So, Pacific Paddle Games 2017 are over now what do we do? In Southern California we are very fortunate that the outrigger clubs start their winter series races, and they have added SUP to these races.  They are a great community venue, and you may get the opportunity to demo or race an outrigger canoe.
See you on the water!

​

Summertime is the perfect opportunity to get out on the open water for a fun fitness experience that will strengthen your body and challenge your balance—no instructor needed. Soak up some sun and try out this total-body workout, which combines the research-supported benefits of standup paddleboarding (SUP) with a few easy-to-follow bodyweight exercises.​​

PADDLE SQUAT
Stand at the center of the board, parting the feet just a bit wider than hip-width, with toes angled out slightly. Hold the paddle with the hands about hip-width apart, arms extended in front of the thighs. Hinge at the hips and bend the knees, lowering to a squat position, while raising the paddle up to shoulder height and keeping the arms extended. Slowly lower the arms and extend the hips and knees to return to the starting position and repeat.

WATER BAILER
Begin in a split-stance position with the left foot forward and the right foot back. Hold the paddle in front of the body at shoulder height. Keeping the arms extended, bend both knees, lowering into a lunge position. Draw the paddle across the body until the hands are outside the right hip. Slowly extend both knees, rising to standing while drawing the paddle diagonally across the body with the arms extended and the hands above the left shoulder. Repeat the sequence, completing the desired number of repetitions before switching sides and repeating.

​BELLY UP
Lie on your stomach with the elbows bent and the hands in line with he chest; position your  naval over the center of the board. Tuck the toes under and press into the palms, lifting the chest off the board. Next, extend the elbows to lift your entire torso up along with the knees and shins. Reverse the movement, releasing the knees and shins to the board before slowly lowering your stomach and then your chest back down to the starting position; repeat the sequence.

WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE
Lie on your back with the knees bent and feet flat on the board, positioned hip-width apart. With the arms extended and the hands hip-width apart, draw the paddle to rest across the hips. Keeping the back of your head and shoulders in contact with the board, gently press through the feet to extend the hips and lift the glutes (buttocks). Slowly lower your body back to the starting position and repeat.

HIGH/LOW BOAT
​Sit over the center of the board with the knees bent and the feet flat. Hold a paddle in front of the shins with the arms extended. Pick up both feet, keeping the knees bent 90 degrees and the paddle in front of the shins for high boat. Inhale and recline the torso back slightly while maintaining length in the spine as you lower back to low boat, hovering the torso close to the board while simultaneously reaching the paddle overhead. As you exhale, rise back up to high boat and repeat the sequence.

Click on the link below for more workout information:

About the Author:
​Jessica MatthewsHealth and Fitness ExpertJessica Matthews, MS, E-RYT500, is a well-known blogger and kinesiology professor at Point Loma Nazarene University. In addition to holding ACE Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor and Health Coach certifications, she is an experienced registered yoga teacher through Yoga Alliance. Jessica is regularly cited as a wellness expert by outlets such as CNN, Shape, Self and The Washington Post.

Summer’s here and it’s time to get out on the water, but many paddleboarding parents haven’t been properly educated on the important topic of water safety for kids. Stand up paddleboarding is the fastest-growing watersport in the world and while it’s a wonderful family activity, there are a few important things to keep in mind before paddling out with your children.
To help educate parents and children on the importance of SUP safety, we’ve put together this fun infographic which lists an easy, 7-step water safety checklist for paddleboarding parents. Please help us get the word out by sharing it — thanks!

#1: Avoid Spots with Waves and Strong Currents
When preparing to paddle out with your children, it’s important to avoid areas with rough water, waves, and strong currents. Calm lakes and bays are the safest places to paddle board with your kids, and they’re also more enjoyable.
It’s also a good idea to look for spots that offer plenty of places to get in and out of the water, and you need to make sure that there isn’t a lot of motorized boat and personal watercraft traffic.
#2: Make Sure Your Child is Accompanied by an AdultIf your child is old enough to paddle their own SUP, it’s important to make sure that they are always accompanied by an adult. Unfortunately accidents do happen, and having an experienced adult present at all times will help to ensure your child’s safety while on the water.
#3: Wear a PFD (Personal Flotation Device)Wearing a SUP PFD is a must anytime you and your child are out on the water. While adults have the option of wearing a belt-style PFD, children under the age of 12* must wear a USCG-approved life jacket.
*California state law requires all children under 13 years old to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket while on board a vessel that is 26ft or less while underway.

#4: Use a SUP LeashA paddle board leash is another must-have SUP accessory. SUP leashes ensure that paddlers won’t get separated from their boards if they happen to fall off. Strong winds and currents can quickly move a board out of reach, so a SUP leash is an important safety accessory that can literally save lives.
#5: Review Proper Paddling TechniqueIf you’re going to bring your child along on your SUP, it’s important that they know where and how to sit. Since your SUP will be more unstable in the water with two people onboard, it’s best if your child sits in a stationary position toward the front of the board.
Older children who are able to paddle their own board should be taught proper paddling technique.
#6: Don’t Forget the Sun ProtectionOverexposure to the sun is dangerous for kids and adults alike, so it’s always important to exercise caution while on the water. Sunscreen and proper attire (sun hats, swim shirts with SPF protection, etc.) can greatly reduce the risks associated with sun exposure.
#7: Bring Along Plenty of Water and SnacksPaddleboarding is great exercise and a super fun way to experience the outdoors, but it’s important to give your body the fuel it needs. Staying hydrated and bringing along some healthy snacks will ensure that you and your kids are up to the challenge!
Thank you Jason from Inflatableboader.com

Sharing the limelight with some friends in the Summer 2017 edition of SUPTHEMAG!

Sometimes the better option for staging a workout lies in the great outdoors.
Across the country, trainers are increasingly taking their clients outside.
From the trailheads of the San Francisco Bay Area to the boulders of Manhattan’s Central Park, more trainers and clients are lunging up hills, playing bear-crawl tag in the grass and soaking up the experience of exercising under open skies.  What is driving this interest? After all, gyms are climate-controlled spaces designed and outfitted to optimize exercise performance. The outdoors is subject to weather, traffic and uneven terrain. What’s the appeal of leaving an ideal exercise setting and embracing an uncertain outdoor environment? Here, several fitness professionals who have integrated the outdoors into their programs weigh in and share their motivations for moving their clients closer to Mother Nature.

• Reason 1: Clients Want It

“People want to be outside,” says Kristen Horler, MS, CEO and founder of Baby Boot Camp®, which she launched 16 years ago when living in San Francisco. Now based in Sarasota, Florida, Baby Boot Camp stroller fitness is a nationwide program focusing on cardio, strength and core workouts for moms with stroller-age children. Most of the workouts happen at local parks, using equipment moms can cart in their strollers. Horler says she still gets calls weekly from people wanting to set up a Baby Boot Camp in their cities.
She started Baby Boot Camp to give moms an opportunity to work out with their children without the guilt of dropping them off at daycare or having to pay for a babysitter.
“Everything is outside as much as possible,” Horler says. “Imagine being at the park and having your workout, then afterwards your little one can come out for playtime.” (Naturally, these programs move indoors if the weather does not cooperate.)
For Hank Ebeling, owner and coach at H4 Training in Wheaton, Illinois, the weather window for outdoor activity is short but impactful. Since opening 3 years ago, H4 Training has taken clients outside in the late spring and summer.
“People love it,” he says. “You’re outside; you’ve got trees. It’s a different vibe. It gets you out of a square box inside—especially in the Midwest when you’ve been freezing all spring and winter.”

• Reason 2: Science Supports It

Science backs up the idea of humans’ innate desire to connect with nature. Dasilva et al. (2011) found that when participants walked inside on a treadmill, they felt more fatigue, tension and anger than when they walked outside, notes Jennifer Flynn, PhD, visiting instructor in exercise science at Maryville College, in Maryville, Tennessee. Moreover, participants experienced less fatigue and felt happier and more invigorated outside even though their walking speed was faster than it was on the treadmill.
Several studies have shown a correlation between being outside and feeling emotionally, mentally and physically better (Coon et al. 2011; Harvard 2010; Barton & Pretty 2010).
“Being outside, it almost provides a distraction,” Flynn says. “Humans are innately connected to nature, and so that’s one potential reason why that release would occur” (see the sidebar “Health Benefits of Outdoor Exercise”).

• Reason 3: It’s Simple and Flexible

Trainers can easily adapt their outdoor workouts to their training style, company philosophy and local climate.
At H4 Training, Ebeling’s personal and small-group training company, outdoor workouts occur at local parks, and clients’ spouses can go along for free (friends are welcome, too). Ebeling uses basic equipment like bands and balls and puts down old mats for clients when there is dew on the grass.
“But for the most part we try to use what’s out there,” he says. That can mean integrating monkey bars and picnic tables into the workout. He also uses body-weight exercises and fun games like bear-crawl tag and partner mirroring—where one person picks a movement like jumping jacks or squats, and the other has to copy it.
“Don’t make it too technical or too detailed,” Ebeling advises. “Make it more simple. You’re outside, and you’re active and moving.”
Rick Richey, owner of Independent Training Spot in New York, uses the outdoors to train small groups for specific goals like Spartan® or Tough Mudder® adventure races.
“I just think it’s always nice for there to be some type of goal you’re striving for, so it’s not working out for the sake of working out or for losing weight,” says Richey.
He does his small-group training in Central Park, weather permitting. He uses everything from fartlek runs—sprinting from one light post to another or one tree to the next—to step-ups on benches and stairs.
“Everything that isn’t normally a fitness tool becomes a fitness tool,” he says.

• Reason 4: It’s More Fun

Exercising outside feels like being a kid again.
“It’s nice to just go outside and play,” Richey says. “[The outdoors is] more conducive to playing, and when you can get people to see their fitness as more about having fun, you’re going to get more compliance and adherence.”
Tina Vindum, MS, owner of Outdoor Fitness in San Francisco, urges trainers to find creative, unique uses of outdoor terrain. She has used mailboxes, parking meters and even trash cans to do rows.
“The more clever you can be, the more fun [it is].”
Vindum says she also gets clients to connect with the environment, feeling the trail under their feet or the grass on their legs as they lunge forward up a hill.
“Mats on the sidewalk is not outdoor fitness,” she says.

• Reason 5: It Matches Their Personality

Vindum, a former competitive skier and mountain biker, launched Out-door Fitness in 1995 after her own workouts convinced her that being indoors at the gym was not cutting it.
“It didn’t make sense for me to be a mountain athlete and not be on the mountain,” she says.
She took that passion and built it into a personal training career. Today, Outdoor Fitness boasts an outdoor fitness training and certification program. Vindum trains solely outdoors, rain or shine.
When the weather is cold or wet, the key is in the warm-up, she says. “It’s like jumping in a swimming pool. Once you’re warmed up, you kind of forget.”

• Reason 6: It’s Good Business                                                                                                                                

​Some trainers find that moving outdoors makes their services more attractive.
“We’ve actually gotten a lot of clients off of it,” Ebeling says of his outdoor workouts, noting that they create a buzz and that people at the park often inquire and follow up with him.
He sees that being outside also teaches people what’s possible—that working out doesn’t have to happen in a gym or be done in a complex way.
“You can bring fitness anywhere,” he says.
And that makes it so much easier to attract clients and keep them coming back.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR EXERCISEJust being outside is better for our health: We get more vitamin D, our mood improves, stress levels drop, and we actually heal faster, according to research compiled by Harvard Medical School (2010).
Exercising outdoors even delivers specific benefits to children, say experts. Exercise science instructor Jennifer Flynn, PhD, points out that kids who spend more time outdoors are more physically active (Cleland et al. 2008; Cooper et al. 2010).
“One of the things that studies in kids have found is that typically just being outside tends to be associated with higher physical activity intensity,” she says. Cleland et al. (2008) found that children who spent just 1 more hour per week outside participated in 26.5 more minutes of moderate to vigorous play.
“That logically makes sense,” she adds. “When kids are outside, they’re bouncing around and they’ve got all this space to play in.”
A 2011 study by Dasilva et al. found that people had a greater sense of well-being less fatigue and anger, and more enjoyment—when they walked outdoors than they did when walking indoors on a treadmill. The study’s participants self-selected a higher walking speed on outdoor terrain—yet they felt the exercise was less draining and more fun.
“I think really that’s one selling point for the outdoor activity,” Flynn says. “You’re getting a great workout, but it really doesn’t feel as hard.”
Improving Mental States
Humans need to be in nature, “otherwise we feel unwell,” says Tina Vindum, MS, owner of Outdoor Fitness in San Francisco. Vindum, who trains clients outdoors in the San Francisco Bay Area, has a master’s degree in kinesiology, serves on the faculty of the American Council on Exercise and gives speeches on the scientifically proven benefits of outdoor fitness.
Vindum says training clients outdoors improves their mental state and facilitates a release that comes from their innate connection to nature. “I’ve seen clients weep on the trail,” she says. “And it’s not because it’s so difficult. They’re so overwhelmed. It’s such an amazing feeling, and that’s the addiction.”
Inspiring Change
Being outside also challenges clients’ muscles in a variety of ways.
Kristen Horler, CEO and founder of Baby Boot Camp in Sarasota, Florida, says the fresh air alone is an added health benefit when exercising outdoors.
“I just think that not everyone is fully aware of how much better they feel to be breathing fresh air and being exposed to sunshine as opposed to the feeling when you’re indoors and there’s recirculated air and cold AC blowing on you. It’s almost as though it’s counterproductive to our body,” she says.
​Author: Shelby Spears IdeaFit May 2017

Equipment: Medicine Ball 8-10lbs
Preparation: Hold medicine ball in middle of chest. Balance on R leg.

Execution: Step back with left leg into lunge and simultaneously rotate torso and medicine ball right in diagonal chop or paddle. As you complete movement, lift left leg to starting balance position and return ball to middle of chest. Repeat on same leg; switch sides.
​
Regression: Keep ball close to chest, and place foot on ground instead of balancing.
Progression: Extend arms straight.

Since we began, we strive to listen to everything you tell us you want. Now we ask that you list to us too! In our new PodCast – The Paddler’s Pulse. YES! You read that right. We have heard the clamor to shares the stories of our awesome sport and community. and now it is real! Enjoy our 4 launched episodes and get ready for more.

We want your help to help make it a success. Please do the following steps:

1. Subscribe to The Paddler's Pulse in iTunes at:
   https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-paddlers-pulse-podcast/id1200359799?mt=2
2. Rate & Review our shows.
3. Share us with all your friends.
4. Tell us what you want for content and guests.

That last item is special because, we continue to be For Paddlers, By Paddlers. So if you know of an icon in the paddling scene you want on the show, or there is an event you want to hear us tell the story of, let us know.

by Jacque Crockford, MS ​http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/row-stronger-boat-not-required

Rowing has been a competitive sport for hundreds of years (and an official Olympic event since the modern Games began), and it consistently produces some of the world's fittest athletes (Steinacker 1993).
Formats spanning Indo–Row®, Orangetheory® Fitness and CrossFit® all include rowing programming, but we tend not to use it widely for our general fitness clients. Although few fitness professionals can say they have been in a racing shell with crew and coxswain, we can teach our clients to correctly use the rowing machine at their local gym to reach new levels of fitness.
Like any competitive sport, rowing can be intense, with a high risk of injury, but the sport is still considered "nonimpact," making it—for most clients—a great training tool at lower intensity levels, regardless of musculoskeletal limitations. The rowing ergometer (affectionately called the "erg" in the rowing community) is like any fitness machine: If clients use it properly, there is little risk of injury.
As long as rowing form is correct and efficient, clients of all ages, sizes and abilities will enjoy better cardiovascular and muscular function from rowing regularly. So when clients tire of the same old "glute burner" selection on the elliptical, the indoor rowing machine can provide a great new challenge.
The Science of Rowing
Competitive rowers have registered some of the largest maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) values ever recorded, because the sport requires a large mass of body muscle (Steinacker 1993). Although most of our general fitness clients won't need a VO2max in the 65–70 milliliters/kilogram of body weight/minute range, they can still row their way to a higher VO2max, boosting energy levels and improving overall cardiovascular function.
Like other effective cardiovascular training protocols, rowing increases mitochondrial density and capillary count over time. Row training also increases the size of both fast– and slow–twitch muscle fibers (Steinacker 1993).
Rowing is a good option for clients who seek hypertrophy but feel that cardio holds back their gains in muscle mass. Erg training will add muscle while providing the cardio they otherwise might not get. Furthermore, rowing can be a great way for clients to build mental fortitude and stay motivated.
Rowing Stats to Watch
While seated on the erg, rowers can see their split time (time it takes to row 500 meters) and/or watts (power output), which can really challenge them to achieve new levels of fitness and push past preconceptions about their physical abilities. As they repeat some of the workouts in this article, clients will see their progress over a longer period of time, which can be an effective extrinsic motivator.
For anyone looking to improve metabolic markers of chronic disease such as glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity and lipid profiles, rowing can also offer positive changes in body composition, as noted in several studies. One from the International Spinal Cord Society found a significant decrease in fat mass and a notable increase in lean mass in patients with different forms of spinal–cord injuries (a rowing machine with functional electrical stimulation was used) (Kim et al. 2014).
Basic Biomechanics
The biomechanics of rowing are pretty simple—the activity uses just about every body part! Approximately 70% of our muscle mass is used while rowing, according to several researchers (Steinacker 1993; Ogurkowska et al. 2015; Hagerman 2010). Beginning from the ankles and going all the way to the wrists and fingers, nearly every joint in our body goes through some degree of flexion and/or extension.
Forget the notion that rowing is all upper body. The lower body, specifically the quadriceps group, does a tremendous amount of work on the "drive" phase of the stroke (as the rower pushes away from the foot stretchers). The upper body and back are engaged just at the end of the stroke. The hamstrings are also very important during the recovery phase of the stroke, as they work to apply the brakes, or eccentrically slow the body, when needed to allow a controlled recovery up the slide. This is why flexibility can be improved through rowing, especially within the posterior chain.
Core stability can also improve through rowing. While core musculature maintains trunk position as the hips swing open and closed, force transfers through the feet, increasing stroke power and saving the lower back from injury.
Practical Rowing Workouts
Research tells us that rowing is a great way to safely improve cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility and body composition. Because these are the five major components of fitness, rowing can be the perfect tool for many people to reach their goals. Using the three workouts below, your clients will improve all these areas of fitness by working through the three major energy systems: aerobic, glycolytic and anaerobic.
1. Aerobic Workout (10–9–8–7)
The aerobic system is always working in the sport of rowing. A 2,000 m race takes roughly 5:30–7:30 minutes, depending on the racing crew and the type of shell, so it's important to have an efficient aerobic system.
For a general fitness client who is training for life and not the Olympics, a stronger aerobic system makes it easier to take care of kids, work around the house, use the stairs at work, and race from one meeting to the next without running out of breath.
A great aerobic system workout is the 10–9–8–7, which my college coach made our team do as a periodic fitness test throughout the year. Although I loathed it then, I appreciate the physiological benefits today (Thanks, Coach Sweeney!).
To do the 10–9–8–7, set the erg timer or your watch for 10 minutes. Be sure your client wears a heart rate monitor so you can track improvements over time. The goal of this workout is to improve heart rate recovery when working in the aerobic zone. Use an open–rate row (stroke rate as high or low as the client prefers) for 10 minutes, recording heart rate and total meters covered. Then rest for 10 minutes (this seems long, but it will come in handy later, and your client will wish it were longer).
Before rowing for 9 minutes on the next set, record heart rate recovery. Do the 9–minute set at an open rate again, tracking heart rate and total meters at the end. Rest for 10 more minutes. Repeat this process for 8– and 7–minute sets, making sure you gather heart rate recovery data.
Again, the goal is to improve cardiovascular endurance by improving the body's ability to recover between sets. This translates well to a 2,000 m rowing race and is a great way for general fitness clients to build endurance. The entire workout takes 64 minutes.
2. Glycolytic System Workout (500 M Repeats)
The glycolytic system improves muscle's capacity to buffer exercise byproducts (neutralize acid buildup), which makes this system essential for rowing. In a rowing sprint race, a significant amount of lactic acid builds up, creating an incredible physical and mental challenge. In real life, the glycolytic system works for us when we are rushing around in a 2–minute family drill (picking up toys, doing laundry and cleaning up aft er dinner!) or when we're literally running late to soccer practice.
For the 500 m repeats, allow your client to warm up for 5–10 minutes. When the client is ready, set the erg to count backward from 500 m (using the setting and timer). Set the rest time between the 500 m repeats for a predetermined length of time, depending on fitness level. The newer the client is to fitness, the more rest he or she will likely need.
At an open rate (using as many strokes per minute as feels comfortable; typical rowing races are done at 30–40 strokes per minute), ask your client to hold a split time for the 500 m. The goal will be to maintain that time (split for 500 m) for the entire set.
Start with a rest time of at least twice as long as it takes a client to finish the set. For example, if it takes 3 minutes to finish 500 m, allow 6 minutes of rest. Repeat the 500 m four times, recording average split time and overall completion time. Over time, buffering capacity improves and clients therefore need less rest to maintain a low split time.
In the glycolytic system, providing a work–to–rest ratio of 1:2 is sufficient for recovery, but you can adjust based on the client's fitness level.
3. Anaerobic Workout
Time to sprint! The anaerobic system supplies energy for just 6–10 seconds, so these sprints will take place between easier sets.
Start your client with a 5–minute warm–up. Ensure that the heart rate stays low (Zone 1). Rest is crucial for complete recovery of the anaerobic system, so this workout will include active recovery so that the client doesn't have to go back and forth from the machine.
Begin with a 5–minute row at a stroke rate of less than 20 strokes per minute (15–18 is usually a good pace). At the 5–minute mark, the client will sprint for no more than 20 seconds as fast as possible with an open stroke rate. Watching the timer, have the client row for another 4 minutes, then repeat the 20–second sprint. The client will row for 3 minutes, sprint for 20 seconds and then repeat at the 2– and the 1–minute markers.
In total, the client will do only 80 seconds of hard work (20 × 4) with 15 minutes of easy rowing (5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 15). Feel free to repeat this set up to three more times for a 60–minute workout.

AVOIDING ERRORS ON THE ERGOMETER
These are some of the major mistakes that occur when using a rowing ergometer:

• not engaging the core while pushing with the legs, which creates a "shooting" of the hips
• allowing the back to round and shoulders to slump forward, which places undue stress on the lower back and shoulders
• allowing the knees to bend first on the recovery instead of letting the body swing back over the legs, which causes a timing issue for the tension chain

Contraindications

• If a client has a pre–existing condition such as a lower–back injury, a doctor or physical therapist should be consulted before adding the erg to the client's routine. Rowing does place additional load on areas of the lumbar spine (Ogurkowska et al. 2015).
• During the catch–and–pull phase of the stroke, when breathing correctly the client will perform a short Valsalva maneuver to maintain stability in the trunk as the legs extend. Just as in strength training, this will increase the client's blood pressure (Hartwell, Volberding & Brennan 2015), so advise clients with hypertension to seek medical clearance before participating in a rowing program.

PROPER ROWING FORM

• Sit tall at the "catch," with arms straight, spine erect, knees bent and ankles dorsiflexed. Engage the lats to set the shoulders, and recruit the core muscles to protect the lower back.
• "Drive" by pushing with the legs first, maintaining engagement in the trunk. When the legs are fulling extended, hinge open at the hips and lean the trunk back at approximately 45 degrees—backward from 90 degrees seated upright (Ogurkowska et al. 2015). Last, pull with the arms, bringing the handle into the trunk between the bellybutton and the nipples (exactly where will depend on trunk and arm lengths).
• To "recover," allow the arms to extend first; hinge at the hips, bringing the trunk over the legs; then return the catch by bending the knees last.

ReferencesHagerman, F. 2010. An update of rowing physiology. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University. Accessed Nov. 10, 2016. http://archive.usrowing.org/docs/default-source/resource-library/8A-6.pdf.
Hartwell, M.S., Volberding, J.L., & Brennan, D.K. 2015. Cardiovascular drift while rowing on an ergometer. Journal of Exercise Physiology Online, 18 (2), 95-102.
Kim, D.I., et al. 2014. A six-week motor-driven functional electronic stimulation rowing program improves muscle strength and body composition in people with spinal cord injury: A pilot study. Spinal Cord, 52 (8), 621-24.
Ogurkowska, M., et al. 2015. Biomechanical characteristics of rowing. Trends in Sports Sciences, 2 (22), 61-69.
Steinacker, J.M. 1993. Physiological aspects of training in rowing. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 14 (Suppl. 1), S3-S10.

Matt Chebatoris  February 2, 2017
http://supexaminer.com/2017/02/be-a-paddler/#.WJYgr7YrJAZ​

Why Paddler Events Like Hanohano Are the BestStand up paddling is fun and has opened the world of watersports to new audiences around the world. I can remember the first time I saw a stand up paddler back in 2008. The individual was moving along on a what was approximately an 11 ft all around board in Marina del Rey. I had recently moved back to the U.S. after spending nine of the previous 10 years overseas and was a newcomer to the Los Angeles area. My wife and I were renting a very small studio apartment on the ninth floor of a high-rise building in nearby Venice at the time. We saw the guy on the board during a walk one evening and weren’t sure what it was. Not being from the area, we just figured it was some sort of crazy California thing that they do out here.
My wife and I rented a pair of boards not long afterwards. Pre-paddling instruction back then was essentially non-existent. After a minor marital discussion on the topic of who knew more about a sport neither of us knew anything about we agreed it was most effective to stand with our feet shoulder width apart and paddle the giant “surf boards” like canoes.  
I took to stand up paddling with a bit more eagerness than my wife and soon began learning as much as I could about the new sport. I found the event scene, later joined a local outrigger canoe club (OC-6), and have been training regularly on an OC-1 since last fall.
After attending a variety of events over the years I’ve developed a short list of my favorites, as well as the ones which contribute the most to the sustainable growth of not just stand up paddling, but paddle sports across the board. Yes, not just SUP, but paddling as a whole. Stand up paddling, unique as it may be, is part of a broader paddling community and the events which recognize this and welcome the discipline into the fold have historically, and will continue for the foreseeable future, to be the true grassroots events responsible for ensuring the future of stand up paddling as a recreational sport.
Happy Paddlers! Photo: OnIt Pro
The Hanohano Ocean Challenge is one of such events. I’m not a metrics guy, but based on observation alone, Hanohano is probably the largest multi-discipline paddling event on the West Coast and one of the largest anywhere in the United States. Registration in 2017 topped 400 and while stand up paddling contributed a sizeable portion of the total participants, it is the 21-year-old event’s focus on maximum inclusion that has been its key to success over the years.
Stand up paddling doesn’t need manufacturer’s challenges, rows of exclusionary corporate tents, and a disproportionate emphasis on “professionals” while needlessly relegating recreational paddlers to a circus-like sideshow separate from the “main event”. Hopefully the organizers of the Pacific Paddle Games had a few scouts at Hanohano this past weekend and they learned a thing or two.
Hanohano’s mission is to spread the spirit of Aloha while growing the community of all paddlers. What started as a grassroots surfski event in the late 1980’s has grown to become one of the country’s largest multi discipline paddling events. This spirit of inclusion is readily on display throughout the day from the moment you arrive to check in. For a mere $25 participants can race along an endless number of great paddlers, young and old, in all paddling disciplines from outrigger canoes to SUPs and everything in between. Yes, the event costs only $25 to enter and for that one low price everyone receives the same well-designed T Shirt, a great pre-race breakfast, and the opportunity to paddle in a great destination – San Diego, California.
Hanohano has quite possibly the best raffle of any paddling event on the planet (the top prize is a brand new OC-1) and the inclusive format not only allows paddlers to compete against many of the best in all of paddling, but provides the opportunity to race or try out multiple paddle craft. Danny Ching and Jade Howson each won the overall title in their respective SUP divisions and then after a short rest took to the water once more in OC-1’s for a repeat performance in the day long event’s long course. Infinity’s Dave Boehne set another great example when after finishing third overall in the 14’ SUP division he hung out on the water near the finish line and cheered on the remaining competitors. What made their actions great was that they did so alongside the rest of us, on the same courses, at the same time, in the same conditions allowing everyone to share the glory.  
Several stand up paddlers competed in more than one discipline, racing the long course in an OC-2 proved to be a popular option, while others, including this writer, traded their SUP paddle for that of an outrigger canoe and tested their skills in a new craft on the short course. Stand up paddling is great fun, but the grand ambitions SUP conjures up in the minds of some are not an absolute and we need more events like Hanohano to nurture the sport’s full potential.
The Hanohano Outrigger Canoe Club is a 501c3 that has been contributing to the growth of paddle sports since the early 1980’s.  The annual Hanohano Huki Ocean Challenge funds the club’s junior development program and Wounded Warrior Program. The event is staffed by volunteers and treats every participant like family. Special thanks to the sponsors of the 2017 Hanohano Ocean Challenge: Huki Outrigger/Surfski, Paddle Planet, Dirty Birds and Carbo Pro as well as all the vendors, product sponsors, and paddlers who helped us make it a great day.