If there was an award for a pro paddleboarder with the most energy, explosive surf style and general stoke for SUP, then in many peoples eyes Zane Schweitzer would be a top contender.  This Sunday is the Zaniac’s 20th birthday, and to celebrate SUPboarder has been speaking to the Maui born energizer bunny who currently sits 4th in the world standings.  Find out about a day in the life of Zane, his gear, his training routine and where this true innovator in surf SUP sees the sport going..

SB/ Describe Zane to the SUPboarder Mag readers in one sentence.
ZS/ I love to live life to the fullest and share inspiration and Aloha everywhere I go!!

SB/ Tell us about a typical day for the Zaniac.
ZS/ Well, lately I have been living on the road about 8 months out of the year, but when I’m home I like to take it easy and enjoy every moment… wake up, breakfast and health juice with the family, go surf, emails and work around the house, windsurf or SUPsurf, work out or a training run on 12’6, Vemma protein shake and GenR8 recovery shake, relax with family, friends and puppies around the house, BBQ for sunset or hide out in the AC for a movie!

SB/ Any interesting developments coming out from Starboard that you can tell us about?
ZS/ Every year Starboard goes above and beyond with innovation quality and great developments. For 2014 it’s looking very exciting. Some amazingly fast and great shaped race boards with awesome new graphics, Pro SUP surf boards looking much more surf style and really dialing in a surf shape and design, awesome Astro inflatable boards that will change the future of SUP surfing and racing, and my new favourite to the Starboard lineup, the New Starboard Surf boards which are insane!! Now I can say I ride 100% Starboard with these amazing new short boards!

SB/ Any pre comp rituals?
ZS/ Well, I guess I always like to drink a protein shake in the morning, stretch and get amped up to music before getting out into a heat! I always have a Fein energy with me if I start to get groggy and a bag of almonds or nuts if I get munchies!

SB/ What Surf SUP moves are you working on?
ZS/ Everything and anything that you see as good surf maneuvers are epic SUPsurf maneuvers. I have been working on dialing down my rotation airs and keeping power and speed through everything.

SB/ Why did it all come together for you at the Wadi Adventure Wave Pool comp?
ZS/ The conditions were consistent, no better or worse waves, Everyone rode the same thing… so I guess I was more confident during this competition because it was a fair playground and a great overall opportunity for SUP surfing maneuvers.

SB/ What’s it like to surf a wave pool?
ZS/ This wave pool in Abu Dhabi was radical! It was so much fun, I could compare it to a short perfect beach break, in the middle of the dessert. On the wave everything feels pretty normal, but when you start looking around and when you’re waiting in between waves, its a trip!!

SB/ What boards are in your quiver?
ZS/ My stand up paddle quiver consists of: 10’6″ Peahi board, 9’3″ Waimea and 10+ messy water board, 8’6″ Step up Sunset board, 7’4″ Zane Schweitzer Pro Model for mushy to smaller waves, and 7’1″ ProKids/ZaneSchweitzer Pro model for the most of conditions!!

SB/ What’s the next thing big thing you’re looking forward to this year?
ZS/ I am looking forward to trying my best to come out top three in the Stand Up World Series overall race events, and of course I am looking forward to every wave SUP surfing event that comes my way in 2013!!

SB/ Quad or Thruster? And size?
ZS/ FCS Thruster most of the time! Unless I’m just trimming in the bowl in a hollow wave to set a line and go straight in the barrel, then I would like quad.. I mostly use the UL3 sides with a JW1 middle!

SB/ Where do you see the level of SUP surfing in 5 years?
ZS/ In 5 years I see all the next generation surfers (young kids) already throthing and ripping on SUP boards because it is now the cool thing to do. I see the level of SUP surfing being scarily close to surfing and for the racing side of it I see huge windows of opportunity to create a career out of this sport that could support the riders and their families.

SB/ What’s the smallest board you’ve SUPed?

ZS/ I paddled Daniel Adisaka’s board in Brazil. It was something like a 6’0 by 24″. I had to run off the sand, throw it under my feet, and paddle the fastest I could to keep it almost totally above the water. But something way too small for comfort!!!

SB/ So… does size really matter?!
ZS/ Yes.

SB/ Boxers or budgy smugglers?
ZS/ Boxers.

SB/ Blondes or Brunettes?
ZS/ Blondes.

SB/ Marmite – love it or hate it?
ZS/ What is Marmite?!

Aloha and Mahalos,
Zane Kekoa Schweitzer

To find out more about Zane Schweitzer check out; his Facebook page, and Website.