Travis Grant: Play Your Way to SUP Technique

Posted on August 27, 2014 by Water Words

Waking up the day after the Naish Columbia Gorge Paddle Challenge 8-mile down wind event I had a very cool discovery. I was sore in different places than my usual. I had adjusted my technique a bit and I think I think the pecs, abs and lat soreness were better than the usual fatigue.

We had spent an evening a few days before the event learning a lot at a clinic given by Travis Grant on the Willamette River at the Gorge Performance site. Travis began by explaining how much outrigger paddling prepared him for success at SUP.

The goal in standup paddling, as in outrigger paddling, is to be as efficient as possible. The result will be your ability to go faster, further and longer. By listening to your body and honing better technique you will be better able to paddle without injury.

The Take-Aways: A few tips Travis shared that seemed to be what people needed to refine the most included:

1. Stand with feet facing forward in a wide stance. This gives more power, more balance and more stability.

2. Maintain soft knees that are ready to deliver power.

3. This was really valuable – “If you think of why you do what you do then technique changes make more sense.” For instance, think of planting your paddle blade fully into the water. Think of it as being stuck in sand. You want to move the board forward, not pull the paddle past the board. By imaging the blade stuck in sand it is easier to image the forward driving motion delivered by body rotation and a strong core.

4. Slow down to go faster – this means that if you must slow down to get your technique right, you will go faster in the long run. Part of this slow down is the opportunity to really engage your abs, your core, as you rotate your body with the paddle reach and catch. Keeping your core engaged through the return and you uncoil from that rotation allows you to derive your power from your larger muscles. Proper body mechanics will allow for your greatest reach and you most efficient stroke.

Travis Grant at the Naish Columbia Gorge Paddle Challenge – delivering speed, excitement and a whole lot of fun

5. Above all, Travis seems to live a relaxed and playful approach to training, focus, excellence and teaching.

So when I woke up with soreness in my pecs, abs and glutes it was a huge, “Wooohooo!” Not only did I have a great down wind experience with plenty of speed and glides, my perceived exertion was so much less. I played at honing technique throughout the race – and love the results of the coaching from Travis grant. If you can make it to one of his clinics – do it! A video is a good way to get to know Travis (see below) but one on one water time with Travis at a clinic is worlds better!

Dave Kalama: You’re Gonna Get More Glides

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Water Words

Photo by 808Photo.me

This article contains two powerful lessons from Dave Kalama. If you do down winders, no matter what your skill level, reading the water and getting your glides are skills you’ll want to hone.

A big “mahalo” goes out to Dave for taking the time to share these insights. And kudos to four of the Hood River Kalama Kamp who earned medals after their time with Dave Kalama.

Photo by 808Photo.me

Back Story:Did you happen to catch any of the action during the recent, and very challenging, Molokai 2 Oahu (M2O) race? The conditions were epic, to say the least. Right at the front of the action was Dave Kalama keeping pace with the young guns, despite pushing 50 years of age.

The focus and confidence Kalama demonstrated in that event was built on decades of pursuing everything that defines a waterman. Dave’s commitment to putting in the quality miles and hours it takes to compete at this level is well known. What might be less known is his absolute gift of explaining the techniques and insights he’s honed over a lifetime. These insights can be yours.

A lifetime on the water – Mahalo to Dave Kalama for sharing his insights

Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or a solidly advanced standup paddler ready to hone your down wind skills, you will be interested in a recent conversation I had with Dave. One take- away, “Ultimately, instruction on reading the water and having a sense of reading wind, waves, current and glides, will make minimal sense unless you are repeatedly in a downwind situation being exposed to each set of circumstances.”

A number of fortunate SUP athletes looking to gain expertise at doing a down wind run will take a Kalama Kamp clinic in Hood River. others whose dreams are filled with tropical oceans and bays will meet up with Dave at Kalama Kamp in the Turks & Caicos and Fiji.

Rather than gaining just a nugget or two, like those in this article, Kalama Kamp attendees will be exposed to the mother lode of advice and experience right in the environment where it can be practiced immediately. Each of the “nuggets” below was something I had heard from Dave, but more impressive, I heard the same thing from Kalama Lamp attendees I have met at various SUP events around the Pacific Northwest.

Nugget #1: This was shared with me by a recent Kalama Kamp attendee in Hood River, Jared from Tahoe, “I learned so many specific things about my stroke and body mechanics during the ground clinic. We used brooms and it was really cool. But the best part was out on the water. Dave told us specifically what we were looking for. We could see, really observe what we were looking for, Dave told us when to paddle and go for glides and we practiced and got immediate feedback.

The NUGGET: The backs of waves will present themselves to you. You can use the nose of your board as an indicator of when you should paddle. As the swell comes under your board it will lift up the back of your board. The angle it lifts your board will match the steepness of the swell. A deep trough translates to a steep face. Pay attention to the nose of your board. The more the nose begins to lift you can anticipate that the tail will be lifted by the swell a few seconds later. When the nose is up at its apex begin your attack to catch the next swell. Begin with a stroke at 50-60% to initiate the rhythm but go to your max through the next few strokes. By building the stroke early you are building the tension to move your board forward. Be aware of when the nose of your board is at the apex and drop your paddle in then to gain tension against the water and set your rhythm. BY the third paddle stroke you should be at 100% and enjoying the glide!

At the Columbia Gorge Paddle Challenge I met some “repeat offenders” who had been to a number of Kalama Kamps and are eagerly looking forward to the Kamp in Fiji. Alex and Ashley from Canada explained, “We are intermediate and beginner level paddlers. (Ashley is just getting into down wind riding while Alex has more experience). The Kamp is equally great for both of us. From the on land work, video, recap and reviews to time on the water, Dave not only refines our skills but he motivates us to learn more and gain confidence.“

Nugget #2: A Kalama Kamp (Hood River) participant who has taken 3 Kamps already, also named Dave, shared this, “Kalama spends time with every participant on and off the water. He has a knack of explaining technique in a way that I can understand. I was not using my body to drive the board forward. I gained so much confidence in how I gain speed with better technique.”

The Nugget: This video explains it so well:

Positively Kai: Family, Attitude and Aloha

Posted on August 23, 2014 by Water Words

The Lenny family enjoys a close connection to the ocean – and to each other. Aloha, dreams, hard work and smiles.

Martin Lenny told me a story once, it was a story that started with family – a family connected to the ocean. In the early days as Martin and Paula were working double jobs while raising their family, they recognized that their son Kai was active – super active. Kai, whose name means, “ocean” in Hawaiian was happiest in the ocean.The best way to feed his need for action was to top off each day with time at the beach – doing whatever ocean sport was suitable for Kai’s age.

Fortunately, his family recognized that Kai had more than just a love of the ocean, he also had a passionate dream. Kai learned how to surf at the age of 4, windsurf at 6, stand up surf at 7 and kite surf at 9. Learning how to do these sports all happened naturally, and from it grew his love affair with the ocean and the waves. Mentors have been integral to Kai’s ability to soar toward his dream.

The early days’ mentoring from Robby Naish has evolved into a lifelong friendship. Few his age have enjoyed training with not only Robby, but also legendary watermen like Laird Hamilton, Dave Kalama, Buzzy Kerbox and Chuck Patterson. Kai eagerly adopted just about every sport that involved water, wind and waves.

Traditional prayer circle lead by gerry Lopez before the Positively Kai Grom clinic – huge turn out

A common thread among his mentors and his family has inspired Kai as he has become a champion, a leader himself: Give back to the next generation by mentoring and consistently sharing aloha. It was exactly this sort of mentoring and inspiration that helped Kai continue his life journey toward his own dream. It is very obvious that the entire Lenny family lives this commitment to sharing with the next generation of standup paddlers.

In the spirit of mentoring and giving back, Kai has created a series of clinics for groms (young surfers) called, “Positively Kai.” Yesterday in Hood River we enjoyed watching the free clinic supported by sponsors (Naish, Hurley, Red Bull, Nike, GoPro , Turtle Bay Resort, Vertra, MFC and others).

The clinic began with a prayer circle created by three concentric circles of hundreds of groms, family and friends holding hands and following the words of Gerry Lopez. Soon afterward, the groms were organized by age group and taken for more land instruction by the Big Winds JET team riders and many elite standup paddlers like Connor Baxter, Kody Kerbox, Chuck Patterson, Noa Ginella, Riggs Napoleon and more.

Age group races were an exciting part of the clinic but the real stories happened on the beach! One group of 8 year olds pow-wowed on the sand as the one more experienced paddler shared confidence and some words of wisdom to his peer.

A mom sent her 5 year old out into the windy bay with a grin. Why? She explained, “When she was 18 months old she began going paddling with me, sometimes napping on the board and sometimes falling off. But she has always loved being on the board with me. Now that she’s 5 she begged to come to this clinic and learn to paddle on her own.”

One exceptional paddler, Estani Bori age 10, had some obvious experience, skills and maybe that same passion that once fueled Kai when he was 10. He flew around the race course, then ran down to the beach to help collect the boards from the other racers as they finished. He was on the water doing tail turns and sprints all afternoon. I caught up with his father, Pablo.

“Why did you travel all the way from Tahoe for this clinic,” I asked. Pablo didn’t hesitate a bit, “Once I saw that Estani lives and breathes this sport I had to help him follow what he is passionate about.”

That sounds like something Martin Lenny said, back in the day. Pablo continued, “Estani goes to sleep watching his SUP heroes and he wakes up wanting to paddle, paddle, paddle. Once he started doing races it was great. The travel and the paddling is something we can do, father and son.”

Again and again all day long that is what stuck – the number of kids and parents, entire families smiling and sharing the stoke that is SUP. The energy of more than 400 people through the dance-off, the dinner of yummy burritos (Kai’s favorite) and the awards was stellar.

We ended with this from Kai, “I am inspired and stoked to see so many groms of all ages charging and having fun. You are the future of SUP and this is the best time to be a standup paddle athlete. The sport is young and has room for you to make your dreams happen – in SUP or whatever it is you dream. “

2014 SUP Awards: Insights

Posted on August 14, 2014 by Water Words

For Immediate release: August 2014

SUP water athletes are pioneers in a young sport that’s growing exponentially each year. Almost anyone of any ability level or age can find success and SUP adventure on almost any body of water. Over the past decade standup paddling, surfing, exploring and racing has grown from unknown to a sport followed by millions. Leading the culture, training, story and growth of the sport are a handful of elite athletes. Some of these men and women have been nominated for the 2014 SUP Awards. The categories you can vote for between now and September 11 are: Top 3 Male Paddlers, Top 3 Female Paddlers, Movie of the Year, Top Philanthropic Effort and Top Expedition.

Candice Appleby #1 Female SUP Athlete 2012

Take a look at the nominees and explore the bio of each – SUP is fortunate to have a field of leaders this deep and diverse. Examples of leadership include addressing issues around racing, professional compensation and equality in the sport. Take a look at the discussion and insights from one group of female athletes that took place during the Naish Gorge Paddle Challenge in Hood River, OR in 2013.

Over the years Elder SUP has showcased a number of the nominated athletes. After you check out the field at SUPthemag.com you may want to learn more by checking out the articles.

Connor Baxter and his inspiring slogan demonstrates an attitude that pervades the sport and connects athletes of all abilities, “Always have fun and never give up.” Connor Baxter was awarded #1 Male SUP Athlete in 2012 (video here)

Candice Appleby – Candice Appleby was awarded #1 Female SUP Athlete in 2012 (video here) Both have been persistent in reaching the next generation of SUP athletes. Performance Paddling is just one example.

The list is above is just the tip of the iceberg – do yourself a favor and read the online bios of the athletes leading our sport. Then take the time to let your voice be part of the decision.

Elder SUP

Connecting Across Generations and Oceans

Monthly Archives: August 2014

Travis Grant: Play Your Way to SUP Technique

Dave Kalama: You’re Gonna Get More Glides

Positively Kai: Family, Attitude and Aloha

2014 SUP Awards: Insights