How do you think we can make it happen here in Hawaii, or in other places for that matter? Try to keep this one serious because, quite frankly, if we don't address this issue seriously now, the Tahitians will be dominating the Molokai Hoe for generations to come.
Submitted by backset on Mon, 10/08/2007 - 1:45pm
Quite frankly, if Hawaii put together a crew of the best 9 paddlers in the entire state it would be competitive with most anyone. That said, people have their club loyalties (some people at least), families, and financial obligations. So will it ever happen? Probably not.
I believe when you look at teams like Shell Va'a you are basically seeing the "best of the best" for an entire nation. Plus you are talking about a nation where paddling is THE sport. Are there any other sports in Tahiti which draw elite athletes away from paddling? I doubt it.
Here in Hawaii paddling competes with football, baseball, basketball, soccer, swimming, track, etc. for athletes. If all the athletes with elite potential had nothing to do but paddle, Hawaii would be overflowing with high caliber paddlers. Is there a way to lure elite athletes away from other sports? Especially when those sports offer the opportunity for a free education or the chance to earn a living? Most likely not.
So now everyone will just have to make do with what we have, and perhaps try to emulate what the Tahitians do for training, technique, etc. That might be the most feasible route.
Or just hope for a SUPER rough channel next year.
You called it Luke....
#1 Mon, 10/08/2007 - 4:15pm
from the Honolulu Advertiser :
Hawaiian's Bartlett said: "It's more of a professional sport over there. We don't have the big sponsors like they do. But it's no excuse. We just have to suck it up and deal with it. Try to get faster."
#2 Mon, 10/08/2007 - 4:53pm
Glad you could join us Kai.
By the way, the following passage could be read as a compliment. not an excuse. So i'll say it again.
So now everyone will just have to make do with what we have, and perhaps try to emulate what the Tahitians do for training, technique, etc. That might be the most feasible route.
#3 Mon, 10/08/2007 - 6:45pm
When the Tahitians lost the Moloka'i a couple years in a row, they went back, regrouped, did stuff like set up the Super Aito to stay competitive, and worked their asses off. I feel like Hawai'i has to regroup and restructure somewhat.
I think that the first step is to bring all paddling in Hawai'i under one organization. In Tahiti every race on every island, whether it is V1 or V6, is all governed by the same association (someone correct me if i'm wrong..). We could at least bring the OC-1 under the same house as the OC-6, and use the one man season as a way to train for the six man.. work the seasons out in conjunction with each other like in Tahiti, instead of a distinct OC-1 season, then a summer season, then a distance season... it makes it so we can never truly be in peak form. Work the seasons all together... so you train OC-1 as a club, race OC-1 races one weekend, and then OC-6 the next. The Moloka'i Solo could be one month before the Moloka'i Hoe... This new super association would have more power to bring in large cash sponsors and more media coverage etc.. that all could lead to Hawai'i's first professional teams.
And i think that that is just the start, and that that is years down the road for Hawai'i. There has to be a change though, we can't just put our heads down and try to train harder next year. Hawai'i has a lot of talent and some clubs are doing a really good job of pooling that talent in conjunction with excellent coaching (NZ/Hawai'i, Outrigger, Hawaiian etc..) but i think that there is only so much you can do with good coaching and talent. The seasons have to work in our favor, not against us.
#4 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 12:27am
At what point will cheating be worked into the new program?
#5 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 3:16am
Jim,
What the f**ks wrong with you anyway? Why are you butting into a serious discussion with this retarded sh*t?
#6 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 3:46am
For the sake of levity...
#7 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 5:24am
In all seriousness, congratulations (felicitations?) to the Tahitians. Luke was right, of course. I think the rest of us were wishful thinking when we said a Hawaiian team would win. Luke is also correct in asserting that Hawaii paddling needs to be more organized and cohesive in its approach to winning this race. In the past, the objection to such an approach has been that it would harm the club system that we all(mostly) cherish. Hopefully, the club system can somehow be integrated into an umbrella organization which will produce better results in the big, international races.
#8 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 5:49am
I have 3 comments.
1. Like jc9 said, Hawaii need to make an all-star team and not spread the talent out like we have been for many years. Its getting too competitive. Look at the women winners and team new zealand, all-star teams and they did very well.
poops on all of u
#9 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 9:04am
This new super association would have more power
Not always the greatest thing. Seems like right now some of these organizations make unfair calls just because they can. Not saying it's a bad idea or it wouldn't do wonders for the sport -- just that if a super association did start up, it would be important to write out a constitution to keep everyone in line.
#10 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 9:29am
I dont think we only have to rely on All-Star teams.. NZ/HI and Team Bradley did awesome, but clubs can do just as well (Hawaiian CC etc.). And we also don't need money in order to do well either. If we're going to sit back and say that paddling in Hawai'i is only a hobby and the only teams that can compete are all-star teams.. then Hawai'i will never win the channel again.
Look at Pirae Va'a--- they are a normal canoe club. The members work through the day and paddle after work, they are not all-stars... and they came in 6th place. I really feel like we need a huge shift in the way that we look at the OC-1 and OC-6, and the way that we view our year as three distinct seasons.. if we bring all of that together i think it'll bring us onto the right track. And it wont mean that clubs will be eliminated or people won't be able to paddle if they don't commit their lives to it.. it's just one step towards unifying our sport and bringing us to that next level. Anyways-- just an idea.. but something really has to change.
#11 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 9:36am
I've never been a fan of power hungry officials with unbendable rules who enjoy abusing their power. All i meant with super association is that a larger more unified association is needed to lobby for us and to unify the seasons. That's all.
#12 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 9:41am
Luke I agree with you but imagine how much easier it would be to train if you didn't have to work and had almost unlimited resources. I agree that you don't have to be professional athletes to win molokai anything is possible.
One thing hawaii needs to do it look at the racing schedule. We're ass backwards right now. Physiologically speaking sprint season should come after distance season.
pops
#13 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 9:48am
Another deficiency is our teenage divisions. It is frightening to think what will happen when the freshmen class down in Tahiti become upper classmen. The teenagers down there are spooky good! They have races specifically for them (Matatini).
Most of our teenagers paddle for different reasons (their friends paddle, their boyfriend paddles, their parents paddle, etc...) then they go off to school for 4 years or so. Not that anything is wrong with that at all, but "we" should think about doing something about it or else we will perpetually be behind the curve.
And who are "we"? "We" are the people that hate LOSING!!!
#14 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 12:53pm
Quick! Everyone that hates loosing, start popping out kids and force them to become world class paddlers. Hurry! We can stem the tide by 2027...
#15 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 12:35pm
Funny ...
But if we were that serious about competing with Tahitians (Hawaiiki Nui, Super Aito, Te Aito or even Molokai Hoe), your estimate of 2027 may be spot on.
#16 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 12:52pm
My congrats to the Tahitian teams, the teams from Hawaii and elsewhere, for their stellar performance in this year's Molo.
As far as Tahitian teams and Hawaii teams are concerned, I believe that both Tahiti and Hawaii have awesome paddlers. In case anyone has failed to notice, over the history of the race, the Tahitians and Hawaiians have constantly traded places when it comes to claiming title to the race. In any given year, both have teams capable of winning the Molo race.
Now I suppose the fact that Tahitian paddlers have sponsors, that paddling is a national sport in Tahiti, that Tahitians start to paddle at the age of 6 months and that they pray to the paddling gods, contribute to their superior performance. But to accuse them of taking performance enhancing drugs without any evidence is just plain sour grapes. When the Hawaii teams manage to pull off a win, you never see people on this forum accusing them of doping. Until such time as the sanctioning bodies prohibit sponsorship, praying to paddling gods and redfine child abuse to include forcing 6-month old's to paddle, what the Tahitian's do (or what they don't do) is legitimate in the sport. My advice? Get over it. Admit that a Tahitian win means that a Tahitian team outpaddled a Hawaiian crew (and crews from any other location for that matter) and then endevour to improve so that it doesn't happen again. Go get sponsors, pray to your paddling gods and teach your infants how to paddle.
#17 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 1:07pm
I think we had this same discussion last year at the same time.
The sport needs to progress on a state level like luke is saying, with reorganized schedules, associations and rules (ie OC6 design/weight) and also by creating "special teams" to compete at the "pro" level that the Tahitians bring to the table.
At this point, why re-invent the wheel, maybe study whats working over there?
Theres always the excuse that we cant get serious sponsorship because of the lack of coverage or "its not a spectator sport", how can we change that?
The key to success is good planning. If a plan can be mapped out, sponsors will be interested, then with money and a good team comes implementation. It will take a bit of time, but it is doable.
#18 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 1:41pm
Historically there would be a cycle going back and forth between the Tahitians and the Hawaiians - and all other elite canoe teams for that matter. For instance there would be a span of time where a Hawaiian team would be the team to beat. A couple years later a Tahitian team would be the team to beat. But there is something different about it this time.
In the past Tahitians would feed off of, learn from, or be inspired by other elite teams outside of the country of Tahiti. Now they need not travel farther than 5 valleys, from Fa'a'a to Mahina, to find three of the best teams in the world (OPT, Shell Va'a and Ra'i). Along with other extremely good teams around Tahiti nui (Pirae Va'a, Mahina Va'a, Raromaita'i, Moorea, Bora Bora, Fare Ara...).
They don't need foreign teams to help motivate them anymore, other than the occasional "Oh oh, we can see those Hawaiian guys behind us again, let's pick up the pace". They are progressing forward whether we join them or not.
These guys are pushing the envelope of this sport farther than it has ever gone with respect to sponsorship, commitment level, and performance. Currently, the only advantage we have over them with respect to outrigger canoe paddling is this website.
#19 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 1:48pm
hello backset,
where are you from.
Coz I see that you know a lot about tahiti.
I'm from tahiti and much more from mahina va'a.
i would like to say to some of you.
that shell va'a paddlers are not cheaters, they won hawaiki nui last year (a race without change) and broke all records of the race.
every paddlers down here, have respects for them.
ps: escuz for my poor english.
see you.
#20 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 3:17pm
I am from Hawaii. I paddle on a so called "elite" crew here. I have done some races on Tahiti and I am somewhat familiar with what is going on down there.
I have nothing but respect for Tahitian paddlers. I do NOT share the view that the top paddlers in Tahiti are cheaters, blood dopers, take illegal drugs or anything like that. I believe that they are simply just more committed the sport than any one else on the planet.
#21 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 4:34pm
What about the stroke ratio ? two miles and a new record...is it just training we are missing here and big budgets ? greatness comes from forward thinking and new innovation...I live for paddling and one day hope to paddle in a canoe that is humming from braking the hull speed ,I know you guys all have the same wish.About the one man season and organizations,it would be great to be all as one ,but as for one man we all one man year round anyways ,no excuse there...you don't need a race season to train hard.
#22 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 5:33pm
Training schedules of top surfski paddlers:
three times a day, Saturday long downwind run, Sunday race series - Oskar Chalupski, " I always go 100 %, I don't believe in anything else " .
Or, female world champion rowing/lightweight: 30 miles biking, 20 miles rowing/ day, plus other stuff.
Of course Oskar is a 'professional'.
My point is:
With his incredible passion he ( and others ) created what surfski is today.
Now, he can reap the fruits of all his efforts.
That's all it takes :)
and I do not see a good reason why it has to be Shell Vaa.
It can easily be Shell Lanika/OCC/Hawaiian etc.; but the passion has to come first. Passion to the degree of obsession.
You have to increase your training schedule to olympic levels; every day at least two solid units, better three.
If you do that, you will become a professional, guaranteed. Sponsors will knock at your door, no doubt.
The same should be true at the OC6 level; for OC6, club infrastructure and coaching attitudes (!), would need a dramatic change - provided you want a professional environment.
#23 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 9:17pm
Aloha to all and congratulations to everyone who paddled and conquered a rough and challenging race course, you're all winners.
And now, pass the soap box please...
Reading all the commentary on better paddlers, paddlers cheating, paddlers using performance enhancing drugs, paid professional paddlers, and the like made me reflect on something that eckhart mentioned briefly, Coaching.
Elite athletes invariably utilize professional coaching to achieve their goals, no matter what the sport. AND they trust them completely, or go elsewhere for training. Some even use multiple coaches to assist them with nutrition, technique, mental fitness, etc.
If we as Hawaiians (or anyone else) truly want to be successful and WIN a channel, a dial-a-championship-crew won't be enough, no matter how great the paddlers think they are. A succesful team needs everyone to be in alignment with the goals of the team and BUY IN to the program by getting rid of all the paddletics, pettyness and jealousy that runs rampant in many programs. Loose a seat race or time trial? Work harder and get it back next time. Realize that all you are in control of is your own attitude, and the COACH is in the drivers seat for the crew, club or whatever shape/form the program may be; giving the direction and daily training regimen they feel is necessary to get to those goals. They have the responsibility of making the whole crew work as a single cohesive unit.
It takes sacrifice, faith, belief, and HUMILITY. The old saying speaks true, "A team is only as strong as its weakest player." And the best coaches take time to develop everyone to their highest potential for the task at hand, and makes it clear that everyone is responsible for doing their part for the team, even if it means not paddling with the 1st crew, or at all.
That said, perhaps we need more professional coaches to develop us as people AND as paddlers. This may not be fun for some, but it comes down to what YOU decide is your goal, as a team, crew, or club. If your team is seriously trying to win, let the goal of performing at your best be your fun, let achieving daily goals become part of that fun, train your ass off and sacrifice some of your own ego to become part of a team no matter how you place. Show up for practice, be ready to be coached, and do it with commitment.
If your goal is to have a good ol' time, be social, and play in the ocean, get with a program or coach who will be there to make it all a fun experience each day, or just take some time off and goof around. (like i've been doing.)
Exiting soap box, next!...
Last thoughts for all of those coaches who paddle and coach...are you giving 100% to both efforts? Really? What about those few coaches training one team and paddling with another? Huh?
#24 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 10:06pm
Read "The Barton Mold", the pdf file is on rambo's page. Or just google it and download the pdf files from Epic Kayaks' page. Or if you're really lazy, click on the red inks shown at the right side of this page
http://www.epickayaks.com/content/?nid=1506
It will forever change your thoughts on hard work and commitment. Basically if you really want to do something, you will make the time. Even if it takes you several years to get there.
Or just call up Art Vandalay, he'll help you out.
#25 Tue, 10/09/2007 - 11:12pm
Wow. Looks like we have a coach right here. Good stuff.
I just want to react; I agree with the concept of "you get out what you put in". After 9 months of straight training, my business is suffering, my family is suffering, my wife is pissed, i havent surfed in months, gone diving, fishing, nahting. Im not complaining either. It is what it is. Building the base, but at a hefty price.
#26 Wed, 10/10/2007 - 12:14am
All good comments. Organizing the race structure, coaching, sponsors, etc. But Hawaii isn't going to catch Tahiti in a couple of years. If you really want to do well in the sport, you have to develop the kids. What programs do we have for the kids? Most are geared towards the adults. Why ban under 18's from Moloka'i Hoe? This is the kind of backwards thinking that will always keep Hawaii behind Tahiti.
#27 Wed, 10/10/2007 - 6:06am
Seriously, banning under 18's from molo is the dumbest thing I've ever heard of I mean come on, Patrick Dolan, come on think about what your putting in your juniors minds, "come out, practice hard, but when it comes to the biggest race of the year your not invited." Oh yeah his brother Ryan too, it's so dumb.
#28 Wed, 10/10/2007 - 7:11am
What about creating a "professional division" for major OC6 and OC1 races? They could pay higher entrance fees and use those fees as prize money for each race. If you could get enough races throughout the season, elite paddlers could form individual teams and practice much like a club, year round, essentially creating a professional OC6 club.
With regards to OC1, what if you could piggy-back onto the international surfski races to create a professional circuit of OC1 paddlers, or create a stand alone one?
Of course all this does come down to money, sponsorship, audience, etc. It basically seems to boil down to how many people are in the sport or interested in the sport. The more paddlers worldwide, the more exposure to the sport and the more money invested by sponsors.
Personally, I don't think it will happen any time soon, I still get people everyday looking at my OC1 and inquire why I'm hauling around an airplane wing!
#29 Wed, 10/10/2007 - 7:18am
There is no question that if Hawaii wants to be competitive internationally it will need to become more organized. Our racing schedule will need to be changed so that each season complements the one that follows. We will need to make a concerted effort to bring along and retain young paddlers. Maybe, as Luke suggested, we need to have one all encompassing statewide organization so we can all move collectively towards a common goal. We need to get local businesses behind our sport to help with money, sponsorship and manpower. We need progressive and up to date coaching.
We need all this and more plus a lot of very committed paddlers.
None of that will happen unless we get people in charge that can embrace change and a new way of looking at our sport. From my experience the people who run OHCRA and HCRA aren't those people.
We need leadership that is capable of putting on races like Hamilton Island and the races in Tahiti. We don't need people that are mired in the past and old ways of doing things.
Another problem is that change comes slowly in Hawaii. People in Hawaii are often resistant to doing things a new way. I think a good way to begin to change that would be for as many paddlers and especially HCRA officials to travel to some of the international races that large and well run. Maybe we could hire as consultants some of the people that run Hamilton Cup or Tahiti races to help us set up similar events.
These are just some of the things we could do to help advance our sport but before any of that I think we need to get a whole lot of new blood in the board of HCRA.
#30 Wed, 10/10/2007 - 8:02am
Yes, it may be Tahiti today, but it could very well be China or Aotearoa (New Zealand) tomorrow...
Case in point: Since the mid-1980’s, the culture and sport of waka ama in Aotearoa has been fully revived. Waka ama now has close to 10,000 registered paddlers and is the fastest growing water sport in the country. Most of this resurgence can be attributed to the sport being embraced by the indigenous Maori population as well as funding being readily available through government grants for local clubs and youth programs. One doesn’t have to look far to see the steady rise of Aotearoa paddlers on the international outrigger scene. Take for instance the 2006 IVF World Sprints where Aotearoa paddlers dominated a large number of the events (especially youth events). Also witness where numerous paddlers from Aotearoa are amongst the best in Hawaii. For example the NZ/HI team, although this years team was mostly Hawaiian paddlers, certainly past Molokai NZ/HI teams have had a large contingent of New Zealand paddlers. Another example is the Herbert’s on Tour team that placed 15th in this years race. Yes, the Kiwi’s are coming!
In addition to Aotearoa, what about the South African’s who are so dominant in surf ski or the Eastern European’s who dominate Olympic flat water canoeing and kayaking, or the Chinese dragon boaters, etc… My point is some day soon (if they haven’t already) these countries will all start to get involved in this great sport of outrigger and we will have to be ready.
To keep up with these countries we need to put a huge emphasis on our youth and develop these programs similar to the way they have done in Aotearoa. But in my opinion almost certainly the answer and future of outrigger lies in professional or semi-professional paddlers/teams. In the USA we always do things through big business (that’s the America way!), so I see business sponsored teams where paddlers are subsidized (or paid) to train and paddle for top events. With Shell Va’a I believe we are already witnessing the start of this phenomenon...
#31 Wed, 10/10/2007 - 8:11am
well if you talk to the boat builders the numbers show this sport is growing so fast... with them hardly keeping up with demand...i think if they can make the boats more affordable it will grow even more.re wait lists...now on race day in molokai was it not great to see air coverage, god i already feel like a pro...lol.its great to see so many opinions about our passion and how we can improve our sport here in hawaii.all of us as true waterman know that our lives surround around our families and the ocean our two loves...with that in mind i think some good examples our kia and lauren and how they both share a passion for paddling and involve the family as a whole where ever they go... no wonder there top finishers this year.it really is a dream with its basic component love of the sport and hard work...i feel loyalty to a club is fine but the love of victory is also something we all enjoy.as good coaches know you should never hold back a paddler once they have reached there peek,let them go and be proud that they have gone on to become better paddlers from your efforts.clubs will always have social problems since that is just life and human nature i guess thats one reason new clubs are formed, we all have to live with it or form a club of our own...which is very hard work.lol
#32 Wed, 10/10/2007 - 8:12am
Re: Tahitian Paddlers..
Reading down through all the comments, it seems that by and large the Hawaii paddlers have been quite gracious about the top Tahitian teams taking out the top spots at Molokai.
There is something that needs to be restated however, and that is putting these placings in their proper context.
Shell has a team of champions, who are cherry picked from other clubs... you will never see a Shell womens team, or junior team - because they don't have any. They don't focus on development at all - just on winning, which they do very well, as you have seen. The fact is they do nothing but paddle every day - that is what they are paid to do. They all have certain 'jobs' with the company, but the fact of the matter is that they are paid to paddle, full time. That makes them professional, while most other teams are amateur. That is the main difference right there. OPT is a great team too - but they are not too far different from Shell. The Company "OPT" is their postal service provider!!! The same was for Pirae (once upon a time), and also the legendary Faaa Mens team. Semi-professionalism is not a new thing in Tahitian paddling.
And don't worry too much about bad sportsmanship and hubris, there are many many Tahitian coaches, managers and paddlers that suffer from this affliction too.
Other than those two great teams, the results I think were split fairly even between Hawaii, Tahiti and NZ teams...
The point is that there is no real secret to what the Tahitians do - the focus is very much on technique and timing, especially timing, which is very important when you are paddling a such a high rate. And extreme conditioning and fitness, because they have a whole day of paddling, resting and paddling.
So, to compete against them, you would have to adopt a similiar system of full time paddling and conditioning - which is not realistic without having a very wealthy benefactor.
I recall hearing that during the World Sprints in California, there were Olympian kayakers participating in the US team - and they cleaned up. No surprises there, as these were full time athletes I am talking about.
Just my two cents worth, and I'm not trying to pour cold water on these Tahitian teams achievements - it is great to see what a properly resourced, professional team of Champions can achieve, and admire them for what they have done - but fact is fact, and we are not comparing apples with apples here.
#33 Wed, 10/10/2007 - 8:51am
Let's take a poll.
Who here has had paddling ruin a relationship or marriage they were in or seen other people's relationships or marriages get messed up?
I have had and seen my share. When I actually sit down and think about it, paddlings not good for relationships.
#34 Wed, 10/10/2007 - 9:34am
But, I have seen and OC-2 bring a couple closer together.
#35 Wed, 10/10/2007 - 9:55am
If one partner doesn't paddle & one does, the non-paddler has to be extremely flexible, understanding, & supportive. Rare, but not impossible. I know of quite a few husband/wife (sometimes whole family) teams that run canoe clubs (sometimes all parties paddle, sometimes some don't paddle but serve administratively). I think that relationships/marriages that are stable & healthy to begin with are usually okay.
I think that if people want a professional coach, they should hire one, and if people want to be paid to paddle, they should go hustle sponsors. Sitting on one's ass whining about how the Tahitians are better because (blah, blah, blah, whatever) is stupid. Be a leader, take charge, make it happen. Or just try to do the best you can with what you've got and enjoy your time on the water.
#36 Wed, 10/10/2007 - 10:58am
But paddlelikeagirl, its sooooo much easier to sit her and whine, bitch, and make excuses then to train 30 hours a week for 9 months.
#37 Wed, 10/10/2007 - 11:06am
hawaii definately needs to step up training
besides tahiti, take for example hckt. for a group of well trained kayakers they did respectively well, very close behind and in front of many Hawaiian first teams and only trained together a couple of times
#38 Wed, 10/10/2007 - 11:25am
Poopy -- that explains the messed up relationships AND the Tahitian butt-kicking?
#39 Wed, 10/10/2007 - 2:56pm
Hi coconut,
I don't know where you got the information about SHELL and OPT do nothing but paddle all day long and all week long...you're totally wrong...
I see every morning just to mention TARA and PIRATO driving their big red and white fuel truck, and then I see them again at noon still working, every day.
I can even tell you that they're up at 5 am lifting weights or paddling before work time.
#40 Wed, 10/10/2007 - 3:23pm
Hi VTA,
I will concede that I made the assumption about full time training based on what other Tahitian paddlers (and managers) have told me, so I may well be wrong on that point (although I think maybe their work hours may well be set up to suit their training, and not the other way around?).
Maybe you can answer my question, what is the benefit of these paddlers paddling for Shell then, VTA?
Also I note you did not dispute my other points about Shell not being a club in the communal sense of the word, lacking both womens and junior development, and instead relying on the efforts of other clubs (most recently Erai)??
Once again, I'm not trying to diminish the efforts of those paddlers, which are indeed awesome, but merely to try and put their accomplishments into some kind of context.
However, I'm happy to be proven wrong anytime!!
Cheers.
#41 Wed, 10/10/2007 - 3:40pm
aha, so your saying this web site is the cause of hawaii loosing the molokai to Tahiti? Good to see where getting to the core of the problem.
Speaking of which, good thing it is Tahiti handing it to us. No shame in getting beat by a country dedicated to paddling.
#42 Thu, 10/11/2007 - 12:16am
It could be said we are all so happy to be in a sport which brings us all togther ...we are all family and being such we should work toward enjoying our sport and maybe just someday it will become a profession for some with skill and and the rare gift of being able to apply paddle to water and move faster then others in a uniform way...I train,surf,have a relationship and a business and in some way find a way to keep it all in balance...Im not getting rich but feel that friendships made on the water and the pure joy to be alive and active will someday bring me to a point where I might be able to make a living around the sport I love...We should all try and recruit as may people to our sport as possible and as all of us here become bitten by the paddling bug and the joy we all feel among friends and loved one...clubs here in Hawaii should have better wed sites to help bring out more numbers to our sport as well as social paddling which brought me into the sport...
#43 Tue, 12/25/2007 - 2:37pm