How the Forum Works
July 31, 2008
The new Ke Nalu forum is tightly integrated with the magazine. From now on nearly every article will have a corresponding forum topic to facilitate discussion–all you have to do is click the button at the bottom of the article to be taken to this discussion.
Forum posts can be rich, they can contain video, photos, html and other advanced features–so it’s an easy way for you to create an article. Our editors can transform these posts into an article with one click. If you are a registered Ke Nalu user you are automatically a Forum user. If you have special priviledges in the magazine (such as Author or Moderator), you have them in the forum. The most interesting feature though is the cross posting capabilities.
My aim to to make Ke Nalu a very useful resource. To that end I’m adding new technology that enables us to display more information, in more places, with better access and higher levels of interactivity. The forum feature is NOT intended to compete with the Standup Zone. The Zone is a well established, admirably administered community that serves the forum purpose completely. If you’re interested in Standup paddle surfing and you’re not a member of the Zone (www.standupzone.com) then you are missing out on a great resource and a fine group of folks.
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Article Submission Form
July 31, 2008
The Board and Paddle Review forms have been so successful that I decided to create an article submission form. You might still find it easier to just write your article in an email form, of if you think you’d like to do more than one I can set you up as an author so you can use KeNalu’s editing system, but you might find this form easy and quick. Just click on the link or hover over the REPORT tab and click Article Submission Form.
Give us your name and email (so we can contact you about your article or send you a rash guard) and your website if you like. Create a title, and start writing. You can upload and caption three photographs (and you can use the Photo Submission form to add more). The form separates copy into lead, body, added copy and author bio. You can choose to use this separation to direct us in how you’d like the story to flow–basically where any photos should be in relation to the copy.
The author bio gives the readers your bona fides: how long you’ve been SUP or prone surfing, where you live and play, etc.
Most of Ke Nalu is currently written by me. That has to change. We need perspectives from everywhere SUP is done. The magazine is growing steadily, we get about a thousand readers per day. We’d love to have you participate. Don’t worry about your writing skill-we’ll clean everything up before it hits the web.
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Four new board reviews, two paddles and a cool photo
July 30, 2008
It was a pretty good first day for the new features–we gave away seven Ke Nalu rash guards. If you want to get one free, better get your board or paddle review in quickly. At this rate they’ll be gone in a week.
The paddles reviewed are the Whiskey Jack Bootlegger and an update on the Kialoa Shaka Pu’u
The boards reviewed are PSH 10′ All Around hand glassed , Liquid Shredder , Big Mama
and the Southpoint Bonga Perkins
The cool photo is from Jimmy Smith, a photo of Zeus the wonder dog on his Starboard 12′6″ “protecting his master from all those pesky women in Bikinis.” I don’t know Jimmy, the guy looks like a babe magnet to me.
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Wow, Just that fast
July 30, 2008
We have our first reader-submitted board review. DW, a regular on the Standupzone Forum used our new board review form to send in a review of his PSH 10′ All Around. Sounds like an ideal board for mid weight riders who are ready to step up their surfing. You can read the review here or click the Gear Review tab and select Board Showcase.
Please jump in and review your boards. The Board Showcase is the most popular feature on KeNalu by a huge margin–more than 4,000 people per month browse through the showcase. Support your favorite builder by reviewing their boards. Builders are also welcome to review their own boards but the review will remain a manufacturer review until a customer reviews the board.
Incidentally, DW reminded me that I should include the weight of the evaluator and their skill level in the form by making these additions in his submission. If there are attributes you think shold be added to any of these forms, please let me know (you can just put it in a comment section on the form) and I’ll make the change.
DW–I need an address to send you a Ke Nalu rash guard.
A Thousand Pardons
July 30, 2008
I screwed up. I was fixing the Forum feature on KeNalu and accidentally deleted about half the users on Ke Nalu–including a lot of long-time friends. The good news is the Forum is fixed. The bad news is that many of you need to re-register on Ke Nalu.
Please be assured I won’t do that again.
New Features on Ke Nalu
July 29, 2008
Get a free Ke Nalu Rash Guard!
I have added several new forms with some special features to Ke Nalu, they are part of a new approach to board and paddle showcases.
The first is a Board Showcase form that is a do-it-yourself review form. If you have boards you’d like to see in the showcase you can enter all the information on this form, including photo uploads for pictures of the board, and submit it. Your review will appear as soon as we format it. You can also use this form to add your opinions to any board that is already reviewed in the showcase. Manufacturers and board builders are welcome to add their boards to the showcase in this manner.
Second is a Paddle Showcase form. It works the same way–you fill out the form, upload any photos you like, and click submit. You don’t need to have all the information to submit the form. The reviews are going to become wiki-like. they will accumulate information and depth as people add to them.
Third and finally, I’ve added a photo upload form that enables you to load up to three photos at a time. You can do this as often as you like. You may have noticed the photo band that appeared on the site briefly. This was driven from Flikr, and I didn’t like the way it worked or the photo quality, so I’m turning it over to you folks. The more photos we get, the merrier. Once we have enough photos the band will change every time you visit the main page.
Join the crowd, get your Ke Nalu rash guard
The first 30 people to submit a board review, a paddle review, or send three or more photos will get a Ke Nalu rash guard. We have most sizes, but might run out of some and have to substitute, so get your submission in ASAP. I’ll contact you at the email address you specify to get your mailing adress for your rash guard.
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Twenety six miles–Oof
July 23, 2008
My arms feel kind of dead, but not terrible. I did 26 miles round trip today, with some nasty currents and wind tossed in. I think the effective distance was more like 30 miles. It took me a little over six hours.
I got in the water about fifteen minute before 11 AM at Rocky Point Marina and headed downriver. The wind was blowing upriver as usual, and was occassionally fairly strong–strong enough that if I stopped paddling I’d stand nearly still the 2-3 knot current of the Multnomah channel. I figured the wind would help me on the way back, and decided to paddle at least ten miles. I wound up paddling 13 downriver because the wildlife was so interesting. A few days ago I saw two mature blad eagles–they have a nest in the stack of a big steel boat that seems to be pretty much abandoned.
Today it was Ospreys and Herons, and lots of them. I saw eleven Ospreys. Of course I might have seen the same one a few times, but I had eleven separate sightings. What a great looking bird. While I was watching one, he took a good sized fish about 100 feet away from me–Whack! I hooted for him, I think he liked it.
When I turned around I discovered the current was much stronger, and the wind picked that moment to slack completely. Grim. Not only that, there was a HUGE barge coming up river. I paddled hard to get on the other side of a little island and made it with a few feet to spare as a big roller came towards me. Normally I’d enjoy the barge wake, but I had 13 miles to paddle and I didn’t want to do it wet.
I paddled to a boat ramp where a sailboat and powerboat were tied up, having lunch. I wanted to take of my jacket in preparation for a long sweaty paddle. I talked with the folks and mentioned the current, The sailboat guy said the tide was going to turn in half an hour, so the current would start slacking soon. Good news. But it was a tough grind for the next mile or so, the shore crept by while I paddled hard. Finally the current slacked and I started to make better time. The wind started picking up too, and it was even blowing in the right direction. At a little after five I staggered ashore near my truck and struggled to get the board on the rack.
Pooped.
I could be wrong, but I don’t think the plymouth to Provincetown paddle will be any tougher. I think I’m pretty ready.
cforms contact form by delicious:days
Pony Up, Ya Big Sissy
July 22, 2008
Part of doing the paddle from Plymouth to Provincetown is supposed to be getting your friends to pledge contributions. I can’t do that for a number of reasons–one reason is that I’m a big sissy: I’ve never been even the least bit comfortable bugging people for money, even for a good cause. So I’m just going to write a check and call it a Ke Nalu sponsorship. Of course it’s a bit far fetched for a business that generates no revenue to provide sponsorship, but as I said long ago, if Ke Nalu ever does make some money I’ll donate the lion’s share to the Ocean Conservancy, so I guess this is just a pre-payment.
If you’d like to make a donation in support of the paddle please visit http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org/Donations/donations.html , and tell them that big sissy PonoBill sent you.
Training Log
July 20, 2008
I’m training for Brother Bob’s (or Stoneaxe as he’s called in the Forums) Plymouth to Provincetown paddle–24 miles in open ocean. I’ve been doing some long flatwater paddles in the Willamette river and Multnomah channel to get in some semblance of condition. Somehow I’ve gained about ten or so pounds since we’ve been back on the mainland. I haven’t been overeating, I guess my metabolism must be in “lay back” mode now that I’m not spending the whole day in the water.
Most of the guys that are participating have been training since May. I only decided to do this in late June. Got to do an accelerated schedule. My first run will be a tough one to see if I can even get in the ballpark of doing 24 miles.
Here’s my training log so far:
July 1st: I did 17 miles today, the last eight against a nasty headwind. I think it was equivalent to at least 20. I’m sore, but I didn’t have any real problem doing it. Willamette river, from Cathedral Park under the Saint John’s bridge to the dock at Tom McCall Park in downtown Portland, and then paddled back. The first leg I had a mild tailwind but I was paddling against the current. On the return I was going with the current but the wind picked up and I was struggling into a headwind. the last few miles were very tough.
July 3rd: 18 miles, from Fred’s Marina at the top of the multnomah channel to Rocky Point Marina and back. the trip downriver was into growing wind, with the last mile being very hard, paddling into at least a ten knot wind, with gusts to fifteen. Enough wind to make rollers and whitecaps in the middle of the river. On the way back I was paddling against a strong current with favorable wind. The rollers were big enough to surf, and I had a really good time.
I didn’t do much for the last week and a half–my daughter Cassie and her kids have been here. I count playing with Grandkids as training, though it isn’t all that physical. I also race one weekend in Seattle and one in Portland.
July 12th: Eighteen miles in a little over three and a half hours, including a brief stop for lunch (two bars and some water). Favorable current going against a light wind in one direction, strong wind against the current coming back. As far as I can tell I’m paddling about as fast as a fat lady jogs.
July 19th: I tried to do 25 miles today but it turned into about six. The wind picked up too much on the river. Had some fun wake rides behind a skiboat though. Bunch of guys and one seriously festive young lady in a bikini were out wakeboarding. Their boat had tanks and bladders enough to add 1500 pounds of water besides the eight hundred pounds for all the passengers. Threw a really nice wake. For some reason I couldn’t stay in the wake very well though–I only got a few hundred yards each ride. Finally I tried turning into the wake and aiming at the center of the boat and I zoomed right up within a few feet of the tail. Could have gone any distance in that slot–I even had enough momentum to do some gentle maneuvers. I finally tried a noseride and got five toes on the nose before I ditched.
July 20th: Brother Bob posted on the forums that he thought we could do the 24 miles in three hours if we had a fifteen knot tailwind.
My response: THREE HOURS–to go 24 miles, have you lost your mind? You have us confused with Dave Kalama. We’ll be lucky to do it in five. I did three hours this morning, before watching the F1 race (a GREAT race btw, Hamilton was amazing, overcoming a truely boneheaded pit strategy by McLaren that left everyone scratching their heads, and Nelson Piquet JR got on the podium with a very lucky second, though I certainly don’t discount the fact that he managed to hold Massa off, who probably damaged his undertray going all rallycross when Hamilton block-passed him.)
I didn’t figure my mileage for three hours but it wasn’t much since I was fighting a headwind for the first half, but I doubt I did ten miles. I hope we do have a little chop. I’ve learned that my hip starts to hurt if the water is too glassy. When it’s a little choppy I get enough wiggle in that the joint doesn’t seize up. Maybe I’ll have to put some Shakira on the iPod. I guess I never did post my video “Shakira SUPs”–it’s pretty goofy. I’ll have to do that one of these days when my ego is feeling EXTREMELY secure.
I need to pick up the training pace–only three weeks left. I’m going to get out at least five times next week–that’s my goal.
Free SUP Demos on Oahu
July 18, 2008
Two Free Stand Up Paddle demos in July:
C4 Waterman, Boardworks Hawaii and Blue Planet Surf are hosting two free SUP (Stand Up Paddle) demo events in July. All ages and first timers are welcome to try this great sport. See for yourself how you can improve balance, core strength and get a great full body workout while having fun on the water.
Event #1: Saturday July 19th, 10:30 am to 2 pm, Waimea Bay, in conjunction with the Hennessey’s Intl. Paddleboard Championships. Look for the C4 Waterman/ Blue Planet tent, sign a waiver and try any of the demo boards.
Event #2: Sunday, July 27th, 8 am to 11 am, Hawaii Kai, in conjunction with the QUIKSILVEREDITION Molokai to Oahu paddleboard race. Look for the C4 Waterman/ Blue Planet tent, sign a waiver and try any of the demo boards.
For mote information, please visit:
http://www.boardworkshi.com/
Liam’s Alaskan Adventure
July 18, 2008
Liam Wilmot of C4 Waterman submitted this interesting story of an Alaskan SUP adventure using a ULI inflatable SUP board.
–ALASKA June 6th. Field Report.
Being a surfer in a surf-orientated family that lives on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, a trip to Alaska in the middle of summer may seem a strange choice of destination. However, with the onset of stand up paddling and its potential to make any day on any body of water a blast, a trip to the land of 10,000 glaciers with a sun that never set promised to be a real adventure.
Flying up Shelikof Straight and Cook Inlet into our arrival point of Anchorage, it was stirring to see mountains and snow after such a lengthy tropical hiatus. When you see glaciers like this one below, so huge they’re easily visible from 10,000 feet, it’s mind-boggling to think that thousands of years of flow-freeze are now rapidly dissipating – inches every year, sometimes even feet.
With seemingly endless potential for flat water adventures it was hard not to pump up the ULI (ultra light inflatable) and paddle out at every turn.
My first attempt failed. Overcome by the scenery I opted to save time by dissing the wetsuit and confidently headed out in my shorts and vest! My toes nearly froze off. One word of advice on the ULI, be sure to inflate to the recommended level. Anything less and it won’t be anywhere near as rigid as you need it to be. It’s rigid or frigid in Alaska!
On second attempt I would go all out. The wetsuit was lent to me by Garrett McNamarra, who tested and proved it last year towing into calving glacier waves in SE Alaska. You really need a good wetsuit. This one was a 7mm Hotline full suit with a built in hood, plus booties and gloves. Toasty!! Thanks GMac. (Like all wetsuits, they make you look fat 
I rode the converging waters of glacial melt from Exit Glacier and the flow of Resurrection River for about 7 miles.
It took me a little over an hour.
Freezing water, snow and glaciers were a totally new experience for me. My friend Charlie McArthur, C4’s team rider up on the Colorado River, probably would have laughed at me. The white water (mini) rapids hardly compare to the walls of white water he scales with ease. Any how, I figured I would wear the bright yellow rash vest for visibility. I had a WalMart issue 2-way radio in a zip lock stuffed down the front of my suit should I need contact my wife in the trailing RV. If I got into trouble and had to bail, a walk through bear country might be less scary if I could hear our kids arguing in the RV! I had a leash. I have read horror stories about surfers getting trapped, overcome by the force of the current and not being able to reach their leash to remove it, but I didn’t want to go with out it, despite that ‘free’ feeling. So… I fastened it to my elbow so it wouldn’t drag in the water and I could always reach the release tab should I need it.
Charlie might laugh but I hope water safety expert Brian Keaulana would be proud!
The waters snaked back and forth from the road every mile or so, splitting and merging at will throughout the gravel banks and wash-through of tons of fallen birch and spruce trees. All this gravel comes from the melting glaciers which grind away at the mountains over eons. Following the branching water’s strongest lead was a fun game in order not to become stranded in a weak off-shoot.
There are thousands more short trips like this in Alaska, It was nothing extreme, but to me that is part of the broad appeal of stand up paddling. Anyone can do it, and you can do it anywhere. Charlie, who is a top level white water kayaking champion says “it makes class I and II fun again”. For me, to get out into the wilderness and float along with the current through pristine wilderness is in a class all of its own.
Despite the sport’s broad appeal, I don’t recommend using your inflatable SUP as a snow toy.
My 2-year-old Maika loved it while I felt like pitching a new series to National Geographic: “I wish I wasn’t alive”. Turns out that the PVC coating switches gears from slip to grip when on frigid snow and ice. This is not a snow toy.
More perfect scenery. It was so still I would paddle out in my rubber boots and throw a lure straight from the board. I managed to catch a dozen or so rainbow trout. At Johnsons Lake, near Kasilof, I was cleaning my catch and a local guy comes over shaking his head to say “Now I gotta take a look at this! What do you call this?!”. All these guys with boats and I was in and out before they had even primed their engines. Not to mention the fact that the fish never heard me coming.
Open roads, endless possibilities and empty line ups………….
Seward, on a beautiful calm morning paddle. The surrounding mountains of Resurrection Peninsula reach higher than 5,000 feet, though the morning low-level cloud obscures the towering landscape.
Cook Inlet and Turnagain Arm have some spectacular paddling areas. With a tidal difference of 24ft the mud flats are literally quicksand, annually claiming the lives of those who don’t get pulled out fast enough and either suffocate or drown on the incoming tide. No joke.
Turnagain Arm is also home to the elusive bore tide, which I had every intention of riding but, like the salmon, it was the one that got away on me. You need to know the precise spot on the narrowing of the 40-mile probe of Cook Inlet where the incoming tide doubles up on itself and transforms into a muddy, churning wave. It happens in an instant. We ended up racing alongside it in the RV without enough time to get into the water before it dissipated after several hundred yards of rolling.
Below is an aerial shot of the Cook Inlet tidal flats on the outgoing tide. You can see how far it stretches inland. This Inlet was named after Captain Cook, who initially thought it may have an outlet but learned he’d have to turn his fleet around again to get out, hence the name given to its inland end: Turnagain Arm.
The board I took to Alaska was a C4 Waterman Ultra Light Inflatable ULI. It was fantastic for this type of thing. It handled the knocks and bumps of the shallow parts of the rivers, was a perfect mid-lake landing pad for the trout, and rolled up nicely into the side compartment of the RV – not to mention the fact that it fits in a duffel bag and can be checked in as a regular piece of baggage, rather than a bulky surfboard.
Check out our web store for more details. www.c4waterman.com
Thanks for reading,
Aloha,
Liam Wilmott.
Paddling Plymouth to Provincetown
July 9, 2008
My brother Bob is organizing a distance paddle event to go from Plymouth Massachusetts across Cape Cod Bay to Provincetown on the tip of the cape–22 miles. In a moment of weakness I said I’d participate. I’m kind of looking forward to it, but I need to train and there isn’t much time left–it’s August 9th. I haven’t done much paddling or surfing lately–I’ve been working feverishly on my race car–Peyote–that was damaged heavily at a race in Watkins Glen, NY last year. I’ve gained about ten pounds since I stopped surfing or windsurfing every day. I’m not quite as worried about the weight (though it sure would be good to shed it) as I am about general condition.
So last Monday I decided to do a long paddle just to see what it’s like. I did seventeen miles on the Willamette river, from Cathedral Park under the Saint John’s bridge to the dock at Tom McCall Park in downtown Portland, and then paddled back. The first leg I had a mild tailwind but I was paddling against the current. On the return I was going with the current but the wind picked up and I was struggling into a headwind. the last few miles were very tough.
Yesterday was a layoff day, I spent it working on my race car getting ready for the Portland Historic Races this weekend. Today I did 18 miles, from Fred’s Marina at the top of the multnomah channel to Rocky Point Marina and back. the trip downriver was into growing wind, with the last mile being very hard, paddling into at least a ten knot wind, with gusts to fifteen. Enough wind to make rollers and whitecaps in the middle of the river. On the way back I was paddling against a strong current with favorable wind. The rollers were big enough to surf, and I had a really good time.
I’m pretty sure I’ll be okay for the Cape Cod paddle. But I plan to train up until I get on the plane. Probably some shorter run–it takes a long time to do 18 miles.