Sure Are A Lot Of Janitors
Mar 21st, 2008 by billb
Diane and I went to Kihei this morning to paddle some. When we got to Kam 1 beach the horizon was lined with Paddlesurfers–janitors, in surfer parlance, because they all look like they’re sweeping up. And they are–when the surf is small like it was today it’s about the only game in town. The longboarders are starting to feel like they’re in the minority. One of them said to me this morning “EVERYONE is on standup boards these days–I feel like I’ve been left behind.”
My reply was that it’s more fun, why wouldn’t you do it?
The growth rate here in Maui is explosive. People used to stop me and ask what this strange thing I was doing is called. Now they’re stopping me to ask about technical details, or to get my opinion on where to place a mast track. I counted twenty three SUP boards visible from Kam 1 at eight o’clock, and more people came and went all morning.
I had my doubts that people would really gravitate to flatwater stand up paddling, but that’s exactly what most people are doing. Sure, they wander over to the cove to catch a few little waves, but by and large a SUP board is a much more practical and fun alternative to a kayak. I saw literally a dozen people putting their board in the water at Kam 1, where there is no immediate opportunity to surf. There’s really only one reason why you would do that–you have no intention of surfing, you just want to paddle.
Remarkable. If growth in Maui is any indication, this summer should be wacky on the mainland. I hope the board manufacturers are ready for it.
I’m an inland mainlander. I expect to get the same questions about SUP from people when they see me launch in the lakes around here. I wonder if the SUP price-point will dampen growth? Pretty easy to spend $2k for starters. Don’t know the effect of the general economy on Maui, things are a bit schetchy in these parts.