I had made a number of paddles since I got into stand up paddling, they were all 100% carbon fiber. Very light and strong. I started making paddles just for my self and some friends because I found that the paddles that were available production wise were braking to easily. I was doing some research and it was on a trip to Hawaii that I saw a lot of very beautifully wooden made paddles that the locals were using for canoeing. I then remembered I would watch them as they would go out of the Ali Wai every afternoon ever since my time in school in Hawaii . Over the years the canoes have developed but the wooden paddles still remain. It is kind of a tradition to have a wooden paddle. Hand made with uniqueness that only fine hand picked wood can offer. That got me thinking of making a paddle for SUPing that will have the strength and light weight of carbon fiber but the beauty of wood. A sort of a high tech meets traditional approach. So I surfed ebay for some weeks and I found some Sheets of Hawaiian Koa wood to use for the paddle blade and a 6"X 4" X8" solid block of Koa to sculptor the handle. All from a seller on the Big Island of Hawaii. Perfect and fitting source for my project.

The first and most difficult task was setting up the mold to use for the paddle blade. One half of the paddle blade would be 100% carbon, and the other half, the front side would be the beautiful sheeted Koa. The blade was made in two separate halves, then a foam core was formed and then the whole lot, both sides of the paddle, the foam core and the 100% carbon fiber pole, were mated in the mold with reinforcements all at the same time. The result is that the blade and pole has no joints, it is all one solid structure, better for strength.

Next it was time to carve the handle out of a block of Koa. This was more difficult than I thought, but it was very enjoyable. There were no short cuts, it would just take time and care to get the shape right. I wanted a handle that was ergonomically friendly. It is slightly tilted forwarded and has indents to conform to your fingers for a great fit. Once the handle was glued into place, then it was off to be used and abused.. I will try and post some pictures of the Koa/carbon paddle in use soon.......