Curious about the tuna crabs? What are they and why are they here? So were we! Please welcome Linsey Sala from Scripps Institute of Oceanography and fellow paddler to teach us more. ~CP.
If you have been paddling, swimming, surfing, or beach combing with your pup you have probably noticed the periodic presence of a beautiful bright red crustacean inhabiting our local waters these last two years – the pelagic red crab. The scientific name of this crustacean is Pleuroncodes planipes. This species is well known off the west coast of Baja California, in the Gulf of CA, and the CA Current with its center of distribution off central and southern Baja CA. This red crab is unique because it can live its entire life cycle in the water column (surface to seafloor), from larvae to adulthood. It starts off as a microscopic free drifting larva living close to the surface, feeding on microscopic single celled algae called phytoplankton. As they get older and bigger, they will continue to graze on phytoplankton but can also eat small planktonic animals called zooplankton like krill and copepods.
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Paddle Articles
Tuna Crab Invasion...Learn about this awesome invertebrate
Tips for hosting your own paddle race
Are you curious about someday putting on a race? Interested in some tips from someone who is going through the process again after a successful but challenging first try? Please welcome Bret Warner from Stand Up to Alzheimer's as he shares with us some of the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of putting on a race or event. Who knows, you might be inspired to create the next MUST-ATTEND RACE!
Misfits in Monterey - SoCal Takes a Trip North
Cali Paddler is thrilled to have Si Mendoza share with us some recent fun he and his crew had during a trip up north to explore the Memorial Day Hoe in Monterey Bay. If you haven't heard of this race, consider this a chance to learn more and be inspired for a trip to awesome-land.Cali Paddler Spotlight - Gold Medalist Barbara Leites (74 years old)
On May 11th 2016 at the IVF VA’A WORLD SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIPS, 74 years old Barbara Leites representing POCA California, USA from the NCOCA (Northern California Outrigger Canoe Association) Pupu’O Hawaii Club and Outrigger Team 47-74, did the impossible: Won gold in the Masters 70+, V-1, 500 meters. The only gold for Team POCA USA at the 2016 World Sprints championship.
Why impossible? Well, Barbara has been Outrigger paddling for only 2 years, a Novice. And as our sprint coach Linda Dresbach shared on Facebook: This was Barbara’s 3rd race ever on a V-1.
What? How? And who is she? Why did Barbara start Outrigger Paddling?
Standup Paddle Yoga and Fitness Teacher Training
We thank Team Writer Tiffany for sharing with us her recent awesome experience in Laguna Beach for SUP Yoga and Fitness training. Curious about the cool things they covered? So were we! ~CPHow do you combine your most favorite activities like paddling, yoga and fitness into one sport? Do it all on the board for the most awesome workout! Over the last year I have really gotten into the sport of Standup Paddling and also my yoga practice over the last two years. So taking the next step - wait, I should say paddle into my practice, I decided to go right into a teacher training that would combine all my loves into one; and be able to share that stoke of it all to others. After doing some research for a teacher training in the Orange County (CA) area, I found that the training offered by Sunset Standup Paddle out of Laguna Beach would be the best for me due to my location was only a 20 minute drive over the next three days.
Kahekai vs Ehukai - Puakea's New OC1
We were pretty excited about the new Kahekai canoe, especially since the Ehukai has become such a popular choice for OC1 paddlers in California. How did this new canoe differ? How was it the same? Who would benefit from the changes? Why did he change some things? Ultimately our questions came down to: Which is faster? Which will let me paddle farther. And which will help me have more fun on the water?
We did a little summary of some of what we have learned in how it is different from it's predecessor.
Tale of a Dragon Boat Paddler (Racing Outrigger)
Cali Paddler welcomes our friend Ellen Lee who this year decided to stray slightly from her dragon boat background and give this whole outrigger canoe thing a shot. So after she recently finished her first outrigger race, she shared with us the answer to an age-old question people have when they try a different craft.
Now that my first novice outrigger race is complete I can properly answer the question I get often “How’s this different from a dragon boat race?”
So many things come to mind, so instead of word vomiting like a teenage girl, I’ve categorized my experience thus far:
California Surf Safari: 50 Years in the Making
During the South Florida summer of 1965, my boyfriend, Eddie, and I were on the waves every day. Summer waves in Hollywood, Florida were usually ankle-biters and mushy and we were too young to drive "up the coast" where the surf was better. Obsessed with surfing, we watched ENDLESS SUMMER, and every other surf movie that came to town. The Beach Boys and Jimmy Buffet played on our radio. Our mantra became a quest to see every spot in the famous tune. "Surfin' USA." IN 2001 we moved to Oregon and in 2016 Eddie retired. We packed our boards and trailer and headed to: Del mar, Ventura County Line, Santa Cruz and Trestle... and down Doheny Way. We also hit San Onofre and Sunset, Redondo Beach, LA - and The Wedge.
Cali Paddler Explorations - Puddingstone Reservoir, Bonelli Park
Nestled Northeast of the 10 and 57 junction Bonelli Park serves as an excellent escape from the inland urban sprawl, even though it is in the middle of all of it. Join us on this Cali Paddler Exploration with Bret as he finds a little inland piece of magic and shares with us all the ins and outs, tips and tricks, and whatever else you might need to know before pushing off.An Open Letter to First Year Racers
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