Ok, I have to admit, Dragon boat was not something I had experienced in any capacity, including watching, before a recent weekend...let alone having even paddled it. But within the last week or so, I have become a huge fan. Yes the races are shorter than I am used to. Yes you only paddle on one side. Yes it's kinda rad! I attended the Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival at Marine Stadium, and had several observations beyond the typical stereotypes I had before.
Companies that 'get it'!
Paddle Articles
Dragon Boat - First Impressions from an Outrigger Canoe Paddler
Cali Paddler Connection: Bob Long and West Coast Paddle Sports
Meet Bob Long of West Coast Paddle Sports and learn a little about the history of SUP in Southern California, and how California is an epicenter for Stand-Up Paddleboarding. We consider Bob one of the most genuine ambassadors to all things SUP related in our state, and are honored to have had the chance to interview him. He discusses who is on the cutting edge of current paddle design for racing, flatwater, and whitewater paddling. Bob also talks about the community of paddling. He gets it!
How a single bottle cap can alter the future...
It is with great pride and honor that I sit here, humbled that Cali Paddler has the opportunity to make our first contribution to the three non-profit organizations we support. It's so rewarding, and so exciting, that within just a few months we are able to start giving back to the community. If you're reading this, please take a second to recognize that you contributed to making this possible.
Your novice season - soak it in
To everyone who is a novice outrigger paddler...you have no doubt received countless months of attention from coaches and thoughtful open paddlers. You have broken down paddling barriers you previously thought impossible ("you want me to paddle HOW far?"). You have pushed your limits and done so for your teammates, your team, and yourself. You have become a paddler!
So, as your novice season gets close to completion, my advice is simple.
OC1 Essay Content Entry - Justice Martin
The following submission was made as an entry to win a OC1 from an amazingly generous donor, who wanted to see the canoe truly enjoyed, rather than turn a profit. Entrants were asked to submit an essay answering the following:
- Part 1: “Describe how paddling has changed your life.”
- Part 2: “How do you plan to use this canoe, and perhaps someday pass it along?”
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Justice Martin, California
Paddling makes me happy because I’m with family and friends. Paddling also makes me happy because I learn different positions in the canoe. Such as steering calling when to switch sides, engine room, and the person who sets the pace. My favorite position is called steering because I’m multi-tasking. My second favorite position is calling when to switch because it helps me with my cardio. My third favorite is engine room because I learn to put in power.
I have a lot of paddling experience in paddling because I paddled for 7 years it’s the awesome coaches that taught me everything I know about paddling. Paddling is the best sport in the world.
The water changes me because it makes me calmer and it clears my mind.
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The secret drill to being a better paddler
I have the secret…and I am going to share it.
In the past, I had the privilege of coaching outrigger canoe, and one of my favorite drills would be introduced pretty early. I have also found it to be a drill that has worked for my own paddling. It is THE most effective drill for any type of paddling, and I would stake my reputation on it.
Hunger
Paddler friends, I know that everyone gets hungry. But only paddlers know the NEED to FEED. That animal that lives in your belly – a mangy wild wolf that appears after a long distance paddle. The hunger wolf is an insatiable beast who commands you to put anything remotely edible into your mouth and down the hatch, keeping his ferocity at bay, lest it go wild and consume me whole.
Cali Paddler Exploration: The Sacramento River
The Sacramento River Delta. also know as the California Delta is made up by the confluence of several rivers, the main rivers being; The Sacramento, the San Joaquin, the Calevaras and the Mokelumne with the Calaveras and Mokelumne being tributaries of the San Joaquin. Right now I will deal with what I know and write about paddling the Sacramento River.
How to poop on race day.....yep!
Ok, so maybe you’re looking at this and thinking, really? A blog on pooping? Yes, because we all do it, it’s a natural occurrence and we all have had our moments on race day when the clock to the race is ticking and your stomach is not cooperating with the event. Yes, pooping is a topic that people tend to run from.Top 3 Places to Paddle Board in San Diego, California
Isle Surf and SUP was born and bred in our home town of San Diego. So of course they would be a great resource for favorite places to paddle board in Americas Finest City.
Now that its spring and summer is around the corner there are a lot of opportunities to paddle and soak up the beauty of it all.
Paddle Pledge Non-Profits
