Fast Forward About a Decade (from the last bikini post)...

...And you'll find that aquatic fashion has really made some strides.

Even the mood seems to have changed. Frolicking to celebrate advancements made in bikini technology, circa 1970.

Polka-Dot Bikini: Swimsuit Fashion 1961

Surf girl returns to the beach after Malibu session.

Slight look of haughty dis-satisfaction. No doubt a result of a crowded lineup, meager wave quality, and the sudden realization that that suit is going to create some crazy tan lines. But that's the price you paid for high fashion circa 1961....

Siren R&D: New Space-Age Coating Now Available

Chroma-Tech coatings create a super fast matte
finish that is unparalleled for beauty, as this perfect
Orange to Yellow fade illustrates.

Siren's SUP construction methods set the industry standard for durability, performance, and beauty. We achieve this through the use of super-fused EPS cores, super tough epoxy resin, double 6-oz fiberglass top and bottom and most importantly double over-laps for maximum strength and durability where the rail endures the brunt of all punishment from your paddle.
Now we have discovered something completely new, and we are very proud to be unveiling it just in time for summer (in the Southern Hemisphere, anyway).
The basic construction method remains the same. But rather than applying color to the board by airbrushing the foam core, we apply a new super-toughened, space-age coating to the finished fiberglassed board at the end of the construction process. This opens up a whole new world of vibrant, race-car quality color work. After the color goes on, we apply a clear matte overcoat to further protect the surface of the board. This matte clear-coat finish has the added benefit of moving very efficiently through the water--much in the same way that the America's Cup Yachts employ a fine-sanded matte finish to their hulls for maximum "slippage" through the water.

Called Chroma-Tech, we are very proud to be able to add this new option to our SUP line that not only makes the boards faster, but also more beautiful. Boards built with our new technology cost $50-$150 more (depending on the complexity of the color work), and because the color is on the surface of the board, one should use appropriate care not to drag the board through the sand or drop it on rocky surfaces. And you probably already know to NEVER clean ANY surfboard or SUP with Acetone--use gasoline or "green" citrus-based cleaners which are safer for you and your board.

Available by custom order only as of November 2009. Click here to send us an email to start one rolling.

First 10'0 Siren SUPs Launched!

As announced a few weeks ago, our new 10'0 version of the now iconic Siren SUP has hit the Siren Shop. Available in light blue with an ice yellow deck, and mint green with an ice yellow deck.

What makes our SUP so special? We've incorporated some tricks to make the board narrower, lighter and more maneuverable than any other, and at the same time much more stable. A step along the rail line creates a "pontoon" effect for stability. A rounded pintail allows for easy direction changes, whether in waves or flat water. Conservative rocker curve yields a forgiving feel in the water, creating a sure-footed feeling. Finally, the blunt nose shape allows us to keep the outline more parallel, which further enhances the board's stability and speed.

Ciao!

By Popular Demand: The Siren 10' SUP

We knew this would happen--as the SUP community evolves, and our skills grow, what once seemed unattainable now seems so easy that we wonder why we didn't see it from the get go. Remember a few years ago when all the SUPs out there were like 12'6" long by 34" wide? The Siren 11'0 seemed so tiny! It has been a trip seeing people who thought they could never manage anything smaller than the 11' effortlessly scoot around the lakes, rivers and waterways on our 9'0. So as more and more interest shifts to the 9'0, we've been getting a lot of requests for something that bridges the gap between the 11' and 9' Siren SUP--a balance between the manuverability of the 9'0 and the stability of the 11'0. And so with all of that in mind, and prompted by our loyal SUP devotees, we proudly introduce the 10'0 Siren SUP.
We should have a couple in stock by next week!

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.