Mahalos to Kialoa

Aloha, my name is Julie Wolfe and I've been paddling outrigger canoes for 18 years. I've been fortunate to race with some legendary paddlers—Mindy Clark, JoJo Toppner, Vicki Mills, Sharon Attelsey, Cynthia Hahn, and Dru VanHengel—and to be coached by Billy Whitford of Offshore Canoe Club (now at Newport Aquatic Center). I've been on winning crews in some amazing races in some of the most beautiful places on earth—the Queen Liliʻuokalani, Hamilton Island, Tahiti, the Gorge games, Canada, the Liberty Cup, Catalina, and the Na Wahine O Ke Kai: Molokai to Oahu race.

Just recently, I've taken up stand up paddling. I was surprised to learn what a great work out stand up paddling is. I ordered a board and Dave and Meg at Kialoa hooked me up with a paddle. I was set! … Or so I thought! I quickly learned how important it is to have the right equipment. Not knowing anything about my new sport, I soon found out that my board was about 17 lbs too heavy and my paddle was too long. After a couple weeks, I started having pain in my elbows and shoulders. Stand up paddling was a love/hate relationship. I loved the workout, but every stroke was painful. I came to the conclusion that SUP just wasn't for me because soon my newly acquired injuries were going to keep me from my love of outrigger paddling. In the end, Ohana Paddleboards set me up with a lighter board and Dave hooked me up with a beautiful "Pipes" paddle. Every work out since has been “pain free”!!!! Lesson learned: it is super important to have the right equipment!!!

Mahalo Kialoa

for your continued support and for putting out such a great product.