The other day I was skating back from the bay when I was struck by a Nature Euphoria -- something that happens more often on Hawaii than perhaps any other place.  A Nature Euphoria is when you experience something in nature that is so fascinating you must immediately stop what you are doing and just soak in the moment.  

A full, double rainbow lit up an otherwise grey sky from one end of the bay, across the river mouth, to the other end of the boat harbor, brightening up the boats and greenery below.  Just beautiful. Jodi was out stand up paddling with a group and (lucky ducks) said they got to paddle right into the rainbow.

Living in the Rainbow State, we see rainbows all the time.  There's something about stand up paddling on the water with a rainbow up above that seems to put life's troubles at bay.

We LOVE the holidays -- especially being able to celebrate it in beautiful Haleiwa where the air and water are warm and everyone seems even more cheery.

Last Friday Rainbow's team joined the town's Christmas Parade which is quite arguably the best Christmas parade this side of the pacific.   We cruised down the street spreading Christmas cheer on our lit- up skupboards -- ( AWESOME skateboards that are like land SUP boards -- the closest thing to paddling on land).  We beefed up our already bright and cheery Rainbow Van with lights and a boombox blaring "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree".  I'd say we put on a good show -- especially Jodi who learned the hard way how to slow down a skateboard on a hill!

Thank you to all of our holiday paddlers who have donated gifts for our annual toy drive!  They will make the needy kids on the North Shore smile ;)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE!!!  May you find a stand up paddle board in your stocking this year ;)

Kalani Soul joined our ohana earlier this month!

Soul is ready to "get his feet wet" as the newest member of the Rainbow Watersports team!  Soul comes to us with an already impressive resume -- even though he is less than a month old!

His accomplishments include placing in the top four in several stand up paddle races, charging waves SUP style, and serving as a good luck Buddha belly for well-wishing fellow paddlers -- all en utero.

Pretty soon he'll be out in the water on his own -- watch out stand up paddle world!

The whole North Shore is brimming with excitement over the swells that have been coming in these last few days (Big Wave season is coming!!!)

 Haleiwa is called, "The Surfing Capital of the World", and with good reason.  Seven miles of coastline offer awesome surf -- and in the winter those waves can reach to 30 foot faces!  Last year alone the waves averaged 10ft.  It's no wonder that many tourists are intimidated to come up to the North Shore to stand up paddle during big wave season!!

So here's a post to calm your fears:  Rainbow Watersports enjoys calm waters YEAR ROUND!!  We are so fortunate to be in one of the few locations on the North Shore that does not get waves.  Occasionally the water may get a bit choppy, and if that's the case, we know how to avoid rough water and remain safe.  

So come on out and enjoy stand up paddling on CALM WATERS during BIG WAVE season!!

This post is dedicated to The Rainbow Watersports' Van -- the center hub for stand up paddling fun.  Why a post on The Rainbow Watersports' Van?  Because it has quickly become a beloved structure of the North Shore.  Paddlers and non-paddlers alike love to pose near "the rainbow van".   It brings a smile to everyone's face.  (Sure, some may be laughing at the cancerous rust that is quickly eating away at it, but the smiles are still there!)  We like to think it brings an element of North Shore beachy fun to the community.

Let me tell you a bit about The Rainbow Van:

Our faithful 1979 Dodge has been with us since the beginning of the school.  It began its motor-life more than 30 years ago as a service vehicle for Hawaiian Electric Company, then transitioned to a transporter of clay.  It has now settled into a semi-retirement as The Rainbow Van, and is finally living the life!  Every day it relaxes at the beach, taking in the rays (and salt air) and enjoying the views.  Sure, that salt air is quickly corroding its body, but somehow or other, THE VAN still chugs its way to and from the beach each day.  

SUPSURF is proudly displayed on its license plate, and a playful stand up paddle scene enwraps the van, echoing Rainbow Watersports' emphasis on FUN.  Because really, stand up paddling is all about having a fun time, right?  Local artist Jaime Swim painted the van, and since then she has been becoming well known in the North Shore community.  You'll find her artwork at the Waialua Bakery as well as local art galleries.  Just like any big fan, the van would like to take credit for her growing fame. 

Here's Jamie back in the day, covering up THE VAN's monster-green outside with a splash of color:

There have been many, many days when we thought that surely The Rainbow Van won't last another week, but it continues to chug away.  There have been even more days when we thought for sure the walls, which somehow remain though unattached to the top of the van, or, in some spots, the bottom, would burst outward, like a cartoon car!  But somehow the doors continue to open and close, and the holes in the floor and roof continue to "self-clean" The Rainbow Van during a rainstorm.   It must love its life!

 And others love it too.  When I have mentioned to paddlers that we will soon be retiring The Rainbow Van for good, their reaction is, "No!  Keep it!  It is so fun!"  And so we're keeping it...for now.  Truth is, there is a replacement van for it that's being doctored to hold the same character and display for Rainbow Watersports' love for stand up paddling, but don't tell The Rainbow Van that -- it might fall apart before we're ready!!

The Rainbow Van's popularity amongst paddlers and non-paddlers alike have caused it to have its own Facebook page -- (don't worry I won't let it get to its head.)  Check it out and become a fan!!

"I am pregnant.  Can I stand up paddle?"

We get this question quite a bit from large bellied stand up paddle hopefuls, and the answer is YES!  

In fact, stand up paddling is an excellent choice of fitness for women who are expecting.  If you are just looking at coming out for a one-time experience, rest assured that stand up paddling is a low-impact sport, eliiminating the bumps and jostles that could be bothersome to that growing body.  If you do fall (as a low percentage of our paddlers sometimes do) you splash into water, so risk of injury is very slim.

If you are pregnant and thinking of stand up paddling as your long-term sport,  it is an excellent choice.  There are so few choices for tightening those core muscles when you are pregnant (so few, that I can't even think of any other!), and stand up paddling does the trick -- and does it well.  Stand up paddling also strengthens virtually every other muscle in your body, from your feet to your hands, with legs, butt, abs and arms in between! 

(photo: Rainbow Watersports owner Heidi finishing 7 mile race at 5 months pregnant 7-4-11)

Exercising your body - and especially your core - not only helps you now, but improves your labor, delivery and recovery (I can tell you that's true because I've experienced the difference myself). So, unless you have a reason from your doctor, get out there and paddle!  It  is one of the best things you can do when you are expecting, and is oh so fun!

June 4^th 2011 – a race in our backyard! We were excited to be in water we were all familiar with, and race on the same course we trained on.  Again, it was a 4-mile race, this time out to the open ocean and back.

This time, head instructors Heidi, Nate, Jodi, and Wendy all competed, as well as a first-time racing debut by Jodi’s husband Ricky.  Team Rainbow was ALL IN!

With some mishaps at first (oops!  Locked a paddle in the car!) we were in too much of a rush to all don on our Rainbow jerseys, but we wish we had, since Jodi ended up snagging the 1^st place position, Wendy came in 3^rd, and Heidi came in 4^th.  On the men’s side, Nate came in the top 10 for men, and got to compete in the coveted money race, with a potential $1000 prize, and Ricky had the most impressive finish—racing neck to neck with another competitor up the finish line.

Even our kiddos got to join in on the fun during the kid relays, and were super-stoked on the gold medallions and goodie bags (what kid wouldn’t be?)

The stoke is ON!  Team Rainbow rocks again!

Nate Burgoyne and Jodi Kealoha, two of our instructors, were interviewed for an article for Lance Armstrong's LIVESTRONG.COM, a leader in health and fitness websites.  We are honored to be recognized by LIVESTRONG, (even though it says we're in Maui -- Oahu's close enough, I guess!) 

Much of the article discusses our SUP FIT classes -- stand up paddle fitness.  If you haven't checked it out yet, you're in for a great workout on the water!  Go to www.SUP-FIT.com for more information.

Here's the LIVESTRONG article:  Give It a Try: Stand Up Paddling  Check it out!