repellent is inserted on top of the metal grill. Heat disperses the repellent from the mat into the air, creating the zone of protection.

MY CHARGE

My Charge knows how important it is to stay connected to the people and things you love, and work passionately to create products that do just this.

mycharge.com

ADVENTUREULTRA MSRP: $129.99 The AdventureUltra is one of our largest battery banks and has the highest power output. Designed to replace the heavy and bulky generators used when tailgating or camping, the AdventureUltra is a streamlined power source that can run a 42-inch television for up to three hours. The AdventureUltra has a maximum power output of 45 watts, enough to run a fan or recharge a drone battery. It can also be used with 2 in 1 laptops and new laptops, such as the 12-inch MacBook, that require less than 45 watts either when powered off and solely charging or when powered on and charging simultaneously.

SOLID SUN LOGISTICS solidsunlogictics.com

#besolid Conscious skin care for men that counters the sun’s harmful effects.

ESSENTIALS KIT MSRP: $130.00 Solid sun logistics is guided by their love for the ocean and outdoors. To them, life is best lived under the sun but in order to enjoy the sun they believe we must respect its awesome power and understand the damage it can inflict. While the sun is damaging, unfortunately so too are the ingredients found in many name brand sunscreens. The chemicals found in many of these products are not only bad for your skin but they are also damaging our environment. SOLID has endeavored to develop goods that cause no unnecessary harm to our bodies or to the environment. Based on these beliefs SOLID creates products for the benefit of the public and the planet.

ACTIVE SKIN REPAIR bldgactive.com

Skin repair for the modern athlete. Active Skin Repair products come in both spray and gel form for fast, from reef cuts, to scrapes, small wounds and injuries.

MSRP: ACTIVE GEL $29.99/ACTIVE SPRAY $24.00 How it works?

HOCL is naturally produced by white blood cells as a way to kill bacteria, reduce inflammation and help the body heal. This clinically proven regenerative technology kills 99.9% of bacteria within 15 seconds, without harsh chemicals or antibiotics and helps speed your body’s natural recovery process.

HOLC is also non-toxic and nonsensitizing making it safe for use around your eyes, ears and mouth.

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Get some water time in on your next trip to Hawaii.

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