Hi Everyone,

It has been a chilly arrival here in SF. EVen the locals are claiming the coldest summer they have had in many years. This does not bode well for us fair water paddlers who live and train in balmy Hawaiian conditions! It does present a very worthy incentive to remain in the surfski though since a dunking would result almost certainly in hypothermia.

As far as Hawaiian paddlers being represented at the US Surfski 2010 championships it looks like it is just Jeff Graff (Oahu) and I but I will update on this later.

I have only ridden past the water at this stage but I can tell you the clouds are low and grey and the wind seems to be very light. Hopefully the regular afternoon breezes will not disappoint this year.

Loads of International talent expected. Sean Rice, Dawid Mocke etc. etc. It should be fun. Singles on Saturday and Doubles on Sunday promising to be an exciting weekend of racing.

Keep you updated.

DT

The paddlers, racing this final event of the KHW winter season circuit, were treated to the best downwind event of the year. Seas that were not confused, but still had enough drive and strength from the trades, Sunny skies, Trade winds that kept up the entire length of the course and a fierce pack of enthusiastic paddlers made for a very enjoyable downwind event.

A total of 38km or 23 miles of sheer exhilaration with the backdrop of Kauai's East and South shores, made for happy faces at the finish line in Port Allen. Thanks to the Port Allen fishing club for hosting the prize giving, which followed the tremendous plate lunch.

Surfski paddlers did the surfski fraternity proud this year during the KHW series events and this race was no exception. Taking Line Honors in the Long course event, once again, was none other then "The machine" WES DE SILVA. Following closely behind, with a Third place line finish was, Dylan Thomas. In the short course event Kelvin Ho did us proud with a quick finish crossing the line in 18th position.

See the results page for final times.

Well done to everyone who paddled the events this year. Lets strive to make surfski paddling a trademark here on Kauai in 2011.

A hui ho.

Congratulations goes to all surfski paddlers who competed in the Kauai Hoe Waa series races this season. It is great to see the number of surfski paddlers out on the water these days and I know this sport will continue to grow here on Kauai. The Surfski Saturdays events have been well attended for sure but for me the reward lies in the stories coming from you guys about your additional sessions. "Meeting at Kalapaki", "Doing a couple laps of Wailua together". These are the real stories.

The overall winner for the KHW Series, very deservedly, was WES DE SILVA taking poll position by accumulating 18 points through out the 8 race series. The only race that remains is the 2010 Kauai Island Championship race on April 10th 2010. The course is still to be announced.

Final placings for the season look like this.

1st - Wes De Silva - 18 points 4 races
2nd - Dylan Thomas - 16 points 4 races
3rd - Kenny Denton - 13 points 3 races
4th - Bernard Matsumoto - 7 points 2 races
4th - Calvin Ho - 7 points 3 races

Next season I hope to see all your names up on this list.

Well done ALL of you and see you on Saturday.

D

Today, Saturday 20th, all surfski paddlers are invited to join us at Kalapaki for a morning of surf/ocean exposure. The 6-man circuit kicks off there annual racing circuit out of Kaiola canoe club so we will piggyback the races planned for those canoes. This is an UNOFFICIAL event so please be sure to bring leashes and safety gear accordingly!

All surfski paddlers interested in a warm up paddle/event should meet at Kalapaki, in front of JJ's restaurant at 7.30am for an 8 am start. We will have the option of joining the racing fleet for the ladies race which may kick off around 8am. Or if we wish we could warm up in the bay. We will discuss this and make a decision based on who is present.

At 10.30 is the mens 6-man event which will be a great upwind-downwind course starting at Kalapaki beach. This will be the REAL unofficial race event for the day.

All welcome.

See you there.

You will all be very excited to know that the FENN DEMO boats arrived on island and have been unpacked and are ready to go. These DEMO boats will be available every Saturday at the SURFSKI STAURDAY events on a first come first serve basis!

Check out any info on the skis/kayaks by visiting the merchandise section. I have an XT, an ELITE, a MAKO 6 and a spec style TARPON, along with a range of FENN paddles to suit all techniques and styles.

Call, text or email me ASAP to reserve your DEMO. Private DEMOS can be arranged as well so just let me know what will work for you.

A HUI HO

Dylan

Hey All,

Surfski Saturday, this Saturday March 20th, will be held at Kalapaki bay and will start at 7am. I know it is an early start but it will allow us to warm up and join the womens 6-man canoes racing from Kalapaki to Poipu, weather dependent for their 8am start. If the race does not take place due to weather conditions we will do surf skills in the bay for the morning.

Please RSVP with me by email at surfskikauai@ymail.com or by text on 8086397404.

Thanks

Dylan

Yesterdays Race, (Race #10 Kauai Hoe Waa Series) was well attended and although the wind was not great for the last half of the race (basically upwind) it was a good result for surfskis taking first and second overall. There were flat seas and very calm conditions other then the short bumpy upwind start to the turning buoy.

The trade wind swells wrapped around the point nicely and set up some great runs along the south shore even though the field confronted headwinds and chop to boot. With little or no ocean swell the field was able to hug the coast line and make use of the waves.

It was a 1H11M finish followed by a great lunch at the Waimea beach Park.

Once again it was great to see the field of surfski paddlers on the rise with Wes back in the racing this week, that meant there were 4 skis in a filed of 40. Well done to Bernard and Calvin for racing so hard. Ultimately fun was had by us all and I look forward to seeing you all at Surfski Saturday this week.

Aloha DT

Calling all experienced paddlers (surfski and one-man) to join us for a Molokai warm-up. We will be doing an extended downwind run SUNDAY 7th March 2010. Course TBA - most likely Kealia - Poipu or Kukui'ula (wind permitting). Anyone interested call Dylan on 808-6397404 asap. Rides to be arranged accordingly depending on numbers. Bring on the wind!!!!

A reminder to all of you to be down at the boat ramp, Saturday 6th, 9am for a good surfski workout, with hints and tips, technique and advice freely available. ALL WELCOME. No booking required - Just show up with your ski. See you there. Any questions CALL 808-6397404.

It was the day after the tsunami that never was (thankfully) and the wind decided to turn it on for Race 9 of the Kauai Hoe Waa series. Long course ran from Kalapaki to Kukui'ula with a solid field of around 30 paddlers. 3 of those were surfski paddlers. Gusts of 15-20 knots lead to top speeds of 22 kph and a super fast 14 mile long course. Official results will be posted soon. Well done to Dylan, Calvin and Bernard who enjoyed the primo conditions.

Welcome to JONLI ALO of KAPAA, HI, our newest Profile member. Thanks for taking the time to register with Surfski Kauai Jonli. Jonli recently picked up his new FENN XT surfski from Bernard and we are looking forward to seeing you in the lineup at the races Jonli. Soon we will be welcoming Jonli's wife to the fold as well. Yeah. See you in the water Jonli.

ALOHA,

Please be advised that the Kauai Hoe Wa'a race date has been changed from Saturday to Sunday for this weekend. The course is still currently the same. The official race date is now SUNDAY 28th February 2010.

This means that we will still have Surfski Saturday this weekend meeting at the boat ramp at Wailua River State Park at 9am.

Check out the Wavechaser Official report on the RESULTS page. Also, loads of new photos via the ARCHIVE page.

Hey Guys and Girls,

Just a reminder to be down at the boat ramp at Wailua River State Park at 9am for the Surfski Saturday event. All paddlers welcome. Lots of fun, exercise and education all bundled into a solid morning workout.

See you there.

Dylan

Valentines weekend in San Francisco and the weather would have made cupids' heart flutter. Besides a foggy start to Sunday's racing the event went off as planned and all contestants had a great time and an enjoyable competition. The main sponsors were Ocean Paddle Sports and Huki Canoes and prizes were aplenty for the racers. This event is the annual double header with a race around Angel island on Saturday and then a race out to Point Benitas on Sunday in store for the long course paddlers. This years event was adapted to accommodate that fog I mentioned earlier but still the racing was fun. Check out the results page for final placings.

Anyone around the Hanalei river area tomorrow evening wanting to go for an early evening paddle for about an hour meet at the ramp between 5.30pm and 5.45pm, to launch asap. D

Welcome to RICK HAYES of Kapa'a, HI, the newest member of the Surfski Kauai team (see the PROFILES page). Our Ohana continues to grow and I personally am enjoying being a part of it. ALOHA. D

Welcome to JULES CANNON of Lawai, HI, the newest member of the Surfski Kauai team (see the PROFILES page). Please could all of you complete the profile form in an effort to streamline communication, between Surfski Kauai and all paddlers on island and beyond. Mahalo, Dylan.

Hey Guys,

Check out the Archives page and click on the 2008 Discovery Health Races held in Durban, SOUTH AFRICA for some great pics and some serious inspiration. I will add more of my favorites under the archive section in the near future. D

Hey Guys,

It looks like our sport has gone JUMBO sized. Having a recognized international body will allow surfski paddlers the world over, including our fraternity here on Kauai, to be part of a movement that will ultimately apply for Olympic status. Based on how popular this sport is worldwide, right now, I can guarantee that the newly formed ISPA will be lodging an application to be made in to an Olympic event in the near future!

Written by ISPA Press Release
Thursday, 28 January 2010 09:12
Following a unilateral declaration by the International Canoe Federation that they intend creating surfski World Series, concerned race organizers from all over the world came together in the last week to form the International Surfski Paddling Association.

Read more of this story under the newly created NEWS WORLDWIDE section. This section will focus on highlighting all important news broadcasts from all the surfski sources worldwide. Feedback and suggestions welcomed.

Dylan

Hi Everyone, Firstly sorry for the late update! Should have been posted yesterday but I was delayed.

What a turn out again. It was really great to see such a big field of boys at the river. Welcome to the first timers, Peter, Bernard and Jules, and welcome back to the repeat customers. We missed Rico, Mark and JJ but I know we will see them again soon. JJ's new FENN XT arrives in another weeks time so needless to say he is going to be a happy camper!

TO READ FURTHER AND SEE THE PICS PLEASE CLICK ON THE 'SURFSKI SATURDAYS' PAGE.

Hey All,

Any paddlers who might be interested in getting together for a downwind paddle today on the Eastside please give Dylan a call on 808-6397404. I was thinking of paddling from Kealia to Kalapaki launching at around 2-2.30pm.

Leashes compulsory!!!, Water packs optional, Experience advised, Fun GUARANTEED. A hui ho.

This is a late call out to anyone who will be around the Hanalei river for a 45-60 minute paddling session focussing on technique. We will meet at 5.45 at the boat ramp. See you there. D

See Surfski Saturday pics posted under the Surfski Saturday Icon. Also please could all paddlers complete the paddler profile form when they can, so we can create a local database of paddlers! Mahalo. D

Hey Guys,

What a fantastic morning out on the river. A really great turn out. I am so excited to see such enthusiasm and energy from the guys that were there this morning. In all a field of seven. I am absolutely thrilled. The river was quiet and allowed us all to really focus on stroke and repetition. A few finer points being bandied about was the order of the day and hopefully everyone took something positive away with them from todays training session. It was a perfect example of what Surfski Saturdays was designed for. A good gathering of paddlers ranging in age, ability and fitness, all learning from one another and pushing hard for a really strong work out. Next week we meet at 9.15 for a 9.30 start. Please do your stretching before you arrive so we can be in the water at 9.30 sharp. Thank you to all of you for making the effort to get down and I personally am looking forward to seeing you again next Saturday, D.

I am glad to report that my new Fenn Elite arrived in perfect condition and has had its fair share of workouts already. I have yet to take her for a full-on down wind run which will most likely happen this weekend. Stay tuned to surfskikauai.com for more info.

In the meantime we await the arrival of a new Fenn XT for Jimmy J. Yeah Jimmy J, you are going to be so stoked my good man. See you Saturday at the river.

Also check out the new photobook posted next to each event under the results page. Enjoy. Thanks to Wes and Pam for the photos.

Surfski Kauai will be actively promoting the SS (that's SURFSKI SATURDAYS) to be held at the Wailua County Park, each Saturday (except Race Days) for a 9.30am start. Experienced paddlers will be offering coaching lessons to beginners and refining stroke technique, balance and all the finer points of surfski paddling. For more info contact Dylan on 808-6397404. See you there.

Hey Guys, Check out Patrick Hemmens getting some great exposure for surfskis on the local news channel! As you hear on the report a six man outrigger got smashed and ended up initiating a rescue. Yip stick to surfskis is what I say! Cut and paste the link below into a new window!

http://www.cbs2.com/video/?id=125373@kcbs.dayport.com

THE UPCOMING RACE SET FOR SATURDAY 1-23-2010 HAS BEEN CHANGED. COURSE IS NOW GOING TO GO FROM PT.ALLEN TO WAIOHAI/POIPU BEACH PARK, LONGCOURSE WILL GO FURTHER OUT AND TURN ON A BUOY THEN PROCEED TO FINISH. REGISTRATION IS GOING TO BE AT PT. ALLEN 9-10AM, RACE STARTS @ 11AM. ANY QUESTIONS CALL MARGIE @ 639-3568.

What a glorious day to go for a paddle. That is what I was thinking on my way down to meet with a couple boys on Wailua River, the biggest river here on the Garden Isle of beautiful Kauai. Water temp - 65, Outside temp - 78, Cloud cover - 0/8. Verdict - PERFECT. Intention - Paddle trial of two QUICKBLADES paddles. (See the product review page). Surfski Kauai encourages all Kauai surfski paddlers to join us for the Saturday morning run, meeting at 8.30am at the Wailua State Park. Call Dylan for info on 808-6397404.

After much deliberation Surfski Kauai has launched successfully. We invite you all to share this site with your friends and family and ask that you send us as much advice and lend us as much support as possible to create a more user friendly service and website for all.