Paddling Clinic:

Press Release
Contact:
Randy Botti, President
Hawai'i Island Paddlesports Association
Phone: 936­7277
FAX: 443­0145
e­mail: info@hawaiipaddling.com
November 24, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
St einlager presents the Fourth Annual Tui Tonga Canoe Festival, Saturday December 16 th, 2006
at Hilo bayfront Park. This unique and special event is being held in Hilo for the first time and
will feature a paddling clinic, a challenging (but not too long) pre­season canoe race, lunch and
awards to wrap up the day.
The paddling clinic is will feature some t he top outrigger paddlers in the world, including
champion solo canoe paddler and OC­6 steersman Karel Trsnak Jr, Rick Nuu, coach of the State
Champion Hawaiian Canoe Club, canoe builder and champion OC­1 paddler Kai Bart lett, Master
St eersman Bruce Ayau, one of California’s top paddlers, Danny Ching and one of the top female
solo Canoe paddlers, Dane Ward, who will discuss issues specific to women in canoe paddling.
The clinic will be a unique opportunit y for canoe paddlers for the youth age groups to adult
paddlers of every age group and skill level to learn form the best. The clinic will cover such
subject as solo OC­1 paddling, six­person canoe technique and steering, water safet y, training
regimes and proper athlete nutrition. There will be on­water demonstrations.
Registration begins at 8:00 am the Hui Wa'a O Waiakea Canoe club halau at Hilo Bay. The
paddling clinic is scheduled to start at 9;30 a.m. and is open to any youth or adult currently
involved or interested in getting involved on solo or duo canoe paddling. The race will start at
approximately 11am followed by lunch and awards. The race will consist of a youth course and
an adult course.
Hawai'i Island Paddlesports Assn. is the Solo and Duo Paddlesports association for the Big Island;
this includes one person and t wo person outrigger canoes as well as Surfski kayaks and paddleboards. Our
race schedule runs from January to April, wit h various off­season events throughout the year.
Mahalo for support of Outrigger and Kayak Paddling in Hawaii.
Addit ional information
Race information line 969­6695
H.I.P.A. web site at www.hawaiipaddling.com