Even the big gun Stand Up Paddlers get it wrong sometimes

What happens when you drive to the middle of nowhere on Maui, get someone rich to helicopter in your very own jet ski, and then proceed to paddle downwind into the unknown? 

Well if it was your average joe you'd expect something to go wrong, but not when it's Jamie Mitchell, Connor Baxter and Dave Kalama on the run. All the big guns of stand up paddling prepared for an epic downwinder, complete with helicopter support, jet ski rescue craft and a ton of photographers to shoot it all when their jet ski broke down in the middle of the open ocean. With no safe beaches to land on, there was no alternative but to lift it out of the water with the helicopter, a dangerous feat considering the strong winds and ocean swells. This was supposed to be a stand up paddling photoshoot! 

After the helicopter winched the jet ski out, and dumped it on the shore somewhere, the paddlers were faced with another problem... 6 people on 5 stand up paddle boards. The 6th passenger had to get to shore somewhere and stay with the jet ski. They made it happen though, and after the five paddlers had a board each to themselves, the photoshoot went on. 

Until Jamie fell off his board that is. Unfortunately during the fall he damaged his back and ribs, putting an end to the paddling session and leaving him struggling to make the finish. 

They did though, and here's part one and two of the video to prove it. 

 




Opening in August 2007, Kitepower Australia Queensland, or KPQ, is the newest addition to the Kitepower chain. In September 2011, KPQ moved a few blocks down the road to a newly refurbished shopfront. The move allowed the shop to expand into other watersports like stand-up paddling and wakeboarding, as well as beachwear and toys. Across the road from the store is Pelican park and Bells beach, which are the perfect locations for flying kites and practising all kinds of watersports...

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