Smiles, surf and sun were prescribed to kiwi kids with Cystic Fibrosis today as The Ultimate Waterman kicked off its official events at Orewa Beach, Auckland. All eight international watermen who are here to compete in the multi-discipline surf competition took part in the one-on-one sessions with the kids aged between five and sixteen years old.
The sun is starting to shine, ice is melting and spring is starting to peek it’s head around the corner. With temperatures rising and waterways defrosting into lakes and rivers again, it’s time to start getting geared up and ready to get back on the water and out of the winter hibernation. Here, we’ve put together a list of SUP gear, SUP accessories, SUP boards and all the must have's for everyone from a beginner to the advanced SUP'er for the 2016 Spring SUP season, so there's sure to be something in this guide for everyone!
One SUP up and comer who stands out is 17-year-old Max Fleming from Dana Point, California. What makes Max so special? Not only is he an excellent SUP surfer and SUP racer, but Max is setting his sights high as he has ambitions to become an orthopedic surgeon and he’s already well on his way to making this dream a reality. We caught up with Max to chat about his ambitions, how he first discovered SUP and where he sees the sport in 5 years.
Performance Paddling is excited to announce the 4th Annual Quickblade Jr Pro & Youth SupFiesta presented by Infinity on May 7 - 8, 2016. Once again the top youth sup athletes in the world will congregate for the largest youth only sup event in the world. This unique event is comprised of three components, a Junior Pro Invitational Sup Surfing competition, Age Group SUP Surfing contest (7 divisions), and an Age Group SUP Race (7 divisions).
Hawaiian athlete Zane Schweitzer will contest the 2016 The Ultimate Waterman title in New Zealand this month, replacing Australian Jamie Mitchell who is injured it was announced.
As the Ultimate Waterman is set to begin in just a few weeks the folks behind the event have started releasing profiles on the athletes that are to compete in the highly challenging event.
Each May, OluKai holds its annual premier paddling festival on Maui’s north shore to celebrate Hawaiian culture and the traditions that surround this community. The event brings together both elite athletes competing in the world’s best SUP and OC1 races (highlighted by the legendary Maliko Downwind Run) and is also a gathering of friends and family-friendly activities in a celebration of the ocean and cultures that surround it. This year, the Olukai will take place April 29- May 2, 2016 at Kahana Beach Park on Maui.
The Ultimate Waterman is partnering with Dolphin Surf Craft to give its athletes the opportunity to ride boards developed and manufactured using world leading technology by New Zealand company Kinaroad.
Purps is excited to announce the signing of SUP World Champion, positive role model and health spokesperson, Candice Appleby.
Congratulations to Starboard’s Michael Booth from Australia who dominated the Forster Island Paddle Festival last weekend. Michael won the BOP and the 10km race portion of the event while coming in 3rd in the 200km sprints.
Check out the newest edit from SUP superstar Fiona Wylde and her recent trip to the British Virgin Islands where she met up with Quintin Chiapperino, Kieran Grant and Kennedy Grow for an epic adventure filled with SUP surfing perfect right-handers and racing to victory during the 2016 Painkiller Cup.
Congratulations to two of Starboard SUPs top US racers Fiona Wylde and Quintin Chiapperino along with Kieren Grant for winning the BVI Pain Killer Cup. The team spent four days on a catamaran cruising the islands, taking in the beautiful scenery and scoring the best wave in Tortolla before taking on the pain killer race.