Train 3 times a day, 6 days a week -
6-8am
12-1pm
5-6pm
weights 3 times a week - 2 x shoulders and lower back, 1 x legs (yes, legs), high reps, low weights (replace morning trainings)
limit to around 85kg
paddle with monster blades
bring in new passionate guys to keep the competition tough in crew seats
two crews each session
have a bucket-load of cash (Shell)
eat anything and everything
greatly reduce your family time
have an awesome coach
Submitted by k on Mon, 10/13/2008 - 8:27pm
Yeah, we're selling advertising, but realistically most large companies can get better return on their advertising dollars than putting them into a bike or canoe race. To a degree they have to do it because they have a love of the sport themselves or as a community service. Just imagine if Bill Gates thought the coolest thing in the world was paddling.
#71 Thu, 10/16/2008 - 2:01pm
I paddle past his house all the time and keep thinking the same thing! All I ever see are his grouchy security guards, though.
#72 Thu, 10/16/2008 - 2:05pm
In regards to the sponsorship/advertising/public image debate. The biggest factor faced here in Hawaii and the mainland, versus The ability of the Tahiti team to receive large amounts of sponsorship is competition. There are so many requests from all types of sports and other activities for money in Hawaii. Tahiti is the beneficiary of a less competitive market and it just happens to be the sport we all love.
Could this change in the future? Absolutely. Remember the day when all Olympians were "amateurs"? Now all the major sports have these Olympic training centers dedicated to the improvement of their respective sport. It may be too late for some of the current "Elite" Hawaii paddlers to be part of a round the clock training center, but they(and the non elite) certainly could be a big part of the creation of one. Imagine the results of young bucks getting the best coaching? Any rich paddlers out there to start a foundation outside of the club culture to promote the State Team Sport?
This is just the opinion of one paddler!
#73 Thu, 10/16/2008 - 2:32pm
For Hawaiian teams... The toughest logistics are probably going to Molokai. Compare that to a race in Tahiti.
That's why you don't see Hawaiian teams.
I'm guessing that you'll start seeing a few top teams (or "all star" teams) going each year now. But it's really unlikely that you'll see more than a handful IMHO.
#74 Thu, 10/16/2008 - 3:09pm
In someways doing Molokai is a bigger hassle, getting your canoes over, getting them back home if you're not on Oahu. Getting crew to Molokai and back home from Oahu. Going to Tahiti would just be arranging a loaner.
Obviously airfare is a bit more.
#75 Thu, 10/16/2008 - 3:56pm
Well I might be on sketchy ground here, but I suspect that Hawaiians and those that support them need to be stronger and more vocal in their demands from local elected representatives, councils, state reps and so on up the food chain. Canoeing should be linked to all other things Hawaiian, and then you can put the people that hold the purse strings on a kind of 'guilt trip' (for want of a better term) and pressure them to support more things that reflect Hawaiian cultural values (e.g traditional dance, language, voyaging and outrigger canoeing and so on). There is plenty of funding about, its a question of knowing which strings to pull, and acting more cohesively as a group. Its like Peter K said, you must get more coordinated in your approach:
1. Have a champion for your cause
2. Unite behind that person or group of persons
3. Get involved yourself.
3. Have a single race calendar and programme which all the various islands buy into.
4. Above all, have a SINGLE overriding Paddling Association (parent body), with committees or sub associations on each island affiliated to it and working with it.
5. Give each island the opportunity to host one major event each year, with the expectation that all paddlers will go there and support.And/or organise your own version of Hawaiki Nui between the islands
6. Once you have this system running, you can start to identify areas where you can put that funding (i.e development programmes, youth programmes, school programmes), and give sponsors the option to support one or more of these activities.
7. It is much better to be speaking through one voice, especially when talking to potential sponsors, as you have far more leverage that way.
8. Have a good look at how other countries have organised themselves and run their sport - including NZ/Aust/Cooks and most important to this discussion - Tahiti.
9. Have a comprehensive points system for both clubs and individuals to encourage more competition - with some decent prize money - with a 'Te Aito' open race for all paddlers -
followed by champions from each island qualifying for a "super aito" type race - reserved for the very best paddlers from each island and overseas paddlers. This always generates public and corporate interest.
10. Those 'big events' should be the ones targeted for most sponsorship by large companies.
Now, I realise that most of the parts of this framework are already in place there in Hawaii, but it's very piecemeal and fragmented... sponsors just hate that sort of thing. What they want is an effective way to get maximum bang for their buck, and/or a way to enhance their 'product' (such as in the tourism sector). And once you're organised go for the big companies as well as the small ones - you'd be surprised what you can get once you give them the hard sell (e.g. supporting Polynesian/Hawaiian culture etc). Get more government funding for school programmes, distribute funding to clubs and strengthen paddling at the grassroots level. Increase the exposure of paddling anywhere and anyway you can - through media -TV, print etc. get the message whenever you can that canoeing is a far better sport for their kids than American football, soccer or that thing that is called baseball. You've got to get kids into it early before they get into other sports - that is why soccer has been so successful - they plow millions into youth development.
Once again though, its all there, but someone really just needs to pull it all together. Because at the end of the day, without all that background infrastructure in place you can't hope to compete with Tahiti on a level footing - paddling for them is a way of life and a passion - and fully supported by their Government and the public.
I think Manny is doing a great job so far, and I think he can see the big picture with the PA'A concept, but he needs support from Hawaiians and non-blood Hawaiians alike. Everyone needs to buy in to the concept that this is a uniquely Polynesian/Hawaiian sport, and jump in and be proud to be associated with it, irrespective of whether you have Hawaiian blood or not. I can see Manny is generating significant public interest through his efforts, most recently to have a fully Hawaiian crew (and one Cook Islander!) - who performed outstandingly at this year's Molokai.
This is the start - get behind him and help him all the way.
Once again, I apologise profusely if I've offended anyone with my diatribe, I fully concede I might not have a complete understanding of the true situation up there, but its just some observations from my time spent in Hawaii and paddling with all the great people there.
Ka kite.
#76 Thu, 10/16/2008 - 4:08pm
Sorry to chirp in on this thread so late. I've raced Paddleboard's on O'ahu for many years. Jaime Mitchell's sucess goes beyond his dedication (which is off the hook). Aussie open class paddleboard technique and technology are light years ahead of Cali. and Hawaii. Is Cali. and Hawaii OC6 just as flawed?
#77 Thu, 10/16/2008 - 7:42pm
I'm really no authority on paddling techniques, but I'm always striving to improve it every chance I can. So it's my guess that Shell Vaaa paddlers use their paddles as foils and just flew over the Channel. Coming in more than 10 minutes ahead of the next canoe is incredible and proves they were flying. Now that's the secret I want to learn?
#78 Thu, 10/16/2008 - 8:02pm
Lanikai is sending 7 paddlers to Havaiki Nui. I don't know of any other club who is sending a team.
All other things being equal, a faster stroke rate is going to move the canoe faster than a slow rate. 2007 Lanikai crew was racing at 64-66 in Molokai. That crew finished in 7th place. 2008 Lanikai crew raced at 70-72 and finished 3rd. In 2008 Shell beat their 2007 time by 2 minutes. In 2008 Lanikai beat their 2007 time by 13 minutes. Unfortunately Lanikai did not train at a higher rate until the last 3 weeks of the season so they were not as efficient as a team that had been at a high rate for months, years, whatever.
There is no secret to the Tahitian stroke. They exert maximum power when the paddle is vertical. They reduce the air time to a minimum which enables them to get the blade back into the water quickly and keep the rate up. Its painfully simple. You do not need any complicated physics formulas. But it does make entertaining reading on the forum.
#79 Thu, 10/16/2008 - 8:27pm
You need sponsors ? Look at the surfski scene : sponsors are Epic and Fenn...
You pay more than 3000$ for an OC1. I don't even know the price for an OC6. I've read in some of your posts that you have to wait for months when you order one...
Maybe those should be your first sponsors. I'm not in Hawaii, so I don't know wether canoe builders help the growth of the sport, but it just seem to be the right thing they should do. Then you could probably attract some more.
#80 Thu, 10/16/2008 - 8:27pm
Tommy, if you had the opportunity to train a group of like minded individuals for an extended period (pick your range of time), with the sole purpose of winning Molokai without the worry of day to day living, (refer to Tahitian training schedule), how would you rate your chances? My period of time for this question is one year of training time as an example. You can use whatever time frame you choose.
Thanks
#81 Thu, 10/16/2008 - 9:42pm
I know nothing, Ill say that first. I think that ability and desire are not the question in Hawaii. Take the top 9 guys in the state, and put them in an identical training type schedule without the need to "work" and keep the Hawaiian stroke. Can anyone deny that that would even things up??
#82 Thu, 10/16/2008 - 10:15pm
I know nothing, Ill say that first. I think that ability and desire are not the question in Hawaii. Take the top 9 guys IN THE STATE, and put them in an identical training type schedule without the need to "work" and keep the Hawaiian stroke. Can anyone deny that that would even things up?? Sorry, but I just do not believe that the Tahitians are that much better paddlers than the guys here. I think a team of guys who just love to paddle finishing within sight of the worlds most regimented, scientifically trained team is a far greater achievement in my book. No disrespect to the Tahitian teams meant either. Again, I know nothing.
#83 Thu, 10/16/2008 - 10:21pm
probably they would be even better than the Tahitians, 'cause they do have to work a 8 hour shift a day from monday to friday!
How would you "measure" to know who are the best 9 guys in the state?!
You don't need to have a OC1 champ, or to have the top 10 Molo-Solo on the same crew to win Molokai Hoe.
You just need 9 full committed paddlers, and a very good coach. Having a very good stirsman makes you go faster too!
#84 Fri, 10/17/2008 - 12:01am
For me, Tahitian wins in Hawaii are rather the exception, I would like to think that Hawaiians have the better open ocean paddlers.
I am not sure that you can build a solid and competitive infrastructure with a relatively small population.
#85 Fri, 10/17/2008 - 1:39am
I think someone said it best some time ago:
"for us - paddling is escape from life.....
for Tahitians - paddling IS life"
#86 Fri, 10/17/2008 - 1:48am
Hiro... dude, you're right. Paddlers have tried to get to Tahiti, but club politics sometimes get in the way. The will is there, and there certainly is a way, so it will happen.
Jibofo et alia, fundraising is key to the success of our sport. You nailed it, we need to provide exposure or some type of ROI for the sponsors. We loose sponsors every year because there is no way for them to gauge a return. When Lulus sponsored many teams 05s-07, 1 man paddlers and the 1man racing series (oahu) they did it out of love for the sport, and to give back to the community (Mahalo Ron!). When budget drys up or tightened, any moneys spent is examined by boards and investors, if you cant show a return... its cut.
I think that with the rise of Ocean Paddler (oc16) there is an opportunity, especially if you can offer viewer analytics and syndicate the content to multiple venues and larger audiences (ie web, national tv). I think Alex and crew would be open to offers, if you had sponsors for your crew and also sponsored the show. Like with any marketing plan, its about a multi-pronged approach.
Imua...
#87 Fri, 10/17/2008 - 10:02am
Hey Tommy C...thanks for coming on the board. You, Pat and the boys did a great job. Congratulations.
Good luck to the team heading down to Tahiti. No pressure. The boys can go down there relax and do their thing. After all, the Tahitians are not expecting them to win. So, I wish them well and I think they will open some eyes.
Jaws Out.
#88 Fri, 10/17/2008 - 10:20am
Team Hawaii, 3rd place last year at Hawaiki Nui yeah?
#89 Fri, 10/17/2008 - 10:36am
Kicbacmaui.
To answer your question, and it was a very appropriate question in this current state of competition. When Lewis Laughlin and I were putting teams together for Faaa and Ra'i, drawing from the talent pool available in Tahiti, it was possible to put together a contending team in 6 to 8 months. These paddlers were not in the top 20-30 paddlers from which Shell has to currently select from. They were mostly 2nd level paddlers or younger paddlers who had not yet made a name for themselves. After Lewis had coached them up to a high level and they were starting to win races, some of them were offered positions at Shell and most of them accepted. In that climate, it was very difficult to keep quality new talent in the club when they were offered job security at Shell or other sponsored teams. Keep in mind that Shell does not have all the best paddlers but the ones that they do have are highly motivated to stay on top.
Back to Hawaii.
There are at least 20-30 paddlers in Hawaii who are physically equal to the top paddlers in Tahiti. I would say there is about a 2 to 1 ratio. That is if we have 30 premier paddlers then they have 60. However their 60 premier paddlers are not all on one team. They are spread out around 4 or 5 teams. If we were able to consolidate our 30 premier paddlers or even 15 on one team there is no doubt in my mind that we could be a dominate team within 6 months if we could put in 10-12 hours a week training.
#90 Fri, 10/17/2008 - 5:55pm
If I read correctly:
The ~ top 30 paddlers in this year's Super Aito were all within 7 minutes from the winner in total, aggregate time.
#91 Fri, 10/17/2008 - 10:02pm
Mr Conner, Hope you'll have a good time during Hawaiki Nui.
Where will you stay in Huahine ? Will you be there long before the race ?
#92 Fri, 10/17/2008 - 11:03pm
Hiro C.
I will not be going with the team. Pat Erwin will be going. He has not been to Tahiti and I have been there many times.
#93 Sat, 10/18/2008 - 8:13pm
What canoe will they paddle ?
Bring some Lanikai shirts, I'm sure you can sell some.
#94 Sat, 10/18/2008 - 8:30pm
i heard that kai and karel are gonna paddle for shell!
#95 Sat, 10/18/2008 - 9:31pm
ha ha ha !
BTW When I have to say something to someone, I sign with my real name. Do you ?
#96 Sat, 10/18/2008 - 9:47pm
It's me, Hiro Damaguchi!
#97 Sat, 10/18/2008 - 10:10pm
Donna ni washi o karaseteiru !
#98 Sat, 10/18/2008 - 10:20pm
ha ha ha!
BTW dont tease me!
#99 Sat, 10/18/2008 - 10:22pm