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.
If you are interested in learning how to do downwinders on Oahu or want to improve your bump riding skills and timing to go faster with less effort, please consider a private downwind coaching session on Oahu's south shore with Robert Stehlik. The most common south shore run for experienced paddlers is the Hawaii Kai to Kaimana Beach (Waikiki) run. For beginner downwind paddlers, the Hawaii Kai to Kahala run is better suited for learning downwind paddling as going around Black Point and Diamond Head can be very challenging when you are starting out.
Hawaii Kai to Kahala downwinder GPS track, approx. 5 miles
For the coached Kahala run, we usually meet in Kahala at the Waialae beach park and take a look at the the reef to go over where the channel is and what to look for when coming in. Coming in through the reef at Kahala is one of the most challenging parts of the run and can be dangerous, especially on a low tide, so please don't attempt this by yourself without someone that knows where to go. We leave one car at the finish in Kahala then drive to Hawaii Kai where the downwind run starts. We then spend some time going over some downwind basics, tips, drills, equipment, and stretching before going into the water. Below is a map of the meeting place in Kahala and a google map that shows the run. You can zoom into the meeting place called Waialae Beach Park, just before the Kahala Mandarin Hotel.
Waialae Beach Park, the meeting place for the Hawaii Kai to Kahala Run
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.
This is the Hawaii Kai run GPS track from the Blinker Buoy (last channel marker in Hawaii Kai) to the Windsock outside Kaimana Beach.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Blue Planet team with the 2016 race board models
