(2016 ☆ ARCHIVED) Kiaola - USA

KIAOLA (USA) - Nominee for the 2016 'Industry Professional' Award.
 

• Website: www.kialoa.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/KIALOAPaddles

Kialoa was born from a passion for the water and a love for outrigger canoe racing. Regarded as one of the best outrigger paddle brands in the world, Kialoa are primarily interested in designing products for paddlers to increase both performance and enjoyment on the water.

Dave Chun, the founder, is always looking to push the limits and explore the boundaries of what’s possible in innovative paddle design and technology. Dave has designed every paddle Kialoa has ever made and is still just as excited about paddle crafting, as he was when he was shaping blades on his parent’s lanai 25 years ago.

KIALOA Paddles are state of the art. Their innovative techniques and technologies have seen them expand into developing various paddles and crafts for paddlesports disciplines including dragon boating, standup paddleboarding, canoeing and white water paddling.

Recycled material

Kialoa strives for excellence in their product and service through the pursuit of innovation and commitment to quality. They are also dedicated to honoring the traditions of the past and dreams of the future by caring for people and the environment. In fact, Dave has introduced paddle blades made from post manufacturing diaper scraps.  These blades are the first high performance composites containing recycled material.  This Fibrlite™ Technology repurposes this excess material and keeps it out of landfill ensuring Kialoa are doing their part to change the world, one blade at a time.

The Big Eddy

On top of this groundbreaking innovation they also have a specific paddle designed and shaped for whitewater paddling, named ‘The Big Eddy,’ due to be launched in 2017. Dave worked with several whitewater athletes to come up with an innovative and bombproof whitewater SUP paddle that could maneuver the paddler through varying conditions and be durable enough to last in the swift movement of whitewater. The Hi-Vis™ (bright green) shaft used is also a Kialoa innovation to help athletes locate their paddles if dropped in whitewater or ocean environments.

Kialoa is now one of the most recognizable brands in paddlesports worldwide. With 72 elite athlete ambassadors and a following growing daily, their longevity is almost guaranteed.

This is a 2016 archived nominee. Voting has closed.