Back to the Beach!

Surf, sand, and stoke!

Let's go surfin' now. Everybody's learning how. Come on and safari with me. Early in the morning we'll be startin' out. Some honeys will be coming along.We're loading up our Woody.....

Naish Nalu 11'6"

Knee to waist high!

 
Well, my GMC truck isn't  exactly a  woodie,  I'm not sure driving to Assateague counts as a safari, and my honey couldn't take off work, but on Monday I loaded up the boards and headed to the beach.
 IT WAS GOOD!

 I parked at the North lot of the Assateague National Seashore.  Other than a single fisherman, there was no one else around.  I could see some school kids down at he south end, but I pretty much had the place to myself.  The waves were knee to waist high, with a very strong offshore wind.
 The water temp was around 51 and I opted for my Patagonia R3, 3mm booties, and a little Patagonia beanie. No gloves. 
I grabbed the 11'6" Naish Nalu, double and triple checked my leash and headed out.  I literally had to drag my paddle to slow down on  the way out in order to time my way through the waves because of the strong wind.  I got out past the break and checked my leash again.  There was no way I was going to be able to catch my board and keep it from blowing to England if we got separated. 
I'm not a very good surfer, but I got so many waves and rides I lost count.  Nothing  rad, no cut backs, but just a ton of long, down the line rides almost to the beach. So much fun.  So good to be in the ocean again. I was out for a little over 2 hours.  I was completely toasty in my suit, but the clouds rolled in an my hands got  cool, but not unbearable.  The wind changed direction a little bit, and it started getting choppy, so I paddled in a called it a day.  I climbed out of my wetsuit and climbed in to my beach chair.
 

Surfin' the beach chair

It won't be long before the beach is packed with sunburned tourist, and I will have to take turns and share the waves with other surfers.  I read somewhere, the best surfer is the one having the most fun. Well, I was the only one out there, I was definitely having the most fun, so maybe for just that one day................


 
Aloha-MB

Tuesday Night Stand Up!

 Tuesday Group Paddle

Join East of Maui every Tuesday night at 6pm (weather permitting)* for a summer of sunset paddling fun. We will meet at Horn Point Park at the end of Chesapeake Ave, in the Eastport section of  Annapolis.  The group paddle is suitable for recreational paddlers, but all participants should have some paddling experience, and should be able to paddle for an hour to an hour and a 1/2. The group paddle is free if you have your own board .   A limited number of boards may be chartered for $20 for the group paddle. The group paddle IS NOT A LESSON.

*Call East of Maui for more information and last minute weather updates.     

410-573-9463

Free Intro to Stand Up Paddling

East of Maui is partnering with Eastport Yacht Club to present sunset paddleboarding mini-lessons at the club on Tuesday evenings, May 14 and 28, June 11 and 25, July 9 and 23, August 6 and 20,  from 5 - 8 p.m. East of Maui will supply  the paddleboards and offer free mini-lessons and basic  instruction.  Lessons are on a first come first served basis. 
Lessons are free, and open to all ages 12 and up. Participants (including EYC members and non-members alike) are welcome to bring their own boards and take advantage of EYC's hospitality at the bar and for our popular Tuesday Burger Night. Bring a bathing suit, water shoes or sandals, and a change of clothes. You might get wet and you will definitely have fun.

Kumu'ohu

This Saturday is the 10th Annual Washington Canoe Club " Kumu'ohu"  Race!

I tried to find what he Hawaiian translation for Kumu'ohu is, but I didn't have any luck.

I'm pretty sure it must mean "What the heck are you thinking, signing up to do a  SUP race when you have barely been on a board since December!".  There is also a possibility that it translates to  "I'm going to die or at least throw up if I try to paddle 6 miles".  Whatever it translates to,  I have commited myself to being there pretty early in the morning.  Well, actually, it will be early, and it will be morning, but very doubtful that I will be pretty.  If anyone else wants to join me for a morning of "fun", check out the info below. See you on the Potomac!

New  Team East of Maui Uniforms. NOT! (photo from WCC web site)

 

10th Annual Kumu'ohu Challenge Saturday April 20, 2013

The members of the Washington Canoe Club are pleased to invite you to the 10th Annual Kumu'ohu Challenge on the Potomac River. This is the season opening race of the East Coast Outrigger Racing Association sanctioned OC1/OC2 Points Series. Additional classes will include Surfski, Sea Kayak, and SUP. Come celebrate the spring thaw with a great day of paddling and camaraderie in the Nation's Capital.
Venue
The race course is on the relatively protected water of the Potomac River, beginning and ending in front of the WCC. The WCC is located at 3700 K Street, NW, Washington, DC just upstream of Key Bridge on the beautiful Georgetown waterfront. The OC1/OC2, surfski and sea kayak course will be 13km, while the SUP course will be 8km.
Race day registration opens at 8:00 AM. The registration fee is $15 per person, which includes food and drink at the post race lunch. To help us plan this event, please let us know if you expect to attend by submitting an entry form in advance (no advance fee required), via our high-tech online system.

Lifejackets and whistles are required. You don't have to wear them, but they must accompany you throughout the race. Please plan accordingly

Start of the 2011 Kumu'ohu

2011

 Aloha, MB

East of Maui Annual Spring Swap Meet*

(this) SUNDAY, April 21^st

 8am ‘til Noon.

Buy* Sell* Trade*

Windsurfing*  Kiteboarding* Stand Up Paddle* Surfboards

 

  STOREWIDE SALE

10%-20%

OFF EVERYTHING IN THE SHOP

Sale ends @ Noon!

The SWAP is FREE to the public.

 No dealers, team riders, retailers, or their agents are permitted to attend.

410-573-9463

2303 Forest Drive, Suite-E

Festival@ Riva Shopping Center

Annapolis, Md. 21401

Like us on Facebook:  Facebook.com/eastofmaui

What'SUP with the weather?

I love Winter and I love snow, but what is SUP with all of the cold  weather this Spring?  Didn't Mother Nature get the message about global warming, or hear the Ground Hog's prediction?  Last year by April I already had more than a dozen days in. This year just a few  SUP sessions. It hasn't just been the cold.  I've got gear to stay warm in pretty chilly conditions, but it has been really windy too.  Wind and Stand Up isn't that much fun.  I proved that to myself back in January at the Orange Bowl Race.   Add wind, cold air and water to the mix, it just becomes downright dangerous. Now I will admit, I probably could have put the board on the car and driven to a more protected area, but I'm lazy and prefer to walk down the street and then paddle out from the public launch behind the Annapolis Maritime Museum.  That is one of the things I love  about Stand Up is the grab and go factor.  It has not been a grab and go Spring.     

Bottom Line, Can't change the weather. Have fun, stay safe, and see you on the water SOON!

Bundled up on Easter, Paddling out into a 12-15 headwind.  What' SUP with that?

RACING

Here is just a partial list of some of the local  upcoming races close to Annapolis

April 20: 10th Annual Kumu'ohu Challenge,Washington D.C

Jun 2: Surf Swap Challenge, Ocean City, MD
Jun 8: SUP Annapolis/Kent Island, Kent Island, MD

Jul 13: East of Maui, Eastport YC/Chesapeake Challenge, Annapolis, MD

Aug 11: Battle on the Bay, Ocean City, MD
Aug 31: Paddle for Humanity, Washington, DC.


East of Maui has a great selection of RACE Boards Available from all the top brands: BARK, Bic, Boga, Coreban, Fanatic, Jimmy Lewis, LPC, Naish, NSP, and Surftech.  In addition to top of the line paddles from Kialoa, Naish, and Quickblade, East of Maui is now an Authorized Hippo Stick dealer!    For the best service and selection stop by East of Maui for all of your Stand Up Paddle Board needs.

Just a few of the new 2013 boards in stock

Hippo's

Carolina Cup Bound (2014)

 

One of the great things about co-owning East of Maui is that I have a great business partner. It allows me to still do the things I like to do. The things that got me into the board business in the 1st place.  If I can't go boarding from time to time, what's the point of being in the board business?  Regardless of what you might believe, no one is getting rich owning a board shop.  Yes, some people  (and many unqualified people) are jumping on the SUP  bandwagon trying to make a quick buck, but I do this because it is truly what I love to do.  I love being on a board.  I love turning people on to the world of boardsports and putting them on the right equipment.

Another great thing about having a great business partner, is there is almost always an owner in the store.  We have excellent employees, but the fact there is always an owner present, sets us apart from the competition, and hopefully has contributed and will continue to contribute to our longevity.

Mark Saunders, East of Maui Co-owner, and my business partner getting in some board time.

 

One of the bad things about a great business partner is we share everything 50/50. We flip flop trade shows and events. Someone has to stay behind and run the shop.  He goes surfing, I can't.   I go snowboarding, he can't.  He does a Stand Up race, I can't.  I go to Surf Expo, he can't...................

One of  the biggest and baddest Stand Up events on the East Coast is the  CAROLINA CUP in   Wrightsville Beach, April 25-27th.  The 3 day events features clinics, demo, and races.   Many of the the top pro's will be in attendance.  It is a must do event and a blast;   AND I CAN'T GO. 

I got to go last year.   It is not my turn.  My business partner gets to go.  I'm jealous.  This year is going to be even bigger and badder than last year.  I want to go again.  Sharing sucks.  BOO HOO :( 

 

Candice Applebly 2012 Carolina Cup

Danny Ching 2012 Carolina Cup

 

 

 

 

 

YOU can go, and You should go! YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS EVENT!!

 Check out this link for more info:  http://distressedmullet.com/content/2013-carolina-cup

View from my room at the 2012 Carolina Cup

as for me........ Carolina Cup Bound 2014!!

 

 

Hello March!

March 1, 2013 Paddle Out

The SUP season is just around the corner.  East of Maui has tons of cool new Boards, Paddles and Accessories arriving later this month.  Stay tuned for a list of clinics, group paddles, SUP yoga, demos, and races coming soon.
East of Maui is open 7 days a week* for all of your SUP needs.  STOP BY OR GIVE US A CALL.
410-573-9463

Aloha, MB

* (We will be closed this coming Monday March 4th for employee training, and Easter Sunday March 31st) 

Almost surfing blowing downwind!