The Stand Up Project – The Video Journal of Stand Up Paddle :: HD Stand Up Paddle Videos

We have to be one of the first to consider using an outrigger as a shooting platform. And I have to admit to being a bit pensive about the idea. It was going to be a really long paddle and I have never been in an outrigger canoe in my life. But, when you have someone as awesome as Ekolu Kalama as the captain, well, it was a great experience. Truly one of the funnest times I have had shooting. Ekolu was piloting us into bumps along side Jack to get these amazing gliding shots of Jack. But twice, we met with some complications and the canoe tipped. I had the camera rolling the whole time, so for your pleasure, two clips of what it is like to topple over a two man outrigger with Ekolu Kalama.

Stand Up Project: Canoe Wipeout! from Chris Aguilar on Vimeo.

Leaving from Dana Point to Catalina with Morgan and her Dad was a ton of fun. Morgan and her Dad are probably among two of my favorite people to spend time with. They are a hoot together. Morgan and I went to the pre-race meeting and there I set up to shoot the pre-race instructions. George gave us the run down and I noticed I was the only one with a video camera on hand. With Stand up getting so popular it is rare to be the odd man out. We met up with Austin and Tyler of Bark’s team and had just a rousing time hanging out and spending time with them.

The Rock to Rock is traditionally a paddle race, but they have been letting in stand ups slowly. This year a number of women were going relay, but Morgan was the only one doing it solo.

We got a couple of hours of sleep on the boat (not an easy feat I found) and at 5am were up in the dark getting Morgan ready. it was cold in the morning but the weather had been pretty warm.

The race start was a zoo. They had to navigate all of the boats moored at the Isthmus and then the insane amount of wake from all of the escorts boats. I was watching in terror thinking that there is no way anyone is going to stay on their board through the start. It was madness.

As the race progressed, the conditions got worse. Four foot wind swell at their side, direct head wind. Just no fun. Then the tanker came up on the horizon. The tanker was the kicker to me. Race officials and boats were all over the radio trying to avoid that obstacle and the Tanker captain was an idiot trying to thread a small needle between racers.

We came in able to witness Joe Bark crossing with his family, so awesome. Morgan held tough through some terrible conditions. I got my first real taste of a distance race and what happens. From tossing PBJ into the water, to watching the sheer determination of someone just wanting to finish. Pretty amazing. I want to try and do it next year- let the training begin.

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It is all Jack’s fault. He called Ekolu on Maui who said it was firing. So we called up Morgan and she was able to make it. Thus, I found myself with Jack at the Maui Airport meeting Ekolu and his wife and grabbing lunch. Then it was hop on a plane to Molokai and wait for Morgan to get in.

We were picked up by Jermoe and taken to Ekolu’s home on the island. We dropped off our stuff and headed out for pizza and sandwiches for dinner. I marveled at what we had here. Literally three generations of paddling with the purpose of this trip being that Morgan get to learn from two of the greats how to ride bumps. And then it happened back at the house. The three started to tell stories. I started rolling. I was enthralled by all of their tales and laughed with them recounting some of their funnier moments in the water. It was awesome.

The not so awesome part were the mosquitoes all over the place. I got bit so much that both my ankles and feet swelled to the point I was in pain walking. But this shoot was too important to me. We loaded up the boat and jumped into the pick up and made the 20 minute drive to the launch spot. There Jerome and Choppy met us in the whaler. I had this vision of sticking the tripod on the bow and putting our super expensive camera on top and just being able to shoot. WRONG. The first trip out convinced me that the “good” camera ought to be stowed. A big wave came up on us and it soaked my tripod and camera. The camera lived, but it did get a $500 cleaning when I got home.

The day was really magical. I shot on the SR11 in the cheapie Sony Housing and it worked out. The fog eventually settled in and towards the middle of the run, but the swell chilled out enough for me to use the big camera. It was awesome watching Ekolu and his family take turns paddling and enjoying one another. You can see how this family makes the water a part of the glue that binds them. They kept trying to convince me to jump in, but I have to admit to being intimidated. But the next day, I did try and for 15-20 minutes I was paddling like mad off Molokai, scared to death. But loving it.

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I had been off the plane from Hawaii for about 72 hours in that space purchased a brand new Ford Escape. (no, not a hybrid- why does everyone keeping asking that!). I drove through the day to get to Tahoe by nightfall and found myself in a place over come with a blizzard the week before. Snow everywhere. How is it that I was in tropical weather only a couple days ago, and now I was in the freaking snow. And for a stand up paddle event? Who’s crazy idea was this anyways?

Well, It was Ernie from Ta-hoe-Nalu’s crazy idea. And I am here to tell you that everyone in that town has paddle fever and they are all nuts. I definitely can see how in the middle of spring and summer, Tahoe is the best paddling in the state. But Winter? Really, with snow on the ground ?

The fun part and hard part about being a one man production team is that you are the only one you can rely on. I had a terrible dinner the night before and had a case of uh, well – we can just call it an upset stomach. And it was gnarly. Plus, I was shivering all of the time. I found the Blue Onion and immediately was greeted by – NOBODY. I was early. This is where I think I have lost my surfer gene- I am early everywhere I go. I found someone to help me and turns out Ernie was in the water giving a SUP lesson to a new friend.

He arrived and I can see why everyone in Tahoe knows him. Ernie is one word- energy. The man has unending supplies of energy. I think he is the most stoked person I have ever met. He and Doug Erwin (Tahoe SUP) were amazing hosts and made my visit that much better.

Once everyone checked in, the crazy crew headed for the water. The “beach” was really just a pack of foot deep snow which then led to a thicket of ice that took you to the water’s edge. Everyone had on booties to make it through the ice. Crazy.

The morning was crisp and clear, really a beautiful day. 39 degrees and just perfect for a paddle. Just don’t fall in.

The Tahoe people know how to party- they had a great blues band foot, mai tais and leis for everyone. It looked like it would go all night. I had to leave and get back to LA – So I took off and made the long, 8 hour drive home. Slapping myself the whole time to stay awake.

One thing I learned, snow paddles look freaking cool and I want to come back and do this event next year. Secondly, there are no healthy food options from here to Tahoe. I have had about every variety of burger and chicken nugget to attest to that. Was it all worth it? Hell Ya! I mean the whole experience was just epic. I love that Tahoe crew, the most stoked group of people I have ever met.  I hope to get there at time when it is not near freezing next time.

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