I THINK HAWAII SHOULD TELEVISE PADDLING! DONT YOU?

Anyone see the Kaua'i world challenge segment on the Hawaiian air mainland flights? I thought that was pretty good. I was watching one of the live pro surfing aerial events the other day, with all the best surfers, and it seemed like they don't land their moves very often, so I kind of think it's all about the editing... as in if you just edit in all the best stuff, the sport can be just as exciting as any other. I think the trouble is more with where the money comes from to get it on tv. Something done for oc16 could definitely be cool though.

#1 Sat, 09/24/2005 - 9:12am

while there was a segment on nrg television. about oc-1 and i thought that was pretty good. hope one day they will show it. i think if they show it on t.v more people will be interested in paddling.

#2 Sat, 09/24/2005 - 7:50am

good point luke. i was just thinking all the motion of hawaii's waters would make it tough. at least compared to tahiti where the majority of the time the conditions are like a lake. especially once inside the reef...

i would definitely watch a downwind run though...

#3 Fri, 09/23/2005 - 3:08pm

I think it's possible to get some good footage from a boat-- and i know that under normal conditions paddling might not be the most exciting sport to watch for non-paddlers but i think that there are enough paddlers in Hawaii where you would think that the occasional race would have a full half hour segment dedicated to it, or even a show on OC16. And i think getting some footage on tv from a really windy run, either six-man or one-man, would get a lot of people interested in the sport. Watching a 45 foot canoe bombing down a wave and then connecting to another swell--- that's gotta be more interesting to watch than golf... The sport is still growing though, so guarunteed there will be more and more stuff on tv in the coming years.

#4 Fri, 09/23/2005 - 2:22pm

Does it make for exciting TV? Do they show it live in Tahiti? I think the biggest challenge here in Hawaii would be the water action. Shots would be so shaky that poeple at home would be puking while watching TV. I'm all for getting paddling noticed, but it seems the logistices would be tough. Maybe someone should try to get something started on OC16? Just my .02

#5 Fri, 09/23/2005 - 8:13am

In Tahiti, there's some races in live (like Heiva races in july) and there's some races not, but it's also nice to see the race on TV, sure it's not the same like in live.
Next race on TV will be famous "Hawaiki Nui" on 3 days...
I think that Hawaii should put paddling on TV, my team (Mahina va'a TAHITI) was 3rd at the Queen Liliuokalani Race in Kona and we had no pictures from this race!!!!

#6 Fri, 09/23/2005 - 12:48pm

Shots from a hovering chopper equiped with a gyroscopic thingy, the kind they use to track fleeing suspects in a car chase in LA, would eliminate chumming the living room.

#7 Mon, 09/26/2005 - 9:56am

At one time, the Moloka'i was televised and I think it would be great if they brought it back. But it's all about the money for the TV stations. I think at the very least, they should put it on DVD and while they're at it, put the one-man championship on DVD too. But you know how that goes. A few people will buy it and make copies for everyone else and there goes the DVD idea.

#8 Mon, 09/26/2005 - 11:12pm

They should televise races or even provide weekly paddling shows with training tips. It would be cool if they made a show similar to the "Ultimate Fighter" except paddling. Like the "Ultimate Paddler" and they could compete for sponsorships or something. Haha hopefully that could happen in the future.

#9 Sun, 07/09/2006 - 11:29pm

OC16 would be a good start to show paddling on tv, I really enjoyed the segment they had on oc1's

#10 Mon, 07/10/2006 - 6:45am

we should have a paddling fundraiser, then use funds to start-up a paddling segment on oc16

#11 Mon, 07/10/2006 - 7:07am

I think that they should televise paddling on T.V. especially the HCRA. You can cover some good footage on paddling. If they were to show it on T.V. I think that the sport would grow more and people would get more involved. There are enough paddlers out there that would watch paddling on T.V. The kids and the young adults need something like that to prepare and better themselves by seeing themselves on T.V. they would be able to point out there weaknesses. As a young adult I would like to see us on television, it gives us something to strive for, it makes us feel good, and I think that the sport it self is not exposed enough. So YES, they should televise Paddling.

#12 Sat, 07/22/2006 - 7:30pm

I think it is still a long way away until we see paddling on TV on a regular basis. I have found a better idea for now. I started a fun video blog on outrigger canoeing last year. I think if more paddlers did it we wouldn't have to rely on television. Check my blog out and if you want info on how to start one let me know. (Like paddling it is lot easier than it looks) Most cameras these days have video settings on them.

I would love to see more paddling videos of other races, paddling tips, whatever you think is cool about our sport. We don't just have to wait and watch for the very limited amount of paddlling that they show on TV one time a year that can only be viewed in Hawaii or Tahiti.

www.outriggercanoe.blogspot.com

#13 Sun, 07/23/2006 - 9:47am

I think all the companies that are making money from the sport should get together and sponser a series dedicated to paddling. We're all out there sporting their goods either in the water or using these types of sites. Even divers have their own show on OC16. A little from all the canoe builders, paddle shops, boat repairs and even Go bananas (where we all buy racks and straps from) it'll go a long way. And don't forget OC1 and Surfski races during 6 man for fundraising. I'm sure everybody would love that. This sport is exploding right before our eyes. I see more OC1's, surfski's, and paddle boarders than divers and fishermens, but OC16 has Skin diver and hawaii goes fishing (I watch those shows weekly by the way). It just doesn't add up. I know its harder than it seems, but its just mind boggeling of how much lack of respect this sport has endured through the years. I mean this is our states sport and past time. Next thing you know, we'll all forget what ALOHA means. Lets keep as much tradition alive as possible. I know we went from wood to carbon fiber, but still we paddle. These are just suggestions that I really hope can be used in one way or another. I really appreciate all the companies that contribute to the sport. I really think they all would be proud to donate money to a cause they also love. I know it won't hurt their business. Everyone feels the same way....... that it will never happen. We just need a skilled organizer to walk with us on that journey. I know once the boat starts lifting, we'll all get together, stick that blade, and push forward.

#14 Sun, 07/23/2006 - 11:22am

Are you sure making this sport huge is what you want? Look at surfing...Contests and photojournalism has pretty much ruined the vibe in the water anywhere you paddle out.

I haven't met anyone who got filthy, budweiser, Exxon rich off of paddling and paddlers yet...
A better point is would we want them too?
Would you WANT Karel Jr to make money like a Derek Jeter or Kelly Slater?

Isn't the cool part of this that on any given day you can shake hands and congratulate the best paddlers around, share a beer, and know that you raced in the same race as them?

I think it would be great if I had as much time to train and paddle as I wanted...But if I was walking away from the pack every race and doing the Floyd Landis/Barry Bonds routine to do it...It would make us all look bad...And that is where too much TV and endorsements take you.

#15 Tue, 08/08/2006 - 9:08am

I'm not sure that surfing has been ruined at all. A lot more people out there are enjoying the sport which is great-- it sucks that breaks are consistently getting more and more crowded, but i'm not sure if the vibe in the water has been ruined at all (if there is a bad vibe i dont think it's usually because of contests or photojournalism). And whatever problems surfing has are not really too relevant to paddling. The more people you paddle with the more fun it generally is... and that is especially true for races. The ocean is a pretty large place.

Even if some people are out there making money off of the sport-- we'll still be in the same races as them. If money changes the person so you cannot share a beer with them or shake their hand then that is their own fault that money got to their head, but personally i do not think that that is an issue.

I think that everyone wants to see the sport grow--- whether you have the time to train or not, isn't it more fun competing against more people?

TV coverage also leads to more corporate sponsorship-- which i hope that you don't immediately write off as a bad thing. The one race out there that consistently outshines the rest in every way is the Kaua'i World Challenge (i mean in Hawai'i, i'm sure Hamiliton and some Tahiti races are comparable or better).. That race is the way it is because of the sponsors that they have for it. It's incredibly well organized, it has a good awards party afterwards, it has prize money, and it has more competitors than any other OC-1 race in Hawai'i... all of which add up to making it (in my opinion) the funnest race in Hawai'i. I haven't read the other threads on this post in awhile, but i'm pretty sure it's been said before that more TV coverage will lead to more sponsorship for races... more sponsorship for races will result in more races like the KWC.

Sorry for my rant...

#16 Tue, 08/08/2006 - 11:45pm

so i guess you can get more than a wave or two at kaiser bowl or malibu, velzyland or rocky point? the older guys know what i mean. most of the pure camaraderieof surfing is long gone...surfers used to be like paddlers are now...( another oc-1on a car roof...you wave or shaka right?) when if ever was the last time you were happy to see a stranger with surfboards coming or going? I could rant too...and it isn't your fault for not completely getting it..It is just the times. and it isn't about prize money.

#17 Wed, 08/16/2006 - 10:39am

I think people should try to get the canoe race videos played on local public access TV. All of the islands have a public access station on cable for the public to air their videos. On the Big Island I have a weekly program called â€œSurfing Konaâ€ which airs twice a week. I show mostly surfing but I have shown some of my paddling videos on the surf program (hope I didnâ€™t piss-off to many surfers). Iâ€™ve also submitted 24 specials to be aired including 7 canoe races (4 LD incl Liliâ€™O, 3 regattas). In May 06, I taped the Ford Ironman 70.3 Triathlon and aired it our our local station Na Leo O Hawaii (CH 54). I tried to get it played on Oahu but it would have been to difficult since I wasnâ€™t a resident of the island. I think people would not have any problems getting their videos played on any of the islands. You just need to contact the station and follow the format that they require. The good thing about public access verses regular TV is that it is totally local since it will only show on your island. The format of all of my programs is to try to get everyone into the video. On regular TV only the best runners, paddlers, or surfers would make it onto the video. On local TV people might like to see the â€œbestâ€ but they really want to see their friends instead. I made 2 videos of this years Liliâ€™O race. Iâ€™ll try to put a short video together and have it posted on the OCPaddler website.

#18 Fri, 09/22/2006 - 4:04pm