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!”
22 May 2026
Starboard has officially announced the latest addition to its elite Dream Team – one of the most highly anticipated pieces of news in the SUP racing world each season – and this year the spotlight falls on Brazil’s Guilherme Dos Reis. Fresh off claiming the Pan American SUP Championship title, Guilherme joins the Starboard Dream […]
19 May 2026
Fresh off his appearance on LENNY BROS – the podcast hosted by Kai and Ridge Lenny – Connor Baxter opened up about the mindset behind dominating a sport for over a decade, while reflecting on the many transitions shaping this next chapter of his life: from a global SUP-erstar to fatherhood and becoming a Maui […]
27 Apr 2026
If there’s one SUP athlete to ask whether our sport has truly carved out its identity among other water and board sports, it’s Michael Booth – a name that carries both weight and integrity. A multiple World SUP Champion, elite waterman, Starboard Dream Team rider, coach, entrepreneur, and member of the ICF SUP Advisory Committee […]
19 Apr 2026
The Starboard rider from Port Adriano, Mallorca, has been moving steadily up the international ranks since his 2021 junior world title, and broke through at the highest senior level in 2025, winning the Open Men’s technical world title at the ICF Worlds in Abu Dhabi and taking silver in long distance. In a Spanish team that […]
12 Apr 2026
The inaugural Koh Chang International Ocean Race: The Emerald Challenge – held on 23-24 May in Thailand – brings together the ultimate ocean paddling experience across two days of world-class competition and breathtaking natural scenery. Featuring Surfski (25km), OC1 (25km), Kayak (15km), and SUP disciplines including Long Distance (15km), Technical (1km), and Sprints (200m), the […]
1 Dec 2025
Starboard has shown us over the years that new launches usually come with a clear shift in direction. This time, the hints were subtle but noticeable – a hybrid dugout outline appearing in early previews, a few prototype shots circulating, and one question quietly surfacing among paddlers: are we done with blue? The sneak peeks […]
7 Nov 2025
Following the early September launch of the new Airline range, Starboard has now released its latest SUP lineup. This new collection features refined shapes, upgraded constructions, and fresh designs across both hardboards and inflatables. From high-performance surf shapes like the all-new TwinFin with Acute Custom Carbon construction, to improved inflatable racing boards featuring the Quick […]
31 Aug 2025
We just caught up with Linus Karlsson at Planet Baltic SUP Race in Poland (7-9 August), 11-time Swedish National SUP Champion and Starboard Team Rider, who recently returned to the race circuit while balancing a busy professional life. That meant less racing this season, and Linus was refreshingly open about the challenges of limited training […]
20 Aug 2025
One of the events that have been sparking some serious FOMO* for a while now, both for elite athletes and SUP enthusiasts is Planet Baltic SUP Race. I may be biased – it’s in my homeland, Poland – but with rave reviews and striking photography, Planet Baltic stands out as an experience any SUP fan […]
