SUPSURFMAG: Welcome Dave, it certainly is a pleasure to glean some wisdom from true waterman and pioneer of modern day stand up paddle surfing who to this day is still breaking new ground for the sport. When we got the word that you would share some of your experience with us, we spread the word and everyone has been really excited about it. From the U.S. to Australia you are definitely a much admired waterman. In fact, most of the questions here come directly from stand up paddlers around the world. First off, for those who are new to the industry, what can you tell us about who you are and where you're from?

DAVE KALAMA:  I was born in Newport Beach California. So. Cal. for elementary school then moved to Mammoth for high school. Moved to Maui July 2, 1985. I was a professional windsurfer till 93', then professional tow surfer and waterman ‘til present.

SUPSURFMAG: When and did you first get involved with stand up paddle surfing?

DAVE KALAMA:  My first experience was in 95' when Laird and I were doing a photo shoot for Oxbow. We were riding 12 footers a lot at the time and the surf was real small so we got bored pretty quick. I had a couple of canoe paddles with me from just doing a OC.1 run so I went and grabbed them just for something to fool around with. It was really funny because we were bent over from the paddles being so short. Anyway we had a great time and Laird went and had some taller paddles made the next day. After that we just started doing it more and more.

Dave Kalama, waterman and modern stand up paddle pioneer driving down the line. Photo: Sergiorio.com

SUPSURFMAG:  Has stand up paddling helped you take your surfing skills to another level? If so, how?

DAVE KALAMA:  Absolutely, because the boards were so big to start with you had to do a lot of anticipating which is the same thing as riding a giant wave so it helped a lot that way. It also helped my surfing because it got my legs much stronger and throwing a 9'2" longboard around got much easier compared to a huge 12 footer.

SUPSURFMAG:  The Timpone stand up paddle surfboard has quick become a favorite for many stand up paddlers worldwide. What can you tell us about the Timpone and your current stand up paddle quiver?

DAVE KALAMA:  I think there's two reasons for that. One, the price is pretty good with the paddle and deck pad included and two we really tried to design it to be maneuverable yet forgiving so that people learning, which is a lot of people at this time, could have a good experience with stand up. One of the big mistakes I see people do is try to learn on too small of a board. If it's not easy and fun the first time, a lot of people won't go again and that's just not good when you’re trying to build a sport.

Shredding off the top, Dave Kalama shows how it's done Maui-style. Photo: Sergiorio.com

SUPSURFMAG:  You are clearly on the frontline of progressive stand up paddling. How far do you plan taking the sport in terms of wave height and location?

DAVE KALAMA:  One of the things I don't like to do is put limits on things, so if I tell you where it's going and what it will be is like putting blinders on to what it could become in a thousand different ways. My standard answer is bigger, faster, lighter and more affordable.

SUPSURFMAG:  How does the current growth of stand up paddling compare to where you thought it would be when you started to seriously embrace the sport?

DAVE KALAMA:  I actually thought it would be much bigger by now but that is probably because it took so long for it to catch on. Now it seems to be viral. A lot of the visions and ideas about what it could become are the same ones Laird and I had ten years ago because it was so fun we knew it would explode at some point. Like I said I'm just surprised it took so long.

Dave Kalama: Outstanding downwind race and inter-island channel crossing times. Photo: Sergiorio.com

SUPSURFMAG:  Switching to downwind paddling, you have been turning in phenomenal times, such as in last year's Maui/Molokai event. What advice can you give to those who are venturing into downwind races and channel crossings?

DAVE KALAMA:  My advice is to join a canoe club and learn how to paddle the correct way. The basic stroke takes much longer than you would think to really master and canoe clubs help people to develop sound paddle strokes. Once you've got a good stroke then adapt it to stand up paddling. The other thing I've had going for me is being at the front of the design learning curve with my equipment. The other helpful thing is all the OC.1 paddling I've done. It really helps you figure out how to connect the dots so to speak.

Kalama is at forefront of progressive stand up paddle power sufing. Photo: Sergiorio.com

SUPSURFMAG:  In terms of events or trips, where will we see you surfing or paddling next?

DAVE KALAMA:  You'll see me as well as Laird, Gerry, Rob Machado, The Malloy brothers surfing in Indo. Our new movie is just starting to come out now and it has some nice SUP in it. It's called Water-Man.

SUPSURFMAG:  What else would you like to communicate to stand up paddlers worldwide?

DAVE KALAMA:  Please be very aware of people around you and be very respectful to everyone in the water. If we aren't careful and police ourselves somebody else will and that usually doesn't end well for us. This is a great sport and it's still young enough to feel sort of like a brotherhood, so make that feeling last as long as possible by making good decisions for the better of the sport.

For more, be sure to check in with Dave Kalama at www.davekalama.com.

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