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By Oxbow:

Kai Lenny Becomes a Legend - Wins Stand Up Paddle Title

Friday, 17 December 2010

Kai Lenny just won the final event of the Stand Up World Tour at Honoli'i Beach Park on the island of Hawaii. Kai's dream became a reality with this contest; winning each heat from beginning to end. Heat after heat, Kai's strength and confidence grew, showing the crowd his potential. By winning the first SUP World Wave title ever, Kai Lenny joins the legends of water sports. "I'm really stoked," said Kai. "It feels great because I worked my whole life to achieve this goal; but I still have so much to learn. It's only the beginning and I want to be ready for next year." At the beginning of the year, Kai was not selected to compete in the first event at Sunset Beach. He was given a last minute wildcard and as one of the youngest contestants he wanted to prove that he belonged amongst his watermen peers. Kai ended up winning that first event and followed the circuit to France, Tahiti, Brazil and eventually back to Hawaii, where he was crowned the World Champion of SUP. Kai also loves to give back to the community. Today he offered his prize money to 'Na Kama Kai', the non-profit organization founded by his Oxbow team mate and ASP 2010 World Champion, Duane DeSoto. Na Kama Kai's mission is to empower youth by creating, conducting and supporting ocean-based programs, specifically targeting ocean awareness & safety in order to increase the capacity of youth in the community through cultural & environmental education. This organization represents Kai's values as a waterman. In the Hawaiian language "Kai" means "Ocean". This name seems to have shaped the destiny of our young waterman. Kai's enthusiasm and passion for the ocean is without limits. Born on the island of Maui, Kai is naturally gifted in all kinds of board sports; excelling in Windsurfing, SUP, Kitesurfing, Surfing, Longboarding and Tow-in. Only 18 years-old, Kai has already earned the respect of Laird Hamilton. Kai is an outstanding waterman who lives according to the rhythm of the ocean, using different boards each day. He simply cannot resist spending time in the ocean, playing with the waves, constantly adapting his equipment to suit each days' particular conditions. Kai explains, "I wake up at 5:15 in the morning to go surfing until 7:30, I study from 8 to 12:30, then I go windsurfing or kiting, whichever is better. Then I go surfing or stand up in the late afternoon.  I have a great life.  I love to go to bed early."