Monthly Archives: November 2013

Got Heart? KIALOA Paddles

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abilitreelogoA few years ago I had the privilege of getting to know the work of a non-profit in Bend, Oregon called Abilitree. They provided the program at Bend’s City Club focused on creating awareness of the work of their clients (be sure to learn more here). The key speaker was a slight young woman named Karen Gaffney. Karen is a world renowned swimmer – having crossed the English Channel, completed the Lake Tahoe crossing (9 miles in 50 degree water) , the Molokini Challenge and the Alcatraz Triathlon relay. Swimming was therapy after she had 5 hip surgeries before the age of 15. Karen faces such challenges with courage and will-power. One of her challenges is Down Syndrome. (Be sure to watch the video below to see Karen receive her Honorary Doctorate degree for her work and advocacy)

As in every aspect of her life, Karen has not allowed anything to limit her quest to make a difference and use every bit of her determination and talent to the max.  Karen inspired each and every person the the City Club audience that day. But no less inspiring was the opportunity that Abilitree afforded our community by making us aware of the heroes and stories of their clients right here in our town. Abilitree provides jobs, training, community service and independent living opportunities for people with disabilities. Individuals with a wide range of abilities come to their work center and receive training for various types of jobs. Abilitree then provides outsourced manufacturing, product assembly and product packaging either in their facility or on site at businesses here in Central Oregon.

Recently, I had the chance to visit the KIALOA Paddles sales and manufacturing base here in Bend, Oregon.  I had heard that KIALOA was being honored by Central Oregon Employment First as a recipient of the Workforce Inclusion Supporting excellence award for group employment. They had been working with a group of clients from Abilitree over the past few years.  I was curious to see what part of the assembly process was being handled by the group from Abilitree.

Amy Graves from KIALOA Paddles accepting the WISE Award in 2013

Amy Graves from KIALOA Paddles accepting the WISE Award in 2013

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An Abilitree client being recognized for excellence at work

If you have ever spent time with any of the team from KIALOA Paddles you know they operate under a “fun at work,” “do what you love ” environment across all teams. Their website exudes the passion and heart they have for what they do.   Being in the warehouse where hundreds of KIALOA paddles are assembled to top quality standards each day was like being a kid in a candy store. The beautiful paddle blades and endless array of paddle types distracted me from the story the KIALOA production lead, John, was sharing.

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The many faces of the KIALOA adjustable paddle

I did finally focus as John took me over to a work station where the half dozen components of the KIALOA adjustable paddle shaft were organized. As John showed me how each piece of the assembly process worked he shared the story of how the clients from Abilitree had added to the efficiency of the adjustable shaft assembly. The task of carefully completing each step of the pre-assembly for the adjustable paddle can become tedious for some. Imagine looking at a stack of 500 sets of the pre-assembly parts. It can be overwhelming – but to the team of 7 Abilitree clients who share the pre-assembly work the required attention to detail is a joy.

The repetitive tasks involved in assembling each component have been accomplished to the high KIALOA standards for over 18 months now. As John explained how various people from Abilitree keep the collaboration running smoothly he peppered that explanation with stories. The clients are consistent, enthusiastic and precise in their work. They often visit KIALOA and learn how their part in the process of assembling an adjustable paddle matters. I looked about the warehouse with different eyes after that.  The rows of adjustable paddles  were just one more example of how KIALOA includes heart  – and includes a terrific value to our community – every day.

Naish ONE Hikes and Adventures

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All over the world people are enjoying the SUP Perspective on lakes, rivers, bays, streams and the open ocean. We take our boards and paddles exploring, surfing and racing. For those of us with a history of back country skiing, hiking and backpacking there is another sort of SUP adventure that calls us. We have all found those hidden or remote  places that are not accessible by car and are too demanding for trekking in with our standup boards.

btnaishAll that changed for my husband, Ed and me when we got our Naish ONE inflatable 12’6″ board. Sure, we will be using it for race training and racing the N1SCO way, but it’s going to be for much more than that.  The Naish ONE comes tucked into its own backpack that fits comfortably on most anyone. It’s got room for the pump, fin and even your snacks and extra jacket. Take a look at out first exploration to an amazingly clear lake nestled in the volcanic wonderland that is Central Oregon.  Three thousand years ago lava flows from the High Cascades dammed the McKenzie River, creating a lake so clear, cold, and calm that ghostly tree snags are still visible under its 100-foot-deep waters. The stroll around Clear Lake offers lots of variety: huge springs, lava crossings, old-growth forests.  The paddle from the standing perspective is even more exquisite.

Take a look at our short video and then send us your story or video link – Where will YOUR Naish ONE take you? Endless access = endless wonder.

One-Design SUP Racing: N1SCO

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Elite racer (and overall women's winner) Fiona Wylde and friend ready for Naish ONE fun

Elite racer (and overall women’s winner) Fiona Wylde and friend ready for Naish ONE fun

At best, I dabble at SUP racing. I like to paddle hard, go as fast as I can and refine my technique with help from my friends – and awesome YouTube videos from the pros. Over the summer of 2013 I had the opportunity to participate in the Nasih Columbia Gorge Paddle Challenge, to take a down wind clinic with Big Winds and Jeremy Riggs, to head over to Maui for the Olukai Ho’olaule’a and to complete a bucket list experience at Battle of the Paddle. In all that time I hadn’t committed to buying a race board.

Over the summer I began to follow the development of the one-design SUP class called N1SCO. It was the answer to the confusing dilemma of what board to buy – for my interest, for my budget, for the best opportunity to be competitive among paddlers all on the same board. The more I followed Facebook, blog and Twitter posts about the various N1SCO events happening all over the globe, I noticed something else. The “fun-factor” was an integral part of each event.naishrelay4

Elite racers had their level of racing challenge in both long and short distances – but all levels were in the game and having a blast. The new Naish ONE race formats are exciting, accessible, simple to set up and fun! All disciplines are easy to follow for spectators, the action is right there in front of everyone and it is thrilling to watch. There’s something for everyone, non-stop action on the water and events can happen in a day.  When I had the chance to witness the crazy fun of the N1SCO relay format I was hooked! Elite racers team with kids, with a super mix of skill and gender. Laughs, splashes and camaraderie connect everyone – racers and spectators alike.

There was no question. When I had the chance to head to Las Vegas for the N1SCO World Championships off I went. The video below shows some of the highlights from my perspective – everyone had a chance for their own good time.  Over the next months there will be more and more N1SCO events popping up at yacht and sailing clubs, at colleges and within communities. be sure to take advantage of a super trend in SUP racing.

Secret Lake SUP and BIG Surprise

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Glacial blue lake hidden among scree and Broken Top peaks

Glacial blue lake hidden among scree and Broken Top peaks

The very first time we drove the gnarly rock-rutted, puddle pitted 5 1/2 miles from the Todd Lake parking to the Broken Top trail head we feared for our car chassis. The hike was so incredible and the views spectacular enough that we returned several times every summer. The first time we scrambled up the scree that framed the waterfall  cascading from the snow-fed “glacial” lake we called, Secret Lake, we were hooked.

At that time in 2002, we hadn’t discovered standup paddling so our only venture into the lake was a tentative wading. Immediate frozen feet made that a short-lived experience.  By 2006 we were avid SUP athletes. That lake became our holy grail of “coolest place to grab a photo paddling.”

It wasn’t long afterward that we saw this photo of Eli Odegaard landing in the June issue of Men’s Journal. Professional photographer, Tyler Roemer shot this up on the backside of Broken Top sometime late in the summer of 2012. According to Roemer, “It was a mission getting that clunky SUP board back there but somehow we managed it.

We hesitated about hiking in with our standup boards until we finally had the answer to every SUP-adventurer’s dreams. We purchased two Naish ONE inflatable boards. The boards come in their own backpack, with a great pump – ready to be packed into almost any place you might dream of paddling.

btnaishOnce racing season was coming to an end, Ed and I took the drive in to the broken Top trailhead and on a stellar October Saturday we hiked with our Naish ONEs up to the “secret lake” by Broken Top.  The short video below documents the trip and the BIG SURPRISE we found at the end of our 2.5 mile trek to the lake. Where will YOU adventure with YOUR Naish ONE (or other inflatable from Naish?)

Candice Appleby – Respect, Love, Karma and Grace

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latorche-candiceIn the late 1980’s I had a writing assignment with a tennis professional that was funded by Wilson, the company that makes tennis balls.  It seems that they had developed a tennis ball that could equalize enjoyment of a tennis match between two players of very unequal ability. When the ball was hit hard and directly (as in a shot from a strong player) it would react with a slow and low bounce as it hit the court on the other side. This would give the weaker player an easier shot to return. It seemed an amazing product.

The project lost funding and never made it to the marketplace, but some of the lessons I learned while writing for that project stuck with me.  For one, I learned a very different meaning for the word “compete” than I had usually considered.

The word, compete, comes from Latin competere, “come together,” but in later Latin, it developed the sense “strive together,” which was the basis for the English term. During the field testing of the Wilson tennis ball, when players considered the “strive together” meaning of competition their reported enjoyment of the game and tennis in general was 7 and above (on a scale of 1-10).

Just yesterday I read a post by elite water athlete, Candice Appleby, after a Round 3 loss in the 2013 La Torche Pro surf event in France.   Understandably, she was extremely disappointed with her performance. In spite of a very stacked heat with three of the top women surfing together, she simply and graciously reflected on her own performance and frustration at not putting together a “solid ride” in the heat.

According to Candice, “Every wave I caught, just seemed to reject me and I kept falling. Looks like my Sup Surfing World Title dreams will just have to wait until next year. 2013 just hasn’t been my year I guess. Maybe God is trying to tell me something. Hopefully I can figure out what that is soon. Until then, I’ll just have to keep healing my hand and work on my strengths. Thank you to everyone who has been cheering for me along the way. Your support means so much to me. Next year I will be back and ready to take on the many challenges I set for myself. Congrats to all of the girls who competed in this first year of the Women’sStand Up World Tour. We were all a part of history. Aloha & God Bless.”

We all know that it isn’t easy to report to friends, family and fans after a huge disappointment. To do so with such grace and respect for her fellow competitors is an Appleby trademark.  In my role as content creator for my company, Water Words, I speak to dozens of elite and not-so-elite SUP surfers, paddlers, newbies and racers each week. It is always surprising and cool to hear how many mention a casual meeting with Candice at a clinic, an event or just on a beach. Again and again I hear an anecdote about how she has encouraged and inspired them – often without knowing who they are. Her generous spirit and fun-loving ways just seem to connect again and again.

What I wonder is: How did the performance of the entire group of elite women raise to a collective higher level because they “came together”  in the competition, all striving for their best?

Working hard, training and hoping for a specific outcome or title is natural. Not attaining the goals we set for ourselves in a competition is heart breaking.  Being able to circle back and put together a mindset that embraces the true meaning of compete, to strive together, we are able to frame our future efforts in a new way. The almost 40,000 Facebook friends who follow Candice know her attitude well.  Some of the comments posted demonstrate how much respect and love for our sport and for fellow competitors resonates with us all. I have removed the names from the comments below and have paraphrased them – they are just an example of how the collective “we” reacted.

  • Tough break, tough girl, classy post. You may not have accomplished everything on your list, but your list towers over 99.999% of most people’s. Take comfort knowing you are much-loved & very well-respected around the world.   “Paddle on girl”
  • Losing is just like winning at the top. Being humble and accept what you just got schooled on will only make you better tomorrow, next week and your next event. There is nothing in your world you can’t concur, wins come in many different forms and your friends believe you’re a winner.
  • Love your positive attitude! That’s what makes you a winner! Love and aloha to our SWEET girl!! XOXOXO
  • You are my inspiration.
  • You’re still awesome….I’m sure all competitors were aware of your presence….a true warrior you are
  • You are awesome for being a class act!!! Still holding your head high and not placing blame on anyone. Keep up the professional attitude.
  • Thank you for writing this Candice. It inspires us all to hear how you feel and that everyone, even Candice Appleby, has their moments. Don’t be too hard on yourself! Rest up and see you next year…can’t wait:)
  • Your grace in handling life is a great example…………
  • You suited up, you showed up, you did your best. High five!