Chuck Patterson (California)
Beaux Nixon (Australia)
Uluboi Napeahi (Hawaii)
Makua Rothman (Hawaii)
Yuri Daberkow (Brazil)
Kainoa Hauanio (Hawaii)
Ekolu Kalama (Hawaii)
Benoit Carpentier (France)

Today is a lay day for the contest, with the next call on Wednesday at 7 a.m. In the meantime, checkout some photos from the first two days of the Sunset Pro contest including shots from both Sunset Beach and the Na Kama Kai youth clinic and contest at Turtle Bay Resort.

[Show as slideshow]

This Hungarian transplant has been in the SUP scene for just over a year, but Krisztina Fazekas Zur is no newbie to competitive racing. With multiple World Titles in kayaking and Olympic aspirations, Krisztina is one ripped lady that is sure to make an impact on standup paddling as well. – SC

Tell us about your athletic background.
I have been paddling Olympic kayaks since I was 10 years old. I started in my hometown of Budapest, Hungary and was lucky enough to be on the Hungarian national team from 1997-2009. With the Hungarian team I earned 4 World Champion titles. After getting married to my husband, Rami (2x US kayak Olympian), I joined the USA Canoe and Kayak team in 2010.

2011 was an amazing international season for me with team USA earning 3 gold medals and 1 bronze in the World Cup series, and a silver medal at the World Championships in Hungary. Ever since I moved here [to the US], my husband took the task of coaching me and so far it seems to be working pretty good. My training schedule is pretty grueling; I have 2 paddling workouts every day, along with 90 minutes in the gym 3-4 times a week. I also run, swim and started doing a bit of yoga- it’s a full time gig.

How did you get into SUP?
Our great friends from the SUP Café in Long Beach put on a small SUP race and invited us to check it out. I ended up with a board and finished my first race. I wasn’t really hooked- it was flat water and slow. Later that year I went to the Battle of the Paddle to watch my husband compete. After watching that race, I was hooked and promised myself that next year I would be in the lineup! After that, I raced SUP and surfski in the SoCal Winter Series.

How’s it crossing over into a new sport?
I’ve really enjoyed crossing over to SUP. I’ve had a very fast learning curve, as it has many biomechanical similarities to my kayak stroke. The most challenging aspect in SUP for me personally is surfing. I grew up on rivers and lakes, so surfing is a new challenge for me that I look forward to getting better at.

I think the reason I am doing okay in this sport is because I am fit and believe, “what you put in your training you get in the races.” So for me, it’s all about training hard and training smart!

You won your first Catalina Crossing last year?
I have crossed the Catalina Channel a few times before on a surfski and outrigger, so when I was asked to race it on an SUP I was very excited. I had the first leg of the race. We dropped the board into the water and as soon as I took my first stroke, half a dozen dolphins escorted me. It was my first time paddling with dolphins and they stayed with me for a few minutes- it was amazing!

As for the race, the conditions were pretty brutal. We encountered cold head wind, side chop and cloudy skies, but Suzie [Strazulla] and Julie [Wolfe] kept it fun and they are very strong women. Together we charged on! It’s always more fun sharing the experience with your friends. I think once you have a good team, teammates inspire each other and that is the true strength of a team.

What’s up with your SUP classes at NAC?
Last year I started my SUP classes at the NAC (Newport Aquatic Center) and they have picked up in a great way. I try to address most of the training components of an SUP workout combined with SUP racing. The classes consist of long and short intervals, practicing buoy turns and race simulations, and working on stroke technique. It’s great fun and the best part is to see my clients’ improvement.

Tell us how your 2012 is looking.
I am really looking forward for 2012. It’s an Olympic year and my goal is to make it to the Olympic team. I will be training in Newport Beach until end of April. In May I plan to travel back to Hungary and compete in the Hungarian Olympic trials. I can’t represent the US in the games, as I am not a US citizen yet.

As far as plans, I really hope to make the team and get to race in the greatest show on earth… and if not, I will be back here in SoCal fully committed to SUP. The Olympic games will be over by mid-August, so I will be ready for every SUP race and will for sure be ready for the Battle of the Paddle. I also have a few ideas about creating my own race board and look forward to my post Olympic SUP career. It’s very exciting to know that I have something to look forward to after the Olympic Games- I am very lucky.

Photos by Chris Bishow

To read about Jenny Kalmbach, click here.

Check back soon for updates from the Sunset Pro.

For more info: Standupworldtour.com

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.

Werner Paddles has added to its stellar sales and marketing team. Werner has announced that Taylor Robertson will join their team as the Southwest Sales Representative.

Taylor has a long history in paddle sports dating back to his first strokes in 1986. He has worked for several kayak and Stand Up Paddle brands and has worked as a sponsored athlete, photographer and sales representative over the past 14 years.

Taylor will be responsible for servicing Werner dealers in HI, CA, NV, UT, AZ, CO, NM, KS, OK, and TX.

“Taylor has an intimate knowledge of the Southwest territory and I am confident he will work closely with our dealers to provide the highest service levels in the industry. We are excited for the energy he brings to the team and our dealers,” says Doug Ragan, Werner Sales Director.

Effective 1/30/12 Taylor Robertson can be contacted at:
taylor.robertson@wernerpaddles.com
425.387.7258

Werner Paddles is the leading manufacturer of high quality kayak, canoe, and stand up paddles, operating near the banks of the Skykomish River in Sultan, WA. For more information call 800.275.3311 or visit us at Wernerpaddles.com

The weekend will be broken into two separate events, with the Bogey Classic taking place first on Saturday. The Bogey Classic includes a 13.2-mile course for canoes, surfskis and kayaks, as well as a 6-mile Elite SUP race, both starting and finishing from the shoreline of Florida Bay Outfitters. The canoe and kayak course takes racers on a scenic tour through mangrove creeks and out to the bay of Blackwater Sound. Standup paddlers will race a rectangular course with buoy turns in the bay. The day will conclude with the Sunset Beach Happy Hour Party at Florida Bay Outfitters following the awards ceremony.

On Sunday, the Bacall Classic will offer shorter courses from the previous day. Canoes, surfskis and kayaks will race a 6-mile course, while standup paddlers can compete on a quick 3-mile course. Races for the different disciplines will be held on the same course with canoes, surfskis and kayaks racing two laps around a 3-mile course that standup paddlers will also compete on.

Schedule:
Saturday, February 4, 2012 – The Bogey Classic
8:00–9:15 a.m. – On-site registration and race packet pick up
9:30 a.m. – Pre-race briefing followed by boat launch and lineup at start
10:00 a.m. – Start of 13.2-mile kayak & canoe race
10:10 a.m. – Start of 6-mile elite SUP race
1:00 p.m. – Bogey Classic ends; racers not finished will be picked up by support boats
1:30 p.m. – Awards Ceremony
6 p.m. – Sunset Beach Happy Hour Party at Florida Bay Outfitters

Sunday, February 5, 2012 – The Bacall Classic
8:00–9:15 a.m. – On-site registration and race packet pick up
9:30 a.m. – Pre-race briefing followed by boat launch and line up at start
10:00 a.m. – Start of 6-mile kayak & canoe race
10:10 a.m. – Start of 3-mile SUP race
12:00 p.m. – Bacall Classic ends
12:30 p.m. – Awards Ceremony

To register now, click here.
For more info: Racethekeys.com

Maui Stand Up Paddling- Talia Gangini from tehanigangini on Vimeo.

This week on the Wednesday Voice, we talk with Huntington Beach standup surfer Daniel Hughes.

(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

With the world’s best in attendance, the first showdown of the 2012 season, the Sunset Pro, promises to be intense, with a mixture of seasoned talent such as Peyo Lizarazu from France, Wildcard Duane DeSoto from Hawaii and the Tahitian crew, to the young upstarts such as Keahi de Aboitz from Australia, Bullet Obra from the Big Island and Caio Vaz from Brazil. One thing is for sure, Sunset will be the ultimate equalizer and will not disappoint.

Raw Hawaiian talent in the ocean is famous the world over and as local standouts have shown over the past 2 years of the Sunset Beach Pro, the Hawaiians are serious threats to the international SUPWT regulars.

From Kamaki Worthington, Kala Alexander and Ikaika Kalama, to the incredible performance by Pomai Hoapili in 2011, the Hawaiians have stood strong in the face of the international competition. For 2012, these local standouts will be joined by shortboard champions Jamie O’Brien, Makua Rothman and Marcus Hickman, bringing a whole new wealth of talent and interest to the mix.

Starting bright and early on Saturday morning will be the Na Kama Kai Youth Clinic, led by founder Duane DeSoto on the East side of Turtle Bay Resort. This will be followed by the Na Kama Kai Youth Challenge at 10:30 a.m., a Women’s showdown at 12 p.m. and Champions’ Exhibition at 2:30 p.m. in the afternoon, featuring among SUP’s most celebrated personalities.

The day will close with official registration at 5 p.m. and the opening party at Surfer the Bar, with live music from Moloka’i's very own Ekolu Kalama and a preview of the forthcoming Stand Up World Tour DVD.

–Tristan Boxford

Entries are still open for the Trials of the 2012 Sunset Beach Pro. Remaining entries should email: entry@watermanleague.com

For more info: Standupworldtour.com