Standup Zone Forum
Stand Up Paddle => SUP General => Topic started by: Admin on January 19, 2008, 03:04:43 PM
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A big thanks to Reid Inouye for emailing over this release and the photos:
(http://www.standupzone.com/1.jpg)
(above) Gmac misses it, Bonga Perkins gets his winning wave
(http://www.standupzone.com/2.jpg)
Three way traffic at Sunset, Bonga Perkins with right of way
(http://www.standupzone.com/3.jpg)
Runner up Ikaika Kalama who earlier in the day escaped the Banzai axe
(http://www.standupzone.com/4.jpg)
Jamie Mitchell from Australia, 3rd place
(http://www.standupzone.com/5.jpg)
Paddle Core Fitness winner Bonga Perkins getting a fun workout
Bonga Perkins Wins Paddle Core Fitness Pro Presented By Hard Rock Cafe
At Sunset Beach
All images Allen Mozo/ Mozophoto.com
January 19th, 2008
Sunset Beach, Hawaii-
Bonga Perkins from Haleiwa took down a final of international big wave
riders on eighteen to twenty five foot westerly peaks at Sunset Beach
to claim the first ever Paddlecorefitness.com stand up surfing event
on the north shore of Oahu.
In a final which also featured Hawaiian SUP Pipe specialist Ikaika
Kalama, tow and big wave specialist Garrett McNamara and Australian
paddle board champion Jamie Mitchell, Perkins' knowledge for the break
and impeccable timing, got him the perfect wave and an 8.5 score to
move past the field of waterman in the 30 minute final.
"It was so hard out there," said Perkins, "the wind was howling as we
were trying to get down the faces and it just kept blowing us back up
the wave."
Proof of that was GMac as he was a quarter way down one of the large
twenty-five foot waves and got completely blown backwards allowing
Perkins to get a big score.
"I buckled my heavier board at Maverick's and was riding a lighter
board so it was so hard to drop down the faces. But this gave us an
idea of what it's like when those big peaks come in and the wind's
howling. I kept thinking, I wish I had my heavier the whole time,"
explained a stoked McNamara.
For Jaime Mitchell, the waterman from down under picked off five
inside 15 foot faces but couldn't muster enough points to amount any
kind of solid lead.
Finishing runner up to Perkins was Ikaika Kalama who earlier in the
day, escaped a death defying guillotine at the Banzai Pipeline when he
took off at the break on a twenty foot wave that just shut down on his
9'2" Paddle Surf Hawaii during peak low tide, narrowly missing some
serious career injuring knee injuries and his runner up board at
Sunset.
Said Kalama, "I'm so lucky man. So close to getting hurt at Pipe and
now surfing some gnarly Sunset. But I had fun out there. Four guys in
the final and big Sunset. What a day and completely unscathed."
Paddlecorefitness.com Results:
1st- Bonga Perkins, Haleiwa, Hawaii $500
2nd-Ikaika Kalama, Waialua, Hawaii
3rd-Jamie Mitchell, Australia
4th--Garrett McNamara, Sunset Beach, Hawaii
About Paddle Core Fitness LLC
Paddle Core Fitness is the premier flat water stand up paddle workout
company in Hawaii which teaches the health and fitness lifestyle in
Hawaiian waters through stand up paddling. Established in October 2007
Paddle Core Fitness launches five locations throughout the islands in
May 2008 including Oahu, Big Island, Maui and Kauai.
Paddle Core Fitness' goal is to get you stoked in the water while
getting a cardio-toned workout.
Live the lifestyle of a true Hawaiian waterman. Coming to a waterway near you.
For more information, go to: Www.Paddlecorefitness.com
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Great photos and story!
This sort of exposure is fun to see. However, I must say it doesn't have much to do with the sport of SUP as I know it. Six months into SUP and I cannot imagine wanting to be in anything over head high.
I'm just say'n.
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Ikaika got this wave at Pipe in the morning and I shot it from the beach... A little after this he lost it and got drilled, sucked over and landed on his knee on the reef... After he got checked out at the lifeguard tower, we looked at each other and were relieved he didn't get seriously hurt... He was sooo deep and it was super gnarly Pipe... Jamie Sterling was out and he confirmed to me how gnarly it was.... Second reef sized sets that would hold all the way to the first reef and unload... I saw soo many guys eat it bad... The waves had that really mean, bad intention type power. Its unreal no one got killed yesterday....
Ikaika a split second before getting plastered... He took off so far back and was fully committed to pull in the barrel. He couldn't set his edge because that board has really soft rails and, well, it was GNARLY! This is not his normal Pipe board. What's ironic is his new Pipe board arrived in the afternoon!
(http://photos.imageevent.com/torturechambers/privatedonotcopy/websize/Copy%20of%20ik2.JPG)
A few hours later Ikaika called me to tell me he was going to surf Sunset on that same board! I was thinking, "What an animal!"
Aloha,
Blane
www.paddlesurfhawaii.com
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I agree w/ Patfly, Those are amazing waves from some of the best waterman out there. I can only amagine paddling into waves that big. 5-6 foot faces has been the largest Eastcoast waves I've been on w/ a SUP. The speed and power on those waves were a new experience. Sunset is a whole different relm far above the waves here. Maybe some day I can paddle into waves that large, however I've nothing to prove.. Having fun is the ultimate.
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WOW.... awesome photos good to see an aussie went well you guys have no fear.
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Wow....
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Unreal waves, you guys are insane.Great photos and good for the sport.
Go the aussies.
cheers.
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Oufff! I don't believe it! amazing late take off!
500 box for the winner is not well paid.
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500 box for the winner is not well paid.
On the same day, we were out in waves 1/4 that size, with onshore wind and 5 times the crowd. We got paid much less. :D
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RESPECT to these riders! I'm glad to see these shots. It's good to see the limits being pushed. Now, let's see some video!
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RESPECT to these riders! I'm glad to see these shots. It's good to see the limits being pushed.
AMEN
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WOW! Why do I live in FL?
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Truly inspired and inspirational riding. It is awesome and humbling to see just what the best paddle surfing riders in the world are capable of doing. Even though I will never ride waves as powerful and as consequential as these, I feel motivated to paddle and surf harder. I want to wisely stay within my limits, but to push those limits too. Seeing these riders, let's me know that I can do more, and gives me more appreciation and respect for the sport we all love. Thanks to everyone out there who is responsible for making all this happen! Stoked!!!
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Looks like Bonga is using a really short paddle. Mine is 9 inch taller than me, but in faster waves I feel it is a little bit too tall. What are your experiences in paddle length trying to rip faster and hollower waves? /Jesper
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does anyone know what lengh Bonga's paddle is in these pics ?
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Blane and I were talking paddle length once and he told me that Bonga cuts his paddles a fist overhead. Originally my paddles were about fist and a half overhead but it didn't feel right so cut it down to Bonga-size, a fist over, and it's perfect. My paddle length has been that length about a year now so, for me it's passed the test of time.
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WOW.... awesome photos good to see an aussie went well you guys have no fear.
Jamie is definitely making a name for himself in the big wave arena!! I've been prone paddleboarding for the past 4 years and have been in awe of his power in the water! Stoked to see him taking his act to SUP and surfing. I plan on getting one of those Takayama SUPs that he rode at Sunset when they come out!!! (although you won't find me taking air drops at Sunset on it!) I saw one at Takayama's shop last month.
Go Aussie!!!
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Hey Kona,
only been SUPing for a short time and Jamie is really the only pro from oz that ive heard of so if any of you know of some more feel free to inform me it would be great to know.
cheers