Surf Diva Partners with Focus SUP Hawaii in Producing SUP Boards for Divas Everywhere!

La Jolla, CA- October 15^th, 2012- Surf Diva is thrilled to introduce the new line of standup paddle (SUP) boards. Surf Diva will be teaming up withFocus SUP Hawaii to produce these SUP boards.

The Surf Divas are addicted to paddleboarding and therefore, want to fill a niche for women specific paddleboards. Since the first commercial SUP boards were released, Izzy and Coco, co-owners of Surf Diva have been teaching paddleboarding passionately. “I am completely and totally in love with paddleboarding and how it makes me feel during every session” said Izzy Tihanyi. “Whether I am touring or SUP surfing, I want to share that stoke by creating an amazing line of SUP boards as well as instructing and helping to grow the sport”. Surf Diva strives to empower women to build their confidence, strengths and fitness through paddleboarding.

Coco, known as the “Diva” in Surf Diva, is an avid paddleboarder who likes the fact that she can SUP without getting her hair wet. “As female entrepreneurs we decided to take the next step, and create a line of SUP boards for women, by women. Female paddleboarders are on their way to out-numbering men in the water. We'll just do it with Diva designs and vibrant colors!” said Coco Tihanyi. Surf Diva collaborated with one of the top international shapers/SUP surfers, Nitzan Benhaim and his business partner, Jacob Benzvi- co-Founders of Focus SUP Hawaii- to produce some of the best, and most beautiful SUP boards for women.

“We saw the need for a specialty designed SUP line for women, which is currently a much under-served market” says Jacob Benzvi, CEO and President of Focus SUP Hawaii. “Collaborating with Surf Diva Surf School to develop the Surf Diva SUP allowed Focus SUP Hawaii to make the best SUP boards that were designed by the only company who really knows what women want…”

The SUP boards will be available at all leading surf and SUP shops including Surf Diva Boutique in La Jolla, CA, Viking Surf Shop in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Sports LTD in Woodland Hills, CA and standup Paddlesports in Santa Barbara, CA.

About Surf Diva

Quoted "The Starbucks of surf schools" by Newsweek Magazine, Surf Diva Surf School was founded by Izzy & Coco Tihanyi in 1996. She and her twin sister, Coco, both awarded one of Inc. Magazines “Top 26 Entrepreneurs”, have built the world’s most successful surf school. Surf Diva is considered the reference of women’s surfing in the action sports industry and offers surfing and standup paddleboard (SUP) lessons year-round for women and men, girls and boys. Surf Diva has been featured in top media outlets including, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Today Show, The Los Angeles Times, O Magazine, Vogue, and MTV. The Surf Diva mission is to teach the sport and spirit of surfing in a fun and encouraging environment. The Surf Diva Boutique, based in La Jolla, has been award Best Beachwear shop in San Diego by NBC A-list for 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. The company's headquarters are in La Jolla, California with operations in San Diego, Costa Rica, and Tavarua, Fiji. For more information, Please visit www.surfdiva.com.

About Focus SUP

Surfing always played a pivotal role in all of their lives and pretty much dictated where they ended up. So, in late 2008, The three surfers made the decision to open Focus Surfboards and produce the boards that they believe in; only the best quality and value. With Nitzan Benhaim in Hawaii, Jacob Benzvi in California and Tal Meirovitch in Israel, they are well positioned to bring the Focus boards to very diverse markets. They started with just three shapes to work with and now the lineup has grown to 24 SUP boards and a full SUP dedicated lineup of accessories. Teaming up with Body Glove, Standup Paddlesports (Santa Barbara, CA) and Surf Diva, brought Focus SUP Hawaii to a worldwide distribution level as a top SUP builder.

Stand Up World Series Finals at Turtle Bay Resort, Hawaii

Team Rider Mo Freitas shows amazing effort at the Stand Up World Series Finals at Turtle Bay on the North Shore of Oahu this weekend. Paddle battling fellow Pro Stand Up Paddlers Kai Lenny and Connor Baxter in the Finals, he landed a teeth grinding close finish making the podium at 5th place in the event. We are proud of you Mo in your efforts, and you are continuing to make a good name for yourself in the SUP world. 

All of us on the mainland watched the event via live feed, 

screaming and cheering at our computer screens like never before.

All smiles as Eighteen year old Halie Harrison took 2nd overall in the women's, and well represented Focus SUP Hawaii in the Wahine portion of the event. Great job Halie, keep up the good work!

Mo Freitas Getting Some Air Time On Hawaii News Now

Check out Mo on Hawaii News Now!!

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/19806583/stand-up-world-series-world-championship-finals

Battle of the Paddle 2012

Battle of the Paddle 2012, proved to be the biggest paddle event of the year by far. Bigger and better than last year and even the year before, this years BOP exemplified just how quickly this sport is growing! With all walks of life, from Keiki to Veterans competing in the biggest SUP race there is out there. This years open class broke world record for the largest Stand Up Paddle race ever held. Elite racers came from all over the country to compete against each other and duke it out for the BOP Champion title.

Focus SUP went down to attend an inspirational night at the SUP AWARDS on Friday, and get amped up for the big BOP weekend. Team rider Mo Freitas, competed in the Elite, Long Distance, and Relay Races. Brand ambassador, Scott Vande Vusse also competed in the Open Class. We had our own Focus GM Doug Anderson, and Co-Founder Nitzan Benhaim competing with team member Mo Freitas and friend Halie Harrison in the relay race. The weekend was a huge success, and we are proud of the achievements and the noise that the Focus Team has made at the 2012 BOP.

Fifteen year old Mo Freitas Dominates at Battle of the Paddle:

Earning 1st Place in his age class in the Distance, 1st place in his age class in the Elite Race, 6th overall in the Elite Race, and 8th overall in the Long Distance Race. Mo Freitas has shown his efforts against the best of the best, and proved that age is just a number in SUP Racing.

Fifteen years old, young Mo is just getting started and says he is amped, FOCUSed, and ready for the year of competitions to come.

A Victorious Weekend for Team Rider Mo Freitas

Fifteen year old, Mo Freitas is on fire, winning 1st in Junior, 2nd in the 14′ Division, and 3rd overall at the 22 Mile O’Neill Tahoe Cup this weekend. Just one day after racing and making his way up to the podium  in 2 heat advances during Saturdays Surfrace to Victory at Huntington Beach. Focus Sup Team Rider Mo Freitas, father Tony Freitas, fellow racer and friend Halie Harrison, and Focus Sup’s co-founder/shaper/designer Nitzan Benhaim, ventured North after an eventful day in Huntington Beach, CA, only to do it all over again at one of California’s and Nevada’s most beautiful paddling locations, on the crystal clear blue water of Lake Tahoe.

Mo on the 14′ Cali Carbon Wash Race Board:

Focus Ambassador Scott Vanne Vusse takes 2nd in Open Class In Round the Rock Race

In his own words:

“Had a great race Sunday on the new Cali 14.  Nitzan was in town for Round the Rock last year, it’s 13 miles around Mercer Island on Lake Washington in Seattle.  Unlike last year, I arrived at 7:30 to 60 degrees and wind blowing 15-20 from the SE (last year was 85, sunny, and 5 mph winds).  Given the weather the number of paddlers was down a bit, 153 for the 13 miler and 85 for the 3.5 miler.  They flipped the course from last year, so the first and last 3 miles were headed south into the wind.  Had a good start and was feeling good, sitting in the top 20 or so not wanting to go out too hard.  The east side of the island had a decent push from the wind with some small waves.  Re-assessed my pace about half way and was feeling good so kicked it up after losing the waves due to turning a corner on the island.  Passed some people and put a gap on the group I was with.  We came around the north end of the island and it was right into the wind and waves for the final 3-4 miles.  It was a grinder going from 6+ mph to about 4 mph into the wind and waves.  Had a good final leg, caught a couple more people, and extended the gap.  Ended up finishing 9th overall, 7th overall in the 14s (2 unlimiteds ahead), and 2nd overal in the Open class.  Really happy with the finish, on target with what I was hoping for and continuing to get faster through the season.  Definitely re-energized to get some more training in for BOP.

The new boards are great.  Really like the new shape.  Everyone who has taken them for a spin has liked them.  The stability was great in the rough conditions, but still carried good speed.  Figured out the weight distribution (moved back and forth a lot) in the ever changing conditions during Round the Rock which made a big difference in overall speed.  Awesome boards and I really appreciate the support from Focus.”

Thanks for sharing your experience Scott, keep up the good work, we look forward to seeing you at the BOP next month!

Focus SUP Hawaii Welcomes the Young and Talented Mo Freitas to the Family!

Already ringing in the Gold, we are proud to welcome the young and talented Mo Feitas to the Focus SUP Family!

He has a very impressive track record, ranked 19th in the world and climbing with a bright future ahead of him. Only 15 years old, there is no limit to where he will go! We are happy to get him on board, and FOCUSed!

Follow Mo on Facebook and see more on his story:

http://www.facebook.com/mo.freitas.7

(Mo took 2nd behind Kai Sallas at the Dukes Ocean Fest 2012 SUP Surf Contest held at Kuhuio Beach, on his 7’4 Torpedo.)