The Island Paddler: How (and Why) I Became a Voyager
April 18, 2024
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Want to use SUP to get fit? Ready to take your workouts back outside now that the weather is getting better? Watch Coaches Larry Cain and Victoria Burgess in this Zoom session on how to make your paddle workouts more enjoyable and effective. They discuss ways to gain confidence in your ability to stay on your board, track your board straight, and how to pull an effective forward stroke.
Lisa Schell
Lisa is managing editor of PaddleMonster.com and is an avid paddler of all the things - including sup, outrigger canoe, and surf ski, though she especially enjoys paddle surfing and downwinding. She is also a part-time outdoor instructor with an emphasis in paddle sports. She is a journalist with more than 30 years experience in print and broadcast journalism and in government communications. She is a six-time Chattajack finisher, racing both sup and OC2. When not paddling, she can be found in her Waikapu, Maui studio painting and making relief prints.
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Paddle Events
DeSatnick Foundation Around the Cape Paddle
The 10th Annual Around the Cape Paddle will be held on SUNDAY JUNE 23, 2024 in Cape May NJ.
$250.00
Ohio River Paddlefest Races
Bring your SUP, kayak, canoe, tandem, or prone and join Adventure Crew, The Explore Kentucky Initiative, Stand Up Paddle Cincinnati, at the Ohio River Paddlefest.
Racers will be a part of the nation's largest paddling celebration, leading over 2,000 recreational paddlers down a closed course on the Ohio River, passing through downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
Race entry includes all Ohio River Paddlefest perks, like free shuttles, and invitation to the Outdoors for All Expo on Friday, August 4.
Paddlefest races are part of The Waterman Series and the Midwest Paddle League.
All proceeds from Paddlefest, including the races, support Adventure Crew and their work with 27 schools and hundreds city teens, exposing them to regular outdoor recreation at no-cost to students.
Paddlefest races will follow the classifications outlined below for paddlecraft with youth, mens, and womens divisions.
The Circumnavigation-Tilghman Island 2024
YEAR TWO!! Welcome and Welcome back if you paddled with us in 2023. We can’t wait to welcome you to the Island in 2024! This paddle event is open to…
$55
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Larry Cain, Paddle Monster Head Coach
Here are few questions that came up in the chat and we didn’t have time to answer:
There was a question about calculating training zones using the max HR formula of 220 – age. I suggested that for most fit, training paddlers the Heart Rate Reserve method works a little better and promised to explain how it works. Here you go:
The calculation of a zone value, X%, is performed in the following way:
Subtract your HRrest from your HRmax giving us your reserve heart rate (HRreserve)
Calculate the required X% on the HRreserve giving us “Z”
Add “Z” and your HRrest together to give us the final value
Example: The athlete’s HRmax is 180, and their HRrest is 60 – determine the 70% value
HRmax – HRrest = 180 – 60 = 120
70% of 120 = 84
84 + HRrest = 84 + 60 = 144 bpm
Q. Someone asked about the red tap on my paddle between the blade and the shaft and is wondering if I used that to remind me to bury the blade. A. It helps but that is not why. On most of my paddles I just tape the blade into the shaft rather than glue it so that I can switch blade if I want or take the blade off to make it smaller when traveling.
Q. how important is it to have a clean catch? I hear both ways – either it doesn’t matter (Bruno Hasulyo splashes all over and he’s still very fast), or that it is critical to have a blade entry that is as smooth as possible. Which is it? A. The purpose of the catch is the gather water onto the blade so that you can hold it there during the stroke and thus pull yourself past the paddle. Generally a clean catch allows you to do a better job of gathering water, so I would suggest if you are paddling for fitness, working on technique or not paddling for speed you try to keep it as clean as possible. On the other hand, if you are sprinting you want to be attacking the water with a little impact as you gather. In this case a little splashing that comes with being aggressive is expected. However you still want to make sure you’re grabbing and gathering water. You can’t pull yourself past something without any connection to it. I hope that makes sense.
If you’ve got more questions after watching please don’t hesitate to answer them below!
Larry Cain, Paddle Monster Head Coach
Here are few questions that came up in the chat and we didn’t have time to answer:
There was a question about calculating training zones using the max HR formula of 220 – age. I suggested that for most fit, training paddlers the Heart Rate Reserve method works a little better and promised to explain how it works. Here you go:
The calculation of a zone value, X%, is performed in the following way:
Subtract your HRrest from your HRmax giving us your reserve heart rate (HRreserve)
Calculate the required X% on the HRreserve giving us “Z”
Add “Z” and your HRrest together to give us the final value
Example: The athlete’s HRmax is 180, and their HRrest is 60 – determine the 70% value
HRmax – HRrest = 180 – 60 = 120
70% of 120 = 84
84 + HRrest = 84 + 60 = 144 bpm
Q. Someone asked about the red tap on my paddle between the blade and the shaft and is wondering if I used that to remind me to bury the blade. A. It helps but that is not why. On most of my paddles I just tape the blade into the shaft rather than glue it so that I can switch blade if I want or take the blade off to make it smaller when traveling.
Q. how important is it to have a clean catch? I hear both ways – either it doesn’t matter (Bruno Hasulyo splashes all over and he’s still very fast), or that it is critical to have a blade entry that is as smooth as possible. Which is it? A. The purpose of the catch is the gather water onto the blade so that you can hold it there during the stroke and thus pull yourself past the paddle. Generally a clean catch allows you to do a better job of gathering water, so I would suggest if you are paddling for fitness, working on technique or not paddling for speed you try to keep it as clean as possible. On the other hand, if you are sprinting you want to be attacking the water with a little impact as you gather. In this case a little splashing that comes with being aggressive is expected. However you still want to make sure you’re grabbing and gathering water. You can’t pull yourself past something without any connection to it. I hope that makes sense.
If you’ve got more questions after watching please don’t hesitate to answer them below!