Peter Hall
Peter Hall founded Hala Gear in 2011 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, at a time when nobody was designing inflatable paddle boards for moving water. Over 15 years, he designed the boards, filed the patents, and built a brand that became the benchmark for river and expedition inflatable SUP worldwide, growing through a national dealer network and direct channels. The Atcha's dimensions became the industry template. The StompBox retractable fin (US Patent 10,046,836) solved the sport's central technical problem and is still unmatched. He has owned and operated multiple ecommerce businesses with hands-on expertise in product development, brand building, and growing niche outdoor markets from scratch.
He's still on the water.
Job Title
Founder & Head of Design
Hometown
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
What type of SUP do you like to do?
Whitewater, River Surf, Ocean, Ocean Surf, Lakes/Flatwater, Multi-Day/Expedition
Where is your favorite place to SUP?
I love paddling rivers that wind through desert canyons. I love paddling any river where the walls rise up quickly next to the water. It is magical. I also just love paddling, and I love my hometown run on the Yampa in Steamboat!
Which board(s) are you riding?
My go-to board is the Atcha 86, with the perfect blend of playfulness and stability for me. I use the Atcha 711 for surfier and less technical whitewater. That thing lets you jib your way down the river!
Tell us about your favorite paddling experience.
Among my favorite paddling experiences was paddling the White Salmon River in Washington. That place is magical. A dam was removed about ten years ago and the river is now thriving. The whitewater is technical, the rocks are smooth, and the place is lush with life.
What do you do when you are not on a SUP?
I love to ski and explore for powder. I love exploring rivers in all seasons, and I love spending time with my kids out in the wilderness. Their excitement and new eyes keep the experience fresh.
Additional Sentiments From Peter
Building boards for whitewater SUP has been a 15-year obsession, honing in on shapes and technology that make paddling rivers more rewarding, more accessible, and more fun. Hala is now in great hands with Colleen and the team carrying it forward. The patents, the shapes, the dealer relationships, the community. What we built together is a brand with real staying power.
I have heard from people around the world who have used our boards to create some of the best days of their lives. It is exciting to have helped build a young sport to these heights and to empower people to explore in their own way.
I love the freedom that paddling the river gives me, and I am glad that the products we worked so hard to create allow us to share that freedom with the world.
