PaddleXaminer is a veteran owned publication based in Los Angeles, California. We provide stories, gear reviews, and news for adventurers on and off the water.
© PaddleXaminer 2023 – All Rights Reserved
PaddleXaminer is a veteran owned publication based in Los Angeles, California. We provide stories, gear reviews, and news for adventurers on and off the water.
© PaddleXaminer 2023 – All Rights Reserved
Paddling events are returning throughout the West this summer after more than a year of cancellations due to the global pandemic. Vail, Colorado welcomed white water paddlers of all types to its renowned whitewater race series along Gore Creek in May – June where go with the flow was the enduring theme. PaddleXaminer’s Michael Chebatoris was on hand as a participant for the series and had a blast mixing it up with competitors along the scenic section of the river running through the heart of Vail.
Here in Southern California, the OC-6 racing season began to sputter along with a limited number of events as the region opened in stages from the long COVID slumber in early May. The truncated Iron Season has concluded, but there is a chance one or two additional events may take place in the lead up to the Catalina Crossing the weekend of September 11 and 12, 2021.
Additional OC-6 racing opportunities throughout July and August are as follows:
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Noah Kalama , Long Beach, CA – July 24th – Pending
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Paopao, Oceanside, CA – August 21st – Pending
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Whitey Harrison, Dana Point, CA – August 28th
Monday, July 12th marked the first day of the Gorge Downwind Champs along the famed Columbia River Gorge near Hood River, Oregon. The race day window runs from Thursday – Saturday. Until then, competitors have the option to get in as many downwind runs as they can stomach from dawn to dusk. The Gorge Downwind Champs were preceded by the Vortex Paddle Series, giving locals a few extra reps to hone their skills before the broader paddling community descended upon the iconic scenery of the Gorge.
Update – 19:40, July 14, 2021: Race Day at the Gorge Downwind Champs has been set for Thursday, July 15th. The forecast predicts winds in excess of 30mph.
The event won’t fully resemble the layout of years past due to some ongoing limitations, but after last year’s COVID-19 forced cancellation, you can be sure those who do make the trek will be having a good time. And if you arrive on location only to realize you forgot an item or two, visit our good friends at On the Water 360 to resupply. They are set up on site and ready to outfit you with all the essential gear you’ll need to have a safe and enjoyable experience.
After the Gorge, our friends at Nor Cal SUP will be hosting the Paddle Splash Water Festival from July 22 – 25 at Lake Natoma. The event is open to all paddlers and features a special event for young paddlers, in addition to a community-wide beach clean up! Plan appropriately as it will likely be a hot one!
After the Nor Cal SUP event, there are a couple more events here on the West Coast you may wish to consider:
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Ta-Hoe Nalu Paddle Event – August 7-8, 2021 at Kings Beach, Lake Tahoe, California: A family-friendly paddling event for paddle craft of all makes and models on beautiful Lake Tahoe.
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The Gorge Paddle Challenge – August 13 – 15, 2021 in Hood River, Oregon: Not to be confused with the Gorge Downwind Champs, the Gorge Paddle Challenge is a stand alone event for Surfskis, OCs, prone paddleboards, SUPs and Wing surfers. There is an event for kids and a range of additional paddling events throughout the jam packed weekend.
That’s a wrap for now. Stay tuned as additional events come online.
“Catch every little bump!” yelled Connor Baxter as he flew past me skipping away on the water. Connor was giving a free paddling clinic at a SUP event at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, California. I was reluctant to sign up for the clinic because I didn’t want to be clumped in with the beginner paddlers that I saw waiting on the beach to start. Then I thought, here is one of the fastest SUP racers in the world and he’s going give me some tips for free. I jumped on my board and paddled out staying close to Connor and asking questions the entire time. In that short ½ hour on the water Connor was throwing out some great tips about SUP stroke technique but more importantly how to read the ocean so you can go faster. That day inspired me to learn as much as I could about improving my SUP skills and to have a “beginner’s mind”.
You don’t need to be a beginner to have a “beginner’s mind”. The trap that we fall into is the belief that we have experience and competency in a skill and therefore we don’t need any more training. In our Instructional Skills training at REI Outdoor School we call this the “false master”. This is the student that has some experience and thinks that they have nothing left to learn. I have to admit that I’ve been that guy in a class that thinks he’s got it down only to be shown up by some newbie. Regardless of previous experience, the students that will get the most out of the class have a “beginner’s mind”. They are open and willing to try new things knowing they will probably stumble along the way. One of the aspects I love about SUP is that it’s such a relatively new sport and nothing is set in stone. Just like boards and paddles have evolved significantly in the last 6 years, the most efficient SUP stoke is also evolving. So, if you can get into the “beginner’s mind” there are some very good resources online and SUP coaches that can take your paddling to the next level.
Attend a Group Clinic or Take a Private Lesson
I am fortunate to live near one of the top pro SUP racers in the world, Danny Ching. In addition to being a top pro SUP and outrigger canoe racer, Danny is also an excellent coach. For the past two years I’ve hooked up with Danny for a private SUP clinic. Before the session Danny will ask specifically what I want to work on and will be prepared to go straight to that topic without wasting our time. While on the water he can quickly spot my weaknesses and offer up fixes in the form mental cues. After the 2 hour session I feel like my SUP stoke has definitely progressed and I can’t wait to get back on the water to try out my new skills.
Orange County, California is home to a large segment of the SUP industry, including QuickBlade Paddles. Four-time Olympian and QB founder Jim Terrell offers coaching in his indoor flume. This is an above ground pool with a platform in the middle and an electric motor driving the water around in a circle. There are mirrors all around so you can see yourself from every angle. You stand on the platform and paddle while Jim fine tunes your SUP stroke. I did this a few years ago and really liked how Jim was able to walk around and provide realtime feedback on my stroke. I have to admit that I was kind of nervous during my session and kept spraying water all over the big mirrors. Next time I’ll relax a bit more or at least bring a squeegee.
The YouTube Generation
If my two teenage sons want to learn anything they just fire up YouTube and start watching some instructional video. Whether it’s how to jump five stairs on a skateboard or do some card trick, they can find how to do it online. The same is true for SUP skills. There are some great online coaching programs and SUP stroke videos that I make use of.
Paddle Monster
I’m a big fan of Larry Cain, not because he’s a awesome coach or an Olympic Gold and Silver medalist but because he’s an old guy and can still hang with the best of the young bucks. Larry and John Beausang started the subscription based coaching site Paddle Monster with the tagline “We train Joes like pros”.
There are two types of memberships: Basic and All Access. You get different levels of access to training plans, group discussions, video library and video analysis. Larry is very active on the message boards answering questions and giving in-depth coaching advice. My favorite section of the site is the video library where Larry has created a comprehensive collection of SUP stroke technique and skills videos. They recently hired strength and conditioning coach Chris Chapman and he’s created a bunch of excellent strength exercise videos.
Jim Terrell instructing a student in the flume.
Paddle Monster also offers SUP stroke video analysis by Larry Cain for an additional fee. I sent a video of myself paddling to Larry and month later I received back an email with a link to view my video analysis. I wasn’t sure what to expect and I was little worried when I saw that the video was 20 minutes long. I hit the play button and for the next 20 minutes Larry dissected my SUP stoke breaking down each part and speaking about how I can maximize efficiency to gain speed. Just like the NFL TV commentators, Larry freezes the video at key points and draws on the screen to emphasize his notes. Larry’s coaching style is very straightforward and specific while still keeping it positive. I had to watch the video a couple of times to take in all the notes and I still refer to it before heading out for a paddle. I highly recommend having a SUP stroke video analysis done by a reputable coach.
QuickBlade Jim Terrell stroke Analysis Videos
Jim Terrell created two informative videos analyzing the stroke of several paddlers. He has them each paddle past a floating measuring tape with 1 foot increments. Once the video is downloaded to a computer, Jim is able to overlay tracking lines from the paddle showing the arch of each paddler’s stroke. He then measures aspects of the stroke such as the position of the catch and how far the board travels over the water between strokes. In my opinion, these are the first videos a paddler should watch.
Part 1:
http://www.quickbladepaddles.com/video/SUP-Stroke-Analysis
Part 2:
http://www.quickbladepaddles.com/video/QB-SUP-Paddle-Stroke-Part-2
Paddle Like a Pro with Danny Ching DVD
This video is not available to watch online but you can buy the DVD for $24.95. This video is pretty short but it’s gets to the point and offers up some great tips. I think Danny has really evolved the SUP stroke like no one else. He takes you through his basic stroke philosophy with the help of overlay screen graphics. He also goes into buoy turns, specific drills and choosing a paddle. The worst thing about this video is how easy Danny make it all look.
SUP Examiner Paddling Tips
Our very own SUP Examiner is amassing a nice collections of paddling tips. I like these because they cover SUP skills and how to manage equipment.
The above resources are just a starting point. Find the online instructional videos that click with you and if you can, attend a SUP clinic or book a private lesson. My recommendation for the new year is to make a commitment to keep learning and have a “beginner’s mind”.
#contributor #JimTerrell #PaddleMonster #LarryCain #PaddlingTips #GuestWriter #DannyChing #paddling #QuickbladePaddles #howto #Technique
PaddleXaminer is a veteran owned publication based in Los Angeles, California. We provide stories, gear reviews, and news for adventurers on and off the water.
© PaddleXaminer 2023 – All Rights Reserved
PaddleXaminer is a veteran owned publication based in Los Angeles, California. We provide stories, gear reviews, and news for adventurers on and off the water.
© PaddleXaminer 2023 – All Rights Reserved
PaddleXaminer is a veteran owned publication based in Los Angeles, California. We provide stories, gear reviews, and news for adventurers on and off the water.
© PaddleXaminer 2023 – All Rights Reserved
The newest style of headphones is here! The open-ear Trekz Air by Aftershokz. The Trekz Air sport an open ear style which allows the user to hear what’s going on around them at the same time they can listen to their favorite tunes or podcast. You may be wondering, how the heck that works if they are open ear? Well, Trekz Air employs the latest in bone conduction technology. The headphones sit directly on the ear bone and transfers the sound. This design allows for maximum situational awareness as you use the product. As any active person will attest to, you need to be able to hear what is going on around you.
The Trekz Air themselves are fairly light-weight at 1.06 oz (30g). Aftershokz uses a titanium wraparound band which is flexible and provides all day comfort. The Trekz Air come with easy to reach control buttons on the right side to adjust volume, take calls, and skip songs. Of course, they can connect to any device via Bluetooth.
PaddleXaminer first tested the Trekz Air while paddling this fall on Lake Dillon in Colorado. I jumped on my Hala Nass board with my phone secured in a waterproof pouch, connected my phone to my Trekz Air and listened to an Audible book for the next two hours while I casually paddled. The sound was crystal clear as I got into a good paddle rhythm. I was amazed at how light they felt resting on my ears.
I also tested the Trekz Air at the gym, raking leaves and on an airplane. I do not recommend using the Trekz Air on an airplane even with the ear plugs as there is simply too much background noise from the engines.
The Trekz Air come in four colors:
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Slate Grey
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Forest Green
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Midnight Blue
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Canyon Red
The product retails for $149.95 which includes the headphones, USB charging cable, ear plugs and sleek carrying case.
Overall, the Trekz Air are a great addition for any person who wants comfortable headphones with high quality sound.
PaddleXaminer™ is a veteran owned publication covering paddle sports based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 2015, PaddleXaminer is the paddling community’s source for news, feature stories, evaluations of popular gear and more.
Exploring the world through paddling is our motto. We actively seek out new adventures throughout the year paddling the Pacific Ocean and inland waterways across the American West and beyond. Surfski and standup paddling are our core paddling disciplines, but it is fair to say we dabble in just about anything and everything you can paddle. We can be found charging the line down Colorado’s scenic whitewater rivers, chasing downwind bumps offshore in the Pacific Ocean, or simply kicking back and catching a few waves in Southern California.
Photo: Jason Meffe
Dana Point, California ~ The Infinity SUP Dana Point Harbor Hoot presented by Board & Brew will take place Saturday, October 15 at Baby Beach in the Dana Point Harbor. A paddling event for all ages and abilities. There are 3 events: the 3K Channel Scoot, the Harbor Hustle, and the Board & Brew Baby Beach Bolt team relay. One day, three events. Pick one or do all three. The course distances have been designed to be spectator friendly, accessible for new paddlers, and exciting for seasoned competitors.
Dana Point is the epicenter of standup paddling; on any given day there are hundreds of paddlers enjoying the harbor. Our mission is to advocate water safety, education, training, and recreation within Dana Point Harbor. Last year’s event drew 175 participants and this year we anticipate over 200 paddlers. We brought together first-time participants as well as some of the sport’s iconic names in a fun and family friendly environment.
Dave Boehne, from Infinity SUP, says about the Hoot,“The Dana Point Harbor Hoot is becoming the premier paddling event in California. Here in Orange County, Dana Point harbor is such a beautiful place to paddle, and it’s right in our backyard. Infinity SUP couldn’t be more stoked to support such a grassroots paddling event for years to come.” Infinity SUP, which is located just up the hill, is the title sponsor.
Find more information on the Harbor Hoot event website www.danapointharborhoot.com and
join the Facebook Event Page for daily updates.
The Harbor Hoot Committee would like to thank OC Parks, OC Harbor Patrol, OC Lifeguards and the Harbor Partners for continued support of the Dana Point Harbor Hoot.
Thanks to all the event sponsors:
Title sponsor: Infinity SUP – A local company that is known around the world.
Presenting sponsor: Board & Brew – Back for the 4th year as our presenting sponsor and providing lunches to all participants & staff.
Additional sponsors include: Quickblade Paddles, Ocean Academy, Coastline Facilities & Maintenance, Performance Paddling, TANDM Surf, Nordhavn, 404, Hippo Stick, Delahunt Brewing, Inspire Chiropractic Health & Wellness, Westwind Sailing, and Dana Outrigger Club.