SurfingSports Standup Paddle Surf & Standup Paddling BLOG

We just received a new shipment of Hobie standup paddleboards...10'6"...11'2"...12' all sizes and colors in stock...Aqua...Mango...& Red...

They all come with inset carrying handle, pad, vent plugs, and high quality fin(s)...
The 12'er has tie-downs...screws and clips included...

We also have 3 new Hobie all carbon 12'6" race boards coming next week...identical to the one that Chuck Patterson won the "Battle of the Paddle" on...created
by
Hobie surfboard shaper Mark Johnson...stay tuned for a future blog post with pics...
They are gorgeous...







Hobie surfboards need no introduction...the surfing lifestyle brand started 50 years ago by Hobie Alter continues to break new ground with a killer new line of
SUP's...



Unlike some SUP brands that have popped up out of thin air, Hobie has a 50 year history of making surfboards...

Hobie history



Unlike some "stores" that you're likely to come across on the internet, that are only virtual mail order websites advertising SUP's as "in stock"...
they have nothing to show but artist mockup renditions with click & buy links...we are a *real* shop that has at least 50 *real* SUP's in stock at all times...
we currently have 80 *real* SUP's in stock and in a few days with our next container, our selection will be over 130 *real* SUP's in stock...
NOBODY can beat our selection...

All of our standup paddleboards, paddles, and accessories are available for pickup or shipping delivery to anywhere in the US...
we also arrange international shipments through freight forwarders...

Labels: Hobie, Hobie SUP's, Santa Barbara standup paddle sports

One of the most tweaked and radical wavesailors in the world just discovered SUP.
On a shortboard surfing trip to Java, Indonesia he hopped on a Starboard 9'8" Fish for the first time and ripped...





As a young boy, Boujmaa Guilloul grew up balancing the Moroccan suburban street culture with a strong passion for the ocean. By luck (or coincidence) he got to experience windsurfing when a friendly soul lent him his gear, and from that point in time he was hooked for life. Fast forward just a few years and at the age of 24, he's one of the world's best riders due to his tweaked and fearless style.





He was at first a little reluctant to try SUP due to also being a passionate surfer of a shortboard, but then when he finally did, you should have seen the Glow he radiated after each session.

"I had my first experience on a SUP 9'8 x 30 in real hollow and fast waves", (Java, Indonesia) says Boujmaa. At the beginning I really wasn't into it at all, and didn't want to go on a SUP, but when I tried, I so wanted to score a barrel on it. It's just so much fun and easy going.



The whole feeling of it is just insane, from first stepping on the board off the beach, till the kick out at the end of the ride. Its just so wonderful. It's a sick sport for those who cant take off easily on a surf board for whatever reason and you can catch a wave from miles away, and ride it for longer...

I kept the 9'8 x 30", which is now one of my favourite boards at home. I can surf shitty waves, sick waves, and can also just cruise the spots, Sometimes I even go fishing with it."

It's definitely one of our favorite shortboard SUP's...
I ride both the 9'0" Fish and the 9'8" Fish...the most sold, and sought after, shortboard SUP's in the world...



We have them both in stock...the Tufskin version is $1099...there is not a better value on the planet...the gorgeous wood veneer version is $1549...

If we run out this weekend, again...no worries...we have a 40' container of them being delivered next week...

Here is Ivan Van Vuuren scoring Jeffrey's Bay and Cape St. Francis in South Africa on both the Starboard 9' & 9'8" Fish...

Labels: Boujmaa Guilloul, Santa Barbara standup paddle sports, Starboard SUP's

Our friend and fellow standup paddle waterperson Blakeney Sanford is featured in Santa Barbara Magazine this month...January 2009 issue...

It's an interesting read...she almost lost her life 2 years ago...instead of succumbing to self-pity, she reprioritized her life, and things started falling into place for her...

She is pictured here paddling on a Starboard 11'2" Ultimate Blend with one of her gorgeous standup paddles that she lovingly makes...







Her boyfriend, and local waterman, Bennett Williams is shown here wavesailing on a Starboard SUP Fish 9'8"...betcha your SUP can't do that...;-)



He is also a great surfer...kiter...and standup paddle surfer...



We have a 40' container of Starboard SUP's showing up at our shop next week...all sizes...they have been very hard to keep in stock...demand far outstrips
supply, even though we're bringing them in by the container...we've sold hundreds of them this year...lots of very happy and satisfied customers out there...

Labels: Blakeney Sanford, Santa Barbara Magazine, Santa Barbara standup paddling, standup paddles

We're always hard at work designing and developing killer new SUP products...
Here is the final iteration of our 9 board mobile SUP racks...these puppies have the highest quality powder coated finish and are handmade in the USA right
here in Santa Barbara, CA...the SUP mecca of North America...







You can see more shots of the racks here...

Labels: Santa Barbara standup paddle sports, standup paddleboard rack, SUP rack

A day without music is like a day without sunshine...and standup paddling with music *REALLY* enhances the sunshine...

Listen to our JUKEBOX while you surf our site...you can even leave the player going after you leave...

"I wanna love like Johnny and June..." stroke...stroke...stroke...
"Rings of fire burning with you..."stroke...stroke...stroke...
"I wanna walk the line until the ends of time..."stroke...stroke...stroke...

We are the exclusive dealer for the waterproof iPod (SwimMan) in the Santa Barbara area...no bulky water resistant housing necessary...the Apple iPod
is sealed from the inside out...we've done the research and testing...this is definitely the way to go...smallest footprint possible...and the waterproof
earphones sound the best and actually stay in your ears doing what you love to do best...GO OFF!!!

Blue, orange, green, red, pink, or the classic silver...MSRP $250...













Swimman has created the first and only completely waterproof iPod shuffle. NO BULKY CASE REQUIRED! In fact, there's no added case at all.
Just the tunes you want, anytime and anywhere you want. SwimMan, the originator of waterproof audio players and waterproof headphones, has combined
two top-of-the-line products by two top-of-the-line companies: A 100% SwimManTM WATERPROOFED Apple 1GB iPod Shuffle (2nd generation) and SwimMan's
acclaimed 100% WATERPROOF headphones.



This is truly the “go anywhere, do anything” iPod Shuffle for all sports and leisure activities on land or in the water. It is the easiest, simplest to use, best
sounding, most rugged and most versatile MP3 Player on the market worldwide.

We know you will be absolutely thrilled with an iPod that's waterproofed. It will enhance your swimming and water sports experience.
This is the way your favorite tunes should be: limitless!

Labels: Santa Barbara standup paddle sports, waterproof iPod, waterproof mp3

Every single time we have visited Joe Bark and his crew at his factory we end up with more kewl hand built in the USA boards...best constructed SUP's
on the planet...here's my latest...all carbon 12'6" x 28"...













The demand for Joe Bark SUP's is off the scale as more and more people experience THE GLIDE...not to worry...we can take your custom order directly...but, if
you can't wait several months...his 20 person race team gets top priority...you may want to think about getting on our waiting list for the 14' Surftech "Expedition"...

The list is growing daily...

Labels: Joe Bark carbon SUP, Joe Bark SUP, Santa Barbara standup paddle sports

The padded double SUP paddle bags that we've developed are now ready to ship...click image below to enlarge...





These puppies are bomb proof...and have lots of features...MSRP $65...
Perfect for everyday use or traveling...

:: Holds 2 SUP paddles

:: Thermo-molded foam blade separator

:: Adjustable length

:: Over-sized padded shaft cover

:: Large external storage pouch

:: Grippy handle and shoulder sling

:: Breather hole and drain grommet

:: Industrial zippers







These bags are a dime on the dollar to protect your SUP paddle from UV damage and nicks that can lead to failure...you don't want to be up a creek
(or out in the ocean) on a SUP without a paddle...;-)

Same goes for your standup paddle board...protect your investment(s) and resale value with one of our SUP board bags...



We have them from 9' to 12' in 6" increments...and guess what?
You can actually get a (X)' board in a (X)' bag...and get it out again...easily...without tug o' war grief...;-)

Shoulder strap and side handle...inside pouch...light color...durable...
Affordably priced right (value)...dime on the dollar to protect your SUP investment...Under 11' $120...11' & over $130...

Labels: Santa Barbara standup paddle sports, SUP board bag, SUP paddle bag

When Shauna and Rachel walked through the doors of our standup paddle shop in Santa Barbara last year, little did we (or they) know that they would get bit
by the standup paddling bug so bad that it would change their lives...and vocations...forever...

"One day while out paddling among the swells of the Pacific Ocean in our hometown, we were reminiscing about Palau and it hit us like a huge wave.
Palau, the land at the end of the rainbow, would be the ideal place to stand up paddle. We kept imagining paddling in the flat, warm, clear waters of Palau.
In fact, we thought about it so much, we decided we had to come back and do it.

So here we are. Us and our stand up paddle boards, and our love of fun and adventure."



They have purchased a dozen boards (Starboard) and paddles (Werner) from us...along with a bunch of accoutrements...and we've helped to ship them, and one of our mobile SUP racks, to the island of Palau
where they have opened Standup Paddle Palau...the first SUP tour company in Micronesia...

:: Palau is one of the most extraordinary diving spots on this planet.

:: Palau was named the Number One Underwater Wonder of the World by CEDAM -- a group of marine scientists and conservationists.

:: Palau enjoys a pleasantly warm climate all year round with an annual mean temperature of 82° degrees F.

More Palau factoids...

Shauna and Rachel have spocked out the best paddling and snorkeling areas on these islands...
They are fun to hang with...we always enjoy it when we see their van roll up to the shop...

We're really L@@King forward to taking advantage of the SUP tours led by these self-admitted "two crazy women from California who love Palau, and all that it
has to offer".

Labels: standup paddle Palau, SUP Palau, SUP tours

L@@King for a new standup paddle?
You've come to the right place...that's for sure...our extensive collection eclipses anyone's in the country...

We have over 100 SUP paddles in stock at our Santa Barbara SUP store by Werner, QuickBlade, and Sawyer...ready for pick up, or delivery, to anywhere in the US of A...







We stock the hard to find Werner adjustable Carve, Advantage, & Spanker...we also have 2-piece Werners in stock...

Labels: Quick Blade SUP paddles, Santa Barbara standup paddle sports, Werner SUP paddles

We still have a few of the 9'6" and 10'3" Gerry Lopez SUP's in our warehouse that need to find new homes...

Seems every other SUP on the water around here is a Lopez...dunno whether he's selling more books or SUP's...;-)

The latest chapter is called...

A SALE IS WHERE YOU FIND IT...$999 with pad and fins...

Labels: Gerry Lopez SUP, GERRY LOPEZ SUP SALE, PADDLESURF SANTA BARBARA

Hands down the rippingest SUP Fish on the planet is the Starboard 9' & 9'8" Fish...

Here is Ivan Van Vuuren scoring Jeffrey's Bay and Cape St. Francis in South Africa...

Labels: Santa Barbara paddlesurf, Santa Barbara SUP, Starboard 9'8" SUP Fish, Starboard Fish Vid Clip

Hey now...
Sorry about all of the missed calls, shop visits, and emails today...but, our whole team is just getting back from the first race of the
SoCal Ocean Racing Winter Series...at La Jolla today...





Team StandUp Paddle Sports carried the momentum that we had garnered from the Battle of the Paddle right into this race with another quite respectable showing from our
team commitment to the developing sport of standup paddle racing...



:: Vicki Mills 1st Place SUP Women :: 1st Place OC-1 Women

:: John Becker 2nd Place SUP Mens Unlimited

:: Rich Schroeder 2nd Place SUP Mens Stock

:: Bryan Fernandez 3rd Place SUP Mens Stock

John's start was kinda sabotaged...otherwise, we believe he would have had the gold...regardless, he still bested Eric Starnes, who came in 2nd
at the Battle of the Paddle...no easy feat with 253 other competitors vying for the silver medal...

A few of our racers were missing from this post race photo...NICE boards!!!



Here's 1st Place winner Vicki Mills...only her 3rd time on a standup board...but, her background is outrigger paddling...she still holds a record for Molokai racing
from 1995...after this great initial SUP result...she paddled her OC-1 in another race with similar results...1st Place...GO VICKI!!!



Anyways...more pics and story later...off to dinner...

Oh yeah...thanks again for your patience today...it was worth it to our team...

To show our gratitude...and to pay you guys back for your loyalty and patronage over the last years...we've sold well over 1000 SUP's...
there will be lots of unadvertised specials at the shop tomorrow...come in...give a shout out locally (or toll free)...or just ping us on email...

Parting shot...fun surf the last couple of days...even with race logistics we still scored some fun ones in trunks...

P.S. What up with all of the wetsuit clad surfers in San Diego?!?!...the water temp is 66* F...air temps over 80*...

Labels: La Jolla SUP, Santa Barbara standup paddle sports, SoCal Race Series, standup paddle sports santa barbara

Our resident artiste, Rob Heeley, just finished up another of our new tshirt designs...Kewl, huh?



Speaking of kewl...here is Kamiah's new customized 12' Hobie...her favorite paddling and surfing board...







Click image below for gallery of Kamiah on Molly's 12' Hobie...



We just got our Stand Up Paddle Sports (SUPsports) racing stickers...



All of our team's SUP race boards will be sporting them...



The Gerry Lopez SUP Sale Continues...

Labels: GERRY LOPEZ SUP SALE, Hobie paddle boards, Hobie SUP, SUP stickers, SUP tshirts

STANDUP PADDLE BOARD SALE CONTINUES...

GERRY LOPEZ SUP'S ARE $999 INCLUDING PAD & FINS!!!

Who doesn't want to save hundreds of dollars on one of the popular SUP shapes by legendary surfer Gerry Lopez?!?!?!

We have a few more of the 9'6" x 27.5" x 4.25" or 10'3' x 28.5" x 4.375" standup paddle boards left at these killer prices...

You can prolly get GL to sign one for you at his numerous book signing engagements...







These boards are selling for $1450 at other shops...but, since we buy in container volumes and keep our overhead down, we are able to pass on
the savings to you, our valued clients...







We are the volume leader in standup paddleboarding...

Read our customer testimonials and you'll find out why...



We have also just received new shipments of standup paddle boards from Hobie, Bill Foote, & Starboard...

We have over 80 new SUP's in stock...with at least as many new standups due in the next couple of weeks...

NOBODY has more quality SUP's in stock anywhere on this continent!!!

We need to clear up some rack space...score the goods while they last...

Labels: GERRY LOPEZ SUP'S, standup paddle boards, standup paddle surfing Santa Barbara

Photographer: Margareta Engstrom

Nina Heiberg, the thirty-year Old Norwegian was only a teenager when she moved to Gran Canaria to become a professional windsurfer.
After a few years on the tour she decided to take on kite boarding where she climbed up to the top quite rapidly due to her soulful style.





In 1998 Nina moved to Maui to study political science, even though her biggest drive at the time was to explore one of the world's most famous waves.
Maui gave Nina not only a lifestyle where she could be in and around the water every day, but also showed her the way to her soul mate Teiva Joyeux.
The thirty-two-year old Tahitian has been a professional surfer and Quiksilver sponsored since he was sixteen.
With a quite impressive record of surfing, tow surfing, windsurfing and kiteboarding he seems to charge the waves wherever he goes.





As for both of them, their lives have always been based around water. They seem to find their happiness when they are immersed in their passion,
and have therefore naturally, maybe even unconsciously followed their dreams.
Their professions today reaches over almost any water sport you can think of and they are constantly searching for the ultimate way of enjoying the waves.
After Teiva's first contact with SUP he was hooked, whether it is for cruising down the lagoon or catching waves at Teahupoo.
Nina's fire comes original from her long-boarding history, which she easily transferred in to Stand-Up Paddling in the waves.



The couple is full of hidden talents even outside the water. Teiva is partly designing clothes for Quiksilver and Nina is currently recording a music album.

Starboard is very proud Nina and Teiva Joyeux and welcomes them in to our team!

Labels: Nina Heiberg and Teiva Joyeux, standup paddle sports santa barbara, Starboard SUP

More eye candy of a couple of Joe Bark standup paddleboards...

The BARK 18'6" carbon SUP is definitely in a class by itself...

You have to see the craftsmanship of these boards to believe it...good to see this
level of build quality still being produced in the US of A...











CLICK FOR MORE JOE BARK STANDUP PADDLEBOARD IMAGES...

Labels: Bark paddleboards, Joe Bark, Santa Barbara standup paddle sports, standup paddle surfing Santa Barbara

One stroke...one board...one world...

That's all it takes on Joe Bark's carbon 18'6"...one stroke and you're done!!!
What an incredibly gorgeous piece of hydrodynamic work...



Everytime we visit Joe Bark's factory we come home to our Santa Barbara SUP shop with the goods...yesterday's visit yielded 3 more Bark SUP's...
including the 18'6" pictured above...as well as a 12' surf model and a 15' surf racer...


These boards are fast and light...that's a given...the fact that they can also catch swells and waves is frosting on the cake!!!



The 15'er lineage has given birth to Joe's new production epoxy 14' Expedition SUP by Surftech...we'll be the exclusive dealer for this board in the
Santa Barbara area...better get on the waiting list as this board will be in extremely high demand...we'll have demos available to glide...MSRP $2150...



Click on pic below for more images of these Bark SUP's...

Labels: Joe Bark, Santa Barbara standup paddle surf, Surftech Bark