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.)

Focus SUP in The Stand Up Journal!!!

Focus SUP X Body Glove Launch Board Line

See The article in Transwold Surf about this exciting business venture. Focus will now produce all Body Glove SUP's. 

Photos coming soon!

http://business.transworld.net/98609/news/focus-sup-x-body-glove-launch-board-line/

New Product Ambassador

Focus SUP is proud to present our newest rider and product ambassador Julie Klaz! Not only is she beautiful, but she is super talented. She became one of the few women in the world to get a NAUI Technical Scuba Instructor Certification. She is also a PADI IDCS staff instructor and has her USCG Captains Masters License.



When she is not busy working she enjoys spearfishing and even holds the record for Aku (Skipjack tuna- 14.5 pounds).


You can find her on the big island of Hawaii paddling with dolphins on her Focus 10'0 Classic SUP or her 9'6 quad SUP.

Focus Stand Up Paddleboards At Surf Expo

So excited that the first entry of 2012 is to announce the press release of our new campaign for 2012. The campaign “”Boards For All Reasons” will emphasize Focus' line's ability to provide boards for all disciplines: Paddle-Surf-Race including the popular “Smoothie Wide” design and the ability to “Do It All On Focus”. We have an exciting line-up and everyone can come check it out in Orlando at the Surf Expo January 12-14. You can find us at booth 1694 right in front of the SUP Pool. Feel free to have us show you a demo and let us get out feet wet so you can see out amazing new line-up!

Click below to read our press release!

http://www.surfexpo.com/IndustryNews/FeaturesPressReleases/tabid/106/CBModuleId/667/ArticleID/2546/Focus-Stand-Up-Paddleboards-At-Surf-Expo.aspx

Proud Moment for FOCUS SUP - Sponsors of New Aquatic Center in Kiryat Yam, Israel!

A very thrilling moment in our surfing life happened for Focus SUP founders last month, October 2011.

enjoy!

We all grew up in a small town near Haifa, Israel called Kiryat Yam. The population was 30,000 back in 1986.


FOCUS demo for all

We grew up surfing the Mediterranean Sea, mostly sub-par waves from wind swells but sometimes we did get some nicely shaped waves with more punch to them. Nevertheless, for us it was heaven and we always surfed the most of every wave.

Fast forward to 2011 and now we have Focus Surfboards that we built from the ground up to become an international surfboard and SUP company, we are very proud of it.

Last October we became even prouder when a key event happened in our old childhood town.

With the vision of world-renowned Kite Boarder Gil Hurvitz, and the city of Kiryat Yam, a new aquatic center was opened at our old beach break. This center houses all of the aquatic sports that people can ask for, ranging from kite boarding, surfing, kayaks and SUP.


inside the aquatic center...

The opening of this center marks a great achievement to the local community and also to us personally as this is a dream that we all had when we were kids, to bring our city to the surfing map and really give back to the community by introducing new comers to the great activities we have in water.

Focus Surfboards is one of the sponsors of the center with equipment and accessories to cover all of its needs.

happy faces

The grand opening was an event that is still being talked about as one of the events of the year.
The mayor came to give his blessing, the city Rabbi came to bless and install the Jewish Mezuzah that blessed each house and other top business figures came to show their appreciation.


Gil and the mayor


a blessing for the new center

Local residents came in the hundreds and they got to demo the boards, kayaks and boogie boards.

the girls' SUP race!

We even held a short SUP race to get people on boards and show them the absolute fun they can have on an SUP. Everyone was stoked and this event was truly one of the top events of the year.


kayaks

Local papers came to cover the event and took pictures and wrote an entire page cover story about the new center. Absolutely insane!


FOCUS Israel: Tal and team riders Gogo and Gali


full page news coverage!

We want to thank Gil for his vision, the city of Kiryat yam for their support and trust and to the great local community that really showed up to see and experience our dream.


the future!


the moment we waited for...

Here is a link to see the video of the new center - http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/photo.php?v=10150440511764715


the team!

Focus and Hoggz Surf Shop Demo Day gets residents head over heels for SUP!

(source)

Bakersfield residents got the opportunity to try out stand up paddleboarding at the Focus and Hoggz Surf Shop demo day the weekend before last.

Reporter Jill Cowan came out to give the sport a shot and chat with Focus SUP co-founder Jacob Benzvi.

To read more and check out Jill's thoughts on SUP and her interview with Jacob, click here!

Maui Resident Completes 300 Mile/ 5 Day Trip on Paddleboard

(source)

41 year old Bart de Zwart completed the 300 mile trip from the big island to Kauai last week on his 14'0 paddleboard. De Zwart spent five days at sea alone with his thoughts. By night, he would sleep on inflatable water mattresses that would often flip over with the wind, startling him awake in the water. He strapped enough freeze-dried food and water to his board for one week in watertight containers.

Aside from some blisters on his feet and having shed six pounds, de Zwart survived this incredible feat unscathed. He credits ancient Hawaiians who traveled in simple canoes for inspiring him.

In the above picture, de Zwart is greeted by his wife and daughter as he paddles his last few strokes to dry land.

You can read the whole story of Bart de Zwart and his incredible voyage here.

Focus SUP Kicks off Summer Season with West Coast Demo Day Schedule

Focus SUP has big plans for the summer, kicking it off with a strong demo season!

Summer is the perfect time of the year for SUP and sun, so we here at Focus SUP are starting it off right with a series of demo days on the West Coast! All of our demo days are free to the public and are a great way for beginners to try SUP for the first time and for seasoned surfers and riders to try out what’s new in the Focus SUP lineup.

We are featuring the new 14’Cali Full-Carbon board for the first time!

Each demo will feature the full lineup of the Focus SUP boards and accessories as well as trained instructors who will be on hand to direct and advise in the techniques and equipment that is right for each and every rider.
There will be food, drinks and free gifts for all people who participate. And lots of fun!

The following dates are now confirmed and more details can be found on our website and Facebook.


May 28th, 2011
Blue Rush Boardsports
Location - 400 Harbor Drive Ste A
Clipper Yacht Harbor, Sausalito, Ca 94965
Time - 9am-3pm

May 29th, 2011:
Park Presidio
Location: Dolphin Club at San Francisco’s Aquatic Park
1801 Wedemeyer, San Francisco, CA
Time: 9:30am – 2:30pm

June 4th, 2011:
Pacific Outfitters – Ukiah
Location: Lake Mendocino, South Dock
1160 Lake Mendocino Drive, Ukiah CA
Time: 10am – 2pm

June 5th, 2011
Pacific Outfitters – Eureka and Arcata
Location: 1011 Waterfront Drive
Eureka, CA 95501
Time: 10am – 2pm

June 11-12th, 2011:
Aquan Sports
Location: Parkside Aquatics Park
San Mateo, ca 94404
Time: 10am – 4pm

June 18th, 2011:
Dive N Surf
Location: Veteran’s Park
309 Esplanade
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Time: 8am – 1pm

June 25th, 2011:
Hoggz Surf Shop
Location: 11200 Stockdale Hwy
Bakersfield, CA 93311
Time: 9am – 3pm

The Focus SUP demo season will be going strong this summer. We look forward to seeing you at any or all of our demo days!
Focus Surfboards, 12114 Sherman Way, North Hollywood, CA 91605 Contact: Daniella Alberni,
818.765.4511, daniella@focus-surfboards.com

Kelly Slater Wins in Australia

{all pictures and text taken from SurfLine}

After a ridiculously exciting day of surfing yesterday, the final day of the waiting period kicked off with a sparkle. The winds were light offshore, there was a healthy morning crowd and three-to-four foot dream runners, grinding down the bank. Everything seemed rosy. Everything seemed like we were in for an epic final showdown. That was until the, "reverse-rip," the commentators have been talking about plagued the lineup. It was a game changer. Things became tricky.

More on that in a bit.

Right now, Matt Wilkinson holds the title as the best (competition) backhand surfer on the planet. He's certainly the most unorthodox, rollerblading to the contest scene on a pair of recently purchased
blades from a thrift store. It just makes us love him even more.

Unfortunately Wilko pushed his backhand too hard, going down to Tiago Pires in the quarters. "I was wiggin' out, trying to do little, weird turns... I was surfing like an idiot," Wilko said. "I fell over for no reason on, like, ten waves. Dumb! I've been talking about surfing smart heats all week -- I just put my foot in my mouth."

In Jordy Smith's quarterfinal heat, he'd caught 13 waves and only posted two low scores, which left him trailing. In ASP World Tour competition, you're only allowed 15 waves per heat, so he had two waves left to get "the" score. He absolutely polished his 14th wave all the way down the line. He needed a mid-seven and got a high seven. This
was in the dying minutes. "It took me 14 waves to get it, but I finally got one," Smith said. "I kept taking off on waves to get an opportunity. If you give yourself enough opportunities it's eventually going to turn around. I got lucky in the end."

So back to the reverse rip. There's a lot of factors which contribute to this phenomenon. You'd need all sorts of PhD's in nearshore wave movement to have the street cred to accurately explain it. In a nutshell -- the swell clocked around more to the east changing the currents in the bay, the tide was very low leaving the sand along the point high and dry so there was no place for water to move up the point other than through the wave zone. Kelly even opted to paddle back out to the takeoff zone rather than request ski-assist. Whatever the phenom, it proved a headache for them in the final.

"Taj and I both made a couple of errors in the final. He fell on one I fell on two," said Kelly. "I think we both had higher expectations in our minds of what the waves were going to be like... that probably messed with us.

"In situations like that, you get down to the final and you want to be able to have a battle going back and fourth, not worrying about priority and things like that," said Kelly. "You want to both be getting
waves in every set and just lighting it up for the crowd... and may the best man win."

Taj did everything he could in the situation, but after a standout run through the event, there was no back-to-back Quip Pro win. "Bummer the waves didn't hang in there," said Burrow. "It was really sloppy in the end -- I was blown away I couldn't even better a three."

It came down to two average waves Kelly rode, which weren't special. Taj had been posting nines all the way through the event, but lost to Kelly who won with two fives. Both men struggled in the tricky conditions. Regardless of wave quality for the final, as Kelly put it, "everybody loves this event and all the surfers really love this event because the waves are so fun."

Hawaiian Watersports - Featured Dealer

The name Hawaiian Watersports has become renown with water sport enthusiasts in the Hawaiian Islands over the years. Founded by husband and wife team Josh and Arlene Seymour, Hawaiian Watersports opened their first location in 1998 in Kailua.

This original location remains open today and they proudly expanded their business two years ago, opening a new location in Honolulu.

Josh and Arlene have been selling surfboards, stand up paddleboards, kayaks, windsurf boards and kite boards since their inception in addition to providing lessons and rentals.

Hawaiian Watersports carries the full line of Focus SUP including our new Bamboo Veneer boards along with a full line of Focus accessories. They have demo days and Focus boards available for rent.

If you're ever in the area, be sure to pop into this one-of-a-kind shop and try one of our Focus SUP boards or the other great surf items they carry.

Don't forget to say Aloha to Josh and Arlene for us!



Hawaiian Watersports’ Locations and Hours are:


Kailua Location
Everday 9:00am - 5:00pm
Address: 354 Hahani Street (Kailua)
808.262.KITE (5483)

Diamond Head Location
Everday 9:00am - 5:00pm
Address: 415 Kapahulu Ave. (Honolulu)
808.739.5483

A Sad Day in Surfing - World Champ Andy Irons Passes Away

source

Yesterday was a sad, sad day for the surfing world; a true champion and a great man has been taken away from us.

The untimely death of Andy Irons at 32 is both shocking and chilling. A lifelong surfer who warmed our hearts with his smile and world class wave-riding, Andy will never be forgotten.

The full impact of what has transpired has not completely hit me as I write these difficult words.

The surfing world looked up to Andy ever since he was on the world stage and especially during the battles with Kelli; it was a period of time when he was unstoppable, a master of his domain. This is how we should remember Andy, a force to be reckoned with, a powerful personality who was both admirable and intimidating at the same time. No one ever wanted to have their heat with Andy. That’s a fact.

I, personally, had the luxury of surfing with him in 2008 during off-day at pipe. We surfed Ehukai Beach Park with Kelli and other pros. This session was the best I ever had, and not because of my surfing but because it was a dream come true to be in the water with Andy and the guys and to just free surf for the purest reasons we all do it.

Our hearts go out to his family and young wife; as they mourn and remember Andy.

R.I.P Andy Irons.

To read more about Andy Irons and see pictures and video click here.

We Did It!

We are so happy to announce that the Paddle for Water event was successful and that a new water well will be built providing over 250 Bayakan people in the Central African Republic with access to clean drinking water for 20 years!

Thanks again to our friends at Pirate Coast Paddle for helping us get involved in such a great cause. We were more than happy to provide a carbon paddle for auction to raise money!

Paddle for Water

Focus Surfboards is proud to be sponsors of the Paddle for Water event on October 23rd, 2010. By donating (here) you will be entered to win a Focus carbon fiber paddle worth over $200!



Donations will go to Charity Water with the goal of building a clean water well in Africa. Please support our friends at Pirate Coast Paddle and their effort to provide clean drinking water to Africa.

Full event details can be found here on the Pirate Coast blog.