Dave Chun didn't have to look further than a recent order to validate the growing interest in stand-up paddle surfboards. The request for one of his $300-plus paddles came from Arizona.

"I don't know where there's waves in Arizona," quipped Chun, a former Kailua resident who makes paddles for the sport as well as outrigger canoe paddlers in Bend, Ore.

"We have people in Montauk, N.Y., even calling us about paddles."

Chun's Kialoa Paddles is one of a number of companies tapping into the growing market for stand-up paddle surfboards, which, like surfing itself, has its birthplace in Hawai'i. Wet Feet, which claims to be the world's first stand-up paddle surf shop, sprung up recently in the Aina Haina Shopping Center, while C4 Waterman, a Honolulu-based company, is aiming to become a leading company in the sport. Others in the state are starting to focus on shaping the boards or selling the goods in a small but growing market.

"It's probably the fastest-growing water sport in a long time," said Doug Lock, a co-owner of Wet Feet. "Everybody wants a board yesterday."

Stand-up paddle surfing has been around for decades and traces its provenance back to Waikiki beachboys. It has enjoyed a surge in popularity of late after tow-in surfers on O'ahu and Maui latched onto it as a way to train during the off-season, said Todd Bradley, co-founder of C4 Waterman.

The boards are typically longer, wider and thicker than traditional surfboards, giving them more buoyancy. And the paddles have shafts longer than standard outrigger canoe paddles for the extra reach needed.

After starting with that small band of surfers, stand-up paddle (SUP) boards have been catching on in Hawai'i, California, the East Coast and in Australia and Europe.

The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association recently surveyed retailers and found that a smattering of shops are beginning to carry the goods.

"If we had done this a year and a half ago, SUPs wouldn't have been there," said Travis Wilkerson, association membership director.

A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

There are now SUP surfing competitions as well as those featuring open-ocean paddling. It's becoming more commonplace to see SUP surfers, long paddle in hand, stroking on a downwind run between Hawai'i Kai and Waikiki.

That goes for the Mainland, too. Chun said it's not unusual to see people paddling SUPs around a river in Bend, while in California, Scott Bass, said he is seeing more and more people out on San Diego's Mission Bay or at surf breaks.

"There's a bunch of these things," said Bass, online editorial director for Surfer Magazine. "There's subcultures of guys that are doing it and it's rapidly growing and gaining strength."

The growing interest in stand-up paddle surfing represents a golden business opportunity for makers of watersports equipment. Sales growth in the up-and-coming sport is outpacing growth in the more mature markets for traditional surfboards and outrigger canoes and paddles.

Bradley formed his company with Brian Keaulana, a Makaha surfer known throughout the wave-riding world, and fellow Honolulu businessman and surfer Mike Fox. While starting out on tandem surfboards or large longboards, the partners realized there was a need for specifically designed boards and paddles.

Together they approached Dave Parmenter, a well-respected Hawai'i shaper, to design boards and are getting the boards produced in Asia. Similarly, they came up with a set of paddles that incorporate wood and carbon materials. In January they debuted their wares at the giant ASR Trade Show in San Diego, a thrice-yearly show that showcases the biggest names in action sports.

"Their booth, without a doubt, was the buzz focal point of the show," Bass said, adding that he believes SUP boards could extend far beyond surfers and even enjoy popularity among people looking for a way to get on a surfboard on lakes and rivers in the Midwest.

"I'd be surprised if the market even understands what it's got here," said Bass. "It's about to experience growth that's probably been unrivaled in hard goods in the surf market in a long time."

"For the first time ever you don't need a wave to sell a surfboard."

NO-WAVE WORKOUT

Besides allowing land-locked people to get a sense of surfing on lakes, a market exists for those who want a different workout regime. Paddling a SUP is said to require a range of muscles and balancing skills that provides a good workout — what Bradley and others turned to originally when they sought the activity during the off-season for big waves.

"It's just an enjoyable workout," Bradley said. He said besides getting out on the ocean, paddling one of the boards around strengthens the inner core of the body. "It gives you good exercise and it's a lot of fun."

At Wet Feet, people coming in for the boards include non-surfers who've heard it's a good way to get exercise.

"People are reporting losing weight and toning up," said shop manager Clark Kormier.

Chun said he projects making at least 500 of the paddles this year, or more than his surfboard paddle production in 2006, as the paddles are sold in surf shops stretching from Maine to Florida as well as in Texas and Portland, Oregon and South Lake Tahoe, California. While the production is much less than the 4,000 outrigger canoe paddles he makes in a year, Chun said the growth rate in surfboard paddle sales is explosive.

But beyond this year Chun is unsure if the SUP market will continue to grow or if it will suffer the same fate as windsurfing, which has faded of late. Some surfers say they don't like seeing SUPs show up at their local breaks because riders can easily catch more waves than anyone else because of the bigger boards and paddles.

Besides the potential clash with traditional surfers, there's also the issue of cost. A good SUP board can cost $1,200 or more, while paddles can cost up to $350. Bass acknowledged it will mainly appeal to people who are 30 and above and have lots of disposable income. But there are many surfers who fit that demographic and others who just enjoy being out on the ocean.

"The same guy who windsurfs and kite surfs is going to do this," Bass said. "It's just an extension of the waterman lifestyle."

Bradley said he doesn't know how big the industry can become. But he said paddling around on a SUP board can be addicting.

John Zapotocky, a Diamond Head resident who's been riding SUP boards since seeing Duke Kahanamoku on one at Canoes in 1945, said he's noticed the rise in interest in the boards and is excited by the new equipment.

"It's absolutely the way to go," said Zapotocky, who claims to be the world's oldest SUP surfer at 88. "I think there's a great future in it not only for surfing."

Reach Greg Wiles at gwiles@honoluluadvertiser.com.