Aloha, I just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Bill Ward and I live in Haleiwa on the North Shore. I have only been into SUP for just a few months but totally love it. As a life long surfer I have been reading all about it for years and often thought it would be cool to try. But between work, life, family and running a small business I just never got around it to it. That was, until, a friend from the big island asked if I could meet him in Hawaii Kai and transport his SUB after the Molokai to Oahu race. That day changed everything!

Once there he let me try his 16’ Angulo and instantly I was hooked. In the following couple of months I rode that board a few more times and then started using a 12’ Munoz I bought for my wife. Although that board was not specially designed for SUP and was quite challenging (for my size), it was wonderful for “training”. It is however, the perfect board for my wife, who has never surfed in our 18 years together, but now is equally hooked!

Then a few weeks ago I bought a 10’4” shaped by Blane Chambers. I knew going in the board was designed for high performance surfing and that it would take more flat water practice before I even thought about surfing. Indeed, the board was challenging at first, but after several sessions I got the hang of it. I did a fair amount of practicing turns, surf stance, etc and yesterday went for my very first actual surf. I went out at Puaena point (north end of Haleiwa park) in 2-3 surf and had an UNREAL time!

Trying to catch waves was yet another challenge and truthfully sometimes I could only catch them on my knees and even on my stomach like normal surfing. Puaena is a great spot because it reforms and was (thankfully) forgiving as I was learning. I did manage to catch some really fun waves and once on the wave could not believe how well the board surfed. Blane truly knows what he doing!

Anyway, thanks and congrats for such a wonderful online mag and forum! The future of SUP is unlimited and I wish you guys much success! It is 5pm and the wife and I are going for an evening glass off session. I look forward to meeting the members here and sharing our stoke for SUP………..aloha and mahalo…………….bill

Hi there Bill...It sounds like you're having too much fun.

I'm just wondering what width your new 10'4" board is...and how heavy are you..Hope you don't mind me asking.

David

I really felt the stoke today. I put my 5 yr old on the front of my JL 11' paddled out off shore to the dolphins. To both our surprise they came up and played with us for a good while. The excitement he and I got from that was to cool. I then paddle back toward the beach and caught a few waves with him up front raising his arm and yelling well like the little kid in all of us. VERY COOL.

Jerry

VERY cool Jerry! My kids are 11 and 13 never got that into prone surfing (go figure, they only have some of the best waves in the world in their backyard....lol) but both now love SUP. I NEVER get tired of the smiles and stoke as they paddle around our harbor! Very cool indeed!!