A Brief Chronology of Modern Stand Up Paddle Boarding
- 1778 Captain James Cook arrived in Hawaii and saw local Hawaiians surfing. This was the first recorded time in history that a European saw surfing. Traditional Hawaiian boards were anywhere from 6.5-16.5 feet long. It’s been noted that some Hawaiian’s surfing on longer boards, usually Chieftains, would use a wooden paddle to assist them in getting out to the open sea and past the breaking waves.
- 1939 Hawaii’s Olympic Champion Duke Kahanamoku is shown standing up on an Australian surf ski paddling it with a kayak paddle.
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- 1940 The term “Beach Boy Surfing” enters Waikiki’s local lingo and defines surfers and surf instructors who stand up on their surf boards for increased visibility and use a paddle for added support.
- 1955 John Zapotocky aka “Pearl Diver” learns paddle boarding from Duke Kahanamoku and Pops AhChoy. He becomes one of the first pioneers of modern stand up paddle boarding. A Hawaiian legend, he caught waves at Waikiki beach till he passed at age 95 in 2013.
- 2001 Laird Hamilton, a legendary American big wave surfer, orders his first custom SUP paddle from Malama Chun, a re-known Hawaiian paddle maker.
- 2002 Sept. 11, Laird Hamilton stand up paddles at First Point Malibu with a paddle topped with American Flag. This historical moment marks the ushering in of modern day SUP-ing into mainstream media.
- 2003 “Beach Boy Surfing” is added to the roster of Buffalo Big Board Contest by Brian Keaulana.
- 2005 Clark Foam closes it’s doors and board shapers are forced to switch to EPS polystyrene foam and epoxy resin. Suddenly boards are 10 lbs. lighter and much stronger than before.
- 2007 First SUP race held on the continental United States is kicked off at the North Shore of Lake Tahoe California. Ta-Hoe Nalu Paddle Festival is born.
- 2008 The US Coast Guard classifies SUP boards as vessels. Paddle boarders are now required to wear life jackets when outside the surf zone just like kayaks and canoes.
- 2008 Charlie McArthur stages first ever river SUP-ing event in Vail Colorado.
- 2008 Chuck Patterson wins the Inaugural Battle of the Paddle held at Doheny State Park, California.
- 2009 SUP-ing is recognized as the fastest growing paddle sport in North America.
- 2012 Kai Lenny wins the first SUP racing World Championship at Turtle Bay Resort in O’Ahu Hawaii.
- 2013 SUP Yoga becomes gains popularity in the yoga community.
- 2014 Update Coming!
- 2015 Update Coming!
- http://www.supthemag.com/stay/