Kaenon

20/20 Magazine pulls back the curtain on our long-time, Kaenon frame designer, Harald Belker. Known throughout Hollywood for his work designing for Batman, Iron Man, Minority Report, The Cat in the Hat, and upcoming movies Battleship and Total Recall, Harald spends his time off the silver screen creating our original sunglass designs. Check out the full scoop on Harald and his inspiring work HERE, and then watch our latest video as a visual counterpart to the story.

Members of the Kaenon team hit up the opening party for the Quiksilver paddle event on Oahu, HI, held at the brand new Quiksilver store. Sparing no expense, Quik provided amazing food everywhere, an open bar and a band. A big thanks to everyone involved. Here’s to many more nights like this!

Quiksilver took over the old Battle of the Paddle on Oahu this year and Jamie Mitchell set out a plan for a new style of paddling competition: a short course of racing that proved to be hell if you were anything short of spectacular shape. There were a total of seven heats around the course with each heat’s competitors eliminated if they finished in the final eight. With only 5 minutes between each heat, competition was intense, like doing wind sprints for a half mile with other competitors beating you up around the marks.

Jamie, as usual, did a great job, leading many of the heats and in the final heat, an all out sprint between three competitors to the finish. Jamie finished 3rd on Saturday, an incredible feat due to his lack of training, putting on the event and having two premieres all in the past week. Sunday he won the 14’ division in the long distance. During the event Jamie wore Hard Kore Matte Red G12.

Our very own Wyms was on hand snapping photos of all the action and the participating Kaenon team, including Vanina Walsh, the youngest participant in the event, who wears Eden.

Come join Kaenon and the Men’s US Water Polo Team as they play a few pre-Olympic matches here in Southern California!

See the flyer below for all details:

We’re holding our 4th Annual Kaenon SUP For A Pup on Saturday, May 19 from 10am-5pm here at Kaenon headquarters (864 W. 16th St., Newport Beach, CA 92663).

Come out and help save Orange County’s dogs, as we’ll have dogs on site, ready for adoption. All the details on the flyer below. Spread the word and come enjoy good food from Wahoo’s Fish Taco, sample sales from brands like OluKai, Hinano Tahiti, Riviera Paddlesurf, QuickBlade, VMG Sails and Clean Bottle.

Can’t make it to the event but still want to donate to A Wish For Animals? Please send donations to:

Attn: SUP FOR A PUP
Kaenon
864 W. 16th Street
Newport Beach, CA 92663

***Through May 31st, we’re offering 25% off regularly priced sunglasses on Kaenon.com via promo code sup4apup25. We’ll match the discount as a donation to A Wish For Animals! Not only will you get a great pair of shades, but you’ll help save dogs in need of a home!***

It’s going to be a great event! See you on May 19!

Kiana Fores has been unstoppable lately, winning the HAS State Championships, on Oahu, HI, for the second time in a row in the girls 16-17 division. Next on Fores’ agenda is the Volcom VQS Championships in California.

Kiana Fores wears Zaza.

The Whiskey Off Road, in Prescott, AZ, has quickly become one of the largest mountain bike events in the country. More than 1750 amateur racers flood the town to race their own chosen distance and cheer on the pros. Alex Grant was on hand to take on an international field of over 100 pros competing for $30,000 in prize money, split equally between men and women.

In the main event Alex Grant used his climbing strength to make an elite group of five riders who broke away with 15 miles to go in the race. Grant was very pleased with his ride coming in 4th overall.

“It was a blistering pace out there all day,” said Grant. “I was happy to ride in the lead group for almost the entire race and make the podium!”

Alex Grant raced in Kore and chose the C28 lens for its performance in varying light conditions.

Chase Kosterlitz placed 2nd in the 13.5 mile ‘graveyard’ race at Wrightsville Beach, NC. Conditions were challenging with wind, waves and current, but Chase fought through them for a strong finish.

Chase Kosterlitz competed in the race with his Hard Kore Matte Red G12.

This week in Kaenon baseball brings us Jamey Carroll of Minnesota in a pair of Hard Kore, Cody Ross, in Jetty, whose bat has ratcheted five homers so far this season in Boston, and Don Mattingly who was recently featured in the New York Times wearing a pair of prescription Beacon (read the full article here).

Jesse Guglielmana took down some of the top aerialist surfers in the world at the Newport Beach Volcom Ghetto Juice Airshow contest. Gugliemana was definitely the underdog in the event going up against guys like Chris Ward and Matt Meola. The east coast surfer came to California and showed off his talent, winning the Airshow and taking home $1200.

Jesse Guglielmana wears Burnet.

Last weekend Jamie Mitchell, the ten-time world champion paddle boarder, debuted his documentary “Decade of Dominance,” as part of the Newport Beach Film Festival. Held at the Lido Theater in Newport, a massive crowd turned out to support Jamie and the film’s director, Brent Deal.

Members of the internal Kaenon team turned out in good numbers to lend their support and enjoy the documentary which chronicled Jamie’s attempt, and ultimate success, to win his tenth consecutive Molokai 2 Oahu championship. The film took viewers inside the race and into the minds of the competitors, including long-time friend of Jamie, Dave Kalama.

“Decade of Dominance” was a moving film that received a roaring applause, so be sure to get to a screening of the film, or grab a copy when it is released to the general public. It’s definitely one film you won’t want to miss!

Our Jetty sunglass was recently featured in Golf Tips Magazine. Read what they had to say about our sunglasses below:

“The slick, light and unisex Jetty shades from Kaenon feature tall temples and a rectangular shape. When we slipped these frames on, they blocked out mucho light and were easy on our eyes in the SoCal sun. We’ll chalk that up to the SR-91 polarized lenses, which have the optical clarity of glass, but the light weight and durability of a polycarbonate. As seen on Pat Perez and Sophie Gustafson. Told you they were unisexy. Kaenon.com”

Lauren Bartlett wore Trade Brown Olive G12 on her way to victory at the 2012 OC1 World Championships. Lauren paddles in the one-man outrigger, women’s division.

As one of of the world’s leading women’s paddlers, she took the women’s division in record setting fashion, with a final time of 4:01:31. Congratulations Lauren!

From Boston’s Kevin Youkilis, to Tampa Bay’s Joe Maddon, and beyond, Kaenon has been in the spotlight lately, with more and more players choosing sunglass styles like the ever-popular Hard Kore as an essential piece of on-field equipment.

Check out some imagery and stories below:

Josh Hamilton was recently asked about his vision while playing during day games in an article on ESPN. His response?

“…I’ve got some shades I like for the field,” Hamilton said. “I got it figured out toward the end of last year.”

Get the inside scoop on Joe Maddon from the perspective of his wife (this should be good!) in a recently interview from Tampa Bay Online. What does she think of her husband’s sometimes “less-than-conservative” style?

“[It look's] like he was channeling a ’50s biker dude, especially when he slipped on his Kaenon sunglasses.”

Not necessarily a bad thing, right?

Kaenon is sponsoring the 3rd Annual Surf n Sea Haleiwa SUP Race Presented by O’Neill in Haleiwa, HI on June 2nd. The event is open to many different divisions and is offering $2,600 in cash prizes.
Find full details on the flyer below, or on the official event website.

Courtney Conlogue is on top of the world right now with her win at the Beachley Classic in Dee Why, Australia! The nineteen year old has moved up to 4th place in the ASP Women’s World Ranking after taking first in the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic.

“I’m speechless right now!” Conlogue said. “It’s been two years on the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour where I kept losing in the Quarterfinals. Then today after winning my Quarterfinal I just tried to go and win the thing.”

Courtney was rushed to the podium from the water in her Eden Tortoise C12.

The Kaenon team, consisting of Marshall Eames, Alex Grant, Mark Weir, Yuri Hauswald and Jeff Kendall all competed in various event at this years Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, CA. The event had a huge turn out and great weather. Below is a shot of Marshall throwing out some style during the Downhill.

Marshall wears Hard Kore White C28.

Sean Herman competed for the UNC Wilmington Surf Team in the NSSA Eastern Championships held in New Smyrna, FL, finishing second overall in the men’s college division. Sean’s surfing was on fire the entire event, putting him on the podium with his Burnet sunglasses. Not only has Sean succeeded with his 2nd place finish, but he also scored a full page ad in the North Carolina Azalea Festival Magazine. Keep ripping Sean!

Sean wears Burnet Black Clear G12.

Some people would say you can’t golf in polarized prescription sunglasses. However, wearing Jetty Black G28 with SR-91 prescription polarized lenses, Carl Pettersson dominated this weekend’s RBC Heritage Open, in Hilton Head, SC, winning by 5 shots. Carl began wearing Kaenon Polarized Rx in February, at the Northern Trust LA Open. This is Pettersson’s fifth PGA Tour win, and with it, he now sits fourth in the Fedex Cup points standings.

Carl Pettersson wears Kaenon Jetty Black Prescription sunglasses.

Our friends over at FishStrong recently featured our polarized sunglasses, specifically the copper lens, in an in-depth review, offering their third-party validation of our most popular lens for fishing.

Head on over to their website and read their glowing, third-party review, showing how well our lenses perform while out on the hunt for your next big catch!

Full review here:
http://fishstrong.com/kaenon-polarized-sunglasses-review/

Shea Lopez, along with some of his family and friends, took to the surf over Easter and put this little video together. Forget eggs, the Easter Bunny brought theses guys a killer right:

Shea Lopez wears Burnet and Jetty.

The Kaenon Sup team made their way to Cocoa Beach, Florida to compete in the Florida State Championships. The 11-mile course saw almost 100 competitors battling cross-winds, gusting at over 20 mph.

Chase Kosterlitz placed 1st overall on a 14’ for the second year in a row in his Matte Red Hard Kore sunglasses. In the 12’6 division, Packet Casey came in 1st and Michael Westenberger came in 3rd, also wearing Hard Kore. In the women’s 12’6 division, Helga Goebel came out on top in Soft Kore.

The Kaenon team had more than an outstanding finish in Cocoa Beach Florida, and we congratulate all of them!

Steven Newton, of Newport Beach, CA came in second at the 48th Annual Ron Jon Pro in Cocoa Beach, FL over Easter weekend. A low-pressure system in the NE produced 4-5 foot waves and good conditions for the final day of competition. And, in true Kaenon style, Steve could be seen cruising the beach in Burnet when not in the water.

Steven Newton wears Burnet Black G12.

Last year Jamie Mitchell made history as he won his tenth consecutive Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard World Championship. This summer, at the Newport Film Festival in Newport Beach, CA, a documentary about this incredible feat will debut, chronicling Jamie’s unprecedented accomplishment. Check out the trailer below and grab your tickets before it sells out!

When – 6:15pm, Saturday April 28
Where – Lido Theatre 3459 Via Lido, Newport Beach
Tickets available at Newport Beach Film Festival web site:
www.newportbeachfilmfest.com

Check out Andre “Dre” Phillip and Susie Mai kiting through the beautiful waters or Antigua:

Dre is wearing Burnet Black G12.