Wet Feet

New Blog Site

2009-12-11T19:15:00.001-08:00

Hi Everyone,

We have switched the Wet Feet Blog over to a new location...In the future, we will be posting to http://wetfeethawaii.wordpress.com/. Thanks for reading, and we hope to see you over there!!

Thanks,

The Wet Feet Crew

KOOK or KOOL by Blane Chambers

2009-12-05T18:20:00.000-08:00

This is an exerpt regarding Standup Paddle Surfing from the Paddle Surf Hawaii website. You can learn more about Blane Chambers and the rest of the Paddle Surf Hawaii crew at http://www.paddlesurfhawaii.com/.

How are you representing Stand Up Paddle Surfing?
Are you Dangerous to others? Are you a WAVE HOG?

When Beach Boy surfing, there are Kool things and things that make you a huge KOOK!
This section is dedicated to Kook & Kool!

1. You paddle out floundering to a lineup with surfers. You can barely stay standing but proceed right into or outside of the lineup. You paddle for waves while people scramble out of your way only to fall off before you can even get on the wave.... Your big board becomes an extremely dangerous projectile... Kook alert!! KOOK!! KOOK!! KOOK!! KOOK!!

2. You can barely stay standing so you practice in an area where no one is around that you could endanger or bum out. You care about the world wide effects of SUP surfing so you paddle and surf with Aloha. Very KOOL!!

3. You start to get the hang of it and want to surf better waves so you decide to surf a more popular spot. You paddle out and stand outside everyone. The sets come and you paddle in like a locomotive right thru the pack. You get waves in every set... KOOK!!

4. You start to get the hang of it and want to surf better waves so you decide to surf a more popular spot. You paddle out and check out the situation. You see waves off to the side that a lot less people go for. You catch a few of those... Since you don't want to wear out your welcome, you decide to catch only a few set waves at most. You surf with Aloha.... KOOL!
5. You paddle out on an in-consistent day to a crowded spot. You stand outside everyone the whole duration of the lulls. You never sit down so you tower over others the whole time... You make sure you catch a wave from every set. KOOK!

6. You paddle out on an in-consistent day to a crowded spot. You feel like you're on stage so you stand off to the side or sit down between sets because you don't like blocking everyone's view of the beautiful ocean. You catch a couple waves then move to the inside or on to another spot or just paddle around because you figured out how to surf with Aloha... KOOL!!

7. You're pretty good and can get in and around the surf well... You surf crowded spots and catch all the waves you can. Small ones, set waves etc. Because you can surf good you get plenty waves. You're always calling people off your waves. You just can't help yourself to sit sets out so you basically take over the spot for the duration of your surf. HUGE SELFISH KOOK!!!!!!!!

8. You're pretty good and can get in and around the surf well... You go to a crowded spot and check out what's going on. You see some of the lesser quality waves going un-ridden and surf those. You catch a ton of waves but ones that no one really wants. You paddle out and get a few set waves but you make sure others get waves by quietly cluing them in to incoming sets. You become a quiet spotter of sorts for others to score good waves.... You always sit out a few sets. You use your high vantage point to stoke others out. KOOL!! (When you arrive and it's already crowded NOT GOING OUT THERE is the KOOLEST!)

9. You see how cool SUP surfing is because you can paddle fast and want to get back at those greedy longboarders. You decide to get into it to take over and be the dominent surfer at any spot at any time. Do the entire surfing world a favor and don't get into it. You are the biggest KOOK!!!!!!

10. You see how cool SUP surfing is because you can do something that is a challenge, get great exercise, paddle far up the coast at will, have a blast riding waves you never thought would be fun, discover new spots, like to enjoy the comraderie of the SUP surfers around the world. KOOL!!

Note:
If there are more than one of you SUP surfing, everything becomes doubled, tripled, quadrupled, etc.
Avoid heavy rotations with other SUP surfers when surfing with others.
Be aware of your actions and the actions of others. BE KOOL!

It's our 3rd Anniversary!!!

2009-12-04T19:23:00.000-08:00

Wet Feet is happy to announce that on December 12, 2009 from 4pm to 7pm, we will be celebrating our 3rd year anniversary! To help us commemorate the event, Gerry Lopez will be joining us for a book signing of his recent release, "Surf is where you find it." We would also be honored if you would join us to help celebrate. Come meet and talk story with Gerry Lopez, network with other Standup Paddlers in our community and enjoy the complimentary pupus and refreshments!

We also would like to thank all of you for your continued support over the past few years. We couldn't do it without you!

Hope to see you on Saturday!!!

Aloha,

The Wet Feet Crew

Coast Guard Fallen Guardians Race

2009-11-03T01:50:00.000-08:00

The Coast Guard Fallen Guardians Race from Hawaii Kai to Ala Moana was fun! All kinds of craft, 6 man, one man, two man, surfski and of course SUP. In the SUP there were some pretty fast times with Rob Stehlik first, Jeff Chang second and Darin Kohara third. In the women's race Nicole Madosik was first, Barbara Bumatay second and Sharon Stehlik third. Complete results are here:

www.pacificsportevents.com/Races/USCG/Standup_09.htm

The race was organized to show support and gratitude to the men and women of the United States Coast Guard. People who train every day to be ready to answer the call when some one is in trouble at sea. Last year, on September 4th, Coast Guard helicopter 6505 crashed in the Pacific Ocean during a training exercise, all hands were lost. Each of the crew left behind a family. The Coast Guard Foundation has the Fallen Heroes Scholarship fund that is exclusively for the children of men and women of the US Coast Guard who have died in the line of duty. The proceeds of this race will go to the Fallen Heroes Scholarship Fund. For more information about the Coast Guard Foundation please visit their website at: www.coastguardfoundation.org/

The Standup Project is Online!

2009-10-30T17:43:00.000-07:00

Talented producer, and our good friend Chris Aguilar of Soul Surf Media has launched a new online video journal called The Standup Project. Featuring videos ranging from profiles to event coverage, his website is a new way to learn about what is going on in the standup community.

Visit http://www.standupproject.com to see what Soul Surf Media has come up with. Videos are free until January, so visit the site to check them out!

2009 Battle of the Paddle was a Battle!

2009-10-03T17:09:00.000-07:00

In the Elite/Pro race the winners were Jamie Mitchell and Shakira Westdor, 2nd Place went to 14 year old Slater Trout and Candice Appleby, and 3rd Place went to Brandi Baksic and Danny Ching. It was carnage going in and out of the head high surf 3 times on each of the 5 laps with places changing every lap. So exciting to watch!

In the 10 mile distance race Danny Ching was first followed by Rober Rojas and Thomas Gallagher. For the women Brandi Baksic was first followed by Candice Appleby and Jenny Kalmbach. Complete race results are here: http://www.rainbowsandals.com/battleofthepaddle/Results1.asp

Race Photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wetfeethawaii

Video here:

By Soul Surf Media on Vimeo.

Races and Roadtrips

2009-09-19T18:11:00.000-07:00

The end of September and the beginning of October are a busy time for the Standup racing community. The end of racing season starts next Saturday the 26th with the Hennessey International race up in San Fransisco.

The race starts from Aquatic Park, goes around Angel and Alcatraz Islands, and back for the prone paddlers, and features a shorter, 6 mile race for the Standups. For more information and entry forms for this race, visit the Hennessey Paddleboarding site at http://www.hennesseyspaddleboarding.com/events/hipc.aspx

I am planning on road tripping it up to San Fransisco from Southern California with a friend of mine, and in preparation for the trip, I picked up some Docks Locks from the shop here to keep our boards safe on the journey...I have been looking for an inexpensive way to secure my board to the car for awhile now, and the Docks Locks seem to be the way...

The following weekend is the highly anticipated Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle...This event will include an age group race, an elite race, a distance race, and a SUP relay, all spread out over the weekend of October 3 and 4. Wet Feet will be represented in all the disciplines as well as will have a tent at the SUP expo that accompanies the races.

For more information and entry forms for the Battle of the Paddle, visit the Rainbow Sandals website at http://www.rainbowsandals.com

The Skinny on Barks!

2009-09-09T03:18:00.000-07:00

More on the latest Bark boards . . . the Oahu boys Aaron Napolean, Guy Pere, Scott Gamble, Rob Stehlik, Pete Johnson, Reid Inouye and myself have been training and racing on Bark 18s. At Wet Feet we have had the pleasure to closely examine all of them. To the casual observer the 18′ Barks appear to be the same, sleek with a beautiful carbon bottom, colorful top and canoe like displacement hull. But after checking out all the boards that have come to Oahu there are obvious and subtle differences Joe has been putting into the boards to customize it for each rider. The first batch had a clean rolled bottom, much like a one-man canoe but wider. Although heavier, these boards are some of the fastest in flat water and the North Shore races. Rob took second to Aaron, who was on a much lighter double concave bottom, at the recent Haleiwa Joe’s race and I won the Solstice race on one – mostly because a lot of the fastest guys weren’t there! You would think the heavy board would be slower, but in the right conditions with the clean simple bottom it maintains the glide further once you get it going. It does however take a lot of muscle to make work. From this model Joe evolved into the double concave bottom and made the boards much lighter. This has served well in the bump, especially conditions like in the Hawaii Kai run. Some of the boards have very subtle concaves while others are more pronounced. Some have more rolled noses and tails while others are more knifey, some have more rocker while others are straighter. The concaves allow the board to be more stable when narrower and help the board to drive forward on the glide instead of yaw. This makes for a more positive surf down the bump vs. a washy feel. Joe does an expert job at blending all the variables to make magic boards. He is truly a master shaper and has made a LOT of standup race boards so he knows what works and what doesn’t. The result on a downwind run is an easy entry into the bump and an ease of maintaining speed to stay with it as it splits and reforms. The boards have proven themselves in local racing as they are most often in 1st and 2nd place with a hefty sprinkling in the top 7. While a Bark may not be as fast as a planing hull like the Raaphorst and Naish in the big bump it comes pretty close. The kicker is the start and end of most races are flat till you get to the good wind. So the Bark typically will get a lead then the planing hull might catch up but once you near the finish line the Bark will catch up or pull away. As always the motor is way more important than the boat, but if you get a Bark you won’t be able to blame the equipment if you don’t do well in a race!

The Standup Project

2009-08-22T17:47:00.000-07:00

If you have followed our blog for any length of time, you have seen the videos that have been posted and you keep hearing about this guy Chris Aguilar who is a friend of mine. Anyway, Chris has been working on an online video journal with all things Standup. The site is www.theStandupProject.com and will be launching in October of this year.

Below is a video that highlights some of the content that will be showcased on his site...

Beach Shorts Trailer- The Stand Up Project from Soul Surf Media on Vimeo.

Costa Del Mar Sunglasses on Sale!

2009-08-08T19:58:00.001-07:00

Costa del Mar sunglasses are on sale! All glasses are 30% off.

All Costa del Mar lenses deliver amazing color, contrast and clarity and are backed for life. If something happens to your sunglasses, Costa del Mar will fix them, and if it it is their fault, they will fix them for free!

For more info on these sunglasses, please see the Costa del Mar website at
http://www.costadelmar.com

Demo Board Sale!!!

2009-08-08T19:16:00.000-07:00

We have a demo board sale going on right now for those of you who are looking to purchase a used board. The boards all come with rail guards as well as the items listed next to the photo...In addition to the boards pictured, we also have a 9'0 Surftech Blacktip on sale for $795, and a C4 Vortice Downwind Board on sale for $1295.

11'3 Aquaglide on sale for $795

11'0 Surftech Takayama on sale for $995

10'4 Angulo on sale for $895

10'3 Paddle Surf Hawaii on sale for $895

10'0 Surftech Infinity on sale for $995

9'9 C4 on sale for $995

Pre-Race and Race Day Photos

2009-08-01T19:02:00.000-07:00

I just recieved photos from Sanja Du Plessis, who was nice enough to come along on my escort boat from Molokai to Oahu. Here are some of the images that she came away with from the day of the race...

Kevin Seid from Everpaddle and I preparing an offering to the ocean for a safe crossing

Pre-race stretching session

Jeff Chang and his escort boat near the start of the race

Morgan catching a small bump near the start

Team Wet Feet

The Channel gets a bit rougher as you approach Oahu

Jeff battling the wind into the finish line

Almost There...

Yay Jeff!

Morgan almost done...

It's over!!!

My other training partner Nicole and her Partner Ron finish the race!

The trusty Wet Feet Support Crew...Cory, Drew, and of course, THE one and only Chris Chang on the front

Nicole called race day the best day of her life. Ha ha, she is like a crazy person...But she had a big smile when it was all over

On a personal note for me, I wanted to say a special thanks to Go Kandoo Oahu (http://www.gokandoo.com) for providing me with what was probably the nicest escort boat in the whole race. Kyle Kim and his crew over there were so awesome and their help was very much appreciated.
I would also like to thank Joe Bark and his crew in LA (http://www.barkocean.com) for helping us out with our boards for the race. Not only were they the best looking boards out there, but they were fast as well.

We made it!!

2009-07-28T13:09:00.000-07:00

Without becoming too emotional about this whole thing, I want to take a minute and write about Jeff Chang who, this past Sunday crossed the Molokai channel for the second time in the SUP solo division. Jeff and I managed to shave 2 hours off our times from last year and finish the 32 miles in just under 7 hours. Throughout this season, Jeff arranged training runs, put up with my mental problems, helped me get my board around, and just made it possible for me to get across the channel for a second time. Jeff is such a humble guy that I know he won't talk about what he did, but I think that he is awesome, and I attribute any success that I have had in the channel to him.

During the race, we both took a northerly line in hopes of avoiding the brutal head winds that were waiting around portlock point. Although we had become separated for much of the race, in the final hours, our lines met up and I was able to follow Jeff in to the finish line.

Special thanks are in order as well to Jeff's son Chris Chang for letting me be his friend. I get to tell people that I know Chris Chang, and consequently people think that I am cool by association, so his friendship is very much appreciated.

Molokai...Day 1

2009-07-25T12:51:00.000-07:00

True to form, we showed up at the airport and found the tiniest plane EVER waiting for us. Our boarding passes looked like Costco reciepts, and I thought that Kevin Seid from Everpaddle was going to have a heart attack as he wedged himself into the plane. Despite the somewhat um, interesting take-off, the flight was pretty smooth, and the view was awesome.

Now, we are just waiting for Jeff Chang to arrive and then all of team Wet Feet/Everpaddle will be here. Check back with us for updates on Jeff, Morgan and Kevin...Most people don't travel with a film crew, but we do, so there should be lots of footage coming soon.

It's Getting Down to the Wire...

2009-07-16T17:47:00.001-07:00

So, we are 10 days out from the Rainbow Sandals Molokai to Oahu paddleboard race, and it seems like everyone who comes into the shop has racing on the brain. After months of training, the race is finally almost here, and this year should be a fun one to watch. If the Battle of the Paddle was any indication of how Rainbow Sandals runs all their races, Molokai should be an awesome event to participate in. In addition, the prize money has brought in some huge names in the Standup World, and the race on the men's solo standup side will be a really solid field.

For us, the training is finally tapering down, and the days of 20 mile training runs are behind us (for now, anyway). I know that all of us here at Wet Feet are excited to get to Molokai and see what this years race has to offer.

New Bark Soft Goods In!

2009-07-15T04:43:00.000-07:00

Wet Feet is now fully stocked with the 2009 Bark Clothing Line. Come in and check it out!

Molokai Training Days

2009-07-15T04:27:00.000-07:00

The Wet Feet crew has been doing loooong training runs for the past few months ranging from 20 to 27 miles. Pictured are the core crew of Aaron, Rob, Morgan and Jeff. Herbie has been joining in as well as others on occasion. After awhile it becomes meditative and quite enjoyable as you study the subtleties of the ocean swells and get better and reading them for longer rides. On the various days we encountered all kinds of conditions from flat and windless to super rough (around Makapuu) which humbled us to our knees. We need to thank Aaron for being a sport and waiting for us!

Independence Day Race

2009-07-15T04:11:00.001-07:00

It was a picture perfect day for the 4th of July Independence Day Race put on by Hui O He`e Nalu with Wet Feet being one of the sponsors. The race was a 4 mile sprint from Sunset Beach to Waimea Bay and is traditionally the biggest paddle event on Oahu every year. This year was no exception with 385 entrants of which over 200 were standups! Wet Feet made a good showing with 2nd place finishes in the mens and womens races by Jeff and Morgan on Bark Unlimited SUPs. Enjoy the photos.

Complete race results can be found here:

http://www.pacificsportevents.com/Races/Hui%20Paddleboard/2009/Divisions_Standup_09.htm

Morgan Takes 3rd Overall in the Catalina Rock to Rock Race

2009-07-15T03:49:00.000-07:00

On June 21st teamrider Morgan Hoesterey took third place overall in the SUP class of the 22 mile race from Catalina Island to Palos Verdes California. She raced on a 14' Bark in rough and windy conditions uncharacteristic of that channel. Check the video and congrats Morgan!

Bark Takes 1 and 2 in the First Two Summer Paddle Races

2009-06-21T22:17:00.000-07:00

Bark 18' standup racers took first and second place at both the Cline Mann Memorial Race on June 16th and the Summer Solstice Race on June 22nd. The Cline Mann was an 8 mile downwind race from Hawaii Kai to the Outrigger Canoe Club near Kaimana Beach. The course was very challenging with a big south swell running causing lots of water movement on the course and making it tricky to find rides. Coming in the finish line racers had to negotiate double overhead close out sets and there were a few yard sales. Guy Pere won the race in a time of 1:19:16 and Scott Gamble took a close second 1:03 behind Guy. The Summer Solstice was an even closer race comprised of a 3.5 mile sprint in windy downwind conditions and small bumps from Kukaimanini (Dead Man’s Curve next to Kawela Bay) to Ehukai Beach Park. Jeff Chang won in a time of 29:45 with Pete Johnson only 1.3 seconds back. The next race is Da Hui's July 4th Independence Day Race, 3.5 miles from Sunset Beach to Waimea Bay. Wet Feet is a sponsor and entry forms can be found here:

http://www.hawaiipaddleboardassociation.com/2009-forms/independence09_entry.PDF

Complete race results for the Cline Mann and Summer Soltice can be found here:

http://www.pacificsportevents.com/Races/Cline%20Mann/2009/Divisions_Short_09.htm

http://www.timelinehawaii.com/Results/SOLSTICE%20AGR%20GRP%2009.HTM#%201

Blair Boards Are Here!

2009-05-27T18:49:00.000-07:00

Our two newest demo boards are here, the 8'11" Blair and the 10'1" Blair.

The Dimensions for the 8'11" are: 8’ 11” x 29 ¾” x 4 ½”
The Dimensions for the 10'1" are: 10’ 1” x 32 ½” x 5”

Some of the things that people like about these boards are:

-More kick in the nose of the board, making late take offs a bit easier
-The boards are shorter and more manageable, which makes them more maneuverable
-There is a full concave going into double concave with "V" in the tail, making the board faster

-The fins are moved up 4" further than all other manufacturers so the board is quicker turning.

Here is a video from Joe Blair's Website:

Kainoa McGee Standup at Pipeline

2009-05-22T18:29:00.000-07:00

by Chris at www.Soulsurfmedia.com

There are few in the world that are able to take out a stand up paddle board at Pipeline. But Kainoa McGee is an exception to the rule. His water time at Pipe include winning bodyboard championships and being the first to drop knee stance at this incredible wave. Secondly, Kainoa has an incredible story of surviving a near fatal illness after which he learned to surf and shortly there after returned to Pipe within a year to place in the Pipe Masters.

Kainoa McGee Takes on Pipeline: The Paddle Project from Soul Surf Media on Vimeo.

The Prettiest Board Ever.

2009-05-20T17:47:00.000-07:00

So, I found out today that if you ask Joe Bark to make you a "pretty board," he doesn't mess around. Joe Bark and his team were nice enough to make me a 16 footer with a tiller for the upcoming paddleboard race season. After discussing dimensions, Joe asked me what I would like it to look like, and I decided to leave it to his discretion. Yesterday, I anxiously picked up the board and as Doug and I began to unwrap it, I started wondering what his definition of pretty would be.

As it turns out, Joe not only knows how to shape, but he and his guys over in Los Angeles know how to make a board look good as well. It is by far the most beautiful board that I have ever seen.

I took it out for a run this morning, and it paddles as nicely as it looks. I have never used a rudder/tiller system before, so I was a bit worried about how long it would take to get used to, but after about the first 15 minutes, the whole thing made sense.

In short, the board is killer, and I can't wait to try it out in windier conditions.

SUPAH Clinics

2009-05-15T17:37:00.000-07:00

This year, Wet Feet became a sponsor of the SUPAH Clinics (www.suphawaii.org). These were 3 to 4 hour clinics that were held on the Saturdays when there were no Kanaka Ikaika Races. The clinics included instruction on the beach from various watermen as well as equipment orientation and a few downwind runs.

Chris Aguilar from Soul Surf Media (www.soulsurfmedia.com) brought his camera over and came along on a downwind run from Hawaii Kai to Kahala...

SUPAH Downwind Clinic, Hawaii Kai to Kahala - Feb 2009 from Soul Surf Media on Vimeo.

There is still one more SUPAH Clinic left for this year. It will take place on the 30th of May, and will be a downwind mock race from Hawaii Kai to Kaimana. Please stop by the shop if you are interested in more information about the clinics.

Go Pro Surf Hero

2009-05-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

We now have the Go Pro Surf Hero Cameras for sale in the shop. The camera is killer, it takes 5 megapixel still photos as well as video. You can also set the timer to take a still shot every 2 seconds. With a 2 Gig memory card, you get an hour of video footage.

Naturally, as with any new toy, we decided that we should try it out. We took the 9'6" All Arounder from Paddle Surf Hawaii from the Demo Fleet, a handboard, fins and one of the hero cameras out to see what it could do, and below are the results...

We have both the camera and the 9'6" All Arounder from Paddle Surf Hawaii in the shop...

-M

Maunalua SUP Ocean Clean Up

2009-05-11T17:35:00.000-07:00

http://malamamaunalua.org/

Maunalua SUP Ocean Clean Up

Sponsored by: Wet Feet, Malama Maunalua, and Soljah

When: Sunday, May 24th 2009

Where: Paddle inside the Reef from Hawaii Kai to Kahala

Check in: 12:00 noon

Paddle: 1pm-3pm

To enter, call us at the shop at 808.373.7873

or stop by and fill out an entry form

820 West Hind Drive

Honolulu, HI 96821

* $20.00 Donation goes to Malama Maunalua

includes a free Wet Feet Long Sleeve Jersey and lunch*

Forming a Human Chain of Awareness

News Coverage: http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/currents_article/a_very_trashy_day_of_fishing/

Wet Feet Helps Na Kama Kai Kids

2009-05-07T04:19:00.000-07:00

Wet Feet has been donating SUP boards for the Na Kama Kai kid's programs. Na Kama Kai's mission is to empower youth by creating, conducting and supporting ocean-based programs, specifically targeting ocean awareness & safety in order to increase the capacity of youth in the community through cultural & environmental education. Hawaii's top watermen headed by Duane DeSoto volunteer their time to mentor underpriviledged and at risk kids using the ocean as their classroom. A great cause!

Kahala Challenge

2009-04-28T20:36:00.000-07:00

The Kahala Challenge was held this past Saturday at Kailua Beach Park. Standup Paddlers, Paddleboarders and OC1 Paddlers were all challenged to an 800 meter swim, followed by a 5K run, and had to finish up with a 2 mile paddle for the SUPers and the Paddleboarders and a 4 mile paddle for the OC1 guys.

Wet Feet was represented both by team riders and ambassadors as well as SUPAH members. In true Jeff Chang style, he quietly finished 1st in his age group, and 5th overall SUP. Wet Feet Ambassador Anders Jonsson finished 2nd in his age group in the paddleboard, and SUPAH clinic member Barbara Bumatay finished 2nd in her SUP age group.

Here are some photos of the Wet Feet Team and friends....

Results: http://www.pacificsportevents.com/Races/Kahala%20Challenge/Overall_SU.htm

-Morgan

Jeff Chang at the Start

Anders Jonsson's swim leg

Jeff, Barbara, and Anders running to the transition area in between the swim and the run.

Barbara starting the Running Leg...

Jeff and Anders finishing up the run...

Paddleboard Start...

SUPAH clinic participant Leah starting the SUP leg of her relay team...

Jeff showing them how it's done and Anders finishing up...

Yay Team Wet Feet!

Photos From SUPAH Clinic #5

2009-04-19T05:12:00.001-07:00

See more photos of this beautiful day at http://www.suphawaii.blogspot.com/

Paddle Decor!

2009-04-16T03:21:00.000-07:00

For the SUP person who has everything Wet Feet has paddle decoration in stock for your blade and shaft.

Kainoa Surfing 6-5 SUP!

2009-04-16T03:14:00.000-07:00

For normal mortals Wet Feet has 8-0 models in stock of the Robin Johnston/Kainoa model constructed with 1.5 pound EPS and Epoxy layup. Lightweight and ready for ripping!

Rainbow Sandals Molokai to Oahu Presented by Honolua Surf Company

2009-04-16T02:07:00.000-07:00

This year the Molokai to Oahu race is being put on by new sponsors. Thanks to them for picking up the race. Previous sponsor Quicksilver should also be mentioned for backing the race for all the prior years. This year there is prize money for the top placing individual SUPs and Paddleboarders. Entry forms and complete rules can be found here: http://www.hawaiipaddleboardassociation.com/

Before you enter this race consider what a serious endeavor it is. This is one of the roughest channels in the world. Check the video below of a 90' sailboat getting tossed around. When the boat is in the troughs the swells are taller than the back of the boat which sits 10' above the water. Try to imagine yourself out there on a 14' or 16' board. What makes things worse is the swell is coming at you from your right making balancing on your raceboard a challenge. It is anything but a casual downwind run. Since the following sea is quartering you from the right long rides are infrequent and every swell must be ridden to the right until you get close to Oahu. But if this kind of thing excites you then this is the race for you and the ultimate challenge in SUP racing!

Versa Traction

2009-04-15T09:56:00.000-07:00

A new deck traction product is available those seeking lighter weight without padding. It is non-abrasive so you can lie down on it with no problem. It is unique in that it gets grippier when wet. Kainoa Beaupre now uses it exclusively on all his mini-SUPs for lightness. His goal is to do aerials! Doug Lock likes it because he can feel the ripples and vibrations from the water again like surfing a regular board. At Wet Feet we have been applying a lot of the product on the nose area above the pad. Installation is a little tricky, it needs to be applied like a large sticker with alcohol and water and squeegeed. More information can be found here: http://www.versasurf.com/

Joe Blair Boards at Wet Feet - Wide Models!

2009-04-15T09:36:00.000-07:00

Joe Blair was in Hawaii from California and dropped of his brand new production models which Wet Feet will be carrying. They are nice and wide suitable for big boys or paddlers early in the learning curve who don't want a huge long board. The dimensions are 10’-1” x 32 ½” x 5” and 8’-11” x 29 ¾” x 4 ½”. The feature a 2 + 1 fin setup with the side fins further up than on any other board we've seen. Joe says this loosens up the big boards a lot and makes them surf better - and we agree! The boards have a beautiful durable finish, inset carry handle and full length deck pad for noseriding.

Bark Takes Kanaka Ikaika Oahu and State Championships

2009-04-15T09:26:00.000-07:00

An 18' Bark won the Kanaki Ikaika Race series final races. This is an established one-man canoe race series over the winter months which has a SUP category. The Oahu Championships was 10 miles from Hawaii Kai to Ala Moana and the winning SUP time was 1:42;48. The State Championships was 10 miles from Hawaii Kai to Kaimana and the winning SUP time was 1:19;24. More information can be found here: http://www.kanakaikaika.com/2009racedates.htm

Next up is the summer paddleboard races which all have SUP categories. More information can be found here: http://hawaiipaddleboardassociation.com/

Barks Hit Hawaii!

2009-02-07T19:05:00.001-08:00

Expect to see these boards in the front this year in Hawaii. 18s and 14s have arrived recently at Wet Feet and they are super fast but plenty stable. The 18 demo has been out everyday and the feedback has been overwhelmingly good. The 18 is 28.5" wide all the boards are full carbon. The rudder is easy to use and responsive and can be switched from regular to goofy. The rudder comes with a leading edge fin to help it track when you aren't on the rudder pedal. The workmanship is immaculate true to the Bark name. Call if you want to check it out.

Open Ocean Paddling Safety

2008-12-28T21:30:00.000-08:00

With the popularity of open ocean paddling increasing, all paddlers need to practice and communicate to others the importance of open water paddling safety measures. These include:

Always paddle with a partner stay within close proximity of one another
Always use a leash
Carry a cell phone in a waterproof case
Carry a whistle
Carry water
Practice sun protection with sunscreen, a hat or visor, eyewear, and a surf shirt

Remember if you get in trouble, are falling a lot, or are having difficulty with the wind blowing you where you don't want to go you can always go on your knees and paddle or even prone paddle with your arms. To prone paddle place the paddle blade under your chest with the shaft facing forward.

The joys and benefits of distance paddling are boundless for those who have experienced a good downwind run. Lets make sure everyone can experience this without mishap.

Stand Up Paddle Association of Hawaii (SUPAH)

2008-12-21T11:52:00.000-08:00

A non-profit association has been started to promote distance paddle training. It’s called Stand Up Paddle Association of Hawaii - acronym SUPAH. The SUPAH clinics are distance paddle instruction and training for novices through accomplished paddlers. Instructors signed up so far are Todd Bradley, Aaron Napoleon, Guy Pere, Morgan Hoesterey, Kainoa Beaupre and Doug Lock. Here’s the dates and potential topics for the clinics:

1/24/09 Paddling Technique 1 and Ocean Safety
2/21/09 Paddling Technique 2
3/7/09 Open Ocean Paddling and Bump Riding
4/18/09 Equipment and Mock Race
5/16/09 Kaimana Run and Graduation Party
June race season starts

Clinics are scheduled on the Saturdays with no Kanaka Ikaika race. They will start at 7:30am and go for 2-3 hours. The format will include instruction and individual coaching along with the opportunity to try various race boards. Location will be at Maunalua Bay in Hawaii Kai. A flyer with details and pricing will be available soon and a website is being constructed for SUPAH at http://www.suphawaii.org/

SUPAH will also be doing community service projects such as ocean/shoreline cleanups using SUPs and public awareness and educational campaigns on SUP ocean safety and surf etiquette.

2009 Race Schedules

2008-12-10T23:55:00.000-08:00

Here is the tentative 2009 race schedule for all races available for SUP. The one-man and paddleboard races graciously provide a categoryfor SUP:

Overall Schedule: http://www.wetfeethawaii.com/2009-SUP-Race-Schedule.htm

The Holiday Burn Off put on by Pa`a is the first race of the year on January 3rd:

http://www.y2kanu.com/htm/09_Oahu/paa/Hol-Burn-09.pdf

See you there!

2nd Birthday Party

2008-12-06T13:06:00.000-08:00

Wet Feet is having its 2nd anniversary party on Saturday December 6th. Come by and check out our new logo clothing and party specials including a free C4 paddle with a purchase of a C4 board until December 28th. Register for the C4 sweepstakes to win a C4 board, paddle or accessories. By any board and paddle and get a free beefy paddle bag or pay only 19.95 for the bag with paddle purchase. Free refreshments too!

Race Class Standardization

2008-12-01T01:49:00.001-08:00

This is an important topic for race organizers, board manufacturers and racers. There has been some consensus on the subject and what seems to make a lot of sense is the following for race classes:

Stock 12'-6" and under - This was the stock class at Battle of the Paddle and what the Pro Division was restricted to. Boards that qualify are:

12-6 Jimmy Lewis Distance
12-0 C4 Holoholo
12-1 Surftech Laird Surf
12-5 Infinity Custom Race
12-0 and 12-6 Joe Bark
12-6 Starboard Cruiser
12-6 Custom Joe Blair
12-0 Hobie Surf
12-1 Ron House Surf
12-6 Race boards from Battle of the Paddle including Dennis Pang, Hobie, Ron House, and Ohana

Stock up to 14' and no rudder - This is the standard size race board and includes:

14-0 C4 Vortice and Vortice XP
14-0 Ted Spencer/Wet Feet model
14-0 Joe Bark
14-0 Surftech Joe Bark Expedition
14-0 Custom Infinity
14-0 Custom Sandwich Isles Composite by Mark Raaphorst

Open/Unlimited Class - This class includes any length greater than
14-0 or with rudder. All the models below use an active steering rudder:

19-0 Joe Bark
F-16 and F-18 Sandwich Isles Composite by Mark Raaphorst
16-0 Ted Spencer/Wet Feet model
14-8 Starboard The Point

We'd like to hear your feedback on this and hope to have all the race organizers in agreement on standardized classes next summer. The Hawaii organizers that we have talked to think these categories are good and fit the board manufacturers models.

The main thing it to get more people racing! With standardized classes participation is encouraged because racers know they are competing only with those with similar equipment. An added bonus would be some sort of age brackets but that is not as important and will come with time and more participation. ~ Jeff

Photo courtesy of Battle of the Paddle

Demo Board Sale

2008-11-26T16:18:00.000-08:00

If you know anything about our demo fleet, you know that we have around 30 demo boards. The smallest board that we have at the moment is an 8'6 Infinity, and we have all the way up to the 14' Vortice and Ted Spencers. The cost of a half day rental (3.5 hours)is $30.00, and the cost of a full day (10am-5:30pm) is $50 for the surfboards and $75 per day for the race/downwind boards. No matter how many demo boards you try, all of your demo prices get applied toward a purchase price if you decide to buy a board.

Right now, in addition to the regular rentals, we are actually selling some of the more popular demo boards. We don't usually have used boards in the shop, so the demo sale is a good opportunity to get a used board.

The Demos that we are selling are...

C4 9'0 Bat Tail--$995
C4 10'0 --$995
Surftech Laird 10'0--$995
12'0 Infinity Tandem Board--$995

The list was longer yesterday, so if you are looking for a used board, stop by and check out what we have.

-M

Battle of the Paddle Footage

2008-11-23T11:58:00.000-08:00

My friend Chris Aguilar from Soul Surf Media was there at the Battle of the Paddle with his camera, documenting the race. Despite the fact that the wind was strong enough to blow him off the beach, he came up with some cool footage of the age group race as well as the pre-race and elite race.

Here is the video from the elite race, age group race, and pre-race, respectively...

-Morgan

The Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle- ELITE RACE from Soul Surf Media on Vimeo.

Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle - OPEN RACE from Soul Surf Media on Vimeo.

Rainbow Sandals - Battle of the Paddle - PRE RACE SEQUENCE from Soul Surf Media on Vimeo.

Surf Paddles with Low Shaft Angles

2008-11-11T08:25:00.000-08:00

Doug Lock has been experimenting with low shaft angles for surfing ever since he tried the Shaw and Tenney wood oar paddle. These blades of these paddles have a low forward bend, less than 5 degrees, verses the normal 10 degrees. He says this provides a quicker more positive power which is desirable for catching waves and manuvering in the lineup. Because there is less forward bend the stroke starts further back so the long paddle shaft doesn't bend as much which adds to the powerful feel. In addition when placing the paddle on the water while riding the wave it doesn't really matter which side goes down. Wet Feet has a couple of paddles that fit this bill. The Blue Soul surfing paddle with a unique blade shape 8.75 inches wide and the Everpaddle Bamboo model with a 8.375 inch wide blade. The Everpaddle looks very cool and "green" but the performance is top notch since the bamboo is over a carbon blade and shaft.

Other New Paddles

Doug likes small blades for distance paddling. He likes to stroke at a high cadence to keep the board momentum up. It works well for him and he is very fast. A new Quickblade 8 inch is his current favorite. Its small size is perfect for the tapping he likes to do and also works well as an all around paddle for women.

On another note Quickblade now offers an adjustable push pin shaft with size ranges from 68-72, 72-80 and 74-82.

C4 has a new race paddle called the XPR It has a "flex tip" carbon kevlar blade which provides "kick" and the weave gives it a distinct look so it is easily distinguished from the other C4 paddles. The blade has a lot of dihedral which in combination the the 8.5 inch width provides plenty of power but with control so you it doesn't pull you off balance during the stroke and there is less tendency to bang the rail. Evan from the stand up paddle blog www.StandUpPaddleSurf.net was able to stay with me at the Coast Guard race using the C4 XPR paddle in the "Battle of the Pake". Don't let this guy fool you with his humble posts.”.

~Jeff

Food Drive Race on Novemer 22nd

2008-11-10T04:24:00.000-08:00

Put on by PA`A Hawaii to make some room for the stuffing and get together with paddling ohana for a fun race day. At the same time, they’ll be collecting canned goods to help out those who aren’t so fortunate to make their Thanksgiving a little better.

Registration: 7:30am - 9:00am Hawaii Kai Boat RampCourse: Hawaii Kai to Kaimana (May change due to conditions)

Vessels: OC1, OC2, SS1, SUP

Divsions: OC1 — Open, Masters 40+, Masters 50+ OC2 — Open SS1 — Open SUP — Open

Entry: $25 + at least one canned goodLunch and Awards to follow at Kapiolani Park

Go to http://paahawaii.com/ to also see some upcoming 2009 events

"Life is Good" Comes to Wet Feet

2008-10-31T18:49:00.000-07:00

We just got Life is Good Stuff! We have everything from Men's and Women's shirts to frisbees and soccer balls to coffee mugs, travel mugs and the popular hats.

Come see us and check it out.

There's a Race this Weekend!

2008-10-31T18:17:00.000-07:00

This Sunday, November 2nd the United States Canoe Association is having a race. The race is a fundraser for the families of the men lost in the loss of rescue helicopter CG-6505.

Meet at the Hawaii Kai boat ramp at 8am to sign up, and the race goes from Hawaii Kai to Magic Island with lunch after.

The race is open to OC1, OC2, OC6, surf ski, and standup paddleboard.

Race Fee is $20.00, Payable to the Coast Guard Foundation.

Here is the event flyer and contact info...

And results: http://www.standuppaddlesurf.net/2008/11/13/us-coast-guard-malama-ka-mea-hoopakele-race-results/

I think I have a magic board

2008-10-25T21:52:00.001-07:00

At the Battle of the Paddle with Steve Boehne, the magician

In preparation for the Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle, Jeff had Steve Boehne from Infinity Surfboards shape us a couple of boards. In order to compete in the elite race, the boards had to be under 12'6, so we ended up with 2 boards, each were 12'5'' long, one was 26" wide, and the other was 28" wide.

It took about 30 seconds paddling around in flat water for me to realize that this board was something special. Love at first paddle, if you will. The glide on the more narrow board was unbelievable, and it felt less like paddling and more like floating across the surface of the water.

Now that the race is over, both Infinity boards are back in Hawaii and have gone on a couple of Hawaii Kai runs. Not only are they fast in flat California water, but they are fast in Hawaiian water as well. It seems like this board just knows how to find the bumps and link them together.

This board is testimony to something that I have believed since I was 13 years old...Steve and the guys at Infinity make magic boards. It doesn't matter if it is a longboard, a standup surfboard, or a downwind board, they are all magic, and they make it difficult to want to try anything else.

If you have a chance, come in to Wet Feet and check out Duke (the wide one) and Eddie (the narrow one).

~Morgan

Battle of the Paddle Race:

The Battle of the Paddle was THE SUP event of the year. The elite category boasted $25,000 in prize money and the age group race had 217 participants. Sponsored by Rainbow Sandals and Gerry Lopez the event was run extremely well for its first time. There were more participants than anticipated so registration took a little longer than expected but otherwise the event went very smoothly. The course was 1.5 miles. The age group race did 3 laps and the elite was supposed to do 5 laps but it was cut to 3.5 laps due to time constraints and a STRONG northwest wind that developed. This was a spectator friendly race as the elites had to do a 75 yd. run on the sand between each lap. In the elite race Chuck Patterson of Dana Point took first followed by Thibert Lusiaa of the Big Island then Aaron Napoleon of Oahu. For the elite women Jenny Kalmbach of the Big Island took first followed by Candice Appleby of Oahu then Morgan Hoesterey also from Oahu. Complete results can be found here:

http://events.bazumedia.com/event/RBP2008

and the race website is here:

https://www.rainbowsandals.com/Battleofthepaddle/default.asp

The event also featured an manufacturers expo which Wet Feet was a part of and an awesome awards dinner at the Surfing Heritage Museum in Dana Point. One of the highlights was seeing 71 year old sufing legend Mickey Munoz take 40th place in the stock division then break the ice on the dance floor that night. For next year the event will be two days and will incorporate early registration and clinics. If you want to be a part of the biggest SUP event of the year in 2009 mark your calendars for October 3rd and 4th.

Setting Up

Drew Brophy Artist and Board Decorator for Ron House

Wet Feet!

Age Group Contenders Mike Fox and Jeff Chang

Age Group Start

Age Group Finish

Jeff Finish

Morgan Getting Ready

Elites Warming Up

Elite Race Meeting

Elite Beach Start

Elites Off!

Elite Winner #67 Chuck Patterson

Jimmy and Karen

2nd and 3rd Candice and Morgan

Mickey Munoz and Friend

Need to Send a Board Somewhere??

2008-10-16T19:31:00.001-07:00

Every now and then we are faced with days where there are multiple boards to send out. Luckily, our store manager Clark is a board packing wizard. While preping and packing 4 boards in one day may be too much for the average individual, Clark does it with a certain amount of style. Boards numbers 1, 2, and 3 were no problem, but Board number 4 proved to be a challenge even for Clark.

There was blue tape and bubble wrap everywhere, and just when it seemed like the packing had gotten the best of Clark, he pulled through, with the flair of a true professional. With the minor tape crisis safely under control, he finished packing them up and sent them out. As we speak, there are 4 boards safely on their way to their new homes in Japan.

With the holiday season quickly approaching, come in and let us know if Clark can pack and ship a board anywhere you need it to go. We have deals with several major airlines and can ship anywhere in the world.

Wet Feet Expansion Party

2008-10-15T17:42:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of September Wet Feet expanded its home to from 900 to 2,100 sf of SUP heaven! The blessing was performed by Hawaiian Waterman and Hokuleia sailor Ka`au McKenney. After the ceremonial splashing of water with ti leaves throughout the shop, friends and family gathered to celebrate the joyous occasion. Wet Feet is now able to service the SUP community with the largest selection of SUP boards, paddles and accessories in the world!

Wet Feet now offers:

Custom EPS Epoxy Stand Up Boards in 4 weeks by Steve Boehne of Infinity Surf

Ready stock of hot and proven Stand Up Boards and Paddles by C4, Chambers, Jimmy Lewis, Surftech, Infinity, Angulo, Ron House Gerry Lopez, Hobie ,Robin Johnston, Quickblade, Kialoa, Werner, Kinimaka and Everpaddle

Stand Up Open Ocean and Race Boards by Ted Spencer, Steve Bohne, Mark Raaphorst, C4 and Jimmy Lewis

Huge assortment of SUP accessories, everything you could ever need for the water.

Stylish Clothing and Accessories

Large selection of True Ames, Future, Island Fin Design, and Rainbow fins
Artwork, Jewelry and Photography from local artists including Heather Brown, Jeannie Chesser, Leighton Lam, and Zak Noyle

Stretch and Mitsu Quads and Fishes
Paddleboards

All kine Da Kine

Kitesurf and Tow-in Gear

Ka`au Blessing

All Eyes on Ka`au

Owners Doug, Karen and Jeff

Todd Payes

Shop Manager Clark!

Kiddies

Kevin Seid of Everpaddle

Rockin Ron and Friends

Da Greatest Customers

Doreen Skedeleski of Surfco

Grinds!

Da Staff Clark, K-lo and Morgan

Janis Magin of PBN and Husband
Olympic Swimmer and
Hawaii Free Dive Icon Sonny Tanabe

Our Awesome Customers

Lips

Friends

Joey from Halekulani

Leighton Lam Surfer and Jewelry Maker Extraordinaire

David Shaw of Coral Reef

Jimmy Lewis

Morgan and Iwalani of Pualani

WELCOME TO OUR WET FEET BLOG

Aloha, and welcome to our blog. We are a surf shop on the South Shore of Oahu that specializes in everything that is Standup Paddling. We pride ourselves in having the largest selection of Standup Boards in the world, and can ship boards anywhere you need them to go.

We will try to answer any questions that you may have about equipment, or anything relating to Standup. Feel free to leave us a comment, and we will try to address any questions that you may have.

Our blog will also have photos and video of Standup events that are happening around town.