Kialoa Paddles: Now in Metal Flake!

Metal flake, more commonly referred to as glitter, has been a staple in the Siren Surfboards line since the beginning. In fact, Channin, the factory that builds our boards, actually pioneered its use for the open-molded wet-layup lamination technique (the technical name for how custom surfboards are glassed) many years ago. Now if only someone would make a metal flake clad paddle....


Enter Kialoa Paddles, who have just introduced metal flake as on option on their paddles. Here I am at Rainbow Sandal's Battle of the Paddle checking it out first hand. Kialoa's motto, "Technology and Tradition Together on the Water," is really apparent in everything they do. And with a great team to test the equipment and provide feedback, it's no wonder why they are able to build one of the best paddles out there.

SUP Care, Storage and Maintenence

The hot weather is here and its time to paddle. Like you, your board is never happier than when it is in the water. But what's the best way to take care of your board when it's not in the water? Below are some simple guidelines to follow in order to keep your board and paddle in tip-top shape for years to come. Remember: heat and direct sunlight are your board's worst enemy when it is out of the water.

By the way--these rules need to be followed for ALL SUPs and surfboards.

1. Try your best to keep the board out of direct sunlight when not in use.

2. Not a good idea to leave the board in your car for long periods of time on super hot days. If you must lock it in while you run into the store, crack the windows so as to allow air flow and ventilation. Be sure that the board is shielded from direct sunlight (by a towel, etc.) when it is in your car. On a 90 degree day the air inside of a parked car can reach 140 degrees, and the dash and anything else exposed to direct sunlight can reach 200+!!! That's bad news for your board.

3. If you have the board strapped to the roof of the car....

make sure your racks have pads. These will lessen the pressure between the board and racks when they are strapped down tight.

If you leave the car parked with the board strapped on top, try to park in the shade, or cover the board with towels, etc. Again direct sunlight = bad!

4. If you are storing the board in a garage or carport:

Keep the board in an area where there is the possibility of some air flow or ventilation, or at the very least where there is no possibility of sunlight peeking through to reach your board.

Remember heat rises. If you have the board on racks or stacked on top of something just make sure it is not up directly against the roof. The board could really start baking if it gets too close to the roof. DO NOT store your board in the rafters, especially if the roof is not insulated!

5. Try to fix dings as soon as possible.

Remember to fix them with epoxy resin and before you fix dings, make sure the board has had enough time out of the water to dry out a bit.

After you paddle-

It is a good idea to rinse the board off with fresh water and the paddle too. Every now and then take the paddle apart and spray some fresh water down through the shaft. Allow it to dry and put it back together

These are just a few helpful tips on caring for your new board--any board you have for that matter. They are built to stand up to the most extreme of elements, but no board likes the sun's harsh rays unless it's in the water. Treat them with care and love and they will give you years of enjoyment in return!

Siren SUP Rails: Your best defense in the battle against your paddle.

No matter how good you get on the SUP, one thing is for certain: You are still going to bang the rail with your paddle once in a while. If you are riding a Siren SUP, it's no big deal. Here's a quick overview of the construction methods we use to build the most durable, best performing SUPs achievable.
All Siren SUPs start with a core of high strength-to-weight ration EPS foam. Both rigid enough to produce a lively, positive feel under foot and light enough to result in a board that is big but managable, EPS foam is also environmentally friendly since boards built with it can last forever with proper care. Once we have the shaped and painted EPS foam core, its time to give it a protective shell through a process called lamination, or glassing.
The most important consideration in any SUP lamination concerns the rail of the board. This is the most vulnerable part of any SUP, since the rail takes the brunt of any abuse stemming from an errant paddle stroke. While a protective layer of rubber mastic tape along the edge of your paddle blade will go a long way in protecting the rail, building a board with the wrong combination of materials can still leave you with a chipped gloss coat at best, and a big ding at worst. That's why we go the extra mile and use only ALL EPOXY glassing technology, with double fiberglass reinforced rails. Some choose to cut costs by using standard, surfboard-style rail reinforcement and a polyester, rather than epoxy, gloss coat. Polyester doesn't stick to epoxy very well, so if you whack the rail just right, the gloss can chip off at the point of impact. The extra reinforcement along the rails also enhances the boards flex-factor in the water, making it faster and more efficient to paddle.
Hey, dings can happen no matter how many precautions you take. But employing these extra steps during construction ensures that Siren's SUPs perform better and last longer. And that keeps SUPs in the water, and out of the landfills.