Jamie O’Brien had a big week. The surfing world collectively watched as the Pipe-specialist stormed through heats during the Volcom Pipe Pro on Oahu’s North Shore. With his tube prowess on display, the regular-footer pulled off an impressive switch takeoff (among an array of impressive rides throughout the event). He lost to John John Florence in the waning seconds of a grand final, arguably one of pro surfing’s most memorable ever. This week he’ll ride a standup board during the Standup World Tour’s first stop, the Sunset Beach Pro. Here, he talks with SUP mag about the upcoming contest and his new hobby. This is JOB –-JC

SM: What got you into standup?
JOB: I bought a Laird board because I thought it’d be fun to mess around with. I went out and caught some bigger waves and it was challenging. (At this stage in my career) it’s more challenging than shortboarding at five or six feet. It inspired me to do it more and more.

SM: What board are you going to use at Sunset?
JOB: The guys at Paddle Surf Hawaii gave me a 9’3” and it works awesome.

SM: Have you been out at Sunset much on a standup?
JOB: Actually, I haven’t practiced out there on a standup much. I’m sure I’ll wing it. Hopefully its not big bumpy and windy. I tend to fall over a little bit. I’m good once I’m on the wave. Mostly it’s just fun and challenging. That’s why I like it. I don’t like to take things too seriously.

SM: How do you think you’ll fare against the field?
JOB: I definitely want to do good. It’s like anything, you’re gonna want to win. I did a contest at Makaha and won my first heat. That was really cool. But losing, at this point, is not really a big deal. I’m just gonna try and get waves, hopefully its not too big. There’s guys that are really good out there (on this tour). It’s definitely something that’s not easy. The guys that are winning are winning for a reason.

SM: Do you think you’ll compete more in standup?
JOB: If I get a little better. I want to get the guys to come paddle with me so I can figure it out. I want to go over and try to do stuff with Kai Lenny (my teammate with Red Bull). Hopefully he can give me some pointers. It’s not that I completely suck, I just need to learn to use the paddle a little bit more when I’m surfing

SM: Are you worried about the stigma with standup in the surfing world?
JOB: I know guys get eggy when I show up on a standup at Pipe. I’m just trying to have a good time. If people are mad at me for having fun I’m not worried about that. It’s all about having fun and enjoying yourself and I get that satisfaction from standup.

SM: Does standup help your regular surfing?
JOB: I think it helps me with my balance and core. After you turn a big board like that you can feel a difference when you get on your shortboard. You can crank it a lot harder.

SM: What are your expectations for the contest?
JOB: I want to get some waves. It’s gonna be a fun standup contest. I really want to just be a waterman: dive, surf, fish and incorporate everything about the ocean into my game. I’ll have a dig at it and do some more contests if it works out. I want to have an arsenal and a bunch of things I’m good at like a Kai Lenny (standup, kite, windsurf) or Sean White (snowboarding, skateboarding). But I have no expectations. I’m just gonna go out and enjoy myself. Win or lose. I’ll still be learning.

Check back for news, notes and video as SUP magazine covers the Sunset Beach Pro.

(Huntington Beach, Calif.) – Quiksilver Waterman Collection recently partnered with Mother Ocean and Tahoe SUP to launch a yearlong project in 2013 called Expedition Florida 500 (XF500). XF500 is a modern-day exploration of Florida’s coastline, waterways, and marine ecosystem as seen through the eyes of the waterman. 2013 is Florida’s 500th anniversary since Ponce de Leon discovered the land back in 1513; in celebration of this momentous occasion, the three organizations will unite to embark on a year-long journey combining the best of exploration, adventure, stewardship, science, and sport into a package that will include the full gamut of the waterman’s lifestyle.

The team will consist of watermen from all three organizations, spending the first half of the year exploring the coastline: chasing hurricane swell in the Atlantic, freediving Spanish shipwrecks, sailing in the Gulf of Mexico, stand up paddling the state’s coastline, catching mini-season lobsters in July, spearfishing in the Dry Tortugas, stopping into local beachside communities and hosting cleanups. They’ll encourage others to paddle with them, including team riders from Quiksilver and various celebrity paddlers. They’ll also be mapping the coastline and waterways with the help of Below the Surface and their Riverview Project (imagine Google Street View for rivers). In addition, the team will be collecting research and data along the way to further ocean science.

Team XF500 will then turn inland, spending the second half of the journey along the rivers, lakes, estuaries, and marshland – the intricate network that makes up the Florida marine ecosystem. They’ll document, map, and explore the waterways in similar fashion as they did with the coastline. They’ll camp and airboat through the Everglades, canoe the natural springs, drive old pickup trucks that run on algae biofuel, film amazing Florida wildlife and scenery, kayak and stand up paddle the rivers and waterways, and leave the land in better and cleaner condition than when they arrived. Camping and living off the land will be the norm.

The expedition’s primary goal is to highlight the importance of stewardship efforts as they relate to the ocean, coastlines, waterways, and the marine ecosystem. Florida is unique in that it embodies the entire marine waterway system from source to sea – one of the few places on Earth with such thriving wildlife and a natural environment based around water. The team will document their journey through daily blogging, daily photos and videos for social media outlets, filming for their own documentary and filming for Tahoe SUP’s EXPLORE project series.

XF500 was designed by Justin Riney, founder and Executive Director of Mother Ocean. Riney recently launched Mother Ocean on January 1, 2012 with the purpose of creating, inspiring, and empowering ocean advocates worldwide. “Our goal with Expedition Florida 500 is to merge our passion for ocean advocacy with an incredible storyline that resonates with the masses. With the help of Quiksilver and Tahoe SUP, our voice and platform will reach a global audience. XF500 is just the beginning – we’re rallying the troops.”
Riney will lead the expedition with Peter Mel of Quiksilver Waterman Collection, Matt Kechele of Quiksilver, and Nate Brouwer of Tahoe SUP rounding out the project management team. In addition, both Quiksilver and Tahoe SUP have designated Riney an ambassador and team rider for their brands.

For more info, visit: TahoeSUP.com or XF500′s facebook page
Contact: XF500@motherocean.org

Encinitas, Calif. – Boardworks announced today that 17-year-old SUP phenom, Slater Trout, has signed on to join the Boardworks Elite Team for 2012. “We are so stoked to have Slater join our team. He is such an amazing athlete and ambassador for the sport and a great friend of the Boardworks family as well. With the new Slater Trout Infinity SUP models we are introducing for 2012, having Slater on the team makes perfect sense. We look forward to a fantastic year. We are also in the beginning phases of creating a Slater Trout paddle line – stay tuned,” commented Boardworks owner Mike Fox. “It’s a great feeling to be part of the Boardworks family, I’m looking forward to the future. I believe the boards that will be coming out are going to be the next level and raise the bar with their T.E.C. (Thermal Epoxy Compression) technology,” added Slater.

Slater is known within the industry as the future of standup paddling, a true ambassador and a positive representation of the sport. Anyone that meets Slater quickly realizes that they’re dealing with an utmost professional that takes his craft seriously. This is evidenced by his success:

• 3rd place, SUP Magazine’s SUP Awards “Favorite Male SUP Athlete” 2011
• 1st 2000m & Overall Winner-Sliver Blade Regatta, Olympic Training Center, Chula Vista, CA 2011
• Chosen as one of the 5 Most Influential Standup Paddlers for 2010
• 2010 US Champion, 14 ft. Elite Class Men’s, Hennessey’s Paddleboard Championships
• 5-time podium finisher at the famous Gerry Lopez, Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle

Originally from Florida, Slater spent his very early years learning to surf on the Gulf Coast. Now living in Maui, Hawaii, Slater has dedicated himself to the waterman lifestyle- SUPing, surfing, tow surfing, paddling outrigger canoes- basically anything that will keep him on the water. Slater’s passion lies in SUP… “There is something about standing on water that does it for me. The view is different. The fact that you have to use your total body all the time to maintain balance makes it unique, and most importantly the people. I have met some of the coolest people from all walks of life, young and old. It’s a sport that anyone can gravitate to.”

For more information about Boardworks, visit Boardworks.com and Slater Trout, Slatertrout.com

“This operation perfectly fits into our long-term growth strategy,” commented Neil Pryde, Managing Director of the Pryde Group. “Imagine is a well established SUP brand with a strong presence in North America and the best possible partner for us to strengthen our involvement in SUP and other paddle sports.”

Established in 1970, Neil Pryde Ltd. (a.k.a. Pryde Group) began as a sailmaker for yachts. Later, with the windsurfing boom of the 1980’s, the operation expanded into making both sails and boards. Continuing to grow, the Pryde Group has since established itself as one of the most varied and complete companies in the performance sports industry with involvement in windsurfing, kitesurfing, SUP and, most recently, road cycling. With several factories in China and Thailand, the manufacturing capacity and experience of the company is second to none.

Imagine was originally formed in 2002 in Montreal, Canada. The operation moved to San Clemente California in 2010 after securing investment needed to accelerate growth and become a major brand in the SUP industry. Over the course of the last 18 months the working relationship between Imagine Surf and the Pryde Group grew as distribution was taken up by this established and experienced brand internationally.

“I suppose this marriage was inevitable,” said Imagine Surf founder Corran Addison. “The more closely we worked with Pryde Group and the vast distribution network it has, the better things went for us. It made sense to use the Pryde Group’s manufacturing power as well as their sales and distribution network.”

This new relationship will allow Imagine Surf to focus on what the brand does best: designing great boards for this new and exploding market, with manufacturing and sales handled by the Pryde Group divisions in each territory worldwide.

“We’ll have more time now to do what we love to do: go to events, promote the brand and of course, work on new and exciting designs,” continued Corran. “After all, our cutting edge design is what Imagine is famous for, and now we can really take this to the next level.”

None of the faces at Imagine Surf are changing, just the focus and efficiency of the brand which we can expect to continue to innovate and grow in the SUP and paddle sports arena over the next few years.

For more information about the Pryde Group visit Pryde-Group.com, and Imagine Surf at Imaginesurf.com.

Where’d you learn to standup paddle? I’ve been in the ocean my whole life. I learned how to standup paddle here on Maui when Laird (Hamilton), Dave Kalama and Loch (Eggers) were down at Ho’okipa with their huge standup boards and they let me go out at the point. I remember catching my first wave and being hooked. I was 9 or 10.

What kind of paddling are you doing the most these days? Either downwind or surfing on Maui. This past winter I did a lot of early morning SUP surfing before the wind picked up. I just started training downwind. Maui has the best downwinders. There’s nothing like the feeling of surfing the ocean for 10 miles, nothing like connecting the glides going from swell to swell.

Is there a generation gap in the standup scene there? Yeah, there’s a little gap in the racing here on Maui. It’s mostly women in their 30s. I don’t race against women my age. When it comes to SUP surfing, me, my sister and a good friend, who is like in her late 20s, go a lot. Most of my training is with my dad and his friends, which has been good because they push me to keep up. It’s pretty cool though: I see families paddling together on weekends.

So, you make bikinis? In the summer of 2007, my younger sister Tehani and I started sewing. We grew up at the beach. That requires lots of bikinis and they get expensive. We decided to start making them for ourselves. Our dad encouraged us to start selling them. By the beginning of 2008, Manini Gangini Bikinis was born.

And jewelry too? I started making jewelry at 12. My mom is an amazing artist and she would always try to get my sister and I to paint or do something creative, but we were never really interested. All we wanted to do was be outside running around, or playing in the ocean. Then my sister, Tehani, started playing around with jewelry and she inspired me to try it. Because I have so much energy, jewelry design is a quiet focus time for me. We sell pieces on Maui and call it Pashey Designz

And some of it appeared on the cover of the SI swimsuit issue? I was the youngest designer ever to be featured in the magazine. Bar Refaeli wore one of my cone shell necklaces. I got both the cover and centerfold.

So where does standup fit in for you? I want to get people on the water and see the thrill when they catch their first glide or see a turtle pop up in front of them. And I want girls to know it’s not just a man’s world for standup surfing or racing. We can rip.

Photographs by Jason Kenworthy

See Talia in the Indo Chronicles here.

This piece originally appeared in the Summer 2011 Issue of SUP magazine.

Here is Part I of Myers’ adventure……DEFLATED: PUMP. IT. UP.

Stay tuned to SUPthemag.com for Part II.

The waterman world lost an icon Wednesday, Jan. 4, as legendary surfer/shaper, Harold “Iggy” Ige, passed away in the waters off of Lanikai, Oahu, presumably from a heart attack, while testing unlimited SUP prototypes with Randy Naish (older brother of Robby). Randy shared news of the tragic and unexpected loss on his Facebook page:

Bad day!
Harold Ige, shaper, friend, and mentor, died in my arms today.
We were testing new 18-foot sup prototypes. Everything was fine. Harold took a good one. Rode it a couple hundred yards. I was about 50 yards behind,when I watched him collapse into the water. I got there as fast as I could. He’d been under one or maybe two minutes. Time gets funny when one is put in this position. A passing kayak instructor helped out,had a phone on him and called 911.Kai Santos (good old friend and waterman) saw the pilikia and swam out with fins and together we tried to resuscitate Harold, we were towed in by an instructor from Kailua sailboards and kayaks( Thanks Leo!) and a C&C lifeguard.
Response time from Honolulu C&C was super. When we got to the beach, the ambulance was pulling in. When I saw Harold go under, I knew something was up. Very unlike Harold. When he didn’t come up after a few seconds, I knew something was bad. We fought hard all the way to the beach to bring him back.
Called out to Harold, God, and anyone else who may have been listening to help us. I’ve never felt so helpless!
I did all I could. WE, did all we could. I’m sorry.I’ll never forget this day even if I want to.The surfing world lost an icon, a legend, and a friend to many, a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a mentor.
Love you uncle Harold.
Aloha,
Randy Naish

Ige grew up surfing on Oahu and became an icon and an artist in the shaping world, having traded a pocket knife his sisters gave him as a Christmas gift for his first surfboard in the fourth grade. He learned to shape boards because when “you’re young, you just couldn’t afford to buy boards,” he said.

Ige graduated high school in 1960 and moved to Southern California to work in the industry, helping Greg Noll shape his Makaha guns before moving on to work for Dale Velzy. “For me going to California was a good move,” Ige said. “I knew I had a job and I knew people already. The biggest challenge was the cold.”

He then joined Dewey Weber, where, along with the likes of Donald Takayama, he spent some eight years, turning the Weber “Performers” into a household name in the surfing world at the time. Following his stint with Weber, he started his own label (Iggy), returning to his beloved Oahu where he set up shop. He hooked up with Rick Naish in the latter part of the 1970s and along with Robbie, formed the Naish brand in 1979, creating a long-lasting relationship with the family and company, helping to create most of the Naish line through the years from wind- to surf boards and everything in between. Along with the Naish clan, he has been at the center of the standup revolution.

Ige was from shaping’s old school and carried himself with great humility, according to friends. He created boards instinctively, avoiding headphones and thick gloves so he could hear the sound of his tools against the foam and feel the shape with his hands. His art mimicked his life. “Shaping boards has been the only job I have ever done,” he once said. “Back in the 70′s people used to say when you shape a board, you put your soul into it or some spiritual stuff like that. I kinda laughed but when you shape, you do get really tired. It’s so much more work than machine shaping not only because it’s hard labor, but because you put all out. When you say shaping , it’s not just shaping using the planer. You touch it, listen to the way it’s cutting, I have to hear and feel it. Otherwise I can’t tell the details. Maybe you put mana into the board by hand shaping. That’s why you get exhausted.”

Harold “Iggy” Ige was 71.

Please check back as we update this story.

Left to right: Donald Takayama, Peter Pope Kahapea and Harold Ige

So in honor of you––and to push our own agenda of subscriptions being available in both print and iMag for 2012—we bring you the “Best of SUP mag” Flip Book. Here the editors and art directors came together to pick 11 of their favorite two-page spreads from the magazine in 2011. Help us honor the photographers that made them possible. Weigh in. Shout back. Keep reading and let your voice be heard. And most important, never stop paddling.

SUP magazine will produce a fifth issue in 2012. Look for the SUP mag Gear Guide—a complete resource on everything “equipment” in the standup world including the hard goods, the trends and the people who create the toys we love—on newsstands in late spring.

(Los Angeles, California)––Focus Stand Up Paddleboards will launch a new marketing campaign for 2012 debuting at the Surf Expo in Orlando Florida January 12-14th.

The campaign “”Boards For All Reasons” will focus on the Focus line’s ability to provide boards for all disciplines: Paddle-Surf-Race including the popular “Smoothie Wide” design and the ability to “Do It All On Focus”.

As part of the new campaign, Focus will launch the “Monopoly Board” retailer co-op plan to give recognition to it’s best dealers nationwide, highlighting them and their store locations with a print magazine execution in leading SUP publications and an online component as well.

Focus will have all sorts of goodies if you drop by their Surf Expo booth #1694 including “Your Life Your SUP” and “I Love Focus” T’s.

Look for your invitation to visit us in the mail first of the year or check our Facebook for up-dates on Focus at Surf Expo.

For more information:

Jacob.sup@me.com
activempire@aol.com

Tell us about your year.
Looking back, I realize that I’ve done quite a lot in my first year in the SUP scene. I started my SUP racing career here on Kauai and my confidence and support unexpectedly began to extend off-island to the outer islands, the Mainland, and even internationally. The first high-profile paddleboard race I competed in was [Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez] Battle of the Paddle (BOP) Hawaii, where I was humbled and impressed by so many physically and mentally strong female athletes. From then on, the ball just kept rolling.
Teva Mountain Games (TMG) was my first trip with my C4 ohana and we had a blast! I won both events at TMG, Kalani Vierra and I were featured tandem surfing the Glenwood Springs wave in the sports section of a local Colorado newspaper, and we made a 6-man IMAT run down the river! Since I was having so much fun on my SUP, I continued to compete in events such as Cline Man, Na Pali Challenge, Duke’s OceanFest, North Shore Paddle Challenge, and unexpectedly, Molokai to Oahu.
After doing my first proper downwind run this past year on Kauai with Uncle Dave Parmenter, I was hooked! From then on, paddling from Molokai to Oahu became a tangible goal. I didn’t think I’d do it my first year of starting open-ocean standup paddling. What an experience. Being so fresh to the sport, every event I’ve done thus far has been a fun learning experience and it’s been such an exciting year for me. I’ve been fortunate to do a lot of traveling for races, as well as fun adventures, including SUP surfing in Tahiti, and paddling throughout the lush Peruvian Amazon. I’ve met– and continue to meet– so many amazing water sport legends, industry people, fellow competitors, and genuinely nice people. I’m stoked and feel so blessed to be part of such a great sport and growing industry.

What’s your favorite experience been with SUP this year?
Teva Games was definitely a favorite, but I have a “top three list” and each experience is phenomenal for different reasons. My Peru trip was especially a unique favorite since it felt like we were pioneering SUP in the Amazon. We were the first people to SUP in the most remote area. We surfed standing waves, charged rapids and camped in the boonies. The trip was an amazing cultural experience as well as a true test of character.
My first Molokai to Oahu race was epic as well. I was fortunate enough to get invited to ride on Uncle Archie Kalepa’s boat from Maui to Molokai with Uncle Dave Parmenter and skipper Terry Hee. Despite getting a little seasick, to view and take in the mana that the backside of Molokai exudes– and doing so with such legendary watermen and good-hearted men was an amazing experience for me. Thus, on a tactical side of things I definitely think the boat ride helped prepare myself mentally and physically for the paddle.
Lastly, paddling 17 miles for Evan Valiere’s Na Pali Challenge was one of the best, most beautiful, and most challenging downwind runs I have yet to do. In the beginning I wasn’t even paddling, I was just surfing for miles on epic coastal swells! The challenging part came when we hit a headwind and had to paddle another 3 or 4 miles in flat water ‘til we hit land. That event was particularly special because my Dad also paddled this grueling race with me at age of 60. I was so proud of him and will definitely cherish that day for the rest of my life. The event and the power of SUP stoked out my Pops and because of that, I am grateful for this sport. It was such a great day that brought together families, friends and the community in a positive event that supported standup paddling.

What is your greatest accomplishment in SUP so far?
Surviving the Amazon! I’m kidding. I think my greatest accomplishment in SUP so far has been the Teva Mountain Games. When I heard about this event from C4 Waterman, I watched YouTube videos of people standup paddling down river rapids. I couldn’t pass it up. Right from the get-go I was having a blast, even when I was “superman-ing it” over the falls during practice runs. To enter the event as a major dark horse and paddle in river rapids for my first time, winning both events felt so rewarding. I was especially proud of my victories because I was competing in new territory and an entirely different body of water from what I am accustomed to. My results and presence at the event also allowed me to make a lot of connections with some really rad people, as well as great companies within the industry. TMG was definitely one of the most fun and craziest adventures I’ve done so far. I can’t wait for next year!

What’s the SUP scene on Kauai like?
It’s primarily geared towards surfing. There are a lot of uncles as well as youngsters that rip on SUP. But that’s not to say it’s welcomed with open arms at all the surf spots. As far as races go, there aren’t many “SUP only” races, so we usually have the option to jump in on the OC-1 races. When we do have [Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez] Battle of the Paddle formatted races it usually turns out to be a fun SUP community gathering with limited competitors. Nevertheless, we have a small, yet talented, paddle surf and SUP community here on Kauai to motivate and encourage one another. My paddling buddies and mentors here on Kauai consist of Uncle Parmenter, Kawika Carvalho, Kalani Vierra, Kainoa Lum, and my Dad. Mahalo for all the support and awesome downwind runs this past year. Hopefully more girls on Kauai will continue to get involved in SUP!

Do you have any plans for next year?
I definitely want to continue traveling inter-island, nationally and internationally to compete in races, as well as experience new cultures around the world. Australia for the Noosa Festival might be the next adventure! After finishing up my first year of SUP races I’m really excited for next year’s racing season. A couple personal goals are to defend my title at the Teva Mountain Games, better my results in both Hawaii and California’s Elite BOP race, paddle Molokai to Oahu solo, and enter SUP as well as OC-1 at the OluKai Ho’olaule’a event on Maui. And to get more high-profile racers to come over to Kauai for one of the greatest downwind races, the 17-mile Na Pali Challenge Race. I’m also going to do my best to get over to the outer-islands as much as possible for weekend races. I’m enjoying the journey and stoked to be part of such a great water sport involving so many good people. Aloha.

To read about Helga Goebel, click here.