New Year; New Boards; Same Energy
新年快乐. Chúc Mừng Năm Mới. 새해 복 많이 받으세요. 恭喜發財. Hau’oli makahiki hou. Happy lunar new year.
KAIROU Waterman begins the year of the Snake with renewed energy and creativity for the future, beginning with some exciting news from our friends at Blue Planet Surf.
One year after debuting an exclusive collaboration between Hawaii's premiere Stand-up Paddle and Hydrofoil leader, Blue Planet Surf, and KAIROU Waterman lead designer Mark Mauikanehoalani Lovell, Blue Planet head shaper Robert Stehlik expands his offering of performance surfing stand-up paddle boards with the “Fish Bone” Series.
Blue Planet Surf’s “Fish Bone” Series of surf SUPs features sizes ranging from 8’4”-10’6”
As a multi-disciplinary waterman - having mastered surfing, windsurfing, stand-up paddle, and hydrofoil among other aquatic pursuits - Robert appreciates variety; every moment on the water, whether riding a swell or coasting on a strong gust, is a unique opportunity to extract new sensations and experiences. This insatiable search for thrill and excitement is what surfers call "the stoke" - something Robert both chases and cherishes, and which has become a central reason for the success of his business Blue Planet.
At the beginning of 2024, employing cutting-edge computer design and the watersports industry's most advanced construction techniques, Blue Planet Surf introduced the EVOLUTION series of surfing stand-up paddleboards. An initial offering of four progressive surfboards and two fuller, user-friendly cruisers represented a turn of the page to a fresh chapter in Blue Planet's decades-long history. Gone were the conventional layers of laminated plastics and glues, replaced anew with finely tuned, reinforced heat-molded carbon and epoxy. To the surprise of Robert's team riders and customers alike, not only were the boards athletic, responsive, and nimble, they were comfortable to ride, easy to paddle, and ultimately more fun than anyone expected.
KAIROU Waterman lead designer and co-founder Mark Mauikanehoalani Lovell surfs Blue Planet Surf’s “Fish Bone” SUP at Pua’ena Pt., in Hale’iwa Town, on O’ahu’s North Shore.
To compliment the refreshed energy that Blue Planet's EVOLUTION series represented, KAIROU Waterman co-founder and lead designer Mark Mauikanehoalani Lovell refreshed the look and feel of the Blue Planet logo, adding traditional Hawaiian visual embellishments, as well as two major artistic compositions to the deck of each board. Upon the two cruiser SUPs, lovingly named the "Fish Bone" and "Big Fish Bone" respectively, a depiction of Maui island was chosen, surrounded by cultural symbols referring to her ancient Hawaiian past. Both the Fish Bone and Big Fish Bone, despite their generous size and stability, proved to be able performers in the waves.
For 2025, Robert Stehlik has expanded the Fish Bone SUP line by three new sizes: the "Little Fish Bone" at 9'1" x 32" x 4.3" (162L); the "Small Fish Bone" at 8'9" x 31" x 4" (142L); and the "Mini Fish Bone" at 8'4" x 30" x 3.7" (120L). Borrowing the fuller outlines and flatter profiles of their larger cousins, the three newest Fish Bone models favor both smaller and lighter riders, kids, young adults, as well as advanced riders looking for less length without sacrificing overall float and paddling efficiency.
New for 2025, Blue Planet Surf debuts three new sizes in its popular “Fish Bone” surf SUP line, in either carbon or epoxy construction, with a choice of either blue, teal and yellow finishes
Stability is maximized by flattening the deck, widening the nose, and dividing the board's trailing edges into a swallow-tail. A micro-texture traction deck and rear stomp pad uses recycled EVA foam to give the paddler reliable and stable footing, whether venturing out in choppy current or racing down the glassy face of a breaking wave. Subtle bottom concaves in combination with a 4+1 fin setup keeps each Fish Bone fast without sacrificing control, and predictable without sacrificing fun.
Blue Planet Surf's Fish Bone SUP line is available for purchase at their Honolulu location by Ala Moana Shopping Center, at 1221 Kona St. (www.blueplanetsurf.com; 808-596-7755), as well as their North Shore store in Hale'iwa town, at 62-620 Kamehameha Hwy (www.blueplanetadventure.com; 808-888-0786). All Blue Planet Surf Stand-Up Paddleboards are available for limited rental at the North Shore location, exclusively.
