Från Maresias nås vi av budskapet att Kai Lenny har tagit hem mästerskapstiteln i Stand Up World Tour 2011. Trots sin unga ålder (19 år) är detta andra gången Kai tar hem titeln. Man kan inte bli annat än imponerad. Om än det återstår deltävlingar i cupen har Kai skaffat sig en ointaglig ledning vilket gör att han kan ta det lite lugnare under resten av touren. Det är dock tveksamt om han har något annat läge än 100%. Stort grattis!

Naish’s Kody Kerbox is also putting in an impressive performance on the tour. The 17 year old Maui ripper is currently in 9th place going into the Mariesas Pro.

After event number 4, the tour’s Top 10 are as follows:

Kai Lenny (HI)
Leco Salazar (BRA)
Antoine Delpero (FR)
Peyo Lizarazu (FR)
Robin Johnston (HI)
Aaron Napoleon (HI)
Zane Schweitzer (HI)
Xabi Lafitte (FR)
Kody Kerbox (HI)
Sean Poynter (US)

Standing out with a great performance in the Na Kama Kai Youth Challenge was Naish’s Tucker Ingalls, a young gun from Santa Barbara, California. Tucker placed 3rd in the competition, among a strong group of up-and-coming young surfers.

Congratulations to all!

Photo credits: Harry Wievel, www.hbaction.com, Stand Up World Tour, JDPhotofairy”

“The 4th Annual Battle of the Paddle returned to Doheny State Beach, on September 24 & 25, for yet another great battle. The BOP is an SUP festival and lifestyle exposition that includes races and demonstrations for all ages and skill levels. From family and company relay teams, to high-intensity elite competition, the Battle of the Paddle is the showcase for the world’s fastest growing water sport.

Team Naish was well represented in all categories this year, and had a great turnout in the results. Current SUP wave World Champion, Kai Lenny, Denmark’s Casper Steinfath, Australia’s Jake Jensen, Maui’s Kody Kerbox and Santa Barbara’s Tucker Ingalls (a.k.a. Naish’s “Young Guns”) were firing on all cylinders, giving the top racers a run for their money. SUP brand manger, Michi Schweiger, said: “You’ve got to keep an eye on these “kids”. They are amazing paddlers, hungry for more and just really stoked on the sport!”.

For the women, it was Jenny Kalmbach from Hawaii’s Big Island and Karen Wrenn from Oregon who, in the seemingly ever-growing women’s class, paddled their hearts out to place on the podium in the long distance race. Big Island’s “Aloha Man” Jerry Bess, Australia’s Andy Davies and Chuck Patterson (on his home turf) rounded out the Naish team with their years of experience and great attitude.

It was above all, a great event with a great team and an awesome vibe!

Naish Results:

Women – Long Distance: 19-29, Jenny Kalmbach (2)
Women – Long Distance: 30-39, Karen Wrenn (3)

Men – Long Distance: 18 and under, Jake Jensen (1), Casper Steinfath (2), Kai Lenny (3)
Men – Long Distance: 30-39, Andy Davies (2)
Men – Long Distance: 40-49, Jerry Bess (1), Chuck Patterson (2)

Men – Elite: Kai Lenny (5)
Women – Elite: Jenny Kalmbach (4)

Relay: Team Naish (Casper Steinfath, Jake Jensen, Jenny Kalmbach, Kai Lenny) – 2″

“On Day 5 of the PWA Wave Windsurfing event in Klitmoller, Denmark, the fierce winds backed off with the waves still pumping, providing perfect conditions for a SUP competition and a chance for the elite windsurfers to show off their skills in a different discipline. Surprisingly it was Naish teamrider, SUP pro and local hot shot Casper Steinfath, who schooled all the windsurfers. Just back from the 11-City SUP Tour in Holland where he placed third, 18-year old Casper wowed the crowds with an exceptional performance. He secured the top podium spot with his last wave in the final heat (which was the highest scoring wave in the entire competition) in a monster ride with four aggressive turns. Wow, Casper, well done!

Congratulations from all of us at Naish, and we can’t wait to see you at the Battle of the Paddle next weekend.”

“Congratulations Kai Lenny, for winning the 2011 SUP Athlete of the Year AWSI Award at Surf Expo this past weekend. Kai is the defending World SUP Surf Champion and a well-spoken ambassador of the sport. He is a fearless athlete and fierce competitor in both surf and flatwater competitions and is truly deserving of this title. Congratulations Kai!

Surf Expo, held from September 7-10th in Orlando, FL is the industry’s largest and longest running trade show with nearly 4,000 lines of board sports, beach and vacation-related merchandise and boutique fashions. New for this year was the first AWSI (Association of Wind and Water Sports Industries) awards for various categories including AWSI SUP athlete of the year, AWSI Windsurfing Athlete of the year, AWSI Kiteboarding Athlete of the year – just to name a few.

Naish took top honors in winning three of the categories:

2011 AWSI SUP Athlete of the year: Kai Lenny
2011 AWSI Windsurfing Athlete of the year: Nathan Mershon
2011 AWSI SUP brand of the year: Naish (as voted by AWSI SUP retailers)

We are honored to be voted so highly by US industry leaders. Thank you to the AWSI and thanks to all of you who ride our boards and paddle our paddles. It is your passion for SUP that fuels us to keep doing what we do.

Aloha all!”