Hawaiian Zane Schweitzer has just won the inaugural SUP Foil category race in the 26 mile (42 km) Pailolo Channel crossing from Maui to Moloka’i as part of the 2018 M2M Crossing, in doing so he set a new channel crossing record time, and won the overall classification, beating all other crafts including traditional outriggers, surf skis and unlimited SUPs!
The Maui based waterman raced with the Starboard 6’9″ x 23″ Hyper Nut Carbon with a GoFoil Iwa just beneath the surface. Zane wasn’t alone in completing giving credit to his family and friends for their support in helping him realize this dream. He was also pushed hard all the way to the finish line by mentor and friend Dave Kalama.
The wind started to die and the swell dropped too as we neared our finish at Kaunakakai Harbor on Molokai, and I knew this was a good time for me to take advantage of the hard sprint, interval and pump training Larry Cain (Paddle Monster) has had me on for the past 3 months. Shortly after the wind and swell died off, we then felt the wind in our face – with almost 4 miles still to go!”
“I kept sprinting and pumping and flying for short burst as much as I could, through my cramps and exhaustion until finally, my board touched down for the last time and I was unable to get airborne again, to paddle home the last 2 miles or so on my 6’9” Hyper Nut and Iwa GoFoil both fully submerged. Dave was on an even shorter board than mine so I just had to keep going, padding and grinding, knowing that uncle Dave was also pushing water and pulling a foil.”
“It was a tough paddle when landing in those last roughly 2 miles of flats, leaving me to drag the foil on only a 6’9” SUP after pumping for hard for 23 miles, but man, was it a fun session and run filled with countless epic full-speed drops and rides I couldn’t even time they were so long!!”He concluded by adding “A big mahalo to my team for the support firstly to my Dad and his crew on the escort boat, Uncle Joe and uncle Scott Shoemaker, my coaches Larry Cain (Paddle Monster), Uncle Braddah Kamansi (Native Action) and my brother Matty Schweitzer! Also mahalo to my supporters and sponsors for the best equipment, Starboard with the 6’9” HyperNut, GoFoil Iwa, 5’ Revolwe BioLeash, VestPak Hydration, and as well Kim Yap and Donica Shouse for the meal prep and race fuel!”
3 Jul 2025
Proudly representing the Argentinian Club Náutico Mar del Plata and flying the Starboard flag, Fabrizio Rondinara , 19, delivered a standout performance at this year’s O2Y – Okinawa to Yoron Race, brought by Kanaka Okinawa, one of the most iconic endurance events on the SUP calendar. The 2025 edition once again revived the ancient spirit […]
3 Jul 2025
On July 5 & 6, the Han River in the heart of Seoul transforms into a global SUP arena as the APP World Tour lands in Korea’s capital for the first-ever Seoul SUP Open! Among the standout athletes racing on home waters is Sujeong Lim (Lim Sujeong in Korean, where the family name comes first), […]
16 Jun 2025
With the international paddle season in full swing, Starboard has launched a global challenge designed to get paddlers of all levels on the water. In collaboration with Waterspeed, a popular app for tracking watersports sessions, the company is offering stand-up paddlers a unique opportunity: complete a 5-kilometer paddle, log it in the app, and enter […]
28 May 2025
From June 6-8, 2025, the beautiful southwest coast of Gran Canaria will come alive as top stand-up paddle athletes gather for the Gran Canaria PRO. Among them is Alba Frey, ISA 2024 Sprint World Champion and Starboard Dream Team rider. As a rising star from the Canary Islands, Alba has already left her mark in […]
16 May 2025
The new Starboard Gen R just entered the chat (and the podium)! Starboard’s latest announcement—and newest addition to the quiver – the Gen R – is the result of a comprehensive redesign process aimed at dialling in speed, stability, control and versatility. By incorporating rider feedback, refining the shape through multiple prototypes, and testing the […]
23 Apr 2025
We’ve heard it time and again – if you’re going to invest in any piece of SUP gear, make it your paddle. While it continues to spark debate, many athletes agree that it’s the combination of paddle choice and technique that wins world titles. Often underrated in recreational paddling, the paddle has proven to be […]
11 Apr 2025
When the SUP and all-waterman legend Zane Kekoa Schweitzer says, “It made me excited to SUP surf again… Yeah, I kinda don’t want to ride any other board,” the SUP world is listening and it’s about to be hit with a seismic delivery from Starboard. We’ve all seen the slick teaser drops building the hype […]
25 Mar 2025
When you grow up in Gran Canaria with a father who’s a local SUP & surf legend, Coach and the Founder of one of the hottest SUP events in Canary Islands, Gran Canaria PRO – you’re practically wired for the sport, and your blood runs salty. We’ve been following young SUP athlete and Starboard Rider […]
18 Feb 2025
Dedicated to driving environmental change and building on a shared commitment to sustainability, Starboard and Phonecases3D teamed up to launch a special line of biodegradable phone cases featuring exclusive Starboard branding. The design of eco-conscious cases will provide fans and customers with a stylish and responsible way to represent the brand with purpose. t Starboard […]
