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JODY TIONGCO
A STROKE OF GENIUS
Quickblade Paddles owner Jim Terrell equips stand-up
paddleboarders with the basics to navigate the serene
waters of Newport Beach. SECTION BY JOE CARBERRY
QUICKBLADE V DRIVE
PADDLE, $499, at Paddle
Surf Warehouse, Costa
Mesa (949-574-5897;
paddlesurfwarehouse.com)
J
im Terrell, the owner of Costa Mesa-based Quickblade Paddles,
is an institution in the stand-up paddleboarding culture that
dominates Newport’s waters. By the time he was in his mid30s, Jim was already a four-time Olympian in flatwater canoe racing (similar to SUP). With firsthand experience of what it takes to
excel on the water, Jim waded into the paddle-making business and,
in 2003, he customized a shaft “as tall as a man” for Malibu waterman
Drew Aiello. News of Jim’s inventive blades spread to other notable
names in the industry, and business exploded. Today, his paddles help
pave the way for the overflowing success of SUP in our community.
What has your experience been with
Newport as a paddling town?
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I love it here. … There are so many places to
paddle, like the beach and the harbor, and you
can paddle year-round.
SUP isn’t as easy as just jumping on a
board and paddling. What are some of the
best ways people can train for the sport?
I fabricated a flume so people can practice
their stroke [at our headquarters]. I also use it for
private instructional lessons. It’s paid for itself in
marketing exposure because every time someone comes in for a lesson or workout, they take
a picture and share it on social media. … There
are also free weights and pull-up bars here, and
we’ll set up workouts with our team paddlers.
STAND-UP
PERFORMANCE
Learning to paddleboard is easy with the
right equipment at your disposal.
At first glance it might appear as if stand-up paddleboarding
requires no equipment besides a paddle and a board, but you
can enhance the experience with products that increase both
comfort and stability. Whether you’re a beach beginner or an
aquatics aficionado, with the right gear you’ll be set to enjoy a
day venturing out into the open ocean. NBM
Jim Terrell, owner of Quickblade Paddles
Newport Beach Magazine: So you’re
originally from Ohio but didn’t move to
the area until 1988. How did you first get
into SUP and developing paddles?
Jim Terrell: It’s funny—my parents had a
canoe rental business in Ohio, and on tours
we’d always stand in the canoes to see how
to get through the shallow areas and sandbars.
Building outrigger, canoe and kayak paddles
was sort of a hobby out of my garage. But
stand-up came along, and I decided to really
go for it with the Quickblade brand.
GET THE GEAR
Do you need to be in shape for SUP?
The beauty of stand-up is that it’s fun to do
at any intensity. Walking down a sidewalk isn’t
hard, but if you run fast for five minutes, then
it’s hard. You can make SUP as challenging as
you want. You can get out and chitchat with your
friends or … take turns drafting and barely say
20 words.
What’s the SUP workout actually like,
beyond working arm and back muscles?
It’s an all-body workout; all the little muscles
are firing. In six months of paddling, I’ve seen
people improve their fitness and look fit and
strong. It can really change your life.
ROXY UP WIND NEOPRENE
CAPRI PANTS, $78, at
Paddle Surf Warehouse,
Costa Mesa (949-574-5897;
paddlesurfwarehouse.com)
QUIKSILVER SWIG HYDRATION
PACK, $65, at Jack’s Surfboards,
Newport Beach (949-673-2300;
jackssurfboards.com)
ROXY OUTDOOR
OPEN WATER JACKET,
$88, at Paddle Surf
Warehouse, Costa
Mesa (949-574-5897;
paddlesurfwarehouse.com)
RIVIERA PADDLESURF
VOYAGER BOARD, $1,100,
at Pirate Coast Paddle,
Newport Beach (949-2780011; piratecoastpaddle.com)
NEWPORT BEACH MAGAZINE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014
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