Kalavida Surf Shop

Quiksilver Paddle Jackets

Here’s the perfect solution to paddling in the fall, winter and early spring.   The Quiksilver Paddle Jacket fits nicely over your other layers and won’t restrict your arms from paddling.  Paddle hard, stay warm in Quiksilver’s Front Zip Paddle Jacket.  IN-STOCK NOW -  S, M, L and XL.  

FEATURES:

• PU Coated Thermal Wind Barrier
• UN-Brushed Polypropylene

Traveling this Winter? Take an Inflatable SUP

Heading off to Mexico, Hawaii or somewhere else warm and sunny this winter and still want to paddle?  You’re in luck – You can take an inflatable board with you as carry-on luggage and tuck in a 2 or 3-piece paddle and you’ll be able to SUP anywhere you go.

We carry a wide range of inflatables including the C4 Waterman iSUP’s in both 10’6 and 10’9 XXL lengths and the new Naish Mana Air inflatables. Each package comes complete with a travel bag, pump and patch kit.  Just check it in as part of your luggage (you only need flops, shorts, bikini’s and T-shirts in the other right?) and you can go anywhere and explore.  Add a 3-piece paddle from Werner or Quickblade and you are all set to go.
RENTALS AVAILABLE – Call for details

 Call or email for more information, prices and colour combinations

Features

• For headache-free travel and storage, deflate the board
• Fits easily in its travel bag
• Inflates with a hand pump (included)
• The board is soft and the fins are flexible, but rigid and stable enough to paddle fast and hold well in a waves.
• A great board for beginners and a convenient, effective training board. Also great in rivers and lakes.
• Designed for travel, safety, portability and performance.
• It includes a travel carry bag
• Pump with pressure gauge
• Deck pad and hand hold included

Happy New Year – Best of 2011

Exploring the waterways of BC on your board has opened up a whole new level of outdoor experience and freedom.  And although most of the time you’re just enjoying it for yourself, it’s nice to see some of those images captured for everyone else to see.  Here’s a gallery of images, including our top 10 favourites, from the year of two thousand & eleven.  Watch for a Kalavida PHOTO CONTEST for fun and prizes.

See below for info and gallery of pics:

1. Bob Purdy – Day 1 of his incredible Paddle for the Planet quest – Rotary Beach, Kelowna (photo: Kevin O’Brien)
2. Jason Sound and Cory Ferguson dock jumping on Kal Beach during a spring storm (photo: Kevin O’Brien)
3. Recreational Race Time -  Good times at the 2011 Kal Classic as the recreational class readies for the short course (photo: Shaun Bos)
4. Queen and King of Kalamalka – Lina Augaitis and Norm Hann win their respective crowns and pose with their hardware at the Kal Classic (photo: Shaun Bos)
5. Mike Hainault – Smiles and celebration after crossing the length of Kalamalka Lake – a bucket list must.  (photo: Shaun Bos)
6. Melissa Teale – Shows off her style on her new board at Mabel Lake, BC – (photo: submitted)
7. Michelle, Jessica, Tina, Dawna, Kathryn & Bob Purdy – Playtime on the smooth Shuswap River near Enderby, BC (photo: Kevin O’Brien)
   
8. Kevin O’Brien – late summer snap off the Kal Dock with some magic swirling around the colourful waters of Kal Lake.  (photo: Michelle Mitchell)
9. River Running – Exploration is what SUP is all about – a bridge’s eye view of a crew heading down the Eagle River (and yes, there were lots of eagles!)  (photo: Kevin O’Brien)
10. Winter Wonderland – Kalamalka Lake Dock in the middle of an early season snowstorm (photo: Kevin O’Brien)
    
    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

Bob Purdy goes 365!

We would like to congratulate Bob Purdy on his 365th day in a row!  Capping off a full year of paddling that all started on January 1, 2011, Bob’s ‘Paddle For the Planet’ mission came to completion on December 31 at Rotary Beach in Kelowna.  In a year that featured high’s, lows and all points in between, Purdy pulled off an amazing feat (on his feet!), paddling every day for the whole year – And has vowed to keep it going!  Congratulations.

Quick Facts:
Hours Paddled- 425 plus 14 hours in the time bank= 439 total. Average- 1.2 hours per day. That’s water time spent paddling and doesn’t include travel to and from the beach, speaking engagements, special events or media events!

• Strokes Paddled (approximately)- 79,000
• Distance Paddled (approximately)- 1300 miles
• Hours of Tai Chi/Chi Gung Play (approximately)- 480
• Number of Doctor Appointments- 1, to have ear wax removed
• Pharmaceuticals taken- none, not even an aspirin
• Number of Physio Appointments- none
• Number of Chiro Appointments- none

See the story and photos at www.oksup.com

New Board Rack Launched!

We’ve retooled our board rack to make it easier for you to find out what standup paddleboards we carry and details about each of our boards (and paddles).  We’re expecting a ton of new boards to arrive in the next couple of months from Naish, Rogue, Surftech, Lakeshore, Starboard, Boardworks and more – keep checking.

Click the image to see our new board and paddle rack.

Click me - we triple dog dare you!

Gift Certificates Now Available

Know someone who wants to try Standup?  Or maybe you’re not sure what kind of accessory would be best?  We now offer several types of Gift Certificates.  Pick from ‘Intro to SUP’ courses, Board rentals, Punch passes, and general certificates for the shop.

Introductory Specials:

INTRO TO SUP PACKAGE #1 – $99.95 (Tax included)
Includes INTRO TO SUP COURSE + (2) 1-hour Rentals

INTRO TO SUP PACKAGE #2 – $149.95 (Tax included) *Save $12.00
Includes INTRO TO SUP COURSE + (4) 1-hour Rentals

INTRO TO SUP COURSE – $45 (Taxes extra)
Includes INTRO TO SUP COURSE + all equipment required

4-PACK RENTAL CARD – $95 (Taxes extra) *Save $5.00
Includes (4) 1-hour rentals + all equipment required (Punch Card)

2012 Naish Mana Air Inflatables are in

Just arrived at Kalavida! The Naish Mana Air inflatable SUPs – We’ve had them out on the lake already and they are impressive!  The 6″ has tons of volume and should work well for SUP’sters over 180lbs.  They are in stock now and come with a well-sized carry bag so you can travel with them to Mexico, Hawaii or wherever you may go…..

About the Naish Mana Air’s –
The Mana Airs are premium, high quality inflatable boards designed with extra thickness and width for unmatched firmness and stability. They are incredibly stable, durable and compactable for traveling paddlers riding in whitewater, rocky bottom flatwater or surf conditions.

The Mana Air 6” is hands down the most rigid, stable, performance-oriented inflatable SUP board on market. The Mana Air 4” is for lighter riders and for paddlers needing the transportability of an inflatable board while on a budget. Both the 6” and the 4” come complete with a high-pressure gauge pump and a durable canvas carry case.

View the VIDEO here:

Two Sizes:

• 10′ x 33″ x 4″  Volume 205L
• 10′ x 33″ x 6″  Volume 230L

River SUP season in BC is here

Looking for somewhere new to go with your board?  By now you’ve most likely been enjoying the lake(s) but have you considered a river run?  This year’s late runoff has pushed River SUP season into late August so September is going to be an amazing month to try out one of the many rivers around the region.

You can pick a river with slow or fast moving currents and even challenge yourself on the rapids and various levels of whitewater wonder.  Navigating your board on the river requires a new set of skills and it’s arguably the next best adrenaline fix to actual surfing in the ocean.  For most lazy river runs, any board will work just fine.  If you think you’d like to progress to running rapids and even whitewater, with a chance of the bumping into a few objects, then the inflatable boards are best suited to take the punishment. The C4 Waterman iSUP series is our favourite!

Where to go in the Okanagan-Shuswap Region -

• Shuswap River - Pick a section, any section.  Check out the maps in Enderby to see where to put in.  Shuttle from Enderby to the closest park to get started and then head to Ashton Creek for a more exciting run. Got skills?  Then try out the lower section of the ‘Chucks’ near Mabel Lake. Best time:  Early August to late September
  

  Shuswap River - no helmets required.... unless you're taking on the 'Chucks'.

• Similkameen – We did the section from Keremeos to the Chopaka Bridge last year and it was stunning, with consistent current, plenty of rapids and even a small standing wave.  Best time: 1st week of August to early September
• 

  Rapids galore - The Similkameen is a blast

  Thompson River – Mellow moving current, wide at most parts, lots of sandbars, some faster sections.  Put in a Chase BC and do a 1 or 2 hour cruise and enjoy the scenery.  

What to bring: Recommendations

Coil leash (no straight leashes)
PFD
Sunscreen!
Food and water

Planning on taking on rapids and whitewater:
PFD with coil leash attached with quick release
Attach your sidebites (Tri-fins) for better turning
Rubber fins (in case of a meeting with a rock or log)
C4 Waterman iSUPs (or other inflatables)

Cover Shot: Somewhere on the Thompson River near Chase, BC.

Racing and Touring Boards in stock

Whether your looking to upgrade your trusty all-rounder, or even choose to get a faster board on your first go,  here’s some basic information about the advantages of a displacement hull board.

Displacement Hull on the left / Planing Hulls on the right (Red)

The planing hull is your standard surfboard-style of all-rounder and they can be fast once they start to ‘plane’ where the amount of water touching the bottom of the board is less.  A displacement hull has a thick, pierced nose and lays flatter in the water which allows it to flow through the water more efficiently.

On the lakes, the displacement hull is the fastest type of board around and is especially good on downwinders (going with the wind at your back) due to it’s ability to ‘cut’ through the short wave intervals and keep gliding quickly.  We have compared the two styles in these conditions and it’s not contest for speed.  Displacement hull boards track straighter and you’ll get more than double the amount of paddle strokes per side which is a huge advantage.

The market still calls them ‘Racing’ or ‘Touring’ boards but the names don’t necessarily fit based on the actual type of paddling you will do.  As the sport develops in Canada, there will be more ‘racing’ but for now, these boards are best suited to going fast, fitness training and going into (and against) the wind more efficiently that the ‘planing hulls (All-rounders.)

Here’s a quick peek at what race/touring boards we have in stock.  Come down and demo one to see for yourself.

Race/Touring/Expedition boards in stock:

404 Carbon Monster 12’6 x 29”x 6″ Demo Available

404 Monster (Blue) 12’6 x 29”x 6″. One left

Rogue ‘Indy’ 14′ x 27″ x 7″. One left 

Naish Catalina 12’6 x 27.5″ x  5.5″. Demo available

Lakeshore Stealth 12’6 x 28 x 7″. Demo Available

Two boards that are the fastest all-rounder style boards with planing hulls:

C4 Waterman ‘Holoholo’ 12′ – Twin concave hull makes it zing in the water. 1 left

Naish Glide 12′ – As the series says, lots of glide. Two left

Summer SUP Series #6 – August 9

Kalavida Summer SUP Racing Series – Race #6, Tuesday, August 9-
For new and experienced paddlers who want to compete in a local race series for fun, prizes and year-end awards. – All events are laid-back and open to everyone. Each event combines a mix of short distance races, free board demos, frisbee, snacks and socializing.

BRING YOUR RACE BOARD – It’s going to be a speed filled night.

THE SUMMER SERIES:
Through the series of races, points will be tallied and the Grandioso Finale’ on Tuesday, August 23 will serve as the final event of the season.  There’s even an after-party to present the year-end awards and celebrate the season.  Last year’s year-end award was a C4 iSUP board and paddle!  Prizes to be announced.

Tuesday, August 9 -  Information:

• Register at Kalavida by 5:30pm on Tuesday
• Race Start: 6:00pm
• Course:  Mix n’ Match

BOARD RENTALS AVAILABLE – Call to book

Kalamalka Classic Results Posted

A weekend full of races, paddling and socializing capped off the 2nd annual Kalamalka Classic (presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection.  The event tripled in size and drew competitors from as far as California.  Okanagan paddlers faired well in the Recreational classes but it was Norm Hann of Squamish and Lina Augaitis of Vancouver who claimed the King and Queen honours.

For full results, visit www.oksup.com
To see and purchase event photos, click here – Shaun Bos Photography

Thanks to everyone helped make this event a huge success.  The SUP community is alive and growing quickly!

The event was co-sponsored by Naish, Werner Paddles, Rogue SUP, Surftech, Dakine, Ocean Minded, Nature’s Fare Markets and Vernon Speedpro Signs. Welcome to the 2011 Kalamalka Classic SUP Festival presented by Quiksilver Waterman’s Collection. www.kalamalkaclassic.com.

Huge turnout for 2011 Kalamalka Classic!

The ‘Classic’ is underway and Saturday is now part of history.  The day featured short courses and 4x Elimination sprints for both recreational and competitive paddlers followed by a movie & dinner night at the Cookson Log House.  The event’s marquee race – The Kalamalka Lake Crossing, starts at 9am where paddles leave the shores of Kal Lake at the South end in Oyama and paddle 10 miles to Kal Beach.  Wow is right!

There will be free board demos from 10am-1pm today so come down and check out boards from Naish, Surftech, and Rogue along with paddles from Werner.

Almost 80 participants are registered over the two-day event – almost three times more than last year!

Short Course – Recreational Men

1. Ed Fitch, Vancouver
2. Rob McLoed, Calgary
3. Reuben Smid, Coldstream

Short Course – Recreational Women

1. Maureen McEwen, Vernon
2. Helene Urculu, Oliver
3. Jen Forbes, Chilliwack

Short Course – Competitive Men

1. Norm Hann, Squamish
2. Stuart Robinson, Comox
3. Beau Whitehead, Bellingham, WA

Short Course – Competitive Women

1. Lina Augaitis, Vancouver
2. Kristin Thomas, California
3. Tina Hoeben, Penticton

4x SUP Sprint – Recreational Men

1. Reuben Smid, Coldstream
2. Rob Mcloed, Calgary
3. Jonathan Bowers, Kamloops
4. Ed Fitch, Vancouver

4x SUP Sprint – Recreational Women

1. Helene Urculu, Oliver
2. Jen Forbes, Chilliwack
3. Maureen McEwen, Vernon

4x SUP Sprint – Competitive Men

1. Norm Hann, Squamish
2. Kevin O’Brien, Vernon
3. Stuart Robinson, Comox
4. Cory Ferguson, Vernon (DNF)

4x SUP Sprint – Competitive Women

1. Lina Augaitis, Vancouver
2. Jen Dillinger, Burnaby
3. Sheila Sovereign, Vernon
4. Diana Newson, Courtenay