Sport

As hundreds of paddlers from around the world coalesced at Doheny State Beach last weekend for the third annual Pacific Paddle Games, one of the topics foremost on everyone’s mind was the forecasted swell. Ground Zero for surf racing, competitors have historically been met with chest high surf or greater when visiting SUP racing’s hallowed ground each fall. This year was unmistakably different. The small waves rarely broke above the 1-2 ft range, making the famous surfing beach appear at times more like Florida than Southern California.

Even so, Doheny demonstrated it can still deliver. New for the 2017 Pacific Paddle Games was an expanded roster of kid’s races. The small waves created a picturesque playground for the junior paddlers who contributed many of the weekend’s standout performances.

Erika Benitez executed a clean sweep with her third straight victory in Sunday’s distance course. Known to favor distance racing, the 2017 Pacific Paddle Games were her final big event before the 17 year old Benitez follows in the footsteps of former The Paddle Academy teammate Shae Foudy and ascends to the ranks of Open Division competition.

Shuri Araki. Photo: Lorenzo Menendez / SUP the Mag

Young Shuri Araki delivered what was likely the most inspirational performance of the Games. At the very least, his exuberant delight upon crossing the finish line will go down as one of the most memorable images from the 2017 Pacific Paddle Games thanks to the timely work of SUP the Mag photographer Lorenzo Menendez.

I spoke to a number of open competitors after Saturday’s Technical Race and everyone was all smiles and stoked with the new course. The decision to allow the top finishers from the Open Technical Race to battle it out along the Pro’s Technical Course in an exhibition race later that day also seemed to be well received.

As a suggestion to spice things up even further, I wonder what it might be like if the top open competitors selected to race through the Pro’s Technical Course on Saturday evening could compete for a Wild Card spot in Sunday’s Pro race? Perhaps by beating the slowest Pro time from Saturday’s competition.

Speaking of the Pro races, Annabel Anderson and Connor Baxter’s wins in both the Pro Technical and Distance courses firmly secured their already solid positions as two of SUP racing’s greatest all-around competitors. Anderson’s board was decked out in an appropriately themed lightning motif and the competitive Kiwi left no doubt that she has what it takes to continue to dominate women’s SUP racing for the foreseeable future. The same holds true among the men as Baxter, still just in his early 20s, reminded us why he is a heavy favorite in any race he enters.

Last, but certainly not least, the 2017 Pacific Paddle Games saw an all-star performance by Race Director Anthony Vela, Andrea Mae Curl and scores of other race officials. These folks represent the A-Team of race organization and kept the competition flowing from sunrise to sunset.

Once again, Doheny delivered.

Complete results from the 2017 Pacific Paddle Games

#DanaPoint #DohenyStateBeach #Events #PacificPaddleGames

I have had the opportunity to jump in one man outrigger canoes (OC-1) on a few occasions over the years and began paddling the nimble ocean going paddle craft in earnest last summer. Paddling an OC-1 is an experience which will take you back to the foundations of paddling. An outrigger canoe is simple and pure. It glides, can be paddled upwind much easier than a SUP, and when it comes to downwinding, forget about it. Downwind paddling in an OC-1 is just on an entirely different level when compared to a stand up paddleboard. The speed and maneuverability of an OC-1 in the bumps is rivaled by only that of a surfski.

Outrigger canoes and the joy of OC-1 paddling

If you are interested in a brand from one of the hubs of OC-1 paddling, Kamanu Composites and their Hawaiian built canoes should spark your interest. Travis Grant, a name which is likely familiar to fans of SUP racing, is Kamanu’s top sponsored paddler and holds the title of 2016 Molokai to Oahu OC-1 Champion. The Hawaiian brand prides itself on building their canoes locally. “Materials come in and canoes go out,” states their website and they work towards the premise of sustainability in all aspects of their business model.

After paddling a few different brands over the course of my still short tenure as an OC-1 paddler my skills have thankfully progressed beyond holding on for dear life and praying I don’t flip [again] to polishing my stroke so can paddle more efficiently. The latter has seen significant strides as a result of regular early morning practices with my club in Redondo Beach – Lanakila Outrigger Canoe Club. I don’t own my own OC-1 and have been training on an old Kaimana owned by the club and have been fortunate to borrow a more contemporary model for a few races this winter.

Photo: OnIt Pro

The distinctions in how different outrigger canoes feel and perform has now become apparent and I was excited to dip my feet into the footwell of a Kamanu Composites’ Pueo X for the first time at the Cali Paddler Retreat 1.0. Visually, the first thing I noticed was the front and rear bungees on the X, whereas the canoes I’ve been paddling are limited to just a rear bungee system. As someone who is an adventurer first and a paddler second, the additional bungees game me an instant warm and fuzzy feeling. I like my gear and appreciate well thought out places to carry items.

I launched off the beach and accelerated my stroke rate to make it out through an oncoming wave. The Pueo X responded instantly and it’s nose pierced the white water forming on the wave’s peak as I blasted out through the impact zone. In contrast to the outrigger canoes I’ve become accustomed to paddling, the Pueo X felt noticeably softer. More like the luxurious ride of a Cadillac than the rigid performance of a Ferrari.

The Pueo X felt like a canoe I could spend an afternoon in chasing bumps and soaking up the sun. I paddled a mock course around patches of kelp in the ocean off Refugio St. Beach before practicing surfing the canoe on the clean afternoon waves.

The Pueo X has a longer waterline than the standard model Pueo (sometimes known as the second generation Pueo) and is ideally suited for paddlers under 190 lbs. Kamanu’s Pueo range comes in a few different configurations for different sized paddlers, shirking the one size fits all mentality.

For additional details and ordering information visit Kamanu Composites online. Read Cali Paddler Retreat 1.0 for background on the amazing paddler’s retreat.

#KamanuComposites #CaliPaddlerRetreat #PueoX #Outrigger #CaliPaddler

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.

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© PaddleXaminer 2023 – All Rights Reserved

The Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) invites the public to become volunteers and help keep California’s rivers, lakes and ocean clean by becoming Dockwalkers. These individuals help raise awareness about clean boating practices through the distribution of boater kits filled with educational information and pollution prevention tools. Dockwalkers also interact one-on-one with recreational boaters at marinas, boat launch ramps and boating events. Participation in the program, including the training sessions, qualifies as community service.

California has one of the highest levels of recreational boating activity in the nation. With approximately four million boaters, even a small amount of pollution per vessel can cause serious harm to waterways, marine fish and wildlife. Since 2000, more than a thousand Dockwalkers have taught 10,000 boaters about oil, fuel, sewage, trash and marine debris prevention.

“Dockwalkers make it easy for boaters to learn how to implement clean boating practices,” said Vivian Matuk, Boating Clean and Green Program Manager. “We invite outdoor enthusiasts to make a difference for our waterways by becoming a Dockwalker.”

The free trainings to become a Dockwalker are set to begin next month (March) and run through May 2019 across the state. Pre-registration is required.

Training classes will be held in the following cities:

1. Los Altos (March 12)

2. Petaluma (March 16)

3. Oakland (April 10)

4. San Rafael (April 20)

5. San Jose (May 1)

6. San Diego (April 27)

7. Marina Del Rey (May 4)

8. Newport Beach (March 30)

9. San Pedro (May 11)

10. Stockton (May 9)

11. Vacaville (May 13)

Marinas and yacht clubs are also encouraged to participate in the Dockwalker Program. Participating facilities receive educational materials and tools to operate a clean boating facility and minimize water quality impacts. This program provides marinas with points towards the Clean Marina designation, and participation in the Dockwalker Program counts towards the nomination of the Club of the Year under the community service category. In addition, yacht clubs and marinas are essential in spreading awareness directly to boaters.

Safety organizations such as the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadrons also benefit from the Dockwalker Program as it supports their current efforts, and enhances and broadens their boating safety mission.

The DBW and California Coastal Commission’s Boating Clean and Green Program manage the Dockwalker Program. Partnerships with the Bay Foundation (DBW Clean Vessel Act Program), the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the U.S. Power Squadrons, Save Our Shores, Lake Berryessa Partnership and many more organizations are integral to this program’s success.

For more information on the program including testimonials and videos, please visit www.BoatingCleanandGreen.com and select “Dockwalker Program”.

#California #CaliforniaStateParks #Environment

When it comes to standup paddling (SUP), I’ve pretty much exclusively paddled a downwind board for the past three years. I’ve never had the luxury of traveling to Hawaii or the Columbia River Gorge, yet rough water paddling and learning to harness the power of windswell, regardless of craft, represents to me the essence and joy of paddling. One of the things I learned from my experience is that the label “downwind board” is a bit of a misnomer. “Downwind boards” are best characterized as rough water SUPs that excel in downwind conditions. They are the SUVs of SUP and the new Infinity Downtown is the equivalent of a fully loaded Jeep Grand Cherokee. It is designed for adventure. It will go anywhere. It will do anything.

And yeah, the Infinity Downtown is so much fun to paddle in downwind conditions that the appeal of ever going back to an amusement park to experience the artificial thrill of riding a roller coaster is somewhere between zero and non existent.

What makes the Infinity Downtown so good?

Infinity shaped many of the first open water SUPs back during the sport’s initial growth spurt in the mid-2000s and has been steeped in the shaping industry since the mid-20th century. The new Downtown standup paddleboard was designed by Infinity Co-Owner Dave Boehne and is a product of that storied heritage packed up in 14’ of meticulously shaped foam and carbon fiber.

I had been paddling a 14’ x 27.25 SIC Bullet V2 with a traditional spoon shaped nose before transitioning to a 14’ x 25” Infinity Downtown in late August. The transition to the narrower board was seamless and I’m confident I made the right decision. Along with my skills progression, the Infinity Downtown incorporates a couple of design features which enable an intermediate standup paddler such as me to excel in increasingly more challenging conditions.

Infinity Downtown

Full volume for pop and glide

Despite the narrower width, my new Downtown boast 281 liters compared to 269 liters in my old SIC Bullet V2. Readily apparent upon first glance, the angles and overall shape of the Infinity Downtown resemble a modern fighter jet. The full volume nose and progressive rocker line allows it to perform more like an OC-1 than other downwind SUPs I’ve paddled. The board is very responsive in rough water and quickly locks into even the smallest bumps and ripples.

My footwork is admittedly more functional than fluid at the moment and the Infinity Downtown’s nose design has enabled me to confidently broaden my range of padding conditions into increasingly rougher water. My favorite aspect of the nose design is the sharp angled peak that not only sheds water, but allows the nose to pop back to the surface on the times when I’ve pearled on steeper waves.

The increased nose volume also gives the board a nice amount of pop when paddling upwind. There aren’t any easy spots to do a start here, finish there style downwinder, ala Maui or Hood River, in the Los Angeles area. The prevailing wind direction and logistical challenges of living in the second largest city in the United States make doing so impractical. Consequently, I spend a lot of time paddling out and back from Redondo Beach. Paddling upwind on a SUP is never fun, but the Infinity Downtown makes it manageable.

The rails are nice and thick and shaped to give the board a good amount of secondary stability. The times I have fallen while paddling have been a direct consequence of fatigue and sloppy footwork, not the capabilities of the board. The diamond groove deck pad on the production model has a great amount of texture and Infinity’s large neoprene wrapped grab handle makes carrying the board super easy. The board is also super light, something my wife can attest to when she picked it up to move it one day!

The Infinity Downtown in action.

Finland

Dave Boehne spent an equal amount of time designing the Downtown’s fin, which is as revolutionary as the board itself. Many traditional downwind fins are on the small side and do not allow sufficient surface area to connect with the water. If you’ve ever experienced the tail of your board sliding out from beneath you in the rough stuff, this is a direct result of having too small of a fin. Third party fin manufacturers have compensated for the sliding by designing fins with large amounts of surface area which succeed in preventing tail slippage, but can have a detrimental effect on performance and speed.

To overcome these design shortfalls, Boehne went back to the drawing board and designed the 8” Angry Downwind Fin. The Angry Downwind fin blends a wide base with a narrow “main” section. The result? The Angry Downwind fin eliminates side to side slippage without compromising performance and speed. The fin is aggressive, enhances the board’s performance and brings elite paddling performance to non-elite paddlers. The Infinity Angry Downwind fin will also work well with other downwind SUPs if your not ready to make the switch to a new board.

Angry Downtown Fin

What types of paddlers are best suited for the Infinity Downtown?

Compared to many rough water / downwind boards, the Infinity Downtown is actually pleasurable to paddle in flat water. You don’t have the sensation of pushing water commonly associated with downwind boards and I expect you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how easily the Downtown accelerates into a glide with even the smallest ripple. If you live on a lake where wind chop or boat wakes can be an issue, I’d give the Downtown a try as it may be the solution you are looking for.

I paddle primarily for fitness and do a couple regional races a year. With a few exceptions, I paddle exclusively in the ocean, typically in the late afternoon when the wind has come up. I enjoy paddling on the ocean in the rough stuff and benefit from having a board that can go anywhere and excel in downwind conditions when it’s time for me to turn around and head for home. With that in mind, if you’re a downwind paddling junkie, open water fitness paddler or just someone who likes to go out exploring on the ocean, I strongly recommend the Infinity Downtown.

Production models are available in widths of 24”, 25” and 27” or you can order up a custom model in any dimensions you desire. The 27” production model would make a great open water performance touring board for an experienced paddler or a phenomenal downwind board for anyone looking to get into downwinding.

The new Infinity Downtown is capable of elite level performance, but you don’t have to be an elite paddler to enjoy this SUP. If you’re fortunate to live somewhere with consistent downwind conditions, you should definitely give the Downtown a try. The SUP is nimble, responsive and sure to please. If you’ve been paddling a SUP with a traditional downwind shape, I highly recommend making the switch. The Infinity Downtown will allow you to unlock a new level a performance and I think you’ll be impressed with the results.

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.

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© PaddleXaminer 2023 – All Rights Reserved

Sirens and recorded announcements warning of tsunamis, severe thunderstorms, earthquakes, shark sightings and more will be broadcast at Torrance Beach on Thursday from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. as part of a test of a new emergency evacuation warning system developed by the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors.

The Beach Emergency Evacuation Lights System (BEELS) is an alert system that incorporates audible announcements, a siren and flashing lights to warn all beachgoers—including those who are deaf or hard of hearing—when they need to leave the beach. During a beach evacuation, BEELS will flash white LED lights mounted on permanent structures and some lifeguard towers, as well as broadcast an audible siren and an evacuation announcement in both English and Spanish. The announcement message will change depending on the evacuation type, and the lights will flash slowly for a water-only evacuation and quickly for a full water and beach evacuation.

On Thursday, the actual recorded messages warning of evacuations will need to be tested at maximum volume to ensure they work. This means that beachgoers and neighbors in Torrance, Palos Verdes Estates and south Redondo Beach may hear evacuation alerts for tsunami warnings, severe thunderstorms, shark sightings, earthquakes, and other beach and water emergencies. Due to the high volume of the messaging, people who have sensitive hearing should avoid the area.

Testing will continue throughout May on Thursdays from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.; however, those tests will be done at a much lower volume.

BEELS is the first beach evacuation alert system worldwide to incorporate flashing lights specifically to alert those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Torrance Beach is the pilot location for the system; the eventual goal is to expand it to every beach in Los Angeles County.

About the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors

The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors manages Marina del Rey harbor and 25 miles of beaches along the Los Angeles County coastline, including world-famous Zuma, Malibu, Surfrider, and Venice beaches.

In addition to promoting and maintaining a clean coastline, the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors operates Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey. For more information, visit their website at beaches.lacounty.gov.

Living in Los Angeles, one gets used to seeing a colorful and eclectic mix of people, culture and conveyances. I live in a relatively quiet residential neighborhood where it is common to see walkers and joggers of all ages, in addition to our resident “Parrot Man” – an older guy who peddles his beach cruiser with a giant blue macaw on his shoulder. I have routinely gone for numerous walks and bike rides winding my way around the streets and met all sorts of people. Even so, nothing compares to the attention I receive when I’m out cruising on my Classic Hamboards land paddling board.

One of the kids in the neighborhood.

There is something unique about skating on 6’6” bamboo board with a land paddle that makes you stand out and appear approachable. The former is understandable. A 6’6” board is large by any standard. Add the land paddle and I’m instantly doing something that most people have never seen. It literally stops people in their tracks and causes them to smile and stare. More often than not, they call out with a comment about how much fun it looks or ask how well it turns. I always circle back to show them the board and offer them the chance to try it out. Some do and some don’t. It usually depends on their age. Younger people, especially those who have ridden a skateboard, give it a try without hesitation.

The city recently resurfaced a number of the streets, including my own. As a result, I’m now able to quickly pop out for a land paddling session right out my front door and carve figure eights in front of my house. I also have developed a few regular “visits” with folks as I carve back and forth along the fresh pavement. I’ll cruise down to the end of the cul-de-sac and catch up with Eric and his wife, both of whom are nurses and maintain non-traditional work schedules. There is also the guy down the street in the opposite direction who I regularly find out skating with his son on a pair of traditional skateboards. They have a little route near their house where a T-intersection provides a wide expanse to carve up the street on the boards. I often join them for a few minutes when passing by. Another great way to get out and meet your neighbors!

Owning a @hamboards Classic is a great ?? way to meet your neighbors! @mattchebatoris #losangeles #california #landpaddling #skateboarding #skateboard #firsttimer #tryingnewthings #goodtimes

A post shared by SUP Examiner (@supexaminer) on Jul 19, 2017 at 8:38pm PDT

#Hamboards #skateboarding #Stories

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.

Read More

© 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.

Read More

© PaddleXaminer 2023 – All Rights Reserved