Paddle Articles

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We are grateful to have explorers like Chase Kosterlitz, who are not only fantastic paddlers and people, but who are also willing to explore our California waters and draw attention to the conservation efforts that are needed. Chase teams up with Chris Olivias and BIC SUP in this video to explore California's second largest reservoir to see the impact the drought is having on our waterways and paddle playgrounds. Beautiful. Dramatic. Impactful.

"It's hard to paddle (survive) without water. This past June we set out to document some of the waterways hardest hit by the current west coast drought. Here is our story. " - Chase

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I had the most crazy nightmare. I was out on my outrigger canoe. Looked up at the sky for a second, and next thing I knew when I looked down, my ama was no longer there! Gone. Not there! I panicked that my paddle crutch was gone. Promptly huli’d. And woke up in a cold sweat!

They call them surfskis, and I found it was time I give these speed demons a ride! I mean after all, I have yet to find a paddle craft I didn’t like. Why would this not also be awesome? And beside, trying my luck with my oc1 in the shallows without its ama for 'fun' was mostly just 'wet' (the fun was had by those on the beach laughing at me).

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The arm tasked with the pull got no rest or reprieve. My muscles burned and my heart was ready to burst from my chest. I had to remember to breathe, but there was no time! It was already over, and the euphoria was bursting through my face.

“What just happened? I want more!” From the shore, I could see friends and family jumping up and down with excitement. I felt like a puppy, and found myself wishing I had a tail to wag happily behind me, as if asking “Was that good? Did I do okay?”

Join Team Writer Megs on her recent journey to the land of Dragons!

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"I'm so pumped! I feel like a puppy who's tail is wagging and it won't stop!!!", Megs after her first race.

Earlier this year, Cali Paddler had its first exposure to a Dragon Boat race when we attended the Long Beach Festival in July as a vendor and spectator. We were stoked on what we saw, and invited by many in the community to get in a dragon boat race and learn first hand how exciting it can be. So, this past weekend, we did just that. But rather than just send one or two folks, we entered a whole team, from every walk of paddling life we could find throughout the state. And their response? Read for yourself.

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An epic race that goes from Santa Cruz to Monterey, along one of the most diverse and lush marine sanctuaries in California, deserves our attention. Join our contributors with their tales of their journey at MBX!

We are stoked to share the perspective of a SoCal Paddler who made the trek to experience some awesome NorCal Waters. A novice oc6 crew who decided to tackle the challenge. And an oc1 paddler who made the crossing and might have been the youngest on record to do it solo.

Enjoy their stories! And be sure to check this out next year in 2016

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[This was written by Team Writer Clarke after his Molokai Hoe journey across the Ka'iwi Channel in October 2014. Good luck to all the Cali Paddlers who will be taking on this special journey in the coming days and years. ]

I didn’t really set out to do this race when teams were first being discussed months and months ago. In fact it took some pretty amazing support and encouragement for me to even think it could become a reality. But it did. Conditions were described by several local Hawaiian clubs as “challenging” “fun” “rough”. I had some amazing teammates, some were in the canoe, some back home, help get me across. And I will be putting this down as one of those achievements that makes me a better person, nevermind just a better paddler.

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