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| Getting close to Portlock, the last 5 miles are the toughest part of the M2O race |
Aloha, Robert Stehlik
Surfing and Stand Up Paddling as Zen arts. Written by Len Barrow and Robert Stehlik. Focus and paying attention to technique, equipment, mental aspects, the interplay with nature and others.
Showing posts with label downwinder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label downwinder. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Molokai Race training video with team mate Greg Pavao
This is a video of training with Greg Pavao on the Blue Planet 14' x 28" Bump rider preparing for the Molokai2Oahu two man team race this coming Sunday. Filmed with the tail mounted camera setup which is shown in the beginning of the video. The video was shot on three different downwind runs from Hawaii Kai to Kaimana. Although I was trying to avoid waves due to the big camera mount and no leash, a wave was breaking and I had no choice to catch it. Luckily I did not fall in and got a long ride at the end of the video coming in by Tongs and shooting right through the reef outside of the Elks Club. Filmed and edited by Robert Stehlik, enjoy!
Monday, March 4, 2013
Narrated downwind run- Hawaii Kai run tips by Robert Stehlik
Downwind runs are exciting and fun. In the surf, you are often waiting for a set or your turn to catch the next wave. On a downwinder, there are no crowds, you have long windswells that stretch across the whole ocean to play with, you are always on the move, going from one glide to the next, surfing the bumps.
It's not easy though, it takes balance, timing, patience, good paddling skills, fitness, and experience which comes from lots of time on the water.
It can also be dangerous to head out into the open ocean unprepared, so make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.
I enjoy sharing what I have learned and have been offering coaching to paddlers that want to experience the joy of downwind paddling. Click here for more information on downwind coaching with offered by Blue Planet.
I was inspired by a video from Jermey Riggs (click to watch it) on Maui doing a Maliko run to do a narrated downwind run while talking about some of the things I try to teach on a coaching run. Watching these videos will not replace a good coach but it will be helpful before doing your first downwinder, especially a Hawaii Kai run on Oahu. I'm narrating while doing a downwinder on a SIC 17 Bullet. Turn up the volume to the max to hear. I split it up into 3 videos to keep them shorter, enjoy!
This is a playlist with downwinder videos, so just keep watching to see all our downwind videos.
Here is the data of this run from my GPS:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/281329873
Aloha, Robert Stehlik
It's not easy though, it takes balance, timing, patience, good paddling skills, fitness, and experience which comes from lots of time on the water.
It can also be dangerous to head out into the open ocean unprepared, so make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.
I enjoy sharing what I have learned and have been offering coaching to paddlers that want to experience the joy of downwind paddling. Click here for more information on downwind coaching with offered by Blue Planet.
I was inspired by a video from Jermey Riggs (click to watch it) on Maui doing a Maliko run to do a narrated downwind run while talking about some of the things I try to teach on a coaching run. Watching these videos will not replace a good coach but it will be helpful before doing your first downwinder, especially a Hawaii Kai run on Oahu. I'm narrating while doing a downwinder on a SIC 17 Bullet. Turn up the volume to the max to hear. I split it up into 3 videos to keep them shorter, enjoy!
This is a playlist with downwinder videos, so just keep watching to see all our downwind videos.
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| This is the Hawaii Kai run GPS track from the Blinker Buoy (last channel marker in Hawaii Kai) to the Windsock outside Kaimana Beach. |
Here is the data of this run from my GPS:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/281329873
Aloha, Robert Stehlik
Monday, October 22, 2012
Weekly SUP training group: technique coaching, downwinders, and time trials every Wednesday
Subscribe to our weekly training group mailing list:
You can unsubscribe at any time if you no longer want the e-mails. The newsletter goes out on Monday or Tuesday every week.
Our Wednesday SUP training group is the longest continuously running training group in the world!
Please also sign up to this Facebook group for updates: Hawaii Downwind Paddlers Facebook Group
The Stand Up Paddling Association of Hawaii (SUPAH), sponsored by Blue Planet Surf and Wet Feet, is holding a weekly training group event every Wednesday, this page will have the latest updates, results and coaching videos/ information posted. The group is coached by Robert Stehlik and Jeff Chang as well as guest coaches. Depending on wind conditions we meet to do a downwinder from Hawaii Kai to Kahala, or a time trial or interval training in Hawaii Kai.
Wednesday until further notice: We are meeting by the Hawaii Kai boat ramp, unless we are doing a downwinder, in which case we are meeting in Kahala. Please make sure to subscribe to the e-mails so you get the latest information. We also post updates on the Oahu Downwind Paddlers facebook group, please ask to join if you want to be part of this facebook group.
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| Meeting place for the Wednesdays training group: This sign by the Hawaii Kai boat ramp |
Please subscribe to the newsletter to get updates on training start times and meeting place.
We welcome anyone to join our weekly training group, although these sessions are targeted towards intermediate and advanced paddlers to improve their technique and to improve fitness through regular high intensity training. We will usually run the regular time trial course which can be shortened for those that do not want to paddle the whole 2 mile course. Sometimes will do shorter sprint training sessions. If the wind is good, we will do a Hawaii Kai to Kahala downwind run (for downwinders, we meet at Kahala earlier, please sign up for the e-mail newsletter to get updates). If you are a beginner, we recommend taking some private SUP lessons first as our coaching topics are geared towards more advanced paddlers.
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| This is the time trial course, approximately 2 miles. |
When the wind is good, our training group does a Kahala run downwinder instead of the time trial. Please sign up for the newsletter to know when to meet for a downwinder instead of the time trial. We meet at Wai'alae Beach park in Kahala and launch from the Canoe Hale in Hawaii Kai for downwinders. If you have never done a downwinder before, please sign up for a private coached downwind run before you join the group runs.
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| On windy days, our training group does this Kahala Run (about 5 miles) and a shorter run (about 2.5 miles) for those less experienced in downwind paddling. |
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| Wai'alae Beach park in Kahala is the meeting place (and finish) when we do the downwind course. Please sign up for the weekly newsletter to fins out when and where to meet on Wednesdays afternoons. |
The results of the time trials are posted online on Racesplitter:
The first training group is always FREE to newcomers. If you are attending for the second (or more) time, we ask that you make a contribution to SUPAH. You can purchase a single session for $15 or a 10 session pass for $100. If you purchase a pass we will keep track of your usage. All proceeds are a donation to the Stand Up Paddle Association of Hawaii, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, whose mission is to promote SUP training, racing and youth development. We don't take payments at the event, so please go to this link to make a payment: http://wetfeet.rezgo.com/details/50782/training-clinic Demo boards: Please reserve a demo race board with 24 hour notice with either Robert or Jeff, please make a $40 contribution per demo board use which includes transport to and from the event. Mahalo! This is the windguru wind forecast page we like to check, if we have good, moderate Tradewinds from an easterly direction, we will usually do a downwinder: http://www.windguru.cz/int/index.php?sc=20449 |
All participants are required to sign this waiver form before participating. We will have forms available or you can print the form and bring it to the next meeting
This is a video playlists of videos from our weekly training groups, so keep watching to see all the videos from the last few years:
Below is the video from last weeks class, taking another look at stroke technique. Everyone has been improving their technique. We will watch this as a group and talk about things we notice, this video has no narrating or music, just raw footage. I edited the footage to put each paddlers clips together. Watch yourself a few times and see what you can learn about your own stoke. Look at the reach, catch, lower hand grip position, stroke rate, shoulder twist, lean, exit, feather, relaxed recovery, breathing, etc, all the things we have talked about.
Aloha, Robert Stehlik
www.blueplanetsurf.com
Sunday, May 15, 2011
SUP Downwind Clinic video- with Nicole Madosik, Jared Vargas, Morgan Hoeserey, Kainoa Beaupre
Blue Planet Downwind Clinic part 1 with tips from Nicole Madosik and Jared Vargas
Blue Planet Downwind Clinic - Part 2 with tips from Jared Vargas and Morgan Hoesterey
Blue Planet Downwind Clinic- Part 3 with tips from Robert Stehlik and Kainoa Beaupre
Downwind Clinic- Part 4-Kainoa Beaupre with more downwind tips and line to Kaimana
Downwind Clinic- Part 5, Kainoa Beaupre talks about the inside line from Kaimana to Fort De Russy
Downwind Clinic - Part 6: End of the beach clinic and into the water
Timing and Efficiency
There is a good game on OCpaddler.com called 40 strokes, where the goal is to go as far as possible with 40 strokes using the waves. It teaches you timing and to use your strokes as efficiently as possible (although it is limited to two dimensions, in real life, going left and right can make a big difference). I have been able to get a score of just over 1900 but have not been able to get over 2000 as some others have. For tips, read some of the comments posted.
Aloha,
Robert Stehlik
Saturday, November 20, 2010
The fastest SUP race board comparison- planing vs. displacement hull by Robert Stehlik and Jeff Chang
Watch the video (filmed in 2015, 5 years after this was first posted):
This is an edited version of a board comparison first posted in January 2010.
On a mission to find the fastest SUP race board shape
Planing vs. Displacement hulls- a SUP race board comparison written by Robert Stehlik (Blue Planet Surf) and Jeff Chang (Wet Feet) for Zen Waterman
When I first started paddling racing boards, the equipment was not as important as the technique and fitness level. I had a fast board, a 14' C4 Waterman Vortice XP and I kept going faster by practicing and improving my technique and endurance. While going on Hawaii Kai runs with Todd Bradley, Dave Parmenter and Greg Pavao, who were all riding the same board as me and going much faster, it made me realize that I had plenty of room to improve. It was me, not the board, that was slow. Getting a good, proven stock race board is a good way to get started in SUP racing. Most races have 12'6 or 14' stock divisions and you can be competitive in the class without getting caught up in the "arms race" in the unlimited division. The size and price of a stock board is also more manageable.
With that said, as I got better, I noticed that guys on longer, unlimited boards with rudders were going faster and at some point I realized that if I wanted to be one of the fastest racers, I also need to be on one of the fastest boards. Since then, I have been trying many different boards and designs in search of the fastest one and want to share some of the things I have learned.
My friend and training partner Jeff Chang and I had the chance to test and compare several SUP race boards. As Jeff and I train together regularly, switching back and forth with each other gives us a good indication of how fast we are going. Last week, we compared two new 12'6" stock race models that will be available as production boards next year and we can't report about yet.
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| SUP race boards- Unlimited displacement vs. planing hull |
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| Dennis Pang (left) and SIC race board decks |
The custom SIC/ Starboard board on the right is a planing hull with a flat bottom and sharp edges in the back and hard tucked under edges. It's quite wide and stable.
The Dennis Pang board is more of a displacement hull with a piercing bow and rounded rails in the nose and tail. The mid section has a slight double concave with soft tucked under edges. This board is only 25 1/8" wide with a flat area of 22 1/4".
We launched in Hawaii Kai and I took some pictures as Jeff passes me on the Dennis Pang board.
Doug Locke was on a 14' Naish Glide and Darin Kohara was on a SIC F-14.It was pretty windy and I was confident I would catch up to them on the SIC, but it was not as easy as I expected. The board felt like it was pushing water and I had a hard time catching the short, disorganized bumps. I paddled as hard as I could, but did not get closer to Doug and Jeff, who seemed to be having a blast connecting the bumps. To be fair, I have been riding displacement hulls for a while and have never ridden a planing hull over 14', so I had to get used to it. I know that some of the fastest guys are on this kind of board, so I made up my mind to figure out how to make this thing go. As we got further out, the bumps got bigger and more defined. I figured out that the board needed to go from bump to bump to maintain speed and that I needed to move my weight back quickly to pick up speed on a bump. I started getting used to the board and began to tap into some of its potential.
My understanding of the theory behind planing vs. displacement hulls is that a planing hull is slower at low speeds but once it starts to plane at higher speeds, it lifts out of the water and reduces the wetted surface, lowering friction and allowing higher top speeds. In comparison, a displacement hull uses a long waterline and smooth water entry and exit to allow for less drag at low speeds. You can get a displacement hull on a plane but the top speed is limited by water wrapping around the rounded edges versus the flat bottom and hard edges of a planing hull that allow a clean release, more lift, less drag, and higher top speed.
After getting half way to Black Point, Jeff and I switched boards and I got on the Dennis Pang board I was used to riding. The board felt very tippy coming off the stable SIC board and it took me a moment to adjust to it. When I finally got into the groove, I was catching every little bump with little effort. This board just feels slippery through the water; hard to put into words.
Jeff on the SIC catches a runner. Note how he moves the right foot back to lift the front of the board up.
Doug Locke is the master at catching and surfing bumps. He has tried many boards, too and really enjoys the 14' Naish Glide.
Jeff catching a swell coming into Waikiki
We finished at the Elk's club
Day two: We took the boards for another run the next day.
The SIC rudder system (ASS- Advanced Steering System) is comfortable and is easily controlled by the toes.
The wind was strong and the board was catching bumps without even paddling.
We had a big group of stand up and prone paddlers starting at the blinker buoy.
The second run on the SIC board went better. I was able to keep up with the fastest guys and I really started to feel the board's strengths, namely:
It's fast on the bumps and it maintains a high speed when connecting bumps.
Stable deck and thick rails, barely ever had water running over my feet.
Easy to control, especially when riding bumps and easier to ride swells at an angle or "down the line" at angles where the displacement hulls tend to roll and slow down. I figure this is a big advantage in the Molokai race where you are quartering the wind and swells for most of the race.
Jeff's truck with seven boards and paddlers ready to shuttle back to Hawaii Kai.
Board test day 3: On the third day we added a third board to the test: Jeff Chang's Bark board that he used in the Molokai race (the black one on the right)
Jeff's board is a displacement type hull, similar to the Dennis Pang board but at 26 1/2" wide is about 1 1/2" wider and more stable. It also has more rocker and cable rudder system that runs underneath the deck, like on the SIC. The Dennis Pang board has a fiberglass batten running down the deck that controls the rudder.
Jeff's BARK has a "knifey" piercing nose and tail with a double concave in the middle and rounded rails.
Launching in Hawaii Kai.
The crew at the blinker buoy.
The wind was light and the bumps were small, but it was great to get out on another beautiful day in Hawaii. This was the shortest day of the year and this picture made me realize how lucky we are to be paddling under rainbows when most people in the northern hemisphere are stuck indoors.
I rode Jeff's Bark the first half of the run and immediately felt comfortable on it. The board was predictable, fast, and fun to paddle. It felt lighter and more nimble than the 18' Bark board I own and paddled on in the Molokai race (see my previous post).
I am always impressed by how smooth the water entry and exit is on all the Bark boards I have tried. In flat water, the amount of turbulence created where the bow enters the water and the turbulence behind the tail is a direct indicator of how much friction the board has through the water. The less the water gets disturbed, the faster you go. Some boards slice through the water so smoothly that you don't feel like you are going fast- that's what you want. Joe Bark seems to have a special skill for making the water go under and around the board with minimal disturbance and drag. I have noticed that many of the shapers that make the fastest unlimited boards have been making and experimenting with racing boards (prone paddleboards and windsurf boards in particular) for many years and can draw from that experience to make the fastest hull shapes.
While a piercing bow with a "v" in the water entry area seems to be fastest in flat water, a flat bottom where the water enters gives more lift in the nose and is easier to control when riding the bumps. The wide flat water entry area of the SIC generates plenty of lift and is easy to control, but also feels like it is "pushing water" at lower speeds, while the Pang board is a compromise. When I switched to the Pang board, I had to get used to the tippyness again but once adjusted, I felt like the narrower board had less resistance through the water. The Pang board transitions from a piercing nose to a flat section where the water enters. This makes the bow "splashy" in flat water, not as smooth as the Bark, but also seems to make it easier to steer in bumps and it felt like I did not have to work as hard to catch and stay on the bumps. Out of all the boards I have tried so far, the Dennis Pang board is still my favorite for coastal runs and races, which is not to say that it would work well in the Molokai race (too tippy) or in a flat water race (water entry not as smooth). For those conditions I would probably choose the SIC board and the Bark, respectively.
That summarizes my input.
Here is what Jeff Chang (Wet Feet) has to say about the three boards:
Here are my impressions for the various performance aspects observations from paddling next to you. This is a good gauge because you are faster than me:
Overall speed:
In flat water is seems the Bark is fastest, Pang second and the SIC third. This is easiest to measure.
In moderate winds it seems the Pang is fastest, the Bark second and the SIC third. For me the Pang is faster because is seems to miss less of the bumps, especially the smaller ones. It seems easiest to catch everything. It felt like the Bark and SIC missed more bumps and I could feel more often stalling on the backside of the bump and needing to wait for the next one. But also it seemed like once you caught a bump the Bark and SIC glided further. The SIC especially so if the bump was big. So overall if feels like the Pang catches more bump and maintains the speed better but I got longer rides with the Bark and SIC. I think a lot depends on the paddler too. For example, someone like SIC with a lot of strength might be able to make a board like his go faster (or Scott Gamble on his Bark) than I could and could close the speed gap between the three or even make his go faster than the others.
Stability:
SIC most stable, Bark second and Pang third. Although the Pang was not overly tipsy and was easy to recover on. During the HK run I don't fall atall using the Pang so the design is reasonably user friendly. But others have commented that at 25" wide the Pang is hard to balance on and if you cannot balance then you cannot put full paddle power into your stroke.
Paddling Effort:
Pang easiest, Bark medium, SIC most effort. Again you need to be able to balance on the board to be able to power it properly.
Handling:
The SIC board is very stable with a lot of volume and feels like a boat. I can see this being very good for Molokai where if you need to you could just cruise and not have to concentrate on balancing. The planing type back would also be good for turning the board to windward and trimming on a bump which is critical for the channel. I think a board like this would be my choice for the channel.
The Bark is very stable and user friendly but a little more nimble than the SIC and is good all around since in goes fast in flat water. This is a good Oahu board and is good for the HK run since the start and end are in flat water and the board catches bumps well. It would also be my choice for a North Shore race. The double concave bottom and pronounced spine down the middle seems to give it a lot of drive and might explain the longer rides. I rode this board at the last Molokai and at times it would have been nice to have had a more stable board but then this board is light and easy to paddle so hard to say if I would have gone faster on a more stable board. Its always a tradeoff. I was very happy with my Molokai time on this board and felt good at the end so after all is said and done maybe a more stable board might have been more comfortable but also might have been slower.
The Pang feels fast and slippery in the water. For me this board was the fastest and most fun to paddle because it seems to catch the most bumps and maintain speed although you don't get those really long rides where you feel like you are surfing. But in a race it seems catching all those little ones and maintaining speed is faster than those longer rides which happen less often. This might be explained by the more subtle concave bottom and flatter more neutral entry just behind the piercing nose. I think that is what gives it that controllable feel dropping into the bumps and ability to push into the next one.
Thanks for reading, Aloha!
Updates:
9/28/2012:
Since this post was written in January 2010, Jeff Chang had Dennis Pang shape him a copy of the board in this comparison and had it glassed very light with carbon. He installed a cable rudder system and has been winning many races with this board over the last few years. For pictures of his board and the rudder system, visit this Molokai training post.
I (Robert), have gotten used to riding planing hulls and now prefer to use them in downwind conditions. I have been using a 17'4" SIC Bullet or the 14' x 28" Blue Planet Bump Rider that I designed specifically for downwind races. No longer happy just using boards created by others, I started using computer aided design to shape race boards in 2011. This has allowed us to make incremental improvements to the shapes to make them faster and improve handling.
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| Robert Stehlik on the 14' x 28" Bump Rider |
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| Race proven shapes: Greg Pavao and Robert Stehlik won their age division and came in 3rd overall two man team at the 2013 Molokai to Oahu Race on the 14' x 28" Blue Planet Bump Rider model. The planing hull design make it a fast and stable board in downwind conditions. |
August 2014 update:
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Jeff Chang finishes the 2014 Molokai race on the latest version of the 14' x 28" Blue Planet Bump Rider. He not only finishes first in his age group but his time of 5:23 is also faster than all other paddlers over 50, including those on unlimited boards. Well done Jeff!
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Related posts: SUP Weight test: is lighter really faster?
Unlimited SUP flatwater speed test
12'6" flatwater speed test
Blue Planet board construction information and factory tour video
Narrated Downwind coaching video
Molokai Race training video
Aloha,Robert Stehlik
Monday, May 31, 2010
Molokai training run- Hawaii Kai to Barbers Point- by Robert Stehlik
Training for the Molokai to Oahu race
Jeff Chang (I call him "Coach" because without him I would not be doing all this) and I did the Molokai race last Summer. We did one long training run two weeks before the race from Sandy Beach to White Plains. This year, we decided to step it up and start doing a long run every two weeks to be more prepared for the 32 mile distance of the race. This is a report of our most recent run for those of you that enjoy reading about SUP racing and training.
Today, on Memorial Day, Jared Vargas, Jeff Chang, Darin Ohara and myself went on a long training run. This was our fourth distance training day this year. Click here for some pics from a previous run that Jeff posted on his facebook page.
We started out in Hawaii Kai and paddled to Barbers Point for a total of over 31 miles.
For a map of our course, time, speed etc, please follow this link with the stats from Jared's GPS watch. Its pretty cool how much information it contains:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/35289093?sms_ss=email
We launched on the marina in Hawaii Kai which is a good way to warm up and add about 1.5 miles to the total distance.
The run to Black Point was nice and fast with good bumps.
Darin passing Diamond Head, he did not have time to do the whole run and stopped at Kaimana Beach.
We stopped at Ala Moana beach park to refill our water bags- about half way. There was a nice south swell and we were catching waves along the way.
This shot is after passing Magic Island.
The current news is dominated by bad news, including oil spilling uncontrolled into the Gulf, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, financial crisis, global recession and with my business facing many challenges it's sometimes difficult to keep a positive outlook. Out here on the water, however, it's all good.
Looking at the city in the background reminds me of the Santa Monica song by Everclear:
We can live beside the ocean
Leave the fire behind
Swim out past the breakers
Watch the world die
For me, paddling is a great way to connect with nature, focus on the present without distraction and balance out my otherwise busy urban lifestyle. I always feel far removed from it all when I'm out in the ocean. For some this may sound like a torturous way to spend Memorial Day but for us it's more like therapy.
Jared getting goofy
Jeff somewhere off Sand Island
Jared powering up. All three of us were keeping close to the same pace and barely had to stop to wait for each other.
A plane taking off as we pass the reef runway
Diamond Head looks pretty far away by now
Cargo ship passing on the outside
By Ewa Beach there is a shooting range, we could hear the shots echoing out on the water. The cement wall says DANGER- STAY CLEAR 5200 YRDS.
I lose my focus and wonder: What the heck is that supposed to mean? How did they come up with that distance? 5200 yards? Did they actually measure how far a stray bullet travels? How are we supposed to know how far away we are? Are they really shooting bullets out towards the ocean? I just want to get away from here as fast as possible and start to paddle harder.
The sign reminds me of the bumper sticker that says:
"If you can read this you are too close"
Luckily we did not encounter any stray bullets.
The bumps were awesome, the run from the airport runway to Barbers Point is one of my favorites. We have done it 6 times or so now and I thought it was even better than the Hawaii Kai to Black Point section every time. With clean windswell bumps from the back and ocean swells from the side this is a fun, fast, challenging downwind run. We kept chasing each other and maintained a strong pace.
On previous runs we finished at White Plains beach, which has a nice sandy beach, mellow, rolling waves, surfboard racks by the showers, grass and is a great place to land after a long paddle. Today we wanted to go further and decided to go all the way to Barbers Point lighthouse in the Cambell Industrial Park.
As we got closer we saw some sizable surf breaking. I felt foolish for not bringing a leash and thought of what would happen of a big roller took my board and I would have to swim in. With the strong wind and currents I might not be able to catch up with my board. So losing the board was not an option.
Jared sneaking out over a wave before it breaks
Getting in was not as bad as I feared, I was able to come in on one of the smaller waves, no problem.
Landing at the lighthouse was challenging as there was no sandy beach, just jagged sharp reef with shorebreak washing over it. Here is Jeff sacrificing his feet to keep his new Dennis Pang board from touching the reef. I just had to take this picture before going to help him.
Here is Jeff with his home made cable rudder system that he engineered in his garage the day before using a plastic cutting board, bungee cords and other high tech equipment. He was quite happy with the way it worked.
The cables run through tubes sunk into the deck under the footpads.
The bungee cords keep the steering in neutral when not engaged.
The truck is loaded and we are ready for the long drive back.
Below is a short video I shot of Jeff somewhere outside Ewa Beach.
Thanks for reading!
Jeff Chang (I call him "Coach" because without him I would not be doing all this) and I did the Molokai race last Summer. We did one long training run two weeks before the race from Sandy Beach to White Plains. This year, we decided to step it up and start doing a long run every two weeks to be more prepared for the 32 mile distance of the race. This is a report of our most recent run for those of you that enjoy reading about SUP racing and training.
Today, on Memorial Day, Jared Vargas, Jeff Chang, Darin Ohara and myself went on a long training run. This was our fourth distance training day this year. Click here for some pics from a previous run that Jeff posted on his facebook page.
We started out in Hawaii Kai and paddled to Barbers Point for a total of over 31 miles.
For a map of our course, time, speed etc, please follow this link with the stats from Jared's GPS watch. Its pretty cool how much information it contains:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/35289093?sms_ss=email
We launched on the marina in Hawaii Kai which is a good way to warm up and add about 1.5 miles to the total distance.
The run to Black Point was nice and fast with good bumps.
Darin passing Diamond Head, he did not have time to do the whole run and stopped at Kaimana Beach.
We stopped at Ala Moana beach park to refill our water bags- about half way. There was a nice south swell and we were catching waves along the way.
This shot is after passing Magic Island.
The current news is dominated by bad news, including oil spilling uncontrolled into the Gulf, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, financial crisis, global recession and with my business facing many challenges it's sometimes difficult to keep a positive outlook. Out here on the water, however, it's all good.
Looking at the city in the background reminds me of the Santa Monica song by Everclear:
We can live beside the ocean
Leave the fire behind
Swim out past the breakers
Watch the world die
For me, paddling is a great way to connect with nature, focus on the present without distraction and balance out my otherwise busy urban lifestyle. I always feel far removed from it all when I'm out in the ocean. For some this may sound like a torturous way to spend Memorial Day but for us it's more like therapy.
Jared getting goofy
Jeff somewhere off Sand Island
Jared powering up. All three of us were keeping close to the same pace and barely had to stop to wait for each other.
A plane taking off as we pass the reef runway
Diamond Head looks pretty far away by now
Cargo ship passing on the outside
By Ewa Beach there is a shooting range, we could hear the shots echoing out on the water. The cement wall says DANGER- STAY CLEAR 5200 YRDS.
I lose my focus and wonder: What the heck is that supposed to mean? How did they come up with that distance? 5200 yards? Did they actually measure how far a stray bullet travels? How are we supposed to know how far away we are? Are they really shooting bullets out towards the ocean? I just want to get away from here as fast as possible and start to paddle harder.
The sign reminds me of the bumper sticker that says:
"If you can read this you are too close"
Luckily we did not encounter any stray bullets.
The bumps were awesome, the run from the airport runway to Barbers Point is one of my favorites. We have done it 6 times or so now and I thought it was even better than the Hawaii Kai to Black Point section every time. With clean windswell bumps from the back and ocean swells from the side this is a fun, fast, challenging downwind run. We kept chasing each other and maintained a strong pace.
On previous runs we finished at White Plains beach, which has a nice sandy beach, mellow, rolling waves, surfboard racks by the showers, grass and is a great place to land after a long paddle. Today we wanted to go further and decided to go all the way to Barbers Point lighthouse in the Cambell Industrial Park.
As we got closer we saw some sizable surf breaking. I felt foolish for not bringing a leash and thought of what would happen of a big roller took my board and I would have to swim in. With the strong wind and currents I might not be able to catch up with my board. So losing the board was not an option.
Jared sneaking out over a wave before it breaks
Getting in was not as bad as I feared, I was able to come in on one of the smaller waves, no problem.
Landing at the lighthouse was challenging as there was no sandy beach, just jagged sharp reef with shorebreak washing over it. Here is Jeff sacrificing his feet to keep his new Dennis Pang board from touching the reef. I just had to take this picture before going to help him.
Here is Jeff with his home made cable rudder system that he engineered in his garage the day before using a plastic cutting board, bungee cords and other high tech equipment. He was quite happy with the way it worked.
The cables run through tubes sunk into the deck under the footpads.
The bungee cords keep the steering in neutral when not engaged.
The truck is loaded and we are ready for the long drive back.
Below is a short video I shot of Jeff somewhere outside Ewa Beach.
Thanks for reading!
Aloha,
Robert Stehlik
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