Standup Paddle Magazine V8N6 by Reid Inouye Media

QUI VE R S & W H E E LS CANADA DRY & COLD

S CO TT ESTRA D A THE ALKALINE ADVANTAGE

S TA N D U P P A D D L E M A G A Z I N E V O L 8 N º 6 A LT E R YO U R B O U N D A R I E S

ALTER YOUR

BOUNDARIES B I G

I S L A N D ’ S

VOL8Nº6/U.S. $10.95/CAN $12.95

B U L L E T

A REID INOUYE PUBLICATION

SUP 11 CITY TOUR

O B R A

Keeping Promises

2017SUP_STANDUP Paddle Mag_Quest_Spread_18w x 12h.indd 1

Shaped for Your Journey

ALL-AROUND WAVE 9'6"

ALL-AROUND WIDEBODY 9'8"

ALL-AROUND CLASSIC 10'8"

ALL-AROUND/TOURING 11'2"

TOURING 12'0"

2017 QUEST collection ALL-AROUND WAVE, WIDEBODY, CLASSIC, TOURING

Designed with accessibility in mind, the Quest Series features a broad range of incredibly stable shapes ideal for a wide variety of conditions, experience levels and riding styles. Constructed with an advanced, high-temperature molding process, Quest boards are lightweight and durable. Shaped for performance with optimized stability, Quests are an ideal fit for the full range of skill levels. More constructions available. See the full range at NaishSUP.com

Pacific Boardsports LLC naishsup.com

pbs@naishsails.com NaishStandUpPaddling

(509) 493-0043 NaishSUP

11/14/16 4:52 PM

There are no walls when you SUP, no judgement when you paddle. In my SUP lifestyle, it is fitness, freedom and nature all around...

Suzi Parmentier Lifestyle Ambassador

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H O B I E .CO M 12/12/2016 12:27:14 PM

Built to last, priced to move, engineered for fun.

S E R I E S

With their ultra tough thermo-molded outer shells and rail seam paddle protectors, the Hammerhead XT and Hammerhead Explorer are some of the most dependable boards on the market today. Lightweight, durable and offered at a great price the Hammerheads are an industry game-changer, catering specifically to the rental market or anyone who is tough on their equipment.

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Ryan Helm

Photo: Scott Shannon

Paddling the RP-14’ Downwinder in California.

NUGG

9’2” x 31”

NUGG TURBO RIVIERA ORIGINAL 9’2” x 31”

10’6” x 32” 11’6” x 33”

SELECT

10’6” x 32” 11’6” x 33”

CONVOY

RON HOUSE

10’6” x 32” COASTAL CRUISER 11’6” x 33” 12’6” X 30”

Support your local SUP shop!

VOYAGER

11’6” x 30” 12’6” x 32”

VOYAGER FISH ON CLASSIC 12’6” X 34”

12’6” X 32”

INFLATABLE 11’0” X 34” 12’6” X 32”

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RP-12’6” RACEBOARD 12’6” X 22” 12’6” X 24” 12’6” X 26” 12’6” X 28”

RP-14’ RACEBOARD 14’0” X 23” 14’0” X 25” 14’0” X 27”

RP-14’ DOWNWINDER 14’0” X 26”

RP-12’ PRONE

12’0” X 20.25”

WHIRLING DERVISH 7’6” x 26” 8’0” x 28” 8’6” x 30.5”

THE BOSS 9’0” x 29” 10’0” x 31”

EL TIGRE 7’2” x 25” 7’8” x 27” 8’2” x 28” 8’8” x 29” 9’8” x 31”

Find a Riviera dealer near you at: www.rivierapaddlesurf.com/pages/dealer-locator

EL TIGRE WIDE 7’2” x 28” 7’8” x 30” 8’2” x 31” 8’8” x 32” 9’8” x 33”

D E ST I N AT I O N Hawaii Island

:: HONOKOHAU HISTORICAL PARK KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII ::

Hawaii Island, also known as the Big Island, has an abundance of lava rock and where tall coconut trees grow you’ll know fresh water springs are leading to nourish the vegetation within. There’s a good reason they call it the Big Island. It’s land mass is massive: More than seven times bigger than Oahu. Five times bigger than Maui.

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Bullet Obra alone in his playground.

Photo: Eric Haka

STANDUPpaddlemagazine.COM /

M A ST H E A D VOLUME 8Nº6

PUBLISHER Reid Inouye EDITOR Ben Marcus COPY EDITOR Mason Thorpe MANAGING EDITOR Lucy Lucille DESIGN First in Flight Creative ADVISORS NUTRITION COACH Scott Estrada YOGA INSTRUCTOR Jeramie Vaine TRAINERS Thomas “Maximus” Shahinian

STAFF WRITERS Stone Parker, Jim Freeman, Eric Haka STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Jim Freeman, Eric Haka, Paul Ensyde CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Tyler Meade, Mayola Dijksman, Edwin Westra SALES sales@standuppaddlemagazine.com

RIDER: ANDREA MOLLER

STAY WARM. KEEP PADDLING.

BLUESMITHS HYDROPHOBIC WATERWEAR B LU E S M I T H S .CO M

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

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

facebook.com/ standuppaddlemagaz ine instagram.com/ standuppaddlemagaz ine twitter.com/ supmagaz ine pinterest.com/ spmagaz ine ISSN 2372-2274

2016SU

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Naish’s all new 2017 paddle range strikes the perfect balance between high-performance materials, precision engineering and power enhancement. The blades feature new shapes, pre-preg laminates and high-temperature molding technology for the best possible strength-to-weight ratio and longterm durability. From the continuous blade-to-shaft design, which promotes better power transfer with each stroke, to the re-designed vario shaft and hydro seal, which improves buoyancy and prevents water-intake, every detail has been engineered and refined to maximize your performance on the water. When it comes to paddles, every detail makes a difference and Naish takes that very seriously. You should too.

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Pacific Boardsports LLC . pbs@naishsails.com . (509) 493-0043

2016SUP_StandUpPaddle_Paddles_Single_9x12_V8N4.indd 1

NaishStandUpPaddling

NaishSUP

Photo: R. Kiaulehn, Rider: Kai Lenny

11/2/16 3:27 PM

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

APPRECIATING THE

OCEAN It’s been six months since our office from the mainland moved back to Honolulu for personal reasons but being in the middle of the Pacific Ocean gives me a variety of options on a daily basis. It’s diverse. There’s never a loss in staying active here it’s the perfect playground. The reality of it all is, Hawaii’s lively water offers everything from downwind runs on blasting 20 25 knot afternoons to glassy surfing days, warm flat water for an evening cruise at sunset or even a quick drive down to the beach unexpectedly greeted by perfect head high offshore waves. ot to say I didn’t enjoy ideal summer or winter waves I had while based in north county San iego and

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

experiencing its early morning glass with smiles in the lineup. But there’s nothing like being home during the winter months and roaming the islands during down time. Reacquainting myself with friends, watermen, and the fun waters I’ve called home a majority of my life make me appreciate all that this lifestyle has to offer in the middle of the Pacific blue. Reid Inouye Publisher, Standup Paddle Magazine

An average of forty percent of the time, the trade winds make for great open ocean swell conditions and the opportunity for anyone who loves downwind runs to glide along Honolulu’s coastline. Blue waters, breezy winds on your back, white caps over your left shoulder and the city’s hustle just a half mile to the right. Photos: Lucille

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C ON TEN TS V O L U M E

8 N º 6

: : 2016: :

OPENING SHOT

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

HOW TO Scott Estrada: The Alkaline Advantage Thomas Maximus: Strengthening Your Weakest Link – Part 3 Jeremy Vaine: Strength Within Solarez: Fast Time Fix

SUP 11 CITY TOUR Keeping Promises

ALTER YOUR BOUNDARIES Big Island’s Bullet Obra

QUIVERS AND WHEELS Canada Dry and Cold

O N T H I S PAG E : The west side of the Big Island of Hawaii has an abundance of surf breaks formed by lava rock and reefs. Pristine and beautiful, warm and so blue. Bullet Obra knows the path and can always find a way out to another adventure. Photo: Eric Haka

ON THE COVER: Bullet Obra altering h i s b o u n d a r i e s o n a v e r y ‘ B i g I s l a n d .’ Photo: Eric Haka

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STANDUPpaddlemagazine.COM /

H OW TO H EA LT H w ith Scott Estrada

ATHLETIC EDGE AND OPTIMAL HEALTH::

THE ALKALINE ADVANTAGE In the game of life, we all want to perform and having the energy to go after our passions is key. As a culture, we lack the understanding of energy and how programming into every cell is the foundation of balance; making up the various tissues that make up our biology. I believe this is why millions of people repeatedly choose sub-par artificial “energy” drinks and highly processed, chemical filled foods marketed for huge profits while doing nothing to support this natural balance inside us. Measured through pH levels lies the simple truth – acid/ alkaline balance. F or if we understood and valued this innate wisdom then lived the feeling of life in a balanced, vibrant state, our discovery discovery would result in having energy on demand to achieve whatever we focus on life. It would be a different ride. The good news is simple shifts in your intake to support this balance have profound rewards for a lifetime and can help shore up your physiological foundation and slow the aging process, support real immunity, promote efficient digestion, sound circulation, and

ACIDIC FOODS • All animal flesh is acidic in nature. Oxidation of phosphoric, sulfuric and uric acids occurs when eating all meats. • Soda is the highest form of acidic compounds created by humans that destroy balance. • Eggs • Nuts and Seeds. Some more than others. Soaking or sprouting is always the best form. • Grains - just slightly acidic in nature. Always source sprouted organic grains when possible. • Legumes • Refined sugars • Alcohol • Coffee/espresso • Tap water

overall organ function! Our body performs best at a slightly alkaline state or “base.” hen we are too acidic and filled with oxidi ing acids from highly acid forming foods consumed for a longer time, the cells are compromised and aren’t able to thrive. Same happens if we get too alkaline - we need some acids to create a balance that we are engineered to thrive in. In fact, this balance is so crucial to our health that our blood pH is always maintained in the balance first before the rest of the body helping to sustain life. Engineered with this incredible makeup to which we should be grateful to our Creator is ama ing! ot to mention cultivating gratitude supports the alkaline balance I am sharing with you. Here is a simple way to understand what this balance is: keep the ratio of acid to alkaline in the body with the foods you eat, fluids you drink, thoughts you think, and how you move, breathe and live. Shoot for a balance of 60-70% alkaline forming food/beverages to keep the acid-forming elements in check.

ALKALINE FOODS • Green leafy veggies. All sorts of varieties • Fruits. Especially lemons and limes as some of highest on the scale. Always source local and organic when possible. • Sprouts/grasses • Seaweeds. The high mineral content is a gift from the sea. • Fresh green juice high in chlorophyll. Wheatgrass hits a home run here. • Fresh spring water. Filtered water with added minerals works well also. • Dairy products. Alkaline foods don’t mean they can be digested by each person or are the best choice but their nature is slightly alkaline. Always seek the cleanest source: raw and organic are best. Know your farmer. • Bone marrow/broth/protein powder. The mineral content makes this slightly alkaline. SYM PTOM S OF B E I NG TOO ACI D IC: (ACIDOSIS) • Tense muscles • Stress headaches • Anger • Short temper • Chronic negative thoughts. Worry, hate, fear • Addictions to coffee, cigarettes, drugs, alcohol • Itchy skin • Acne/skin issues • Shallow breathing SYMPTOMS OF BEING TOO ALKALINE: Laziness Spaciness Lack of drive Excessively passive

• • • •

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FEELINGS/THOUGHTS THAT SUPPORT ALKALINITY: • Love • Gratitude/appreciation • Faith • Laughter/humor • Friendship • Contribution/giving • Achievement • Romance/sex S T R AT E GY / R I T UA L S TO S U P P O R T ALKALINITY: • Begin and end each day with ½ lemon or lime juice in warm water. Outside the body these are acidic, but when the juices mix with body fluids, the result is an alkaline ash that neutralizes acid residues from protein and supports the removal of waste products. • Breathwork such as kundalini or deep breathing to bring massive oxygen into the lungs and throughout the body. Low oxygen states are acidic where diseased cells populate. Daily work in this area pays huge rewards to offset other acidic states. • Prayer/Meditation/Visualization. A great practice to begin your day is to cultivate gratitude after deep breathing with your hands on your heart then move into a quiet, peaceful state of directing your focus on wherever your spirit guides you. • Yoga • Grounding to the Earth. Touching your bare feet on the earth elements - water, soil, grass, sand letting the negative ions flood into your system creating balance and allowing the positivecharged stress inside you dissolve. Mother Earth is the primary healer always. • Fresh green juices/smoothies • Daily salads of leafy greens/herbs. If you eat animal meats, always best to combine with large salads/green veggies.

LIFE IS BETTER ON THE WATER.®

Natua Teriitahi

Photo: Rooke Media

Shredding the central Southern Pacific Ocean on his El Tigre SUP Surfboard in Tahiti.

EL TIGRE

EL TIGRE WIDE

WHIRLING DERVISH

THE BOSS

NUGG TURBO

7’2” x 25” 7’8” x 27” 8’2” x 28” 8’8” x 29” 9’8” x 31”

7’2” x 28” 7’8” x 30” 8’2” x 31” 8’8” x 32” 9’8” x 33”

7’6” x 26” 8’0” x 28” 8’6” x 30.5”

9’0” x 29” 10’0” x 31”

9’2” x 31”

Support your local SUP shop! Find a Riviera dealer near you at: www.rivierapaddlesurf.com/pages/dealer-locator @rivierapaddlesurf

/rivierapaddlesurf

rivierapaddlesurf.com

H OW TO H EA LT H w ith Scott Estrada

THE ALKALINE ADVANTAGE THE CONDITION AND CONSTITUTION OF ALL BODY FLUIDS - ESPECIALLY BLOOD - IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN OUR HEALTH. ILLNESS IS ALWAYS A CALL TO HEALTH FOR BALANCE HAS BEEN LOST - THE DISEASE IS THE CURE! TESTING YOUR PH: Find some pH paper strips at the health food store and dip into your saliva and urine (both are necessary to get accuracy). In two seconds the paper will turn a color you can match on the scale provided and give you a number between 1-13. Neutral is 7: you’re looking for yours to be slightly above 7 to 7.5 or 7.8. If the number is in the 3-5 range – jump on all the alkaline rituals/foods right away; you’ll feel the benefits within just a few days. Keep in mind as your body works to remove the toxic buildup of acids it is normal that you will experience drops in pH levels. You will then see a gradual climb into more alkaline states.

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TAKEAWAY: A balanced body chemistry is a must for long term aiding us to maximize our capacity as humans. Maintaining a proper ratio of acid/alkaline foods/rituals in our life is vital to optimal health. If our focus is high performance and vibrant health, know the value of this balance. Pursue it until you train yourself to a new level of self-care. Live with passion in all you do, conjoin with the forces of nature on the water – stay connected and thrive! Be well friends.

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

HO W TO TRAINING with Thomas “Maximus” Shahinian

STRENGTHENING YOUR WEAKEST LINK:: Part 3 e’ve all heard the analogy that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. The holy grail of an efficient paddle stroke is an elaborate synchroni ation of movements and muscle groups that rely on multiple components engaged and disengaged at precise moments. Before discussing the complexities of the system, we’ll continue focusing on individual components.

1 Use your top hand to deliberately set your paddle blade at the front of the stroke (this is the catch phase) to properly set and load the blade before initiating the pull/power phase of the stroke. Tip: Imagine stabbing a fish at the front of your stroke with the paddle to completely submerge the blade.

Relax your shoulders and avoid shrugging/ hunching your shoulders, limiting their flexibility, range, and rotation throughout the power and recovery phase. Tip: Imagine poking your head through a small circular hole in the center of a heavy, round wood table that you’re supporting on your shoulders while paddling...let its weight keep them low & relaxed!

Keep your back straight while rotating and hinging forward at the waist. Deliberately set the blade and transfer your body weight to the loaded/ anchored paddle blade at the catch. Tip: Focus on utilizing your legs, hips and core muscles to support the hinge as opposed to arching and torching your lower back.

Counterbalance your stroke by shifting your hips & body weight onto the leg opposite the side you’re paddling. Bend the leg on the paddling side to initiate rotation of your right hip forward during the recovery phase. Complete forward hip rotation just prior to finalizing the hinge at your waist and shoulder rotation to set the paddle blade at the catch. Tip: Once you’ve uncoiled your body to complete the pull/power phase, begin counter rotating your hips just before the exit, to avoid negatively impacting the board’s glide.

This is an abbreviated overview of the “Paddle Stroke” technique and significantly expanded upon within individual and group paddle clinics with Thomas Maximus. Email Maximus@FirstTeamXtreme.com to schedule a clinic at your local shop.

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Riviera team rider Thomas Maximus has more than 18 years of experience racing outrigger canoes. He has competed in more than 150 SUP races since 2008, resulting in over 80 first-place wins and multiple course records.

H OW TO YOG A w i t h Je ramie Vain e

Strength Within::

CROSSED LEG SIDE PLANK e work hard on the water to get ready for the next big race. But often we forget about the off-the-water work that helps out. Especially when we are limited to a short amount of time to paddle. This one pose is aimed at building strength in the muscle groups that are used during paddling. You can add this to an existing warmup or use it alone on dry-land training days. Crossed Leg Side Plank Pose: F rom a pushup position - also known as a high plank extend out through the heels and the crown of the head. Lengthen the spine and back lines of the body. F rom the head to the heels, engage the core so the torso does not sag down to the ground. If it does, drop the knee and revert back to the modified version.

1 Walk your left hand inside of your left shoulder. Bring your left foot underneath the body, in front of the right foot. Your legs will be crossed.

2 Ground down through the side of the feet and left palm. Engage the core by bringing the bellybutton in towards the spine. Keep raising the right hip toward the sky. Bring the right hand off the ground to the right hip.

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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POSE 3 This is side plank. The core is engaged. The head and feet are reaching away from each other creating length. The left arm is underneath the shoulder creating a strong, stable position. If you are needing more, raise the right hand to the sky. If the balance is good and the body feels strong, bring the gaze towards the sky, looking over the fingertips of the right hand.

4 This is the full expression of cross leg side plank. Hold this pose for five to ten breaths. Then unwind, head back into plank pose and set up on the other side. This can be done multiple times depending on the body. Keep in mind not to let the hips sag towards the ground. And keep the core engaged. This will protect the lower back.

STANDUPpaddlemagazine.COM /

H OW TO T I P with Solarez

FAST TIME FIX WITH SOLAREZ :: One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned over the years is to carry the quick fix Solare ing Repair it. It’s simple to use, hardly any mess and the curing time of fewer than three minutes makes it easy for you to get back in the water. Utili ing the solar sunrays, this one part epoxy resin keeps the process quick, simple and clean. solare .com/sup repair)

Using the 1-ounce tube kit, use the rough sand block enclosed in the kit and sand open your ding, in this case, its a crack in the nose.

Reapply one more dab while Step Three is drying and allow the area to harden and seal. This should take less than two minutes in sunlight.

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Make sure the prepped area is cleaned and ready for a quick dab of Solarez and the area is roughed open.

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The Solarez is now hardening and once it forms into a hard gel, use the softer grit side of your block and shape the resin into the form of the nose. Once cured, apply a shine coat to give the repair a cleaner look.

3 Apply Solarez until the bubbles release all the air while applying with the tube.

6 It doesn’t have to look perfect as your primary concern is getting out in the water. Within 10 minutes, you are paddling back out into your local waterway.

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Promises SUP 11 CITY TOUR

Photos: Edwin Westra

hen you wait long enough and are patient, some stories write themselves. This one took five years, nine months, six days, and whatever hours. But that is not how it started. It began with a phone call “Sister, I think I’m going to do this race in the etherlands. e should do it together.” My sister Caren and I have a genuine passion for stand up paddling. I blame her, really. She got me started in 2011 shortly after her move to Thailand, which is where she taught me to stand on water. I never really cared much for water as an environment to recreate no, I was more of a mountain person. However, since I moved to the etherlands in 2007, as you can imagine, I had to find something on the water to entertain me. Caren knew this

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and got me hooked on SUP. ow that phone call played out something like this I told her I wanted to do this long distance event called the SUP 11 City Tour and she agreed to do it with me some day. s promises go, it was a little weak, but she did say it, and I planned on holding her to it. The SUP 11 City Tour is a five day, 220 kilometer 137 miles) event held each year in Friesland, the northernmost region of the etherlands, and has been touted by some as the “Tour de France” of the sport. Even though the event in its current incarnation began only eight years ago, there has been a mention of ice skaters visiting all eleven cities of Friesland since the winter of 1760. The 11 City Tour, or Elfstedentocht, took official form in 1890 with the establishment of the ssociation of the Eleven Frisian Cities who organi ed tours

for leisure skaters and a race for the more serious athlete. Starboard athlete nne Marie Reichman Totah had a vision for a modern, five day, 220 kilometer event to replicate the Eleven City tradition and to celebrate the history of this picturesque region that has since grown to include hundreds of participants representing 27 countries. eedless to say, I did not pick an easy event. Each September for the past five years I have come north to the city of Leeuwarden, the heart of the Frisian countryside, to either attempt to race or to volunteer. hen I say “attempt to race,” I mean that I have tried several times to compete in this event, and have never been successful – each time having to bow out due to the aggravation of a prior shoulder injury. I never gave up, though, returning year after year for that one quality

“The SUP 11 City Tour is a five-day,

220-kilometer (137 miles) event held each year in Friesland, the northernmost region of the Netherlands, and has been touted by some as the “Tour de France” of the sport.” STANDUPpaddlemagazine.COM /

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that is so lacking in today’s modern, fast paced SUP market family. The Hawaiians call it “Ohana,” that spirit of togetherness, camaraderie, mutual respect and support that many events say they have, but this one delivers. The organi ers have created opportunities for every person of every ability to participate the non stop event that begins on Monday, the full five day event, team competition, day stages and daily SUP clinics for the locals and their families that come out from the surrounding villages and towns to support the athletes. I didn’t know it at the time, but what I wanted was to share with my sister this sense of family. I wanted her to meet my other family, and as the years passed since that first phone call, it seemed like it would never happen. Even after I moved away from the etherlands and back to the United States shortly after the event in 2015, I had made such a tradition of setting aside the first week of September each year that even though I

“The organizers have created opportunites for every person of

every ability to participate...”

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wouldn’t be local anymore, it would seem a shame to not keep the tradition alive in 2016. So I called Caren again “Sister, I think I am going to do this race in the etherlands. e should do it together. This will most likely be my last year.” I trained hard this year beginning in anuary with simple trips across one of my local lakes. I only mention this because I live in Maine. It’s cold up here in anuary, but I was determined that this was going to be my year. I fought the traces of surface ice for a few months until winter finally overtook the lake and then relegated me to indoor training until spring. Caren knew I was training hard and that I was committed to success this year. She provided lots of support as the months ticked off the calendar and as the anticipation of competing began to swell, I quietly accepted that this was going to be “my” year, not “our” year. few days before the start found me in Leeuwarden supporting the non stop portion of the event as I have done before and mentally preparing for my

“Each September for the past five years I have come north to the city of Leeuwarden, the heart of the Frisian countryside, to either attempt to race or to volunteer.” STANDUPpaddlemagazine.COM /

We pulled each other along emotionally and physically. Despite those challenges, this story is about something better:

family and keeping promises.

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efforts. It is a great advantage to volunteer it gives you a chance to get exposed to the race course, meet some of the toughest athletes, and work with the great race staff that has been working hard for a year to assure a flawless race experience. The race organi er, Ritske Markus, asked me if I would be willing to do him a favor and take one of the vans down to the airport in msterdam to pick up a couple of the elite athletes aniel and Bruno Hasulyo, better known as the SUPBro . These guys are not only great athletes, but also great people, so the decision is easy. Besides, it gives me a couple of hours to talk shop and get some race tips and tricks from some top professional athletes.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to spot SUP athletes as they travel for events they are the ones with the fourteen foot board bags and tons of gear. In the typical SUPBro fashion, they were taking lots of photos. I had met them the previous year, so it was like a great big homecoming of sorts. But what I was not expecting was aniel taking a video of me with his mobile phone and not saying much, but smiling his classic, almost trademark, smile. hat I also was not expecting was my sister, Caren as she walked through the turnstile and into the sunshine. Everybody knew race organi ers, athletes, my family) everybody but me that is â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that she was coming. She had arranged only two weeks before the start two

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weeks!!) to attend the race! Yeah, it was as hard as we both figured it would be. e suffered together and alone each day from the back of the pack. e smiled brightly along the way as words of encouragement were being shouted all along the canals, bridges and villages we went through from people we had never met and some that we had met), most often in a language neither of us could understand. Behind our smiles were grimaces of pain. e laughed at each other. I cried. e pulled each other along emotionally and physically. espite those challenges, this story is about something better family and keeping promises.â&#x20AC;?

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BRITTANY PARKER FOR HEALTHY SKOOP photo credit: heather jackson

A L T E R

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BOUND

Y O U R

DARIES

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To get to some of these Big Island destinations often mean finding new paths.

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ERIC

HAKA

THE BIG ISLANDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

BULLET

OBRA

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Such a vast land mass, formed by two volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, this island, is so different from the six other Hawaiian islands, offering both snow and warm ocean in one day during the winter.

On the slopes of Mauna Kea,

a 13,800-foot high dormant volcano, on the island of Hawaii is a small ranch town, Waimea. Near that town, you’ll find aikii Ranch, which is privately subdivided ranch land in the middle of Parker Ranch country with an elevation between 3,500 and 5,000 feet. Bullet Obra’s roots are deeply planted here. His name alone can raise an eyebrow, but once you see him on the water, his name defines his movement on the water – faster than a speeding bullet and powerful.

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Obra, finding his playground in paradise at sea level.

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On the slopes of a 13,800-foot high dormant volcano is a small ranch town, Waimea.

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When you leave the house in the early morning and drive down the quiet, peaceful community of Waikiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;i, it is scenic along the pastures of what was a sprawling Parker Ranch, the largest ranch in the U.S.A. where horses, cattle, goats and Hawaiian geese still roam. Although a 45-minute drive to the local surf spots, it is still mesmerizing and surreal at times especially when the summit is snow-capped and the air a cool 36 degrees.

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Getting through the lava fields requires that you are a tough skin barefoot local.

Riding shorter progressive surfboard like SUPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s allows for easy high-performance amongst crystal blue backdrops.

Blue, white and lava brown.

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Lifestyle and family time.

So many bays and empty lineups make up the Big Island.

Driftwood, a common sight along the entire coast of this island.

Finding a path means understanding tides and lava fields.

Respecting the locals can last you a lifetime in the lineups.

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Tall coconut trees, lava land mass, and pristine waters are the genetics of this place.

Hapuna Beach voted top beach in the world for decades and a favorite for bikini fashion photographers the world over.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;...the Big Island can boast of being one of the most diverse places on the planet.â&#x20AC;?

Island with a view for miles even at a 1000-foot elevation.

Stand-up solitude, a daily ritual for some of the recreational paddlers.

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Razor sharp bottoms and high-energy performance waves can make anyone a keeneyed rider where being agile, quick and focused gives you a better understanding for life. Take a spill here, and you can easily get hurt, but as the saying goes, “time heals all wounds,” and hopefully before the next swell.

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Bullet Obra, his name alone can raise an eyebrow...

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Next level laceration. Speeding Bullet finding his momentum and groove.

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...but once you see him on the water, his name defines his movement.

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Pristine offshore mornings.

“As long as I could remember the beach was my favorite playground...

Growing up in the mountains on the Big Island is a 25-minute drive from the ocean. It’s a commitment, one his dad made a huge effort to raising his family around the ocean and the ocean lifestyle. “As long as I could remember the beach was my favorite playground and surfing was the only sport I knew,” Bullet says. t six years of age, Bullet began competing in surfing. The first contest he ever did – run by a local professional surfer, Shane Dorian – he was awarded “Surfer of the Year” at the 1996 eiki Surf Classic, and it has hooked him ever since. He continued to compete as a top-level amateur surfer till he was a young teen earning top finishes in state and national levels on both a shortboard and longboard. In 2006 he tested the waters of SU P by competing in the China Uemura Longboard Classic where SUP was a newly added division. Bullet took out an 11’ longboard and ended up in the final – and as the well known proverbial phrase goes “The rest is history.” Bullet says, “Not long after that I got a SU P at home on the Big Island and found that it’s an excellent way to spend more time in the water on days that the waves weren’t q uite big enough to surf. SU P just continued to grow on me from then on and it has taken me on some of the greatest adventures of my life.”

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Who wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t smile and be happy here?

Teach your children young.

You grow up here, and everyone is family both on land and in the water.

Negotiating lava mine fields.

To be a waterwoman and given waves in warm water, lucky you live Hawaii.

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Bullet had a breakthrough performance on the Stand U p orld Tour in 2012 at the final stop of the tour in the Big Island Finals. iligently he worked his way from the trials to the main event finals. Since then he has had strong finishes in Tahiti and Pipeline. “SU P has turned me into the greatest athlete I have ever been – adding the race discipline into the factor it is playing a huge role in my career. I love the competitive side of SU P racing, and I also love setting and achieving my goals as a racer,” Bullet says. He spends a lot of his time training for racing in the ocean. Not to be redundant, but because paddling is the best training for paddling, he also loves cross training at home in the high altitudes on Mauna ea, where the air is fresh and thin, and the grass is green!

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(Top to Bottom) You can go from beach to beach and find empty waves. • Another morning before the warm land mass turns these waves into an onshore mush. • The rock crab, always looking for a meal in salty crevices during the tides. • Sometimes you even wonder if someone will paddle out to chat with you and share waves. • Peelers, blue and clean. • Because the island is so new, the lava coastlines give you a more unique feel than the rest of Hawaii.

...and surfing was the only sport I knew.â&#x20AC;?

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Clockwise: Taking a break before heading to the north side of the island. • Local towns have plenty of “hole in the wall” places to eat. • Local favorites – a Nori-chicken plate can make any waterman a happy camper while looking for a second surf session. • Pololu Valley is one a place with so much spirituality, and Hawaiian historical depth in the birth of the kingdom. • The King Kamehameha statue in North Kohala, honoring the great king of Hawaii who battled, conquered and united Hawaii as one. • This region is where the great king – raised as a child to greatness.

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Amongst the terrain above Kawaihae Harbor along the coastline are many heaiu’s (burial grounds) that exist through the massive lava fields. Pu’ukohola Heiau, built and designed by King Kamehameha the Great.

Bullet is an adrenaline enthusiast and no stranger to big wave surfing “Surfing big waves is fascinating. You’re always scared before you go out, but regardless I always want to get the biggest wave when I’m out there. I just love the thrill, the adrenaline and the courage that you witness when you are surfing a spot like aimea Bay. The waves never really get huge on the Big Island so I made it my goal to try and catch some big waves while I was living on the North Shore. Having a cra y best friend/roommate like Mikey O’Shaughnessy to push me made it that much easier.” ithout hesitation Bullet shares where his influence on the water was established. Growing up on the Big Island there were always two surfers that Bullet and his friends admired and held in high regard – Shane orian and Conan Hayes. They both grew up in ona, and they both set great examples for Big Island surfers. There are also the great Hawaiian paragons that Bullet reveres, like Eddie ikau and uke ahanamoku, who used their passion for surfing to portray and perpetuate the Hawaiian and Aloha lifestyle with the rest of the world.

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“The culture of Hawaii perpetuates that family is everything. It’s the reason why being raised here is good. Y ou’re always taught to care for each other and never to be selfish. e always put family first! ithout that, at the end of the day, you have nothing.” he says from the heart.

Bullet is an adrenaline enthusiast and no stranger to big-wave surf ing. Another day in the life, where staying connected to both who you are, your roots and your Aina (land), is what makes the locals so in tune to the quality of life – deﬁnitely the reason for grounding anyone. Humility and sharing, perhaps the world should take notice?

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The Big Island can alter your boundaries.

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Hosting eleven of the thirteen climate z ones and one of the world’s most active volcanoes and all surrounded by the beautiful Pacific Ocean, the Big Island can boast of being one of the most diverse places on the planet. The Big Island hasn’t stopped growing in over 30 years. It is the “most alive, raw place on our planet Earth.” It’s also home to some of Hawaii’s greatest royal li i nobles) like ing amehameha the Great who brought about the unification of the Hawaiian Islands and also some of today’s most loyal, authentic, and welcoming people. “I love the Big Island because everywhere you go you see smiling faces, whether it’s locals or visitors everyone seems to be in a great frame of mind,” Bullet says. “It’s the atmosphere and ambience of the Big Island, it’s contagious, and it’s what the Big Island does to you. The Big Island can alter your boundaries.”

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QUI VERS & W H EEL S BOD IE S HAND RO

by Paige Turner Photos by Tyler Meade

CANADA DRY & COLD Bodie Shandro SUN PEAKS, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Bodie Shandro is best described as an outdoor enthusiast. He has made it his way of life. In his 52 years he considers that he is incredibly fortunate to have lived an active outdoor lifestyle and he has no intention of stopping now. He is a professional Heli Ski Guide and mountain bike and stand-up paddle, guide instructor and trainer. And throw into the mix Western Canadian Sales Rep for Surftech. He shares his passion with his incredible wife Brenda whom he has been married to for 30 years and a 22-year old daughter, Madison. Living on a beautiful mountainside lake just minutes from Sun Peaks Ski Resort it’s easy to see why he is such an advocate for the great outdoors lifestyle. His summers are spent on Western Canada’s spectacular lakes and rivers and trails while spring and fall take them away in search of surf: Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii. In winter you will find Bodie spending over 100 days a season teaching and backcountry ski guiding at Sun Peaks Resort and Mike Wiegele Heli Skiing.

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QUIVERS & WHEELS BO DIE SHANDRO

Being outdoors like this requires the right quiver and wheels: “My quiver includes my very first board, a 12’1 Surftech Laird/Ron House. These days it usually graces the roof of the Jeep as more of a show piece. Although I no longer race, I still train daily, run, paddle, bike and my go-to is my 14’ Surftech BARK D2,” he shares, “This is a fantastic flatware board for the lakes! For exploring I love inflatables, and my Surftech 12’6 Recon is the ticket. I even jump on the dirt bike with it and get into lakes that nobody else can find. I used it on our SUP Heli Expedition this past fall. For SUPsurf I LOVE my Surftech Superfly! I leave a 9’0 in Mexico, and travel with the 8’6. I run a quad setup, and this board flies down the line and carves like a dream! For surf, my Surftech Channel Islands Average Joe works in all conditions and is my current go to when not standing.” Bodie’s Jeep is a 2012 JK Wrangler. 4.5” AEV (American Expedition Vehicles) lift, 37”x 12.5 x 17 BFG Mud Terrains on AEV Pinter wheels, Smittybilt bumpers, Warn winch. The

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“Living on a beautiful mountainside lake just minutes from Sun Peaks Ski Resort it’s easy to see why he is such an advocate for the great outdoors lifestyle.”

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QUIVERS & WHEELS BO DIE SHANDRO

roof rack is from Off Camber Fabrications. Perfect for the Canadian rugged terrain. “I had an additional level added on so that I could fit one or two boards on the rack just below the tent. The tent is an Autohome Maggiolina out of Europe. The tent is remarkable in itself, very comfortable with lights, 6” thick mattress and storage options. Set up and take down is under five minutes!” Bodie says. On any given weekend you can find Bodie’s rig at home on the lake as accommodation for friends or out on demos or exploring the thousands of lakes and rivers in western Canada. “Word to the wise, bring a small step to get the boards on the roof! That rack is wayyyy up there!” Bodie’s most memorable adventures are riding his enduro motorcycle from Sun Peaks to Guatemala in 2008, and being the first Canadian to cross the finish line in the 2011 Molokai to Oahu race. “So many to choose from, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, surfing – I have been so fortunate to have traveled and played in so many places in my life. It’s hard to nail it down to just one experience.” Paddle Surfit is a company that he and his wife have built together. You can find anything here that your heart desires to connect you with the great outdoors from a Proshop to rentals, lessons, expeditions, and instructor training. If you’re in the area, he encourages you to come check it out.

www.paddlesurfit.com

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A C T I V E W E A R

H A W A I I

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