Geckobrands Dry Bag Review Until recently, my basic needs for a dry bag for paddling were pretty simple: just a small, 5-liter bag to hold my phone, keys, and wallet that could be attached to and shoved under the bungee cords on my canoe, surf ski, or sup board.  But as I started paddling more in the OC-6, those requirements changed. In addition to carrying The Three Essentials, I needed room for swim goggles, snacks, a glasses case, and sunscreen. More importantly, the bag needs to be able to be secured to the OC-6 seat., not bungees. For distance voyaging, I also needed a larger ba ..read more

Early one March morning, Low on the horizon, Ka Makau Nui O, or the Big Fish Hook of Maui (also known as Scorpius), dominates the southern sky. A fish-shaped shadow or cloud appears on the tip of the hook. At the canoe hale on Maui’s Sugar Beach, a group of paddlers stands in the soft sand, staring up at the massive constellation. “See what looks like the outline of a fish? That’s not a cloud,” Anela Gutierrez, executive director of the Hawaiian Outrigger Voyaging Society, explains. “That’s the Milky Way!” Me’e, or Corvus, is setting to the southwest, and almost directly above the paddlers and ..read more

SUP Technique: Fixing Problems with the Catch Over the next few months we’ll be publishing a series of posts addressing technique issues commonly seen in the SUP stroke – what they are, how they affect your performance, how to know if you or someone you’re helping/coaching needs to address any of these issues, and what you can do to correct them.  This month we’ll start by looking at three issues associated with the catch. Before we start, I’d like to make a comment on the photos you’ll see which illustrate points being made in the text.  All of these photos come from video paddlers ..read more

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One of the worst things for me about doing the Chattajack race on the Tennessee River was having to leave my paddle ohana behind and come home, knowing the long dark tea time of my soul – Winter – was coming. I missed those folks so much that it hurt almost more than my muscles did after the race. There was always that letdown because the main event of my racing year was over. The thing that was the focus of my life for so many weeks came and went in what seemed like just a few short paddle strokes. Suddenly, there seems to be no purpose. Nothing to look forward to. Next year seems so far away ..read more

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While this is the 100-Day Paddle Challenge, we’re going to embrace the winter journey and off-season recovery and base seasons by opening things up to include other activities for this new challenge. While our hope is that everyone will be able to paddle, we’re certain some, unfortunately, won’t be able to, and we’d like you to be motivated to keep moving! YOU ARE SHARKS! So starting November 6th and running through until February 14th the goal for your challenge is to do 100 activity sessions in 100 days. Some of you, we’re certain, will do 100 paddles (AGAIN, Lew Renae Pavlovich, we’re look ..read more

The Close of 2023: Time to Look Ahead With the last of the races of the 2023 season almost upon us, it’s time to start training for the 2024 season. Kickstarting the Off-Season: What to Expect on October 30 Our Paddle Monster Off-Season Training will commence on October 30 with some testing, new strength work, and two weeks of active rest/unstructured training. This allows everyone to establish some fitness baselines, begin the process of developing increased strength for the 2024 season, and to maintain a good level of fitness while recovering for two weeks from a long and challenging 2023 se ..read more

Chattajack is just around the corner, and as you prepare to tackle this exciting challenge, it’s essential to pay close attention to your nutrition. As a coach and nutrition expert, I’m here to provide you with some valuable tips to ensure you perform at your best during the race. Let’s dive right in. 1. Stick to the Familiar The first and most crucial tip is this: don’t experiment with new foods or nutrition strategies on race day. Stick to what you’ve practiced during your training runs and workouts. Familiarity is key to avoiding digestive issues or unexpected energy crashes. 2. Carbohydra ..read more

Self-Care After Chattajack Much has been written about how to prepare for the 32-mile slog down the Tennessee River Gorge known as Chattajack- from training tips to dealing with the stress and even how to handle the Call of Nature. But what about what happens after the race and how to handle it? Here are some suggestions, based on my six CJ finishes, in no particular order.  Eat. EAT EAT EAT EAT!! Yes, there is the most wonderful chocolate milk in the world waiting for you at the finish line, but you will need more than that.”. Arrange to have protein and whatever else your body might dem ..read more