Now in his mid fifties, Rob continues to paddle and race at a very high level. I’m not sure he has ever been beat in the Great Lakes region. In the last two years he held the lead at Chattajack going into the final sprint finish. Suffice it to say, Rob is an incredibly strong paddler both on flat water and downwind.

But this isn’t a racing story, this story is about a personal journey to cross Lake Michigan solo, intentionally choosing a day with some decent wind. It was a big undertaking and there were unforeseen circumstances that made it a serious challenge. I hope you enjoy and learn from our discussion!

In this podcast we cover a range of topics including but not limited to:

• Current health status
• Racing at the World Surfski Championships in Durban in October
• Launching a new surfski line with Carbonology
• The X factor that might just be what makes Oscar such an amazing downwind paddler

]]> full 49:43 https://www.takeaways-bradford.co.uk/2024/04/25/ppp-episode-45-growing-surfski-through-competition-with-matt-drayer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ppp-episode-45-growing-surfski-through-competition-with-matt-drayer Thu, 25 Apr 2024 01:06:28 +0000 https://www.takeaways-bradford.co.uk/?p=19888 In this podcast I sit down with Matt Drayer who is part of a small team including Greg Barton, Jesse Lishchuk, and Geoff Pearson who are dedicated to promoting surfski development in the US via the Ocean Racing Committee (ORC) which is part of the competition arm of the American Canoe Association (ACA).

Matt and the team have been hard at work over the past year building out a National points based ranking system that allows competitors around the country to submit race results from any surfski race and earn points. They are also launching a pilot program to establish an athlete classification system, that will allow paddlers to progress along a continuum based on race performance over the long term. Last, but not least, the ORC is very much involved working with the International Canoe Federation (ICF) on the Surfski World Championships that are now held annually. This year they will be in Madeira Portugal.

In this podcast we cover Matt’s background, as well as go into detail on all of the above and what has inspired Matt and the team to take on this intitiatve.

If you aren’t yet a member, we encourage you to check out the ACA website and offerings. The organization has been around since 1880 representing a broad spectrum of paddle sports. In the last few years they have made a concerted effort to recognize and embrace surfski paddling, and they can bring a lot to the table to help us all promote this sport that we love so much!

If you have any questions or suggestions for Matt, he can be reached at : [email protected]

]]> full 1:31:09 https://www.takeaways-bradford.co.uk/2023/06/11/ppp-episode-44-coaching-session-2-with-dr-brendan-oneill/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ppp-episode-44-coaching-session-2-with-dr-brendan-oneill Sun, 11 Jun 2023 23:27:46 +0000 https://www.takeaways-bradford.co.uk/?p=19679 In this podcast I check in with Brendan to review how the past 10 weeks of training have gone and what I need to focus on in the final four weeks leading up to the Gorge Downwind Champs.

If you missed Podcast Episode 43, I would recommend checking it out, and don’t forget you can download the training plan there. But if you’re limited on time, you’ll still learn a lot from this discussion where we cover:

• What a good threshold interval session looks like
• Trying to maximize speed/distance per stroke at a given cadence
• Experimenting with paddle length and stroke length
• Cadence ladders and simulating downwind
• Different options for V02 Max work
• Benefits of Creatine for paddlers
• Brendan’s view on Beta Alanine and Beet Juice
• Protein requirements and maintaining strength as you age
• Why training with cadence is so much better than heart rate or speed for measuring level of effort

In 2022, at the age of 48 and after 15 years of paddling, I set several personal records. This made me a believer in the methods and approach that Brendan outlined, and I thought it would be a disservice not to share his detailed knowledge with the paddling community.

This is the first of a few coaching sessions that I’ll record with Brendan. You can click the link below to download the training plan and tweak it for your needs. The plan is a great start, but it is not a replacement for working with a coach. I highly recommend finding a coach if you want to take your paddling to the next level.

This year I’m hoping to follow the plan 100% and am super excited to see what kind of results I can achieve

As a long time dealer and huge fan of both Vaikobi and Mocke, I wasn’t thrilled to have a new competitor enter the space. But after meeting Scott for the first time in 2021, and talking with paddlers using his gear, I was definitely intrigued. It took another year before I met Scott again, and this time decided to purchase some shorts and a top. I used the Giant Fish shorts, pants, and tops this past fall and have been very impressed.

In the short term, there is probably a negative financial incentive for me to have Scott on the podcast and promote his products. But I believe that the more creators like Scott who invest their passion, time, and unique skills into the sport, the more it benefits all of us and enables greater overall growth. Starting any new business is incredibly challenging, and the paddling world is no different. I believe we have to all support each other.

Use this link for $20 off any Giant Fish Order

I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as I did!

If you haven’t read Oscar’s book, order it now, it is an absolute must read. If you’re like me, you won’t put it down until it is finished. I’ve known Oscar for 10 years, but reading this book, I realized there is still a lot I don’t know. Oscar has led an action packed life and this book is his best attempt to tell it all.

In addition to discussing his book, we cover much more including:

• Paddling out through surf breaks – something many paddlers in the US don’t get a chance to practice enough
• Incredible paddling conditions in Brazil
• The Nelo Paddle race in Malaysia
• Winning Molokai at 50
• The Shaw and Partners Investment in Surfski in general and specifically the Western Australia Race Week

The title of this podcast says it all about Oscar. They Said….

• You can’t paddle with low elbows
• You can’t go fast in a stable boat
• You can’t paddle with zero feather
• You can’t race on no carbs
• You can’t race with no liquids
• You can’t win a world championship race at 50

Over and over again, Oscar has challenged the conventional wisdom and proven it wrong. Here’s to hoping he doesn’t stop! No Retreat, No Surrender

I was a participant in the race and have spoke with many of the racers since the incident occurred. This podcast is my best attempt to explain what I know from this very tragic day.

There are lessons to be learned from what happened to Nick, and my sincere hope is that these lessons will save many lives in the years to come.

My sincere condolences to Nick and his family.

Below is the YouTube recording of this podcast. As we get into the podcast I use my Garmin track to show the race route and provide more context to the location where we were racing.

I was hopeful that we could share video over the Zoom call and narrate the paddling. That sort of worked, but I missed some key optimization settings in Zoom which resulted in the video recording being choppy, so I haven’t yet posted the video to YouTube.

We had a great group of participants from the US and Canada and they shared a wealth of experience that I feel will be helpful to those just getting into downwind paddling of any kind.

Rob is a husband and father of three girls. He works full time as a software developer, plays the Upright Bass as an accomplished jazz musician, and has long been one of the top masters paddlers in the US. In recent years Rob has competed primarily East of the Mississippi, where he is a top contender in any race he enters. His most recent racing efforts were focused on the Chattajack where he narrowly missed the overall Surfski win when Carter Johnson came off his draft to outsprint him at the finish.

In our discussion we talk about Rob’s first exposure to kayaking in an old school fiberglass surf kayak. Rob talks about his early days as a teenager fearlessly playing in the cold and crazy surf on Lake Michigan. This ultimately led to a couple of Sea Kayak races, which led to Rob joining the US Canoe and Kayak Team and training and racing with them for a couple of seasons.

One of the things that has amazed me the most about Rob is his ability to consistently paddle at a very high level despite the demands of family and career, and of course aging. At 52 Rob is as fit as ever. What became a key theme in this podcast, as evidenced by the title, is that there is no shortcut. You’ve got to show up and consistently do the work if you want the type of results Rob has been able to achieve.

I always enjoy spending time with Rob, and this podcast was no exception. It went a little longer than most, but we had a lot to catch up on. I hope enjoy the discussion as much as I did.

P.S Below is a little bonus if you want to see Rob in action on the Bass. He doesn’t know I’ve linked this, and would probably be embarrassed by it, but it is a great demonstration of his humble talent!

Matt has a very diverse paddling background spanning both racing and multi-week adventures. In this podcast we cover much of Matt’s paddling background and the paddling scene in Houston and across Texas, but most importantly we talk about the work Matt has done helping to build the American Canoe Association (ACA) surfski education curriculum.

The ACA serves as the National Governing Body for paddlesports (Sprint, Slalom, Paracanoe) for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and as the U.S National Federation to the International Canoe Federation. They have recognized Surfski as a unique discipline and are excited to support it’s growth both through competition and education. Matt has worked extensively over the past four years along with Ben Lawry to develop a four stage curriculum of education including the following:

• Level 2: Essentials of Surfski
• Level 3: Fundamentals of Open Water Surfski
• Level 4: Downwind Surfski
• Level 5: Advanced Open Water and Downwind Surfski (Under Development)

The ACA is hopeful to start certifying surfski instructors across all major regions of the US. If you are interested, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Matt

• Fort Myers Level 3 Instructor Certification March 11-13
• Website: http://www.shamrockpaddling.com (note: don’t be confused when you land on his social media and website, Matt has also launched a product for Standup Paddle Fishing – but this is the same guy)
• Instagram: @ ShamrockPaddling
• Facebook: ShamrockPaddling
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/hikNNrDDqto

Many of you may have heard of the Carolina Cup, which is one of the biggest paddle events in the US (possibly just behind the Gorge and Chattajack). This race is put on by the Wrightsville Paddle Club which is about a 45 minute drive North of where Rod and Barry paddle at Carolina Beach.

Rod and Barry have an 8 mile downwind that they typically run starting at Fort Fisher and finishing at Carolina Beach or in the Carolina Beach Inlet. This run takes advantage of the the prevailing south/southwest winds that run throughout the summer. There aren’t any points, bays, shoals, or other factors to greatly influence the wave conditions along the route, so conditions remain pretty consistent. The biggest challenges are in launching and landing. The launch is directly off the beach, so there is often a surf break to navigate. They have the option of either finishing on the beach or in the inlet, both have their pros and cons which we discuss in detail during the podcast.

Carolina Beach is a busy beach town in the summer, but in the spring and fall things quiet down, but the water is still warm and the wind still blows, making this an excellent time to take a paddling vacation. There aren’t many other paddlers or paddle businesses in the area, so your best bet is to take your boat, but you can always get in touch with Barry or Rod and they will be more than happy to help you with finding a boat if possible.

The detailed Google Maps discussion starts at around minute 24:00 on the video and in the podcast.

I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as I enjoyed putting it together. Carolina Beach is now on my short list of downwind destinations. I really like the idea of an April or May trip when Lake Michigan is struggling to get above 40 degrees 🙂

This story started out with my intent to explore the downwind paddling in Bellingham Bay. Anyone who has raced on the West Coast, knows that there is some serious talent developing in this hotspot and I was excited to learn about the paddling conditions that are making this possible. But in speaking with Reivers, I soon realized the story of Bellingham’s success in creating a sustained paddling community, is much more than the downwind conditions. I’ll leave the details for the Podcast/YouTube, but to summarize, I believe the five key elements in Bellingham are:

1. An extremely welcoming community of paddlers who go out of their way to introduce newbies. This is supported by a simple but effective message board that greatly facilitates communication and open discussion (side note: feel free to join this message board, there is a wealth of information on it)
2. Although there are no significant dealers or retail shops in Bellingham, there are reps for all the major brands who have boats available to be loaned out
3. A large multi-sport team race (Ski to Sea) that includes an ocean paddle as the last of 7 events. This is the event that first brought surfskis to Bellingham Bay, and continues to be a big motivator for interest in performance paddling
4. A long running Wednesday night flat water handicap start style race. This works very well as a non-intimidating, safe, fun way to introduce new paddlers. They can spend the time needed developing fundamental skills, power, and fitness before hitting the ocean
5. Technical, but not massive, downwind conditions that provide plenty of challenge even for experienced paddlers to continuously hone their skills and build the fundamentals to paddle anywhere in the world.

I don’t have the data, but would speculate that Bellingham has the highest per capita number of surfski/OC paddlers of anywhere in the US. They have achieved this despite not having a big ocean sports / surf heritage, and water temperatures that are always cold (see below). I find this all quite impressive.

If you are interested in visiting Bellingham, it is no doubt one of the best outdoor active sports towns in the United States. In the same day you can shred powder in the morning and surf runs in the afternoon. if the wind doesn’t blow and the powder isn’t dumping, there are endless hikes and world class mountain biking everywhere. Below I’ve pasted a promotional video for the Ski to Sea race, as I think this tells the Bellingham outdoor story much better than I can with words.

In this first episode, we start with the legendary Oscar Chalupsky as he walks us through the iconic Millers Run in Cape Town SA. Oscar gives us a great sense of the overall Cape Town paddling scene and what to expect out on the water. He then heads north to give an overview of his hometown Durban, SA where the water gets warmer, but the surf and swell gets much bigger and the conditions are about as gnarly as anywhere in the world.

It is never a dull conversation with Oscar, and this one was no exception. While the focus of the discussion is on walking through the downwind routes, there is inevitably a wealth of valuable information around paddling downwind and keeping it safe

We made a few references to water temperature, below are the 10 year monthly averages for Cape Town and Durban from seatemperature.com

I wanted to bring Greg onto the podcast because he exemplifies what the surfski journey is all about. Starting the sport in his late 40s and in a town without a surfski community, he also represents a large portion of surfski paddlers in the US.

While I want to say that Greg’s story is that of the “average paddler” as you’ll find out, he has had some incredible experiences that make him both the envy and an inspiration for us all.

In this podcast we cover the following and much more:

• Attempting to paddle his first surfski, the Speedster
• Moving into a Huki and really taking off in the sport
• Doing the big races in the US including US Surfski Champs, The Gorge Downwind, and Chattajack
• A trip to Tarifa to work with Boyan the Zen Master of Surf
• Learning what intense surfski paddling is all about at the Mocke Brother’s Downwind Camp in Capetown
• Bringing it all together with the 2019 Molokai World Championship (hint : it almost didn’t happen)
• Getting diagnosed with A-fib after 30 years of high intensity training and racing
• Views on paddling as an aging athlete approaching 64

I hope you enjoy this discussion as much as I did!

• Paddling conditions on the Great Lakes
• Risks with winter paddling and how I try to mitigate them
• What I’ve gained from paddling a V8 for 6 months of the year
• Challenges of running a surfski business
• What keeps me going

In the end, it was actually quite fun for me to be on the other side of the mic. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as Buzz and I enjoyed the conversation

In this podcast Jasper shares his wealth of knowledge and passion for the sport including, but not limited to the following:

• Jasper the prankster, stand up surfing on a surfski
• Getting to watch Dawid as a junior and Oscar, Lee McGregor and the other legends as open ocean racing was just starting to evolve
• Starting out in the Guppie / K1 as a pre-teen before getting into a surfski
• Watching the young kids now getting into surfski paddling and downwind at the age of 9 or 10 and trying to imagine where they’ll be in 15 years
• The differences between surfski ocean racing and sprint kayak river racing
• Navigation tactics and tips in racing, both surfski and flatwater
• Getting into the zone for downwind paddling
• Why you should focus on stability first then stroke rate
• Thoughts on feathering the paddle
• Examples of cadence and 10k times that the best in the world maintain
• Choosing the right paddle blade size
• Jasper’s experimentation with going to a smaller paddle and even higher cadence

Where to find Jasper

Facebook Athlete Page

Jasper Mocke Personal Facebook Page

For the last decade, Rob has been very involved in the pursuit of safety in extreme conditions.   He has worked extensively with Cape Town’s water rescue services known as the NSRI, covered several surfski rescues, and has studied and tested in real world conditions  a vast majority of the safety equipment on the market.

In this discussion we discuss in depth the wealth of knowledge Rob has accumulated over the years.   I’m really excited to be able to offer this podcast not just beginners, but also to the experienced paddlers who I’m certain will benefit.    As the sport continues to grow around the world and in more extreme climates, we all need to continue this dialogue with our paddling mates and hold each other accountable for being smart and realistic about our safety on the water.

Below are some links to articles and resources that we reference in the Podcast:

• Article summarizing the findings of Rob’s rescue exercises with the NSRI
• Article recapping a Miller’s Run incident that thankfully turned out okay, but could have been much worse
• Here is a link to the entire safety section on Surfski.info with articles an various incidents and gear reports including Personal Locator Beacons which Rob spoke about on the podcast.  Here is a specific link on an incident with a leg leash failure and a PLB failure
• And a detailed piece on the limitations and how to use PLBs
• We didn’t cover Shark Attacks on the Podcast, but here are a couple great articles and second article
• Link to a Cold Water Safety blog on the TC SURFSKI website
• Below are clips  of Oscar Chalupsky demonstrating the remount in rough conditions and the brace stroke

Jen is an accomplished water woman, but the message she’s passionate about  delivering is that anyone can achieve this with the right attitude, dedication to training, and the right boat (hint – Jen did the Molokai in a V8).  We cover a lot of ground in this podcast including the following:

• Jen’s background in athletics, starting as a downhill ski racer in Lake Tahoe
• Moving to Hawaii to become a surf instructor
• The cross over from downhill ski racing to SUP paddling
• Competing at an elite level in SUP racing
• Jen’s first introduction to surfski paddling
• How it feels to cross the channel in a SUP versus an OC1 versus a surfski
• How the different craft handle different conditions
• What is common and what is different in paddling SUP, OC1, and Surfski downwind

If you want to follow Jen and her exploits or want to reach out to her with any questions, she will be more than happy to help you out.   Below is where you can reach and follow her:

Website:  http://www.jenjlee.com/

eMail: mailto:[email protected]

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/jenn.j.lee1

Instagram:  jennjlee

During the podcast I make reference to a great video produced by former podcast guest, World Class Athlete, and Mobility and Movement Guru Dr Kelly Starrett.  Below is that video

In this episode Carter provides some interesting insights into how the race has evolved and what to expect for 2018.   We touch on the following key areas and much more:

• Beyond race week, growth in the downwind paddle scene throughout the summer and Carter’s downwind retreat compound
• A breakdown of the number of racers signed up this year across the different paddle disciplines as well as where they are coming from geographically
• How the Gorge Downwind Festival may ultimately bring surfski paddling the recognition it deserves in the US
• Changes for 2018 including:
  • Later beer tent hours
  • A completely stocked beer truck with 26 beers on tap
  • Changes to signal the surfski start
  • Safety precautions
  • Race navigation strategies and how minute changes of the wind direction will change the course

I hope you enjoy the podcast and more importantly I hope to see you out there in a couple of weeks!

Nick

In this podcast I have the opportunity to sit down with one of  the best surfski paddler in the world right now,  Cory Hill aka Chill Hill.  Like most surfski paddlers, Cory is incredibly humble and seems mature beyond his years.   Balancing relationships and a full time career,  Cory does an unimaginable  job competing at the very top of his game.   We have a  casual discussion covering a range of topics  as I work to extract what makes Cory tick and how he does it.   I can’t claim to be anywhere near the level Cory is at, but I felt that I really connected with his philosophy on life, paddling, competition, and what makes him tick.   I found it especially interesting to hear him describe the stories that can crop up in his mind both while racing and while working his day job.   I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did
 
Just a brief sample of the topic areas we covered:
 

• Cory’s start in Surf Life Saving and a detailed discussion around what exactly the sport entails
• What drew Cory away from surf life saving and into surfski racing
• Winning the world championships in Hong Kong
• Training for and racing Molokai
• General approach to training
• Why Cory sometimes races with music
• Thoughts on the one key thing to focus on with forward stroke
• Downwind paddling and using the angles to ride waves like a surfer
• Influential mentors

Cory is sponsored by Shaw Hill Partners Race Team.  Check out their website for updates and some exciting content coming soon.

You can also find Cory on Facebook

Following his competitive years Ivan has given back tremendously to the sport. He was recently elected president of the British Canoeing Association and is Chairman of the Elmbridge Canoe Club where he has coached across the spectrum from new kids to world champions.

Ivan has only recently caught the surfski bug. Many of you will recognize his voice as the commentator at the Gorge Downwind Champs and the Surfski World Championships in Hong Kong. Ivan has also become a legend with his hour and 15 minute forward stroke master class video on YouTube.    Ivan has a rare talent for articulating and simplifying the nuance of forward stroke technique. I’ve already replayed this podcast multiple times and every time I do, I’m incredibly inspired to get out on the water and FEEL my technique.

Below is just a highlight of some of the topics we cover

• Paddling for feel and not for a visual look
• Why you don’t want to watch kayaking from the side
• The Arial View is Best – Ivan recommends watching this footage from the 2012 Olympics
• Avoiding spillage and learning to love the load – keeping it inside the boat
• Great footage that demonstrates the downward force being applied to a paddle (watch closely where the top hand goes when the paddle breaks between 2:10 -2:20)
• Ivan strongly recommends watching  Knut Holmann as of the best forward stroke technicians of all time
• Correcting lower back rub – getting the right kit helps tremendously, Vaikobi Shorts (prevent the damage)  & Johnson Tough Pads (for when the damage is done)
• On the water drills that Ivan likes to use
• Thoughts on dry land training
• Why you can only use small weak muscles if you’ve built up momentum using big, powerful, slow muscles first
• Ivan’s thoughts on the future of surfski and what makes it such an amazing and unique sport

Ivan will be partnering with Michelle and Maggie of Paddle California and doing clinics at the Gorge and likely afterwards in Southern California.  If you are out that way, don’t miss this opportunity.

You can check out Ivan’s website and business at ultimatekayaks.com 

This is a relatively short podcast at just over 30 minutes,  but as usual, it is always very informative to catch up with Oscar and get his perspective on the racing and the conditions.  Beyond just the race discussion, I jumped at the opportunity to pick his brain for some tips and tricks to successfully paddling a tandem downwind, which is something that can be very humbling and challenges many of us.  We also chat briefly about plans for the 2018 TC SURFSKI Immersion.  Below is a short recap of key topics:

• The week leading up to the ICF World Surfski Championships, a key item of note is the number of countries represented,  I believe roughly 27, which speaks to the global growth of the sport
• Race conditions through the course and Oscar’s strategy to optimize
• A detailed description of the huge conditions at the Doctor and how Oscar’s race unfolded
• Key elements to focus on when paddling a tandem downwind
• A brief discussion on plans for the 2018 TC SURFSKI Immersion

Note: Don’t fast forward too quickly through the beginning of this podcast, I throw in a quick holiday promotional offer that all Podcast listeners can take advantage of now through Dec 25th 

Enjoy!!

In today’s podcast we welcome back Carter Johnson,  the affable and infamous creator and director of the Gorge Downwind Champs.   In this casual chat we recap highlights from the 2017 Gorge Festival and discuss lessons learned and improvement plans for the 2018 event.

If you’ve been to the Gorge, then you know what its all about, and I’m certain you’ll be excited to hear from Carter about the plans for 2018.   If you have not yet experienced the Gorge Downwind Champs I highly recommend listening to this podcast to get a great understanding of what its all about.    Some of the items we cover include:

• Plans for more live bands throughout the week
• Plans to keep the beer tent open later
• A firm and detailed schedule of the various beer tent presentations and discussions published in advance
• Dedicated volunteer teams responsible for each of the key aspects of the event (i.e. lots of delegation so  Carter isn’t running around like a mad man)
• A better system for executing the race start
• No hotspot (too hard to setup and monitor given the nature of the river course)
• A better system to confirm those who register and attend the week long festival but choose not to race (note: The race almost becomes an afterthought for many at the Gorge because the week long event itself is so much fun and ultimately what many come out for.   Those who want to come out and enjoy the week with no intention of racing are more than welcome!)
• Update on the fires (short answer – no visible impact on the Hood River area)

For more insights into what a week at the Gorge looks like, check out my blog recapping my 2017 experience

And if you want to get serious about training for the Gorge in 2018, check out this Podcast I recorded with Oscar Chalupsky

Hope to see you there in 2018, if you’re seriously considering it, don’t delay in getting registered, it will sell out!!!

In this podcast we cover the story of how the last five years unfolded.  Austin is both candid and eloquent in describing the journey. I am certain that you will absolutely love this podcast as much as I enjoyed recording it. Austin’s story is both fascinating and inspirational.  He has a knack for articulating of the art of downwind paddling and the science of training (stolen from his website tagline).   In roughly an hour we cover the following key elements in Austin’s journey:

• First introduction to the world of white water kayaking at age 11
• What whitewater training entails at the Olympic Development level
• What transfers from Slalom to Surfski and what is totally different
• Getting into a surfski for the first time in 2011 and a top 20 finish at the US Champs just 3 weeks later
• Making a final bid for a spot on the US Olympic Whitewater Team
• Pouring himself into surfski in San Diego after college
• The pivotal moment in learning downwind and key thoughts on what it takes
• Training with the big boys in Capetown
• Becoming the top US finisher at the US Surfski Champs in 2014
• Getting humbled in the Canadian Surfski Champs in 2014
• Finding the resolve to come back and take another shot at becoming a world class podium contender on the World Series of Surfski Racing
• Details on the training regime to make it happen
• What’s next and where to find Austin

In today’s podcast we sit down with Dr Brendan O’Neill the Chief Operating Officer of Vaaka Cadence based out of New Zealand.    Brendan grew up in competitive kayaking starting at the age of 15.  He competed at very high levels in the UK during his peak years and then transitioned into coaching.   As a paddler, coach, and Doctor of Sports Medicine, Brendan found his true passion exploring the realm of physiology and related metrics to drive optimal performance.
 
This is a great discussion centered around the benefits of training with real time cadence and distance per stroke feedback.   And specifically how to both drive continuous improvement in your paddling as well as find the sweet spot where you operate most efficiently.  Some of the key topics we cover include:
 

• The very beginnings of the Vaaka Cadence sensor and how it was used in the lead up to a very successful 2012 Olympics for the NZ team
• Why cadence can often be a better metric to focus on than heart rate or speed
• Why power is a challenging metric for paddlers
• How to chart cadence versus speed and identify where your efficiency starts to break down
• A very simple threshold workout that is an absolute must in any training program
• The very basic one page cadence training guide that the team at Vaaka has published
• How to setup your Vaaka Cadence sensor with whatever smart phone or watch you are using

 
While this discussion is all around cadence, I want to reinforce that cadence is one tool in the context of others, and all of the athletes that are doing cadence training already have a strong foundation of solid forward stroke technique and still do extensive technique work.   So while you should certainly consider cadence based training, it should not be at the expense of developing a foundational forward stroke
 
If you are intrigued by this discussion and decide to explore cadence training,  you can order the Vaaka Cadence sensor at TCSURFSKI.COM  enter coupon code PPP10 to get 10% off

While the feedback and support was overwhelmingly positive, there were some who were not thrilled with the spoof.

In this podcast we go deep to understand what was behind the inspiration and motivation for Boyan to do this.

“Stability before Ability” is a term first coined by Oscar Chalupsky and while many of us have been preaching it solidly for a few years now,  Boyan felt there was still more that could be done.   In addition to the stability discussion, comes the discussion around recognizing that surfski paddling is not all about racing and statistics, and we should all do more to attract and welcome those who simply want to be on the water for the pure enjoyment of it all.

This is a relatively short discussion, but as always, Boyan is both entertaining and though provoking.  He is constantly studying people, markets, other sports, and industries to glean examples and concepts that can be applied to drive further growth of surfski.    I think you’ll really enjoy this discussion

I wouldn’t be surprised to see a win this weekend at the the Canadian Surfski Champs and next weekend at the Gorge Downwind Festival.

Below is just a highlight of some of the key topics we cover in this 1 hour conversation:

• Relocating to the UK and getting back to structured training
• The difference between being K1 fit and Surfski fit
• Breakdown of a week of training for Sean
• Working with Haylie Nixon, doing paddle specific training &  gym work
• Sean’s favorite cross training activity and why
• Racing the Amsterdam Waterland Marathon as an unknown and getting the victory and course record.  Here is a link to the very short but well done video Sean mentions
• Sean’s first ever Molokai win (choosing a good line and not taking any strokes in anger)
• Thoughts on the future of destination surfski paddling/coaching and a couple of his favorite places in Europe including Tarifa and the Canary Islands
• Words of wisdom for maximizing your fun and learning in Hood River and having a good race day strategy
• Sean’s new on-line coaching offering: https://www.huksucoaching.com
• The Paddle Life Tour Schedule
• Plans for crossing the English Channel, possibly setting a record

Kelly and his wife Juliet started one of the first ever Cross Fit Gyms (#30 to be exact) in San Francisco out of a couple of shipping containers sitting in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge.    Kelly Worked on site as a PT watching and studying closely the movement patterns of the athletes.   The observations and learning from this experience then led to the founding of MobilityWOD a website dedicated to becoming the ultimate guide for eliminating pain, preventing injury and maximizing athletic performance. The idea was to produce a video every day that explained proper movement mechanics as well as tips and tricks for achieving them.

Through all the invaluable content Kelly has produced, he has quickly become recognized around the world as one of the foremost experts on human performance.   He now works with olympic athletes, professional sports teams in the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, and Special Forces Units.    In his work, Kelly travels the globe sharing his wealth of knowledge

I could go on for hours writing  about Kelly’s credentials and accolades, but suffice it to say, he is an absolute guru and millions of people around the world have taken note

Lucky for us, Kelly also happens to be a super passionate waterman and even met his wife Juliet (who is also a world class whitewater  paddler)  at a paddling competition in Chile.   Safe to say, the entire family is obsessed with paddling.    Kelly started paddling whitewater at age 12 and was a captain of the US Canoe and Kayak white water slalom team where he won 2 national titles. Eventually he had to stop paddling due to overuse injuries that led to limited neck movement and numbness in his hands.   This led him down the classic rabbit hole of cortisone shots, prednisone, etc.   Ultimately Kelly took it upon himself to get to the root cause of his ailments and begin the process of healing himself through proper movement.     This became much of the inspiration for his life’s work

Kelly competed in the 2015 Maui Jim Molokai in an OC1 and actively coaches OC1 paddlers in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Today Kelly spends time paddling everything from whitewater, SUP, OC and his Epic V10 Sport surfski.

This podcast is fast paced with a ton of information, you’ll probably want to listen to it a couple times and reference Kelly’s website and youtube videos to put it all together,  but there is no doubt in my mind that following Kelly’s guidance will be critical to ensuring a long, healthy and optimal paddling journey.   Below are just a few of the topics we get into:

• Putting in the work and having the awareness to achieve correct posture and form through the duration of your paddling session
• How posture and movement impacts not only the power you can produce, but also your ability to breathe well
• Using the basic pushup to assess shoulder range of motion
• Understanding how critical shoulder range of motion is to the catch phase of the stroke
• Why the simple deadlift, performed with correct form,  is so beneficial to paddling
• Using a Lacrosse Ball or even better the Super Nova to do soft tissue work that will ultimately benefit your paddling
• A small preview of what will be included in Kelly’s next book:  Waterman 2.0 to be released next spring
• Lots, lots more

As a deskbound weekend warrior in my early forties who fully plans to paddle for at least another 40 years, I plan to take Kelly’s guidance to heart and implement his suggestions into my daily routines.   There is no doubt he is one of the foremost gurus in the world in the movement and mobility space and we are so fortunate that he is also such a passionate paddler and has given considerable thought to how proper movement and mobility applies to paddling!

Matt and I became friends over 9 years ago when his then fiancé Stephanie and my wife Kim started working together. Over the years we’ve had many dinner party conversations and he has inspired me with an  infusion of entrepreneurial spirit.   In fact, Matt wife’s Stephanie created my first TC SURFSKI Logo which was instrumental in getting the business off the ground.

Matt and his brother Keegan were two of the first pioneers to realize how phenomenal the wind and waves are in our special spot along Lake Michigan. They saw and promoted the world class potential, much as I have tried to do with surfski. The M22 Lifestyle brand evolved from that passion for the wind, waves, and beaches, and the M22 Challenge brings it all together with a run on the sand dunes, a bike ride around one of the most beautiful inland lakes in the world, and a paddle that has become the single biggest exposure for surfskis across the Great Lakes.   The race is capped at 900 participants and sells out in 3 minutes.   This year I expect to see at least 70 surfskis.

My initial plan was to get Matt out surfing some waves on Lake Michigan in my tandem surfski, but as all of us wind chasers know all too well, when you actually build plans around wind it never comes. We didn’t get a chance to get out in the Epic V10 Double, but I won’t let this summer go by without giving him a true surfski downwind experience

As it goes when young kids are in the mix, time was limited and we only had a short window to record this podcast, so we didn’t go deep in all areas, but we did have a great conversation and covered a lot of ground including:

• Earth Day at M22 – Coincidentally we recorded this podcast on Saturday April 22nd designated as Earth Day. At a time when many environmental causes are seeing funding reduced, the M22 team decided to donate all sales from the day to the Leelanau Conservancy. In the end they raised over $20,000 dollars for a great non-profit that works tirelessly to persevere the precious Leelanau Peninsula we so enjoy!
• M22 Challenge,  the early days.   Going back to when it was just an idea
• The most embarrassing moment of the M22 race (hint – dominos)
• Matt’s leap into becoming a cardio athlete (At the time that Matt started the M22 Challenge, he himself was not a cardio racer)
• Matt’s experience racing the M22 Challenge for the first time
• What it was like and what it took to ride 10,000 feet up Mount Haleakalā on Maui on the 5th anniversary of his Chordoma Brain Cancer diagnosis
• Considerations for launching another multi-sport race?
• Becoming a father

Here is a great article that goes much deeper on Matt’s Chordoma Experience

And another article on how it all began

When I first laid eyes on the Vaikobi gear in late summer of 2013 I knew immediately that this was a brand TC SURFSKI would get behind. Without having a chance to try the gear, the style alone was in a league of its own.  But of course, upon using the gear I quickly realized the function was even better. Pat and his team have done an amazing job evolving the line-up and as we go into our 5th season representing Vaikobi I’m more excited than ever. While it is great to talk about the gear, it is even better to hear the full story behind how it came to be. In this podcast we cover:

• Pat’s beginnings growing up in Sydney Australia as a competitive sailor with salt water in the veins
• A short stint sailing in Japan after University and then starting his first real job in the Classic Sports Wear space
• Moving from Sports wear into working for a large technical sailing apparel brand
• First thoughts on starting a paddle sports apparel brand
• Ripping off the corporate band-aid and plunging feet first into a small start-up business
• Coming up with the name Vaikobi – (teaser – in the Polynesian Language Via = Water and Kobi = God, but Pat and team only put this together after the name was decided)
• What Pat and the team sought to accomplish with the launch of their first lines of apparel
• Why Pat and team take a conservative approach to new product development and focus first and foremost on function over style
• Launching the first PFD to address a need in Australia for high visibility on the water
• The process of getting a PFD certified by the different international agencies and why they are not US Coast Guard Approved
• Packing up, renting the house for a year, and taking the family on a year long trip around the world to visit dealers and customers and experience the different surfski markets first hand
• Insights and experiences meeting all the various surfski characters around the world and seeing first hand how the markets and paddle cultures are different but also the same
• Improvements coming in the new vCold range just released
• Some uses for the vCold range you may not have thought of (hint: it might have to do with Nordic Ski Racing)
• The all new PINK PFD launching in June
• Pat’s secret to success:  listen, adapt and evolve

There was a bit of  delay between recording this podcast and now getting it published, which gave me a chance to reflect more on the three days that I spent with Oscar.   In the podcast intro I share 2 of the key insights I came away with that begin to explain how Oscar has become the master of downwind.

• A couple of minor technique tips that I need to make
• MAF Training method / concepts
• Drills for building downwind explosiveness
• Key downwind paddling skills that will be required at the Gorge
• Oscar’s outlook for Molokai 2017
• A little off topic, but I mention a podcast I recently heard with Mark Allen one of the most successful triathletes of all time who also used the MAF training
• What the pros do that most of us are not aware of
• A few paddlers who have gotten very good in the sport despite not growing up in surfski hot beds

I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as I enjoyed spending the time with Big O and his lovely wife Clare

This is my first ever in person Podcast.   Andre and I grabbed a quite space at the Douro Academy after the 510 Winter Cup race, to catch up and discuss all the latest and greatest happenings at Nelo.  We cover a wide range of topics including:

• The launch of the 510 Cup,  what it is about,  why it was launched, and how it will serve as a catalyst to grow the sport of surfski paddling around the world
• The launch of the new Nelo Surfski line up including the 510, 520, yet to be released 550, 560, and the 600.   Andre talks us through the thought process in creating this lineup, who each boat is targeted toward, and some of the unique innovations that went into the boats
• Nelo is well known for producing some of the coolest, wildest, and most outlandish graphics and paint jobs on the water.  We talk about how this is embedded in their DNA and the creativity, passion, and pride that the Nelo team takes in building these boats that allows customers to express their individuality on the water
• Of course the podcast wouldn’t be complete without the million dollar question, how is it working with Oscar Chalupsky? –  I put Andre on the spot to tell the world what it’s like trying to keep up with the energy, passion, and drive that Oscar brings to everything he does

I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as I enjoyed my three days in Porto paddling the Nelo boats, touring the factory, touring the Douro Valley Wine Region, and of course soaking up every bit of wisdom I could from a great team of boat experts and paddlers.

Kenny has decades of sea kayak and white water experience, but his passion for the past several years has been all surfski. Kenny currently works as the West Coast sales and marketing rep for Epic Kayaks.   In addition to his work with the Epic Team,  Kenny has been working with the American Canoe Association to have surfski recognized as a unique paddling discipline, a critical step to pave the way for future growth of the sport.

In this podcast we try to cover the full 38 years of Kenny’s paddling life and wild experiences on the ocean including:

• His introduction to paddling at the age of 17
• Paddling the Sea of Cortez
• Running a kayak guiding business in Baja for 10 years
• Moving back to Half Moon Bay and getting mixed up with the Tsunami Rangers
• How Kenny won a couple of the legendary and insane Tsumami Ranger Races and earned ahonorary membership
• Racing Molokai
• Kenny thoughts on downwind padding and his eloquent blog describing the conditions he often paddles in
• Details on the surfski instructor training courses being offered this year via the ACA along with the official announcement as posted on Surfski News
• Kenny’s Experience paddling the new V12
• Thoughts on the new V8 Double
• Kenny’s most memorable moment ever the water (hint – it doesn’t involve downwind)
• The 3 foundation pillars of surfski paddling that Kenny learned from Jasper Mocke and keeps on his phone at all times for quick reference

I thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity to catch up with and go deep with Kenny on all sorts of exciting paddling stories.   I’m certain you will as well

p.s.  check out these cool videos of Kenny surfing his brains out

Beyond discussing A-Fib we also took this opportunity to catch up with Oscar on what is new at Nelo. Lots of great stuff happening there including a new tandem and some plastic boats coming out very soon.

And of course a podcast with Oscar is not complete if we don’t dive deep into downwind paddling. Today Oscar discusses some new concepts that I haven’t heard before including how he catches waves on the shoulder first then maneuvers into the steeper power zone of the wave. This had me scratching my head and contemplating for a long time, it isn’t easy to articulate, but I have to wonder if this is one of the secrets that makes Oscar so good in big conditions where you simply can’t paddle directly onto the steepest part of a wave. Similar to the concept of using small waves to build speed and catch the bigger waves, perhaps there is also this idea of catching the wave on the shoulder and surfing into the steep power zone.

Below is a brief summary of all the items we covered in this Podcast:

An overview of all the apps and tools Oscar uses to track his health:

• ithlete is the tool that Oscar has been using consistently for several months now.  Prior to the AFib it had been sending warning signs
• On our first podcast Oscar went into detail on the training protocol from Phil Maffetone that he follows closely.   Oscar again references MAF when referring to his aerobic threshold level for training
• Oscar’s HR Monitor of choice is made by Wahoo Fitness
• Oscar weighs himself daily and records his weight and eating using the myFitnessPal app
• Oscar has been a disciple of Timothy Noakes Real Meal Revolution

An update on what’s new from Nelo

• Oscar provides us with an update on the latest surfski models hitting the market from Nelo including a 20 foot tandem and a 17 foot plastic boat, the Nelo 510

Downwind tips and tricks including the following:

• Focus on your destination and work the runs that lead there – not the runs that are easiest to catch
• The key to catching runs – take fewer strokes, but make them powerful.  Think about a Tour De France Winner sprinting for the finish.  They are always in a big gear throwing down power.
• Crank up the cadence only after you are carrying a lot of speed
• Try to catch the wave on the shoulder and surf onto the steepest part – the opposite of what a surfer does
• Too many people try to catch too many waves – know when it is too late and wait for the next
• Start paddling as soon as you feel yourself falling off the back of the wave
• When there are no more runs,  use the opportunity to work your way back out and reposition your line to surf the waves to directly to your end point

In this podcast we have a lot of fun as we cover:

• Carter’s early days growing up in Indiana as a wiry kid and how he landed in gymnastics
• Competing, traveling the country, and most importantly partying on the Purdue gymnastics circuit
• Carter’s move to the Bay Area during the dot com boom
• Road biking the Tour de France course and finishing and with the Switzerland Ironman (as the only clown in a old school surf wetsuit)
• Buying his first kayak and taking it with him in his Geo Metro with ripped out seats and a built in bed, with a 20 foot kayak and a bike up the Cassiar highway to Alaska
• When Carter first discovering that kayaking could actually be a high performance sport
• Getting out with John Dixon, Kenny Howell, and crew
• Hooked on the adventure of surf ski paddling and draw to the sport that inspired the interest in distance races
• Deciding to go for a distance world record
• Connected with a local eco-quest legend in the Bay Area and got
• Racing the Yukon Quest with his girlfriend and the smell of ammonia as you begin to digest your body for fuel
• 60 hours on the water with a few breaks
• How quickly the memory of pain goes away
• Training article written by Carter
• Setting the 24 hour distance record
• Why you need to be good enough, but not quite good enough to set distance records
• Spending time in the back of a tandem with Robin Graham and learning to truly paddle downwind and Carter’s articulation of thinking you are a downwind paddler and actually becoming a true downwind paddler
• Paddling a surfski in 15 foot waves with a canoe paddle and passing people on the downwind
• Carter’s thought on training and the law of diminishing returns – how to be just good enough but have the most fun
• Carter’s first introduction to the Gorge in 2007
• Why the Gorge works so well for downwind (hint – very easy to catch the runs, even easier to shuttle back for the next run).  Check out a couple of these videos where Carter shows us how it is done, and my favorite
• Paddling the Gorge and feeling like a Downwind Ninja
• Carter’s ranking system for the Gorge downwind conditions and the frequency of each
• Why paddling the Stern Wheeler could be the highlight of your event
• Amazing plans for The Gorge 2.0 in 2017
• What it means for the Gorge to now be a World Surfski Title Race
• The reality to training – the exponential effort to make incremental gaines
• Don’t be delusional get to 80% at 5 hour per week and have a ton of fun

• Life in Hawaii
• Getting into the right mental state to harvest the energy of the ocean
• Growing up in Hungary starting at age 7, semi-pro at age 14 and  on the national team at 17 with a salary, and just missing his shot at the olympics
• Zsolt’s decision at age 24 to quit paddling and go travel
• While living in San Francisco Zsolt saw  an OC-6 crew, and  chased them down
• Zsolt soon got connected with the legendary, late,  Mike Shea as well as Carter Johnson
• Zsolt’s first molokai (the longest molokai in history )
• The importance of navigation in both open ocean racing and river racing
• Viewing the ocean as a big river
• The importance of local knowledge and understanding the complexities of wave patterns and currents
• The power of presence to achieve both peak performance and happiness
• Deciding between going fast or going long on a run
• Paddling a tandem – maximizing momentum
• Why it is better to be a diesel than a sports car
• Oscar’s style of big ocean paddling,  steady and smooth,  3 gears, mostly 2
• The difference between waves –  on a bay with 2-4 foot, versus big open ocean with big ground swells
• Coaching a junior national team
• Hit it and quit it .. the importance of recovery both in flat water and open ocean paddling and how Zsolt manages to still finish 1000 meters just 5 seconds off his peak times of 20 years ago
• Establishing a kids paddling program including kayak/surfski, SUP, prone
• What to focus on when training in a K1 to improve your overall stroke
• How to understand what is happening in your stroke based on the movement of the bow in a K1
• Eric Goodman Foundation Training for building the posterior chain and getting more hamstring flexibility
• 30 seconds on / 30 seconds off to embed changes
• Finding the right technique for your body type.  Zsolt’s recommendation to me was to watch Knut Hollman who at 6’5”  was an incredible Norwegian sprinter, often considered the perfect technician

 
 
If you have the fortune to find yourself in Hawaii and want to connect with Zsolt for some top notch private coaching,  check him out at :  www.zsoltski.com

• How a kid growing up on a pig farm in southern Michigan got introduced to paddling
• Greg’s very first trophy
• The pivotal moment when Greg was just 12 years old and decided Olympic hardware was his mission
• His first paddling coach
• Training during his years studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan
• Greg’s first, second, and third Olympics including winning back to back gold medals in 1988 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p60-Vo_bocs
• Building his first paddles in the family barn
• Recovering from chronic fatigue in the early 80s
• Working 30 hours a week plus training before the 1988 Olympics and The power of distraction to recover from training
• Using his own custom built paddles in the Olympics
• The beginning of the wing paddle and Greg’s first experiences with it
• The practical need that led to the inspiration for a 2 piece paddle
• Greg’s thoughts on feathering of the paddle and his own progression
• The very first boat built by Epic  (hint: it wasn’t a surf ski)
• Greg’s approach to building boats from the very beginning and the  Youtube video comparison of Epic Sea Kayak versus traditional kayak
• Greg’s thoughts on the future of surf ski design
• The secret to how Greg developed such explosive power in the boat
• Greg’s thoughts on training in a K1 versus a Surfski

In this episode of Peak Paddle Performance we catch up with Dawid Mocke in Hood River just before he heads out to race the Gorge Downwind Championships.   This interview comes right  on the heels of a victory at the Canadian Surfski Championship where Dawid proved that despite having extensive life commitments, he still can still compete and win at the world class level.   Dawid is recognized by paddlers around the world as one of the most accomplished open ocean racers of all time, as well as a passionate teacher and entrepreneur.   In addition to winning races all over the world, Dawid runs a surfski school in Cape Town, SA and manages a rapidly growing brand of paddling products he hopes will transcend surfski and become go to products for all paddlers wanting to outfit themselves with proven gear for their next adventure, whatever that might be.   We ran short on time, so we didn’t go super deep in all the areas we could have covered,  but despite that, this is still turned into a very entertaining, inspirational, and information packed 35 minutes with Dawid.   In this short session we cover  

• A week in Hood River gorging on downwind runs
• The first early child hood experience that hooked Dawid on ocean paddling
• Dawid’s early days of competing and reaching the highest levels in surf life saving
• When Dawid knew for sure that ocean racing was this passion
• Quitting his full time job and starting the Mocke SURFSKI School
• Starting the Mocke Product Line
• Dawid’s approach to periodization
• Training volume as a full time athlete and now as a committed father and entrepreneur
• Dawid’s thoughts on dry land training
• The secret beach bikini workout that only Dawid would admit to doing

 
We certainly plan to catch up with Dawid again sometime soon to go even deeper,  but you definitely don’t want to miss this entertaining and information packed 35 minutes with one of the most inspirational paddlers in the world.

Today’s podcast guest is Boyan Zlatarev from Tarifa.   One of the conditions for getting Boyan to come on the show was that I not embarrass him with flattery.   So with that, I will just say this…
 
Boyan’s  humility makes him the ultimate student.  He  approaches everything he does with an open mind and a mindset that there is always more to learn, this in turn,  is the magic ingredient that makes Boyan such an incredible coach.
 
This is the longest podcast I’ve recorded yet,  but it is packed with deep and thought provoking insights and analogies that are certain to improve your paddling experience and performance.    I know that it has fundamentally changed my approach to downwind paddling  and I’m now more excited than ever to get out in the waves, whatever kind of waves they might be
 
We cover a wide range of topics including
 

• Boyan’s athletic career before surfski paddling
• How boyan got started in surfski
• Boyan’s first downwind
• How Boyan did NOT meet Oscar Chalupsky for  the first time
• Studying the science of waves with J B Zirker
• Why Boyan paddles a V8 99% of the time
• Applying the concepts of Deep Practice to downwind paddling by paddling slow boats, limiting strokes, using a smaller rudder, and limiting heart rate
• The LESS Formula
• Importance of the brace stroke
• Checking out Slomo to help understand why we are hard wired to chase the acceleration we get from dropping down a wave
• Staying high on the wave and riding it until it delivers you into the next wave
• Averaging 11 kph (6.8 mph)  as a rough threshold for determining if you will gain anything from an advanced surfski
• The recent blog I wrote on trying to become a Mindful Downwind Paddler
• Much much more….

If you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and Like Boyan’s Surfski Education FB page.  There is a wealth of information here
 
If you really want to take your paddling to the next level,  consider spending a week at the Surfski Center in Tarifa

My guest on Episode 004 is Denny Paull.   Denny is a good friend and northern Michigan endurance sports legend.  In addition to being a devoted father, husband, and veterinarian, he is one of the most impressive masters class athletes I know.   Now in his early 50s Denny continues to dominate  xc ski, multi-sport, and paddling races.  He is a fierce competitor with razor sharp focus,  but also a dedicated student of technique in all of his pursuits.   In his early years Denny was a world class clydesdale runner,  running a 4:30 mile and 32 minute 10ks at his peak.   Denny doesn’t compete as much in pure running races anymore, but has been on the podium every year he has raced the M22 challenge with 2 overall victories, 3 2nd place finishes.   He also continues to place in the top 15 of the 50k birkie classic race,  often finishing neck and neck with guys half his age who train full time
 
In this podcast we cover:
 

• The big discovery Denny made early on in his endurance career  (as a 200 lb runner, high mileage was not the ticket to peak performance)
• The doctor’s advice on back rehab that kicked off Denny’s kayak/surfski journey
• Denny’s diet transformation.   Going from a classic high carbohydrate disciple to ketosis and ultimately landing on the Perfect Health Diet
• The glucose, ketone, and thyroid hormone blood testing that Denny performed on himself during his diet transformation, what it revealed, and how he used it to ultimately find the perfect diet for him
• Morning workouts on an empty stomach, but still maintaining stable blood sugar levels through lunch time
• Denny’s weekly training regime, how many hours and what type of training he does
• Denny’s strategy for racing the M22 Challenge.  How he approaches the run, bike, and paddle as well as the transitions
• The Cheboygan Waterways Open Water Challenge  that Denny started a few years ago and continues to run.   We had the best downwind conditions of any Michigan Surfski Race last year.   With the might Mackinaw Bridge as a backdrop this is a very scenic venue.

For the past several years Sean has been owning the podium in all the biggest surfski races around the world with 3 consecutive wins at the US surfski championships, back to back wins at the Canadian surfski champs, an ICF World title in 2013, podium finishes at Molokai,  and now just recently a victory at the Euro Challenge in Spain.   And this is just a highlight, there have been many more podium finishes for Sean over the past few years.

But for all of his success, Sean remains a very humble, simple, and down to earth guy who just loves spreading his passion for paddling

In this episode we cover:

• The 2016 Word Tour that Sean and his fiance Emily have embarked on
• How and where Sean got started paddling
• The major health transformation Sean made in his late teens going from 270 lbs to 190 lbs
• The april fools day e-mail that became Sean’s breakthrough opportunity (hint: the beginning of a long and successful partnership with Think Kayaks)
• Sean’s thought and recommendations around resistance training
• What a typical week of training looks like for Sean these days
• Sean’s see food diet
• The number one issue Sean sees that is slowing down paddlers
• Using measurable goals for downwind paddling to track improvement and Sean’s general thoughts  (hint: it never gets easier, but hopefully you get consistently faster )
• How Sean is using the all new Motionize to improve his paddling
• The PaddleFit On-line coaching that Sean offers and how it can benefit you
• The amazing flat water and downwind clinics Sean has planned in Traverse City this July 30/31st

I know we covered a lot more not listed above.   It was really fun to spend the time with Sean.  I still haven’t met him in person, but based on our discussion and everything I’ve heard, Sean is certainly wise beyond his years,  an exceptional coach, and truly humble and grateful guy just thrilled to be spreading his passion for paddling.

We cover a wide range of topics including but certainly not limited to:

• How Oscar got started in paddling
• Paddling cold water in the open Atlantic off the coast of Portugal  (hint-  Oscar embraces paddling in a wetsuit most importantly because it keeps him warm and safe, but also because it trains him for handling the heat and adds a little extra resistance.   Oscar’s wetsuit of choice is the Quicksilver 3/2 with FN Lite Stretchy Neoprene)
• Chasing the biggest wave ever surfed on a surfski at Nazare.  Check out this video to see the break at Nazare in action
• The MAF (aka Phil Maffetone)  heart rate training program that has Oscar in the shape of his life
• The ithlete HRV monitor that Oscar uses  to monitor his training level
• Oscar has been following the Real Meal Revolution diet protocol created by his friend and fellow South African Timothy Noakes.   Oscar was actually a subject in some of the ground breaking hydration studies that Noakes led.
• Oscar references a classic podcast in which Noakes and Maffetone came together for the first time to discuss  a wide array of learnings from a lifetime of performance training experience this  Podcast episode is definitely worth checking out
• Oscar’s latest and now favorite new drill for downwind paddling (proper power precisely applied)
• Forward stroke technique and why Oscar still does drills.  We discuss going deep and mastering the basic fundamentals,  concepts I am learning in the book I’m curently reading  The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin
• The differences between padding K1 and Surfski
• Lots, lots more

It is always great to catch up with Oscar and this podcast was no exception. It was so much fun. Oscar truly is one of the greatest world renowned ambassadors for the sport of surfski and a huge inspiration to all as he continues to prove what is possible if you just set your mind to it.

Welcome to the latest adventure at TC SURFSKI.   I’ve decided to launch a Podcast series centered around achieving Peak Paddle Performance.   I know many of us are on a constant journey to eek out that next bump in paddle performance,  whether it be catching more runs, improving your flat water time trial speeds,  or just getting across the line in front of your nemesis.   Regardless, the journey is what makes paddling so exciting and keeps us constantly searching for more
 

• Forward stroke technique
• The Zen of Downwind Paddling
• What a day in the life of the world’s best looks like
• Optimal strength and conditioning strategies and how they help us improve
• Race day strategies
• Finding the optimal diet and nutrition strategy that works for you
• Taking advantage of the most effective, safe, and proven supplements
• Whatever else our fascinating guests want to share…..

In this first episode,  its all me as  I try to give a complete background on myself to set the stage for where I’m coming from and what my experiences have been.   It is on one hand an interesting story, and on the other, probably a pretty common theme for many of us.   Some little known facts –  I grew up in Kodiak, Alaska, famous for notoriously rough, cold, and deadly water..  I don’t know of any surfski paddling up there, but I can only imagine some of the raging downwind runs that could be had with the all the right safety gear in hand.   This is probably where my obsession with waves all began!   Here is a link to Season 12 of the Deadliest Catch, a blockbuster Discovery Series show that sparked the obsession with Alaska.   My neighbor growing up on Kodiak owned the Cornelia Marie which has been one of the main boats featured on the series.  

Below are just a few of the highlights and many great references to items  I cover in this introductory podcast

• Several years removed from Alaska and actually living around water that you can swim in,  I got the bug for triathlon and learned to swim forever with minimal effort using the Total Immersion approach
• Once comfortable in the water and burned out on traditional triathlon,  it was time to get my first surfski and spend my days falling into the water
• From my vegan days,  one of the best gourmet Vegan cookbooks I’ve ever seen by Tal Ronen.  If you’re willing to put in a little work and want to experience unbelievable animal free flavor,  check out this book
• Zsolt Szadovszki was a big inspiration for me at a pivotal point when I transitioned from high carb/vegan  to low carb paleo.   More recently Zsolt gave me some tough love coaching pointing out how poor my paddling posture looked, but at the same time, making me believe I had a lot more untapped potential to go faster.  If you’re fortunate enough to end up in Hawaii,  connect with Zsolt for some lessons
• As I transitioned into very low carb and began preparations for Molokai,  I read and reread all of the very thorough blog posts on Peter Attia’s blog.  Peter is a legend in the low carb endurance performance arena and a brilliant doctor and self experimenter who has pushed the envelope and opened a lot of minds to a new way of looking at low carbohydrate performance.   Here is a link to the guys that were instrumental in inspiring Peter
• With the coldest winter on record leading up to my first Molokai,  I couldn’t have done it without training on the Kayak Speedstroke Pro
• A well known surfski paddler in New Zealand,  Simon Longdill, turned me on to Phil Maffetone’s Big Book of Training.   Phil was way ahead of his time and has now become legendary in the training approach he used to help Mark Allen own the Ironman podium for several years
• Another technique introduced by Phil was nasal breathing.  I read more about this on John Douillard’s blog and it turns out I was an early adopter of something gaining a lot of traction right now with the release of Patrick McKeown’s book.   And if you decide to give this a try, and can’t recommend enough the Turbine as a significant aid to nasal breathing, this thing is incredible!
• The last few months I’ve been drinking from the firehose with a wealth of information and inspiration from the following podcasts :   Tim Ferriss,  Ben Greenfield,  Rhonda Patrick, and Power Athlete, to name a few

That’s probably enough to keep you occupied for now… lots more to come, so make sure you subscribe to the Podcast and stay tuned, it’s going to be an exciting season for sure.