I have the pleasure to add to my quiver of Naish boards the two new 2012, gorgeous, high performance boards designed to grab the attention of those who appreciate fine quality, great lines and wow, shaka throwing graphics. This one featured here (left) is called the Alana. It’s designed for women as it’s easy to carry too. Dimensions: 9’5″ x 31″ x 4″ 3/4 The construction is a sandwich wood composite.
This three fin or tri fin board compliments the already extensive line of 36 boards manufactured by Naish International, based here on Maui. If you want stability, effortless wave riding this board rocks it. The pad is very comfortable and the kick-tail pad is handy when you’re carving deep on larger waves.
Second in the line up of the Alana series is the way cool, single fin, 10’10″ by 32″ wide super stable great all around board for strapping on snorkel gear, dry bag and can also impressively handle the waves. I couldn’t believe how well this board tracked and allowed me to paddle 13 times or more on each side. This board is perfect for first timers, those seeking a smooth elegant ride. Check out Robby Naish in the video below as he explains all the features!
I think Naish has done a fine job bringing these boards to the forefront of the stand up paddling world that gives women what they want. Ease of use, fun wave riding or cruising and exploring with friends and family. The Alana Series is beauty and versatility.
If visiting Maui, you can rent these and try them out from the Naish Maui Pro Center located in central Maui on Hana Highway. Call them at 808-871-1500. Or go to their website here:
Thanks for stopping by and if you’d like to post your comments, questions, please feel free! We’d love to hear from you.
Suzie Cooney, CPT owner of Suzie Trains Maui Naish Team SUP Rider I also ride the 14′ Glide, 9’0 Hokua & 9’0 Mana.
One of the beautiful aspects of standup is it’s appeal to women. In this fine game we “play,” ladies play a key role in the sport’s development. Now and into the future. This fall and winter, SUP magazine is catching up with the female faces of SUP to find out what they’ve been up to, and what’s in store for 2012.
As an avid waterwoman, fitness expert and sports model, Suzie Cooney of Suzie Trains Maui has helped hundreds of people get in shape, conquer their fears of the ocean and experience standup paddling. Featured in SUP mag’s 2011 Summer Fitness issue, here’s what’s on tap in the wonderful world of Cooney. –-Shari Coble
How did you get into SUP?
I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors and have worked in sports orthopedics and the physical therapy field. I moved to Maui, chasing the wind for windsurfing and in April 2009 I broke both my legs. I had tried SUP just prior to my injury and thought it was a great platform for reconditioning and rehabilitating. Now as an athlete for Naish, I have developed a niche for functional training for SUP and held one of the the largest free SUP clinics with about 430 participants.
Tell us about your 2011.
2011 has been really great. I only competed in a few downwind races, including the Naish race and OluKai’s Ho’olaule’a, where I won my age group. I went to Costa Rica on a media tour and have held 10 free SUP clinics for women as well as 4 full moon paddles, which have all been a lot of fun. I’ve also written a lot of SUP fitness articles for Naish, but my biggest accomplishment of 2011 would have to be winning my age group at Ho’olaule’a. That was really big for me because it was an important goal.
What’s your favorite experience been with SUP?
A major personal breakthrough for me is helping people conquer their fear of the waves for the first time. I ease them in – practically strapping them to me – and it changes their life…it’s pretty neat. My focus isn’t racing or personal, it’s being able to just help people get out on the water standup paddling. It’s important to me to help others aspire to set goals and fine-tune land-body skills that translate to the water.
What do you have planned for 2012?
I’ll do a couple downwind races next year and am very excited to be hosting Ho’olaule’a. There will be a few free SUP clinics and I’ll be writing a lot for Naish, but before the New Year starts, I will be helping Naish hold the free and non-competitive SUP Fun Beach Fitness and Paddle Challenge.
Suzie Cooney, of Suzie Trains Maui, in action on a Naish SUP from Naish International on Vimeo.
A healthy mind and a healthy body go hand in hand—you cannot have one, without the other. As part of my work today I continue to stress the importance of staying active, as it helps lead to improved mental health.From childhood, mental illness has had a profound impact on my life. My mother, and three more of her six siblings, lived with mental illness. My mother was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and severe depression when I was a young child. Since I can remember I was a caregiver and lived in a house that was full of pain and constant upheaval. My grandmother did what she could, but years ago there was confusion about what mental illness was and not much support.
As an only child it was overwhelming. I was fragile. I had no person, or no organization, to turn to for help or support. In an attempt to escape I moved out when I was 15 years old. Ever since then I have experienced feelings of guilt for leaving my family in a time of crisis.
Realizing I had made a mistake I returned to help. A saying of my aunt and uncle helped me stay strong and forge ahead in tough times. “The well must stay well,” they said. I did what I could to maintain by own mental and physical health to provide the best help I could for my mother.
But times were still difficult. What my mother had to experience was agonizing both for her and for me. All the doctors did was lock her up, drug her up and then put her back into society with no coping skills. Consequently, the situation repeated itself, over and over, as we moved my mother from one apartment to the next.
Finally in 1997, I moved her overnight to an amazing community of progressive care in Contra Costa County, California. For a year, my mother was furious with me for taking action this way, but eventually she realized it was the best thing to have happened. Today she is able to live independently with only weekly visits from her amazing case manager and her physician, Dr. Ziba Rahimzadeh, who has been with her for over 12 years.
Growing up in California, the ocean has always called to me. Three years ago, and living in Hawaii, I got started in the sport of stand up paddling (SUP). As a professional trainer and model, staying active was not only important to my professions but made my mind feel healthier as well. In 2009, I was injured in a freak accident, breaking both my legs. I was confined to a wheelchair for several months. My lower body atrophied in less than two weeks and I began to feel depressed.
For me, I knew that the sport I had just started only a few years prior was the way to get both my body and mind back. Being on the water was soothing, it comforted me, it made me feel connected and part of something.
After standing up and helping myself, I realized that stand up paddling was a viable way to help others achieve improved health as well. That’s why I’m honored to partner with NAMI in hosting a SUP event in the Bay Area. The founder of East Bay SUP and I had become friends through our common interest in stand up paddling. Through conversations she bravely shared with me how she had gone through periods of serious depression herself and how SUP helped her as well. I knew that we had to hold an event that would also help raise awareness for mental illness. So on June 4 in Oakland, Calif., we are holding the “Bay Area Stand Up Paddle Clinic” to help support NAMI.
SUP is very easy to learn and people of all individuals can learn. It’s an easy way to get people on the water and an effective form of relaxation and therapy. Surfing is currently being used to help U.S. veterans who have PTSD recover from the effects of war. And although some might be scared at first to get out here it’s often hard to get folks back off the water.
A special thanks to the NAMI team! See you all on Saturday. Please, never give up on the ones you care about or even yourself. Day by day, you will get stronger and healthy. This I promise. And also, give out lots of hugs! People love to feel loved. Suzie Cooney, CPT
Here is another link with more information to the event as well:
I’d like to introduce to you, two very special people that brightened my days in the studio and on the water! Paul and Leisl are new to the sport of SUP and are spreading the stoke all the way back to Iowa. I know one day however, they will end up here on Maui!
I was training Paul and Leisl together, while their two charming kids Lucy and Isaac cheered them on from the sidelines. I had them performing new and daring core exercises on equipment they’ve never seen before. While Paul was surfing on the INDO Board and Gigante disc doing squats with a 25lb kettle bell, I had Leisal attempting knee balancing on the stability ball. Isaac was very eager to join in on the fun too! Next year kiddo.
Then it was time to take all that we learned in the studio to the open ocean. Our mission: Paul his first wave and Leisl more comfortable on the ocean and to perfect her already smooth stroke. First it was Paul at out Kanaha. The conditions could not have been better. No wind and knee to waist high waves with plenty of juice. He charged and could not get enough. At first I had to yell at him to keep paddling and never stop, then he was like a machine catching lots of waves. Paul kindly wrote: Aloha Suzie! I can’t believe it has been two weeks since we were paddling with you at Kanaha. Mahalo for the incredible training and for helping me ride waves for the first time. Can’t wait to get back to Maui!
Leisl, smooth as silk right off the beach! I didn’t know what to expect and she rose to each and every challenge I presented to her. We cautiously paddled in front of the waves, because I wanted her to see and feel the power but also know that she was perfectly safe. I had a hard time keeping up with her. We saw turtles and a whale or two spouting out behind the sets. Leisl shared:
Wow, has it really been 2 weeks?!?! I also want to say MAHALO!! Suzie, you were the perfect person to take me out to SUP on the ocean for the very first time. Your training helped prepare me, and your presence helped to give me the peace and confidence I needed. I can’t wait to get back on a board again! Counting the days till Paul and I can come back to Maui!!
Their training in my studio really paid off. I could tell that right away that all the balance and reactive and core training immediately transferred to their board work and efficient paddle stroke. Good work guys.
Paul and Leisl, I lreally ook forward to your return you two and I want to see you guys paddling in back home soon when the ice melts! Yikes! Thank you so much for coming my way and allowing me to share in your fun. You guys are stars. We’ll be here waiting for you real soon.
As most of you know, SUP or stand up paddling is a big part of my life and I enjoy teaching others and sharing the health benefits of this sport.
Here is an article I wrote for ATHELTA to share my knowledge and enthusiam for how I see the sport shaping the world but more importantly, how it’s getting more people healthy.
Well, by the overwhelming response and stories I read as one of the judges for the most recent ATHLETA and SIREN SUP contest, one can say that any age, any person can “sweep” their way to better health, just about anywhere there is water. People all across the world are “sweeping” their way to better health and having more fun than they ever imagined. “Sweeping” is a slang term used to describe the sport that is going viral faster than any social networking media and changing the world of sports on any body of water — and just about anyone can hop aboard.
Stand up paddling, paddle surfing, or SUP is helping people of all ages and sizes catch the surfer’s glide, and helping people in all walks of life get fit and healthy, faster and safer. People are simply getting addicted. The Wall Street Journal recently reported on the rise in popularity — not just for those, like me, who are fortunate enough to live in Hawaii or California, but anywhere there’s an ocean, lake, bay, or even river rapids, you can find this world phenomenon catching on. There are SUP fitness boot camps and clinics popping up anywhere there is water. You may have noticed more races and events happening in your community too.
Below are some photos of a recent FREE women’s Sup clinic last month, and these gals were wonderful. In the first hour, there were smiles across the ocean and a new found ticket to health. I do these monthly to ensure the health of our community and introduce women and men to a new way to get fit! For “fun” I had the girls attempt a few push ups. They were amazing. On the right is Amy Hampton, the Director of Maui’s American Heart Association, getting her heart pumping!
WHAT’S SUP?
According to Wikipedia:Stand up paddle surfing (SUP), or in the Hawaiian language Hoe he’e nalu, is an emerging global sport with a Hawaiian heritage. The sport is an ancient form of surfing, and began as a way for surfing instructors to manage their large groups of learner surfers, as standing on the board gave them a higher viewpoint, increasing visibility of what was going on around them — such as incoming swell. To begin with, this started with using a one-bladed paddle, whilst standing on a normal length surfboard. The popularity of the modern sport of SUP has its origination in the Hawaiian Islands. In the early 1960s, the Beach Boys of Waikiki would stand on their long boards, and paddle out with outrigger paddles to take pictures of the tourists learning to surf. This is where the term “Beach Boy Surfing”, another name for Stand Up Paddle Surfing, originates.
THE BENEFITS OF SUP
Not only can you lower your blood pressure, improve your cholesterol and feel more energized after a session, but the overall experience of being on the water is often touted as “aqua therapy.” The benefits of having a sport you enjoy and can do on a regular basis can alter many of the morbidity factors that decrease our health and plague our society.
I use this sport as a cross-training tool for almost all my clients who are comfortable in the water and who can swim. It is low impact on all joints and is also being used to improve balance and core strength for people recovering from serious injuries. I used my stand up paddle board to recover from a serious bilateral leg and ankle accident. I have also witnessed this sport transform people’s lives overnight, by instilling a new found level of confidence and achievement, making them feel invincible!
As a sponsored team SUP rider for Naish International, instructor, and SUP clinic organizer, I love to introduce the sport to everyone who visits Maui, and help others perfect their paddling stroke — from flat water fun to waves, and the really popular coastal long distance down winders we do here on the North Shore of Maui.
But, before you hop aboard, I’d like to offer my professional experience and expert resources about water safety, board and paddle selection, and how to maximize your fun to maximize your health so you can glide into your later years with a smile and healthy body!
WATER SAFETY
First and foremost, know how to swim. Sounds simple enough, but on occasion I have come across eager students and clients who think the board is their safety. Not so. If you were ever separated from your board, you need to know how to swim to shore or to a safety vessel. So be sure you can swim, or take a class in your local community.
Also, know the waters you are attempting to enter. If you are new to a spot, wait at least 10 minutes to watch and observe where others enter and exit the water. Watch to see if there are underlying currents or other obstacles in or near the water. If it’s windy, be sure to know if it’s on shore wind or off shore wind. This is very important. You wouldn’t want to be blown out to sea or across the other side of a lake. If there are surfers or others recreating on the same body of water, be courteous and mindful. If you are a beginner, stay away from others until you are confident of your board skills.
Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return, and maybe always go with a buddy. Make sure you are properly hydrated and have eaten enough food so you have the energy needed to stay out on the water and enjoy. On long distance runs, I’ll often wear a waist hydration pack filled with water and electrolytes. I may even stick a pack of endurance gel in there too.
Be sure your board has a safety leash. This leash is my coil race leash attached to my race board. Leashes can be worn around your ankle or calf. This keeps the board attached to you should you fall off. It’s a safety hazard if you do not wear one — your board can easily slide out from underneath you and hurt others.
BOARD TYPES
If you are a beginner to the sport, it’s best to get a stable board to have the best experience. I’d say start with a board that’s at least 10- 11 feet long, maybe a little longer, and 29 inches wide or a little wider. Some boards are shorter, but boards as wide as 35 inches offer fun for everyone at any level! The learning curve with stand up paddling is amazingly quick. I’ve seen people outgrow their boards in a month’s time. (Once you’ve mastered the beginner stage, you may want to try some waves or enter a long distance race!)
There are basically three types of boards:
RECREATIONAL BOARDS are great for the entire family or if you simply want to cruise around with your friends. The board sizes range from 10 feet to 12 feet and come in different widths. Remember, the narrower the board, the less stable. Board construction and materials range from epoxy composites, wood veneers, and carbon wood composites to what are also called soft tops. This board is called the Mana made by Naish. It’s a ton of fun, very stable and can easily be a nice cruising board and catch some waves too. It is 10 feet long by 32 inches wide.
Suzie Cooney photo by Simone Reddingius
WAVE BOARDS, like mine pictured here, are very thin, fast and can turn on a dime down the face of a wave, much like a surf board. This board is a 9’ 3” in length and 29 1/6th wide. This board is purely for the waves. Some wave boards are as short as 7 feet, much like a surfboard.
RACE BOARDS are really exciting and can even come with rudders built in so you can go up wind, or hold course on a race into chop with more ease. My race board is rudderless and is 14 feet of fun! We catch “glides” on swells that sometimes seem like half the length of a football field! Race boards are also used in flat water competition, and can be 17-18 feet in length.
Here’s a quick video snippet of what are called “ down winders” on Maui’s N.orth Shore. Simone Reddingius followed me down to grab some simple fun. Normally we have tradewinds at our back, blowing anywhere from 20-35 mph. This day was quite light. You can get your heart rate up pretty quick from the thrills of catching what are called “glides” that can connect from swell to swell.
A FUN DAY ON THE WATER
Here’s a few photos from our recent local Maui race, the Naish Championships. It was a 9.5 mile down winder on the open ocean. I felt proud wearing my ATHLETA tattoo and made sure my board was covered in ATHLETA stickers too! Off we went all 204 racers from six different countries! I came in a modest 5th in my class. I encountered fin and leash issues approaching the finish, but had a great day.
Paddles also come in different lengths, widths and materials. There are paddles made of alloy, carbon/glass composites, carbon/wood composites and full carbon. Some are even adjustable. As the sport continues to evolve, they are getting more and more comfortable to help reduce fatigue and increase performance.
I just love how my paddle’s shaft is much thinner in diameter and the handle is incredibly comfortable. I have a paddle for wave paddling, racing and cruising. Different paddles are used, and vary in length. Some blades are narrower than others, but are typically 8-9 inches wide. Sometimes as I’ve noticed that if I switch down to an 8” paddle, my shoulders will be less fatigued. This is another article in itself.
There are many theories on how to measure a paddle, but really it’s personal preference. Here’s a chart I thought you’d enjoy to learn more about stand up paddle length:
SUN PROTECTION
ATHLETA rash guards are great, stylish sun protection! You can have fun, look good and most importantly be protected by the sun. This cute rash guard dries quickly and is 50+ UPF. This is the Summer Shade Tee.
I also apply sunscreen not only to my face and neck, but to my hands too! Find a nice lip sunscreen too, and maybe a hat. I also try to wear good eye protection from the glare off the water.
ENERGY AND HYDRATION
Having fun on the water, with stand up paddling or any sport you enjoy, is sure to be more exciting if you don’t have to stop what you’re doing because you’re running out of steam or your thirst needs quenching. I like to suggest that before you venture onto the water, hydrate with at least 8-16 oz of water. On days where you might go exploring on longer distance paddles, it’s also a great idea to fill up a hydrating pack, like this great all in one Remedy Pack by North Face, that offers storage for quick snacks and allows you put in a liquid bladder.
I always keep a few gel packs and a couple of small bags of almonds if I’m paddling for distance in my pack. On big training days, I’ll also add an electrolyte powder to help me fight cramping or extreme hydration.
As you’ve noticed with some of the great articles about SUP here on Athleta Chi, stand up paddling is all the rage for a great way to get healthy. You may not live on a beautiful island like Maui, but if you live near a serene lake you can explore interesting waterways. Find a sport that you enjoy to add to your current fitness routine. It’s an amazing way to tone your body, feel exhilarated and meet wonderful other paddlers in your community. STAND UP for your health and “sweep” today!
Feel free to contact me anytime if you have any questions about how to get into the sport, or want to share with our Athleta Chi community how SUP has helped YOU be healthy. If ever on Maui and you are seeking to plan a group , corporate or private lesson for SUP, call me! And if on Maui August 24th, join us for a Full Moon Paddle in North Kihei. Click here for details »
SUZIE COONEY is a former sponsored motocross racer and windsurfer who currently fills her time surfing, stand-up paddling, windsurfing, mountain biking, snowboarding and riding motocross. She is a professional fitness trainer… {more}
SUP Stronger NOW! All My Clients Love the INDO Board. Core, Legs, Upper Body. Order Yours Here:
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Second in the line up of the Alana series is the way cool, single fin, 10’10″ by 32″ wide super stable great all around board for strapping on snorkel gear, dry bag and can also impressively handle the waves. I couldn’t believe how well this board tracked and allowed me to paddle 13 times or more on each side. This board is perfect for first timers, those seeking a smooth elegant ride. Check out Robby Naish in the video below as he explains all the features!
Thanks for stopping by and if you’d like to post your comments, questions, please feel free! We’d love to hear from you.
Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return, and maybe always go with a buddy. Make sure you are properly hydrated and have eaten enough food so you have the energy needed to stay out on the water and enjoy. On long distance runs, I’ll often wear a waist hydration pack filled with water and electrolytes. I may even stick a pack of endurance gel in there too.
29 1/6th wide. This board is purely for the waves. Some wave boards are as short as 7 feet, much like a surfboard.
Paddles also come in different lengths, widths and materials. There are paddles made of alloy, carbon/glass composites, carbon/wood composites and full carbon. Some are even adjustable. As the sport continues to evolve, they are getting more and more comfortable to help reduce fatigue and increase performance.
This cute rash guard dries quickly and is 50+ UPF. This is the 
paddles, it’s also a great idea to fill up a hydrating pack, like this great all in one 
