Great lil video of Kevin and the Kalavida Surf Shop gang playing around with a couple of C4 iSups at Siver Star Ski Resort in Vernon...
Awesome!
Vernon
Just got word that the X-Weighted episode at Kalamalka Lake this summer to film a segment for the episode "Conner"
Kevin and the Kalavida Surf Shop team helped with the episode, introducing the contestants to the sport, and organizing a race for the show.
The episode airs on Slice channel this coming Thursday November 4th at 5:00PM PST.
Check out the episode details at xweighted.ca!
This week we hear from Kevin O'Brien from Kalavida Surf Shop up in Vernon BC.
How long has your company been in business, and how did you get your start?
Kalavida opened up in May of 2010 as a SUP-specific shop for the Okanagan region and beyond. It took 3 months and countless loads reclaimed wood, tin roof and supplies to get the shop ready for action. It was modeled after those quaint n' quirky surf shops you find in Hawaii and was built using as much recycled materials as possible.
We just kinda fell in love with the sport during the summer of '09 and a series of coincidences and good fortune helped us make the ultimate decision to turn our passion into a business. After spending the last decade marketing BMX in the US and Canada, I was finally able to put those skills to work for our own project – and Kalavida was born! Kala is one the Hawaiian Huna principles that means go with the flow or hang loose so that was a perfect fit given that the First Nations have a Hawaiian connection in the Okanagan. We really wanted a connection to our region so the name was perfect.
When and how did you first find out about Stand Up Paddleboarding?
I had seen the sport for the last couple of years through guys like Laird Hamilton, Dave Kalama and others but never really thought much about what it would be like on the lakes. I saw it in Mexico in the winter and showed it to a few friends as well. We picked up boards early last year and it just kind felt right from the first time we stepped up so to speak. It truly is one of the most versatile sports I have ever been involved with. Shortly after our first paddle on Kalamalka Lake, we took the summer off and drove around BC to paddle in all kinds of lakes and rivers. BC is one amazing place for SUP and we are blessed to be on the shores of Kalamalka Lake
When did you start carrying SUP related products in your store?
May 1st. We took a fairly big gamble that the sport would have a break-out year and even before we had opened our doors, we could tell that there was some interest out there. We started off with Surftech, C4 Waterman and Rogue and I can remember looking at our shop in early May and wondering whether if the timing was right – luckily it was and we continued to add brands like Kialoa, Werner, Sitka and Ocean & Earth.
What sort of growth have you seen you started selling SUP related products?
We beat our forecasts!
What are your top selling board brands and models?
The Rogue All-Rounders did very well but we ran out of boards in early July and so did the company. Surftech 'Laird' Tuflites and softops did very well along with C4's Holoholo and their inflatable iSUPs.
What are your top selling paddle brands and models?
It was interesting….. Werner came out strong in the first part of the season and then Kialoa ruled the second half. We had a good response from the people at the Vernon Paddling centre and they love their Kialoa.
What are your most popular SUP related accessories?
The basics like rail tape, rack pads and leashes were popular. The Ocean & Earth board bags did very well along with Rap Rax (Soft roof racks) the Dry Case for iPhones and such. Later in the season, EZ Plugs and attachments came on strong as people progressed through the sport (and because of Transport Canada). We expect booties to come into season very shortly
If there was one accessory you'd suggest that all stand up paddle boarders should purchase, it would be...
A board bag for travel. I held off for a year but swear by it now. Keeps your ride bug free, ding free and surrounds your board in mystery.
Do you offer additional value added services?
Information and advice – Since flatwater is still 'new' on the SUP radar, we made sure that we educated everyone about the boards, their features and which ones worked best for flatwater. One of our main focus points was to let people know how versitile the boards really are. A common question was "so all you do is paddle"?, so we had to find creative ways to paint a picture for people and many of them were pretty stoked to hear that you can take them on the rivers – The Shuswap river near our shop is amazing and this will become a big category next year.
Try before you buy. Rather than outfit our rental fleet with safe boards, we had a mix of all types of boards so that potential buyers could try out a number of them before making their purchase. The Surftech 'Laird' and C4 Holoholo and ATB sold well because of this.
We worked with customers to provide rail tape applications at no charge and we were pretty diligent about making sure paddle lengths were right for each customer.
We offer 'Intro to SUP' classes throughout the spring and summer for those who want to get more out of their first experience and we started doing River SUP tours in the late Summer.
Most of all, we live the sport so you'll find us out paddling with customers-turned-friends whenever we get the chance.
How do most of your customers use their stand up paddle boards?
Our clientele was primarily from the Okanagan so the boards were primarily used on the lakes and rivers. We did a couple of River tours so we expect this to expand next year.
Where do you and your customers get out on the water?
We are footsteps from Kalamalka Beach and held a weekly race series so this spot was the most popular. Our pals from Kelowna and Penticton spent most of their time on Okanagan lake but I think most of us agree that Kalamalka Lake is the premier SUP spot in the region. It's mostly calm but when the wind whips up, it makes for one amazing downwinder.
For Rivers, we spent the first part of the summer on the Shuswap near Mabel Lake but after hitting the Similkameen near Keremeos, we have much to explore.
Somewhere in the middle of it all, Transport Canada called our shop after responding to a call about 'safety' from a local business. They held a 'town hall' type of meeting with us and explained their interpretation of the laws and how they apply to SUP.
What time of day brings the best conditions?
Best condition depends on what you want to do. Early mornings for Kal Lake and Okanagan Lake are calm and glassy. Downwinders are best in the afternoon's. Kal beach gets on-shore winds so it's pretty safe out there most of the time.
Where do you see stand up paddle boarding going in the next few years?
Its versitility will lend itself to a mainstream audience but it will also become more specialized as the sport evolves in the mind of the consumer and as the products continue to refine. Many of the boards offered today are not flat-water specific so I can see this side developing greatly. Once you get on a displacement style board, the speed might keep you from going back to the surfboard style of design….
What's your favorite part about being involved with stand up paddleboarding?
Freedom and folk. The people and the freedom to go anywhere with your board and go on an adventure on any body of water. More surf would be nice….
Any tips for the newcomers?
There is a lot of information out there about boards and paddles so try to find the stuff that pertains to your application. If you're in the flatwater region, try to find info about boards that work best for lakes and rivers. Don't get fooled by the cheaper brands who claim they are the same. We've seen it first hand that, like in other sports, you get what you pay for. We had many of our for-sale boards in the rental fleet so we have the luxury of seeing how they hold up under use and abuse.
And always buy the board that will suit 85% of where you will paddle. If you'll be primarily on flatwater, try to pick a board that is suited for the lakes. If you end up going surfing, you can just rent a board for the weekend. Ask lots of questions like 'how does it track', 'why does this board have thin rails but this one has thick rails?', 'what if I want to race it?' and so on. In a new sport like SUP, no question is a dumb question. We're all still learning and growing together.
And some closing thoughts?
It truly has been a thrilling ride so far. We jumped into the sport full-stop and have been able to share that stoke with so many good people this year already. The SUP community has come alive and we've become friends with many of our customers and that is what it's all about for us. We support our local scene and also ship anywhere in BC and across the country. We were the first shop to stock race boards this season and always have something more than the ordinary in stock.
Kalavida also partnered with SPrKL (Society for the Protection of Kalamalka Lake) and made regular donations to the society from our race events.
Website: www.kalavidasurfshop.com
Who would have expected that the SUP scene would come this far in one year? The sport has been growing by leaps and bounds in the US and around the world but was slow to finally reach Canada. That all changed this year and now we can proudly say that Stand Up Paddle Boarding has arrived. On Tuesday, August 17, the Kalavida Summer SUP Series came to a thrilling conclusion the shores of Kal Beach and the new format kept everyone on their feet – literally. In total, more than 50 paddlers competed in the series and Tuesday’s race included racers from as far as Chilliwack , BC and Grande Prairie, Alberta.
Vernon’s Sheila Sovereign came out the big winner at the Kalavida Summer SUP series Finale’ winning both of the day’s races, the overall series title, and then found herself the lucky winner of the C4 River SUP package when her named was drawn at the awards ceremony. The final two-part race included an iSUP dual elimination race, where Sheila defeated Pam Young of Penticton in a close heat and then went on to win the short course to capture the overall title. Vernon’s Mike Hainault defeated Cory Ferguson in the men’s iSUP final but it was Ferguson who captured the season’s title. Greg Taylor of Vernon won the men’s short course in only his second race event.
The event was sponsored by Kalavida Surf Shop and C4 Waterman and partial proceeds were donated to SPrKL (The Society for the Protection of Kalamalka Lake). For more information about the sport, visit the www.oksup.com.
Final Year-End Standings:
Women
- Sheila Sovereign, Vernon BC
- Regena Seminutin, Vernon BC
- Lisette Smid, Coldstream, BC
Men
- Cory Ferguson, Vernon BC
- Mike Hainault, Vernon BC
- Wade ‘Woody’ Anderson, Vernon BC
iSUP Dual Elimination Results:
Women
- Sheila Sovereign, Vernon
- Pam Young, Penticton
- Lisette Smid, Coldstream
- Jen Forbes, Chilliwack
Men
- Mike Hainault, Vernon
- Cory Ferguson, Vernon
- Greg Taylor, Vernon
- Peter Dodenhoff, Kelowna
Short Course Results:
Women
- Sheila Sovereign
- Pam Young
- Rhonda Tetz
- Regena Seminutin
- Lisette Smid
- Vicky Young
- Tina Barrette
- Jess Rayner
- Nicole J
- Elise Kruysisix
- Jennifer Sorensen
- Ariana Behrend
Men
- Greg Taylor
- Mike Hainault
- Peter Dodenhoff
- Bob Purdy
- Chris Hromek
- Ken Rymer
- Jeff Meyers
- Jeremy Poettecker
Building on the success of the Kalamalka Classic event, Kalavida Surf Shop has been hosting a local Stand-Up Paddle race series to further promote the sport in the region.
Dubbed the Summer SUP Series, the grassroots events have helped develop the sport and attendance has continued to grow with each race. With a growing number of enthusiasts taking to ‘SUP’, a strong local presence has helped make it the largest series of its kind on the Mainland of BC. Vernon is blessed with having three local lakes and plenty of rivers to play on which makes it one of the top destinations for the sport in Canada.
The series will come to a thrilling conclusion on Tuesday, August 17th when Kalavida hosts the Grandiso Finale’ SUP race. The event is open to all paddlers, both new and experienced and for those who may not have a board, Kalavida is offering a special rate for board and entry fee to further encourage participation. The Grand Prize is a C4 Waterman River SUP Package that includes a board, paddle, helmet and accessories.
The final race is a two-part effort that includes an iSUP sprint race and a short circuit course called ‘SUP Dock. Immediately following the race, there will be an afterparty and awards ceremony to celebrate the first season of SUP racing in the area.
The race is organized by the crew at Kalavida Surf Shop so you can expect some fun and a few surprises during the event. “The SUP community is made up of people from all types of sporting backgrounds so we like to mix it up to keep everyone on their feet…literally! said Kevin O’Brien of Kalavida. “It’s been amazing to meet so many great people and watch the sport grow so organically” he adds. The event is supported by C4 Waterman and partial proceeds will be donated to SPrKL (Society for the Protection of Kalamalka Lake).
Get all of the details on the race through the Kalavida website at www.kalavidasurfshop.com or at www.oksup.com.
Series Standings:
Wahine’s (women)
- Sheila Sovereign, Vernon 24
- Regena Seminutin, Vernon 20
- Megan Desimone, Vernon 12
- Michele Tarr, Vernon 12
- Lisette Smid, Coldstream 12
Kane (men)
- Wade ‘Woody’ Anderson, Coldstream 20
- Cory Ferguson, Vernon 20
- Gary ‘Kuku Hoe’ Wessels Vernon 13
- Shawn Sanders, Vernon 11
- Bob Woodman, Vernon 8
And what about Kalavida Surf Shop
Kalavida - That little Surf/SUP shop across from Kalamalka Beach at the south end of Vernon, BC. Fully stocked, and stoked, about the sport of Stand Up Paddle Surfing/Boarding. Serving up sales, rentals, classes, surf wear, tiki-bits and more - 13908 Kalamalka Road, Coldstream (Vernon), BC. 778-475-5808 www.kalavidasurfshop.com
For more information, please contact
Kevin O’Brien
778-475-5808
Kalamalka Lake, BC, June 26, 2010 - The Surftech Kalamalka Classic is in the history books and the inagural event attracted almost 50 entries from across the province, Alberta and even Washington. It was a good sign that the sport is growing at a steady pace in the Okanagan region and it brought together a great group of athletes and spectators from all types of sporting backgrounds.
Saturday’s first event was the Kaloya Crossover, a short 3.5 mile paddle that included two trips through the ‘Riviera’ that connects Kalamalka Lake from Wood Lake and a short 30 second portage across Kaloya Park. The unique course was an instant hit and in the men’s class, Beau Whitehead of Belllingham edged out Norm Hann of Squamish by a mere 40 seconds at a time of 39:45. Coldstream’s Wade ‘Woody’ Anderson clocked in for the third. In the women’s race Lina Augaitis of Vancouver, in only her second SUP race, fought off some early challenges to claim the win ahead of Jen Segger of Squamish with a time of 43:59. ‘Penticton’ Pam Young earned a respectable third.
The second event on Saturday was a more casual Recreational Race and at only 1.5 miles, it was a newbie-friendly event. It also included two trips through the Riviera and a short loop through the west side of Kaloya Park. It was Garth Day of Vancouver who topped the men’s division with Ken Rymer of Kelowna and Jonathon Bowers of Kamloops in 2nd and 3rd. Michelle Mitchell of Vernon paddled to the win on the women’s side ahead of Alison Nelson of Penticton and Michele Tarr of Vernon.
Saturday afternoon featured laid-back fun races, music and a festival-like atmosphere followed by some great food, award presentations and prize giveaways at Gatzke’s Farm Market - The event and social headquarters. Each of the day’s winners was presented with Surftech Adjustable paddles and Lisette Smid of Coldstream won the Werner Advantage paddle. Special thanks to Al, Ingrid and Lindsay for the great hospitality. Check out their market at www.gatkefarmmarkets.com.
On Sunday it was the marque event - a scenic 10 mile stretch across the length of Kalamalka Lake starting in Oyama and ending up at Kal Beach in Vernon. Winds settled down at just the right time for the early start to the King and Queen of Kalamalka. Racers started the day off with a short sprint into the ‘Riviera’ which cast them into the wide open lake. Each of the three classes were released through a staggered start that brought most of the competitors within sight near the finish line and the first one to reach the beach in the men’s Unlimited class was Beau Whitehead in a time of 1:49:12. 6 minutes later Norm Hann arrived in a time of 1:55:54 followed by Bodie Shandro who came in at 1:59:04. In the 12’6 and Under Stock Women’s class, Lina Augaitis edged out Jen Segger to take her second win of the Classic in a time of 2:17. Segger touched the shore in 2:25:30 ahead of Sheila Sovereign who reached the beach in 2:32. Kelvin Humenney of Vancouver topped the men’s 12’6 and Under in a time of 2:05 ahead of Bob Woodman and Scott Siemens of Vernon who completed the course in 2:06:27 and 2:09:30 respectively. Winners were presented with special ‘tiki-board’ awards designed by venerable Vancouver-artist, Jim Cummins and the event concluded on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
Surftech’s Brand Manager, Bodie Shandro, had this to say about the event “WOW, this is what SUP is all about! Kevin and Michelle not only managed to put together a first class event, but somehow talked the weather gods into blessing the weekend with perfect summer temps! From first timers, families and pets, to some of the fastest paddlers in the Northwest, the event seemed like an extension of the Battle of the Paddle Hawaii! The "aloha" spirit was alive throughout the weekend. Sign me up for next year!”
Check out results and photos from the ‘Classic’ on the OK SUP website at www.oksup.com. You asked for it…………The 2011 event is scheduled to run June 18 and 19th so plan to be there.
The event was proudly sponsored by Surftech (www.surftechsup.com), and co-sponsored by Kalavida Surf Shop (www.kalavidasurfshop.com), Sitka (www.sitkasurfboards.com), Werner Paddles (www.wernerpaddles.com), Ocean Minded (www.oceanminded.com), Nature’s Fare Market’s (www.naturesfare.com), and Xcel (www.xcelwetsuits.com) and partial proceeds have been donated to SPrKL (The Society for the Protection of Kalamalka Lake - www.spkl.ca.
About Kalavida Surf Shop
Kalavida – That little Surf/SUP shop across from Kalamalka Beach at the south end of Vernon, BC. Fully stocked, and stoked, about the sport of Stand Up Paddle Surfing/Boarding. Serving up sales, rentals, surf wear, tiki-bits and more – 13908 Kalamalka Road, Coldstream (Vernon), BC.778-475-5808 www.kalavidasurfshop.com/
We hope some of you can make it to the 2010 Surtech Kalamalka Classic Stand Up Paddleboard Race or even watch the event on June 19th and 20th.
There is even a dinner Saturday afternoon at the Gatzke'’s Farm Market and Bocce’, lounging, and music.
All Saturday race entries include Dinner at Gatzke’s so please let us know if you’re coming so we can make sure we get the right amount of foody goody. Email info@kalavidasurfshop.com
From the top of our paddle, here are 10 reasons to race the Kalamalka Classic:
- The Oyama area, especially Kaloya Park, is an amazing green-water SUP experience.
- Gatzke's is hosting a dinner on Saturday night that have a stage, Bocce' pits, hammocks and good food
- The race is open to new and experienced paddlers. Two races on Saturday (Rec and Open)
- Sunday's race is a 10-miler from Oyama to Kal Beach - King/Queen of Kalamalka Lake. Do it to win or just to say you did.
- Free board demos from Surftech on Saturday
- Connect with SUP'sters from Washington, Vancouver, Alberta and around BC
- It's Summer Solstice weekend so there's plenty of daylight
- Gatzke's is serving up a Father's Day breakfast on Sunday
- There are cool prizes from Surftech, Sitka, Kalavida, and Werner
- The event is being covered by Stand Up Paddle Magazine, Paddlesurf.ca and OK SUP.
Kalavida Surf Shop is putting another race together, this time for June 5, 2010....
YUP! June 5 at Kal Beach, 9-1pm! Filmed for TV (X-weighted)
Want to try SUP racing for the first time? Then this race is for you and your friends. It’s the 1st event in the Kalavida Summer SUP Series and a great way to try out racing for the first time. If you don't have a board, Kalavida has boards you can rent for the race. OPEN TO EVERYONE! BBQ to follow at the Cookson House (Next to the Lagoon)
Details:
• Date: Saturday, June 5
• Location: Kalamalka Beach, Vernon BC
• Events: Short Course (1 mile) / Long Course (2.5 miles)
• Registration: At Kalavida Surf Shop or PDF online
• Fees: Short Course: $15 / Long Course: $15 / Both races: $25 (partial proceeds go to SPrKL)
• Don’t own a board yet? >> Entry Fee and Board Rental Special: $35 for one event/ $45 for both events
• Board sizes: 12′6″ and under only
• Classes: Separate classes for men and women
ENTRY FORM (pdf download) – Pay at Kalavida Surf Shop
Schedule of Events:
• Registration before June 5: Kalavida Surf Shop
• Registration on the day: On-site at the beach 8-9:00am
• Pre-Race Meeting 10am on Kal Beach, West of Dock
• Short Course Start: 10:30am – Beach Start
• Long Course Start: 11:30am – Beach Start
• Awards: To follow completion of race
• Board Demos: 10am-2:00pm
• NEW! After-Party/BBQ at the Cookson House -3-6pm.
The latest from Kalavida Surf Shop in Vernon, about their upcoming Kalamalka Classic SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) Race Weekend...
Kalavida Surf Shop, BC – May 17, 2010 – We are excited to announce that Surftech has signed on as Title sponsor of the 2010 Kalamalka Classic SUP Race, held June 19-20 on scenic Kalamalka Lake, BC. The two-day event includes a short course, long course, gear demos and a festival-like atmosphere that will appeal to new and competitive athletes, guests and spectators. Gatzke’s Farm Market will serve as race headquarters and the food and entertainment hub for the inaugural Stand Up Paddle Board race – the first of it’s kind in the province and the first major SUP Race in Canada.
The race is organized by the crew at Kalavida Surf Shop and you can expect some fun and a few surprises during the weekend. “My first SUP board was a Surftech Laird and it’s still my go-to ride so we’re excited to have them onboard (literally) to support the event. The Okanagan region is quickly gaining recognition as a premier destination for SUP and Surftech will be a big part of that growth – Paddle on!” said Kevin O’Brien, event race director.
Surftech will be showcasing their impressive line that goes deeper than just the popular Laird line and they hope to have a couple of race-specific boards on hand for demos. "I could not be more stoked to be a part of what will undoubtedly become the premiere SUP event in Canada! Kevin and Kalavida are the real deal, SUP Ohana!” added Bodie Shandro – Surftech Canadian Brand Manager.
Get all of the details on the race through the OK SUP website and watch for coverage on various websites including OK SUP, Stand Up Paddle Magazine, Paddlesurf.ca and more. The event is open to new and experienced SUP’ers and a great chance to try out new gear and stand up paddle board racing for the first time.
The gang at Kalavida Surf Shop let us know that they are opening their doors this coming Saturday, May 1. Shop will be full of boards and paddles and new stock will be arriving daily as the store fills up. They also have a special offer on rentals for the weekend as well.
Check out their location! Footsteps from Kal Beach..... something tells us this is going to be an Endless Summer of SUP'in and Surfin'. Their brands include Surftech, Rogue, C4, Werner, Kialoa, Grey Owl and more. Their first official race event is June 5 on Kal Beach and it will be filmed for TV! Stay tuned for more announcements....Check out their website!
