tcsurfski's podcast
Surfski performance paddling
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PPP Episode 46: Unstoppable with Oscar Chalupsky
05/19/2025
PPP Episode 46: Unstoppable with Oscar Chalupsky
It's been way too long since we had a chance to catch up with Oscar Chalupsky on the Peak Paddle Performance Podcast. Although battling an incurable cancer, Oscar hasn't slowed down a single bit. He remains a man in perpetual motion. Despite being read his last rights twice in the last two years, Oscar has launched a , appeared on several podcasts and attended endless media events to spread his message of . There is no doubt he is walking the walk and inspiring thousands as he does. In this podcast we cover a range of topics including but not limited to: Current health status Racing at the World Surfski Championships in Durban in October Launching a new surfski line with Carbonology The X factor that might just be what makes Oscar such an amazing downwind paddler
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PPP Episode 45: Surfski Development through Competition with Matt Drayer
04/24/2024
PPP Episode 45: Surfski Development through Competition with Matt Drayer
In this podcast I sit down with Matt Drayer who is part of a small team including Greg Barton, Jesse Lishchuk, and Geoff Pearson who are dedicated to promoting surfski development in the US via the Ocean Racing Committee (ORC) which is part of the competition arm of the . Matt and the team have been hard at work over the past year building out a National points based ranking system that allows competitors around the country to submit race results from any surfski race and earn points. They are also launching a pilot program to establish an athlete classification system, that will allow paddlers to progress along a continuum based on race performance over the long term. Last, but not least, the ORC is very much involved working with the International Canoe Federation (ICF) on the Surfski World Championships that are now held annually. This year they will be in Madeira Portugal. In this podcast we cover Matt's background, as well as go into detail on all of the above and what has inspired Matt and the team to take on this intitiatve. If you aren't yet a member, we encourage you to check out the website and offerings. The organization has been around since 1880 representing a broad spectrum of paddle sports. In the last few years they have made a concerted effort to recognize and embrace surfski paddling, and they can bring a lot to the table to help us all promote this sport that we love so much! If you have any questions or suggestions for Matt, he can be reached at : [email protected]
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PPP Episode 44: Coaching Session #2 with Dr Brendan O'Neill
06/11/2023
PPP Episode 44: Coaching Session #2 with Dr Brendan O'Neill
In this podcast I check in with Brendan to review how the past 10 weeks of training have gone and what I need to focus on in the final four weeks leading up to the Gorge Downwind Champs. If you missed , I would recommend checking it out, and don’t forget you can download the training plan there. But if you’re limited on time, you’ll still learn a lot from this discussion where we cover: What a good threshold interval session looks like Trying to maximize speed/distance per stroke at a given cadence Experimenting with paddle length and stroke length Cadence ladders and simulating downwind Different options for V02 Max work Benefits of Creatine for paddlers Brendan’s view on Beta Alanine and Beet Juice Protein requirements and maintaining strength as you age Why training with cadence is so much better than heart rate or speed for measuring level of effort
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PPP Episode 43: Coaching Session #1 with Dr Brendan O'Neill
04/07/2023
PPP Episode 43: Coaching Session #1 with Dr Brendan O'Neill
In this episode of the Peak Paddle Performance Podcast, I reconnect with Dr Brendan O'Neill creator of the Vaaka Cadence Sensor. In 2019 Brendan graciously put together a 14 week cadence based training plan to prepare an intermediate level paddler for racing the 14 mile Gorge Downwind Champs. COVID disrupted everything, and I never got around to publishing the plan as I originally intended. In 2021 I was planning to be back at the Gorge and so dusted off the plan, and loosely followed it. I had great results, so in 2022 I used it again, at around a 65% adherence. In 2022, at the age of 48 and after 15 years of paddling, I set several personal records. This made me a believer in the methods and approach that Brendan outlined, and I thought it would be a disservice not to share his detailed knowledge with the paddling community. This is the first of a few coaching sessions that I'll record with Brendan. You can click the link below to download the training plan and tweak it for your needs. The plan is a great start, but it is not a replacement for working with a coach. I highly recommend finding a coach if you want to take your paddling to the next level. This year I'm hoping to follow the plan 100% and am super excited to see what kind of results I can achieve
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PPP Episode 42: Leveling Up with Giant Fish founder Scott Darling
02/04/2023
PPP Episode 42: Leveling Up with Giant Fish founder Scott Darling
In this podcast I interview Giant Fish founder Scott Darling. Scott launched the initial Giant Fish collection of paddling shorts, pants, and tops in the summer of 2020. Right at the height of the Covid pandemic. Of course it wasn't planned that way, but despite all the obstacles, the product spoke for itself, and quickly became a go to piece of kit for paddlers in the Pacific Northwest. It has been growing steadily from there. As a long time dealer and huge fan of both Vaikobi and Mocke, I wasn't thrilled to have a new competitor enter the space. But after meeting Scott for the first time in 2021, and talking with paddlers using his gear, I was definitely intrigued. It took another year before I met Scott again, and this time decided to purchase some shorts and a top. I used the Giant Fish shorts, pants, and tops this past fall and have been very impressed. In the short term, there is probably a negative financial incentive for me to have Scott on the podcast and promote his products. But I do believe that the more creators like Scott who invest their passion, time, and unique skills into the sport, the more it benefits all of us and enables greater overall growth. Starting any new business is incredibly challenging, and the paddling world is no different. I believe we have to all support each other. Use this link for $20 off any Giant Fish Order (or enter code TCGF20) I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as I did!
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PPP Episode 40: Breaking the Mould with Oscar Chalupsky
12/09/2022
PPP Episode 40: Breaking the Mould with Oscar Chalupsky
We're back with our most frequent and popular podcast guest, the infamous Oscar Chalupsky. It's always informative and exciting to catch up with Oscar and this podcast is not exception. If you haven't read Oscar's book, , it is an absolute must read. If you're like me, you won't put it down until it is finished. I've known Oscar for 10 years, but reading this book, I realized there is still a lot I don't know. Oscar has led an action packed life and this book is his best attempt to tell it all. In addition to discussing his book, we cover much more including: Paddling out through surf breaks - something many paddlers in the US don't get a chance to practice enough Incredible paddling conditions in Brazil The Nelo Paddle race in Malaysia Winning Molokai at 50 The Shaw and Partners Investment in Surfski in general and specifically the Western Australia Race Week The title of this podcast says it all about Oscar. They Said.... You can't paddle with low elbows You can't go fast in a stable boat You can't paddle with zero feather You can't race on no carbs You can't race with no liquids You can't win a world championship race at 50 Over and over again, Oscar has challenged the conventional wisdom and proven it wrong. Here's to hoping he doesn't stop!
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PPP Episode 40: Tragedy on Lake Michigan
11/08/2022
PPP Episode 40: Tragedy on Lake Michigan
On October 8th the Great Lakes paddling community suffered on incomprehensible loss when Nick Walton succumbed to hypothermia in a downwind race on Lake Michigan. Nick was a professional canoe racer and over the past couple of years had discovered a love for surfski racing. You can read his full obituary I was a participant in the race and have spoke with many of the racers since the incident occurred. This podcast is my best attempt to explain what I know from this very tragic day. There are lessons to be learned from what happened to Nick, and my sincere hope is that these lessons will save many lives in the years to come. My sincere condolences to Nick and his family.
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PPP Episode 39: Downwind Jam Session
04/08/2022
PPP Episode 39: Downwind Jam Session
This podcast was an experimental downwind jam session. The idea was to setup a Zoom call open to any and all paddlers to join and share their stories and experiences around downwind paddling. I was hopeful that we could share video over the Zoom call and narrate the paddling. That sort of worked, but I missed some key optimization settings in Zoom which mean that the video recording was very choppy, so I haven't yet posted the video recording to YouTube. We had a great group of participants from the US and Canada and covered a lot of great info that I feel will be helpful to those just getting into downwind paddling of any kind.
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PPP Episode 38: Doing the Work with Rob Hartman
02/18/2022
PPP Episode 38: Doing the Work with Rob Hartman
My guest on the podcast today is long time friend and paddler Rob Hartman. Rob is a husband and father of three girls. He works full time as a software developer, plays the Upright Bass as an accomplished jazz musician, and has long been one of the top masters paddlers in the US. In recent years Rob has competed primarily East of the Mississippi, where he is a top contender in any race he enters. His most recent racing efforts were focused on the Chattajack where he narrowly missed the overall Surfski win when Carter Johnson came off his draft to outsprint him at the finish. In our discussion we talk about Rob's first exposure to kayaking in an old school fiberglass surf kayak. Rob talks about his early days as a teenager fearlessly playing in the cold and crazy surf on Lake Michigan. This ultimately led to a couple of Sea Kayak races, which led to Rob joining the US Canoe and Kayak Team and training and racing with them for a couple of seasons. One of the things that has amazed me the most about Rob is his ability to consistently paddle at a very high level despite the demands of family and career, and of course aging. At 52 Rob is as fit as ever. What became a key theme in this podcast, as evidenced by the title, is that there is no shortcut. You've got to show up and consistently do the work if you want the type of results Rob has been able to achieve. I always enjoy spending time with Rob, and this podcast was no exception. It went a little longer than most, but we had a lot to catch up on. I hope enjoy the discussion as much as I did.
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PPP 037: ACA Surfski Instruction with Matt Murphy
01/28/2022
PPP 037: ACA Surfski Instruction with Matt Murphy
My guest on this podcast is Matt Murphy. Matt is a Naval Architect and Ocean Engineer by trade, who grew up in and on the waters of Northeastern Canada. After school, Matt made his way to Houston, Texas where he currently lives with his wife and four kids. Matt has a very diverse paddling background spanning both racing and multi-week adventures. In this podcast we cover much of Matt's paddling background and the paddling scene in Houston and across Texas, but most importantly we talk about the work Matt has done helping to build the American Canoe Association (ACA) surfski education curriculum. The ACA serves as the National Governing Body for paddlesports (Sprint, Slalom, Paracanoe) for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and as the U.S National Federation to the International Canoe Federation. They have recognized Surfski as a unique discipline and are excited to support it's growth both through competition and education. Matt has worked extensively over the past four years along with Ben Lawry to develop a four stage curriculum of education including the following: Level 2: Essentials of Surfski Level 3: Fundamentals of Open Water Surfski Level 4: Downwind Surfski Level 5: Advanced Open Water and Downwind Surfski (Under Development) The ACA is hopeful to start certifying surfski instructors across all major regions of the US. If you are interested, please don't hesitate to reach out to Matt Website: (note: don't be confused when you land on his social media and website, Matt has also launched a product for Standup Paddle Fishing - but this is the same guy) Instagram: Facebook: YouTube:
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PPP Episode 36: Downwinding the Carolina Coast with Rod and Barry
06/11/2021
PPP Episode 36: Downwinding the Carolina Coast with Rod and Barry
In this podcast episode I had a chance to connect with Rod and Barry of . Rod and Barry have progressed from SUP to OC to SURFSKI and their YouTube channel documents, in full transparency, the trials and tribulations of their journey along the way. They are both super passionate about paddling and more so about downwind. Their videos bring a great perspective that should resonate with both new paddlers and those transitioning across paddling disciplines. Many of you may have heard of the , which is one of the biggest paddle events in the US (possibly just behind the Gorge and Chattajack). This race is put on by the Wrightsville Paddle Club which is about a 45 minute drive North of where Rod and Barry paddle at Carolina Beach. Rod and Barry have an 8 mile downwind that they typically run starting at Fort Fisher and finishing at Carolina Beach or in the Carolina Beach Inlet. This run takes advantage of the the prevailing south/southwest winds that run throughout the summer. There aren't any points, bays, shoals, or other factors to greatly influence the wave conditions along the route, so conditions remain pretty consistent. The biggest challenges are in launching and landing. The launch is directly off the beach, so there is often a surf break to navigate. They have the option of either finishing on the beach or in the inlet, both have their pros and cons which we discuss in detail during the podcast. Carolina Beach is a busy beach town in the summer, but in the spring and fall things quiet down, but the water is still warm and the wind still blows, making this an excellent time to take a paddling vacation. There aren't many other paddlers or paddle businesses in the area, so your best bet is to take your boat, but you can always get in touch with Barry or Rod and they will be more than happy to help you with finding a boat if possible. The detailed Google Maps discussion starts at around minute 24:00 on the video and in the podcast. I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as I enjoyed learning about the awesome downwind conditions along the Carolina Coast. It is now on my short list of downwind destinations!
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PPP Episode 35: Bellingham Downwind, and Creating a Paddling Community
05/03/2021
PPP Episode 35: Bellingham Downwind, and Creating a Paddling Community
In this podcast I'm joined by Reivers Dustin, who at 70 years old, is still every bit as passionate about downwind paddling as anyone I've met. Reivers is highly regarded as one of the founding fathers of the Bellingham surfski community. This story started out with my intent to explore the downwind paddling in Bellingham Bay. Anyone who has raced on the West Coast, knows that there is some serious talent developing in this hotspot and I was excited to learn about the paddling conditions that are making this possible. But in speaking with Reivers, I soon realized the story of Bellingham's success in creating a sustained paddling community, is much more than the downwind conditions.
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PPP Episode 34: Exploring Cape Town and Durban Downwind Routes with Oscar Chalupsky
04/27/2021
PPP Episode 34: Exploring Cape Town and Durban Downwind Routes with Oscar Chalupsky
It has been a long hiatus, but the Peak Paddle Performance Podcast is back in action. We're going to try out a new format where we find paddlers enthusiastic about sharing their local downwind routes for the world to see. We'll record via a Zoom meeting with screen share where the guest can walk us through a map view of the paddling hot spots as we geek out on all the wind and wave nuance they've discovered In this first episode, we start with the legendary Oscar Chalupsky as he walks us through the iconic Millers Run in Cape Town SA. Oscar gives us a great sense of the overall Cape Town paddling scene and what to expect out on the water. He then heads north to give an overview of his hometown Durban, SA where the swell gets much bigger and the conditions are about as gnarly as anywhere in the world. It is never a dull conversation with Oscar, and this one was no exception. While the focus of the discussion is on walking through the downwind routes, there is inevitably a wealth of valuable information around paddling downwind and keeping it safe
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PPP Episode 33: Starting a Surfski Journey in Middle Age With Greg Greene
10/31/2019
PPP Episode 33: Starting a Surfski Journey in Middle Age With Greg Greene
In this podcast I sit down with one of the many dear friends I’ve met through Surfski Paddling. Greg Greene and I first crossed paths when we battled it out in my first surski race ever in Duluth, Minnesota. Although 20 years my senior Greg managed to take me at the line and we’ve been great friends ever since. I wanted to bring Greg onto the podcast because he exemplifies what the surfski journey is all about. Starting the sport in his late 40s and in a town without a surfski community, he also represents a large portion of surfski paddlers in the US. While I want to say that Greg’s story is that of the “average paddler” as you’ll find out, he has had some incredible experiences that make him both the envy and an inspiration for us all. In this podcast we cover the following and much more: Attempting to paddle his first surfski, the Speedster Moving into a Huki and really taking off in the sport Doing the big races in the US including US Surfski Champs, The Gorge Downwind, and Chattajack A trip to Tarifa to work with Boyan the Zen Master of Surf Learning what intense surfski paddling is all about at the Mocke Brother’s Downwind Camp in Capetown Bringing it all together with the 2019 Molokai World Championship (hint : it almost didn’t happen) Getting diagnosed with A-fib after 30 years of high intensity training and racing Views on paddling as an aging athlete approaching 64
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PPP Episode 32: Surfski On the Great Lakes with Nick Murray
05/17/2019
PPP Episode 32: Surfski On the Great Lakes with Nick Murray
In this podcast, the tables are turned and I'm in the hot seat as Buzz Burrell (a long time endurance sports athlete and entrepreneur and new surfski addict) interviews me. We cover a wide range of topics from paddling the Great Lakes through the winter months, to trying to make a surfski business viable in a small market with a short season. Some of the highlights of our conversation include: Paddling conditions on the Great Lakes Risks with winter paddling and how I try to mitigate them What I've gained from paddling a V8 for 6 months of the year Challenges of running a surfski business What keeps me going In the end, it was actually quite fun for me to be on the other side of the mic. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as Buzz and I enjoyed the conversation
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PPP Episode 31: Calm Intense, Silly Songs, and Finding your Flow with Jasper Mocke
03/21/2019
PPP Episode 31: Calm Intense, Silly Songs, and Finding your Flow with Jasper Mocke
Today's podcast guest may be best known as the younger brother of paddling legend Dawid Mocke, but Jasper Mocke is in every way a legend in his own right. Jasper is an incredibly talented athlete with several notable accomplishments including World Surfski Champion in 2014, World Champion in K2 Marathon 2014, and 3x Perth Doctor Downwind champion. You may also recognize Jasper as the star of many of the best surfski promotional videos Epic Kayaks has produced, whether it be breaking the Miller's Run downwind record or deftly maneuvering a V14 in big breaking surf conditions. In this podcast Jasper shares his wealth of knowledge and passion for the sport including, but not limited to the following: Jasper the prankster, stand up surfing on a surfski Getting to watch Dawid as a junior and Oscar, Lee McGregor and the other legends as open ocean racing was just starting to evolve Starting out in the Guppie / K1 as a pre-teen before getting into a surfski Watching the young kids now getting into surfski paddling and downwind at the age of 9 or 10 and trying to imagine where they'll be in 15 years The differences between racing surfski ocean racing and sprint kayak river racing Navigation tactics and tips in racing, both surfski and flatwater Getting into the zone for downwind paddling Why you should focus on stability first then stroke rate Thoughts on feathering the paddle Examples of cadence and 10k times that the best in the world maintain Choosing the right paddle blade size Jasper's experimentation with going to a smaller paddle and even higher cadence
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PPP Episode 30: You Regret More The Things you Didn't Do, with Michele Eray
02/10/2019
PPP Episode 30: You Regret More The Things you Didn't Do, with Michele Eray
In today's podcast I managed to catch up with Olympic athlete and coach, and co-founder of , Michele Eray. I somehow coerced her into sitting still just long enough to record a great podcast session. The title of this episode and Michele's personal mantra says it all, "You regret more in life the things that you didn't do than the things you did". Michele takes her mantra quite serious and I'm certain you'll agree after listening to this episode. We cover a lot of ground in this episode, below are just a couple of the highlights: Michele's early days of paddling in her home town of Plettenberg Bay, SA (see the video below to get a sense of how beautiful it is) Getting started in surf lifesaving and high school racing Going to University to study bio-kinetics (Athletic Training / Physical Therapy) Racing the Berg River Marathon Making the decision to give up her bio-kinetics practice and become a full time paddler Seizing the opportunity to race for SA in the 2008 Beijing Olympics Five years of incredible support from the team at Nelo and racing all over the world Coaching at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics The decision to open and bring Olympic level coaching and Nelo surfskis to the West Coast Thoughts on Surfski becoming an Olympic Sport Thoughts on paddling a K1 versus a surfski The importance of cadence training and the power of the Vaaka Cadence Sensor to guide training (For an in depth podcast from the co-founder of Vaaka check out and to purchase one from TC SURFSKI ) Common beginner mistakes that Michele sees in her coaching Thoughts on downwind paddling Favorite downwind paddle runs If you want to connect with Michele for coaching or to purchase a Nelo, you can find her on the web at: Business website: www.paddlecal.com Business Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/paddlecal/ Personal Blog: http://micheray.com Personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MicheleErayAthlete/
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PPP Episode 29: Early Days of Racing with Oscar Chalupsky
01/09/2019
PPP Episode 29: Early Days of Racing with Oscar Chalupsky
In early December the guys @CarbonologySport shared some . It generated a lot of intrigue on Facebook, and I thought it would be great to sit down with Oscar and have him walk us through what it was like to race surfskis on the open ocean almost 40 years ago. We spend a large portion of the discussion on the PE2LE. But in classic Oscar fashion we also cover a host of other entertaining and educational topics including but not limited to: Oscar's first couple of times racing the PE2EL as a teenager Surfski designs and construction in the early 80s Paddle design, length, and feather in the early 80s Gauging effort before the days of GPS and HR Monitors Paddling the open ocean with no leashes, PFDs, or sunscreen Nutrition and hydration strategies before the days of gu, energy bars, and hydration bladders What has evolved for the better and what has proven the test of time which Oscar references and in which he was one of the first athletes tested that led to Noakes ground breaking and controversial discovery that the conventional wisdom on hydration during sport was wrong.
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PPP Episode 28: 20 Years of ERG Training with Erik Borgnes
12/04/2018
PPP Episode 28: 20 Years of ERG Training with Erik Borgnes
Today’s podcast guest is good friend and fellow Great Lakes paddler Erik Borgnes. Many of you may recognize Erik as the guy who has dominated the Chattajack 32 race for the past several years. He has also contributed several great blog posts to the surfski universe including boat reviews, technique analysis, experiments in dieting, and a treasure trove of information on ERG training, which is our focus topic in this podcast discussion. It is always a great pleasure chatting with Erik and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that without Erik this entire podcast would not exist. Erik penned the first article I stumbled across back in 2005 that inspired me to figure out for myself just what surfski paddling was all about. Below are some of the key tops we covered in this podcast and further down are several links to different material Erik has published on the internet: The various ERG trainers he has used over the years The modifications that he's done to his ERG to make it most closely resemble his stroke on the water How Erik retro-fit his ERG with a carbon paddle shaft from Tips and tricks to avoid boredom on the ERG How to determine your marathon race pace and build a training program based on it The benefit of short intervals that are generally more sustainable on an ERG How to think about paddle techinque on the ERG in a way that can actually improve your on the water technique Transitioning back onto the water Below is a list of various resources on the web that Erik has produced: (note: Oscar Chalupsky has long consulted with Erik in matters relating to diet and endurance performance)
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PPP Episode 027: Safety In Extreme Conditions With Rob Mousley
09/27/2018
PPP Episode 027: Safety In Extreme Conditions With Rob Mousley
In this podcast episode we chat all things safety in extreme conditions with Rob Mousley. Rob founded based out of Cape Town SA, which is well known as the de-facto global website for surfski information. It is probably best known for the forums which provide an excellent global dialogue on all things surfski related. In addition to the forums there are boat reviews, race reports, and most relevant to our discussion today, many excellent articles on safety. For the last decade, Rob has been very involved in the pursuit of safety in extreme conditions. He has worked extensively with Cape Town's water rescue services known as the NSRI, covered several surfski rescues, and has studied and tested in real world conditions a vast majority of the safety equipment on the market. In this discussion we discuss in depth the wealth of knowledge Rob has accumulated over the years. I'm really excited to be able to offer this podcast not just beginners, but also to the experienced paddlers who I'm certain will benefit. As the sport continues to grow around the world and in more extreme climates, we all need to continue this dialogue with our paddling mates and hold each other accountable for being smart and realistic about our safety on the water. Below are some links to articles and resources that we reference in the Podcast: summarizing the findings of Rob's rescue exercises with the NSRI recapping a Miller's Run incident that thankfully turned out okay, but could have been much worse to the entire safety section on Surfski.info with articles an various incidents and gear reports including Personal Locator Beacons which Rob spoke about on the podcast on the TC SURFSKI website Below is a video clip of Oscar Chalupsky demonstrating the remount in rough conditions
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PPP Episode 026: Crossing the Molokai Channel in SUP, OC1, & SKI with Jen Lee
08/24/2018
PPP Episode 026: Crossing the Molokai Channel in SUP, OC1, & SKI with Jen Lee
In today's podcast we connect with Jen Lee to hear the story of how she crossed the Molokai Channel in a SUP, OC1, and Surfski all in one season. If that isn't impressive enough, she only started surfski paddling two years prior and conquered the channel on a properly big day. Jen is an accomplished water woman, but the message she's passionate about delivering is that anyone can achieve this with the right attitude, dedication to training, and the right boat (hint - Jen did the Molokai in a V8). We cover a lot of ground in this podcast including the following: Jen's background in athletics, starting as a downhill ski racer in Lake Tahoe Moving to Hawaii to become a surf instructor The cross over from downhill ski racing to SUP paddling Competing at an elite level in SUP racing Jen's first introduction to surfski paddling How it feels to cross the channel in a SUP versus an OC1 versus a surfski How the different craft handle different conditions What is common and what is different in paddling SUP, OC1, and Surfski downwind If you want to follow Jen and her exploits or want to reach out to her with any questions, she will be more than happy to help you out. Below is where you can reach and follow her: Website: eMail: Facebook: Instagram: jennjlee
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PPP Episode 25: Prepping for the 2018 Gorge Downwind Festival With Race Director Carter Johnson
06/28/2018
PPP Episode 25: Prepping for the 2018 Gorge Downwind Festival With Race Director Carter Johnson
In this podcast episode I catch up with Carter Johnson Race Director for the Gorge Downwind Festival. In just four years this race has become the single biggest downwind event in the world. Featuring equal numbers of Outrigger Canoe and Surfski paddlers, but a good contingent of Stand Up Paddle Boarders. But more than just a race, this has become a week long festival celebrating paddling, downwind, beer, and camaraderie. In this episode Carter provides some interesting insights into how the race has evolved and what to expect for 2018. We touch on the following key areas and much more: Beyond race week, growth in the downwind paddle scene throughout the summer and Carter's downwind retreat compound A breakdown of the number of racers signed up this year across the different paddle disciplines as well as where they are coming from geographically How the Gorge Downwind Festival may ultimately bring surfski paddling the recognition it deserves in the US Changes for 2018 including: Later beer tent hours A completely stocked beer truck with 26 beers on tap Changes to signal the surfski start Safety precautions Race navigation strategies and how minute changes of the wind direction will change the course I hope you enjoy the podcast and more importantly I hope to see you out there in a couple of weeks! Nick
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PPP Episode 24: Chasing Bumps with Cory Hill
05/22/2018
PPP Episode 24: Chasing Bumps with Cory Hill
In this podcast I have the opportunity to sit down with one of the best surfski paddler in the world right now, Cory Hill aka Chill Hill. Like most surfski paddlers, Cory is incredibly humble and seems mature beyond his years. Balancing relationships and a full time career, Cory does an unimaginable job competing at the very top of his game. We have a casual discussion covering a range of topics as I work to extract what makes Cory tick and how he does it. I can’t claim to be anywhere near the level Cory is at, but I felt that I really connected with his philosophy on life, paddling, competition, and what makes him tick. I found it especially interesting to hear him describe the stories that can crop up in his mind both while racing and while working his day job. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did Just a brief sample of the topic areas we covered: Cory’s start in Surf Life Saving and a detailed discussion around what exactly the sport entails What drew Cory away from surf life saving and into surfski racing Winning the world championships in Hong Kong Training for and racing Molokai General approach to training Why Cory sometimes races with music Thoughts on the one key thing to focus on with forward stroke Downwind paddling and using the angles to ride waves like a surfer Influential mentors Cory is sponsored by Shaw Hill Partners Race Team. for updates and some exciting content coming soon. You can also find
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PPP Episode 23: Learn to Love the Load With Ivan Lawler
02/09/2018
PPP Episode 23: Learn to Love the Load With Ivan Lawler
Today's podcast guest is the . Ivan is regarded as Britain’s greatest canoe paddler of all time, and many argue the world’s greatest marathon paddler. Ivan has also been recognized internationally for sportsmanship when in the 1990 world championship he and his partner stopped to wait for the Danish team who were having rudder trouble They could have won, but instead finished in second place by one second. Those who know Ivan, would not be at all surprised by this. Following his competitive years Ivan has given back tremendously to the sport. He was recently elected president of the British Canoeing Association and is Chairman of the Elmbridge Canoe Club where he has coached across the spectrum from new kids to world champions. Ivan has only recently caught the surfski bug. Many of you will recognize his voice as the commentator at the Gorge Downwind Champs and the Surfski World Championships in Hong Kong. Ivan has also become a legend with his hour and Ivan has a rare talent for articulating and simplifying the nuance of forward stroke technique. I’ve already replayed this podcast multiple times and every time I do, I’m incredibly inspired to get out on the water and FEEL my technique. Below is just a highlight of some of the topics we cover Paddling for feel and not for a visual look Why you don’t want to watch kayaking from the side The Arial View is Best - Avoiding spillage and learning to love the load - keeping it inside the boat (watch closely where the top hand goes when the paddle breaks between 2:10 -2:20) Ivan strongly recommends watching as of the best forward stroke technicians of all time Correcting lower back rub - getting the right kit helps tremendously, (prevent the damage) & (for when the damage is done) On the water drills that Ivan likes to use Thoughts on dry land training You can only use small weak muscles if you’ve built up momentum using big, powerful, slow muscles first Ivan will be partnering with and doing clinics at the Gorge and likely afterwards in Southern California. If you are out that way, don't miss this opportunity.
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PPP Episode 022: Oscar Chalupsky Provides a Recap of the ICF World Surfski Championship
12/05/2017
PPP Episode 022: Oscar Chalupsky Provides a Recap of the ICF World Surfski Championship
In this podcast we catch up with Oscar to get a front row view of the racing at the ICF World Surfski Championships in Hong Kong (i.e The Dragon Run) and the infamous Doctor downwind race in Perth, Australia. This is a relatively short podcast at just over 30 minutes, but as usual, it is always very informative to catch up with Oscar and get his perspective on the racing and the conditions. Beyond just the race discussion, I jumped at the opportunity to pick his brain for some tips and tricks to successfully paddling a tandem downwind, which is something that can be very humbling and challenges many of us. We also chat briefly about plans for the 2018 TC SURFSKI Immersion. Below is a short recap of key points: The week leading up to the ICF World Surfski Championships, a key item of note is the number of countries represented, I believe roughly 27, which speaks to the global growth of the sport Race conditions through the course and Oscar's strategy to optimize A detailed description of the huge conditions at the Doctor and how Oscar's race unfolded Key elements to focus on when paddling a tandem downwind A brief discussion on plans for the 2018 TC SURFSKI Immersion Note: Don't fast forward to quickly through the beginning of this podcast, I through in a quick holiday promotional offer that all Podcast listeners can take advantage of now through Dec 25th Enjoy!!
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PPP Episode 21: Gorge Downwind Festival 2018 with Carter Johnson
10/19/2017
PPP Episode 21: Gorge Downwind Festival 2018 with Carter Johnson
In today's podcast we welcome back Carter Johnson, the affable and infamous creator and director of the Gorge Downwind Champs. In this casual chat we recap highlights from the 2017 Gorge Festival and discuss lessons learned and improvement plans for the 2018 event. If you've been to the Gorge, then you know what its all about, and I'm certain you'll be excited to hear from Carter about the plans for 2018. If you have not yet experienced the Gorge Downwind Champs I highly recommend listening to this podcast to get a great understanding of what its all about. Some of the items we cover include: Plans for more live bands throughout the week Plans to keep the beer tent open later A firm and detailed schedule of the various beer tent presentations and discussions published in advance Dedicated volunteer teams responsible for each of the key aspects of the event (i.e. lots of delegation so Carter isn't running around like a mad man) A better system for executing the race start No hotspot (too hard to setup and monitor given the nature of the river course) A better system to confirm those who register and attend the week long festival but choose not to race (note: The race almost becomes an afterthought for many at the Gorge because the week long event itself is so much fun and ultimately what many come out for. Those who want to come out and enjoy the week with no intention of racing are more than welcome!) Update on the fires (short answer - no visible impact on the Hood River area)
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PPP Episode 20: A Journey to the Top with Austin Kieffer
10/05/2017
PPP Episode 20: A Journey to the Top with Austin Kieffer
In this podcast I get a chance to chat for the first time with the great American surfski champion Austin Kieffer. In just 5 short years, Austin has gone from paddling a surfski for the first time, to battling it out for podium finishes with the greatest paddlers in the world. He is now a force to be reckoned with and a podium contender in any of the biggest surfski races in the world. In this podcast we cover the story of how the last five years unfolded. Austin is both candid and eloquent in describing the journey. I am certain that you will absolutely love this podcast as much as I enjoyed recording it. Austin’s story is both fascinating and inspirational. Not too mention he has a knack for articulating of the art of downwind paddling and the science of training. In roughly an hour we cover the following key element in Austin's journey Austin's first introduction to the world of white water kayaking What whitewater training entails at the Olympic Development level What transfers from Slalom to Surfski and what is totally different Getting into a surfski for the first time in 2011 and a top 20 finish at the US Champs just 3 weeks later Making a final bid for a spot on the US Olympic Whitewater Team Pouring himself into surfski in San Diego after college The pivotal moment in learning downwind and key thoughts on what it takes Training with the big boys in Capetown Becoming the top US finisher at the US Surfski Champs in 2014 Getting humbled in the Canadian Surfski Champs in 2014 Finding the resolve to come back and take another shot at becoming a world class podium contender on the World Series of Surfski Racing Details on the training regime to make it happen What's next and where to find Austin
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PPP Episode 19 - All things Cadence with Dr Brendan O'Neill
09/14/2017
PPP Episode 19 - All things Cadence with Dr Brendan O'Neill
In today’s podcast we sit down with Dr Brendan O’Neill the Chief Operating Officer of Vaaka Cadence based out of New Zealand. As is the case with all the Kiwis I know, it is hard to get Brendan to speak about himself and his credentials, but I did manage to get a little bit out of him. Brendan grew up in competitive kayaking starting at the age of 15. He competed at very high levels in the UK during his peak years and then transitioned into coaching. As a paddler, coach, and Doctor of Sports Medicine, Brendan found his true passion exploring the realm of physiology and related metrics to drive optimal performance. This is a great discussion centered around the benefits of training with real time cadence and distance per stroke feedback. And specifically how to both drive continuous improvement in your paddling as well as find the sweet spot where you operate most efficiently. Some of the key topics we cover include: The very beginnings of the Vaaka Cadence sensor and how it was used in the lead up to a very successful 2012 Olympics for the NZ team Why cadence can often be a better metric to focus on than heart rate or speed Why power is a challenging metric for paddlers How to chart cadence versus speed and identify where your efficiency starts to break down A very simple threshold workout that is an absolute must in any training program The very basic that the team at Vaaka has published How to setup your Vaaka Cadence sensor with whatever smart phone or watch you are using While this discussion is all around cadence, I want to reinforce that cadence is one tool in the context of others, and all of the athletes that are doing cadence training already have a strong foundation of solid forward stroke technique and still do extensive technique work. So while you should certainly consider cadence based training, it should not be at the expense of developing a foundational forward stroke If you are intrigued by this discussion and decide to explore cadence training, you can order the Vaaka Cadence sensor at enter coupon code PPP10 to get 10% off
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PPP Episode 18 - Surfski 600 Revealed with Boyan Z
08/24/2017
PPP Episode 18 - Surfski 600 Revealed with Boyan Z
In today's podcast we catch up with Boyan Zlatarev of the Tarifa, Spain Surfski Center. Boyan recently executed a spoof on Social Media known as the . The goal was to get the attention of the paddling community and ultimately drive a mindset shift into how we view the capabilities of boats that have traditionally been labeled as "beginner" craft. While the feedback and support was overwhelmingly positive, there were some who were not thrilled with the spoof. In this podcast we go deep to understand what was behind the inspiration and motivation for Boyan to do this. "Stability before Ability" is a term first coined by Oscar Chalupsky and while many of us have been preaching it solidly for a few years now, Boyan felt there was still more that could be done. In addition to the stability discussion, comes the discussion around recognizing that surfski paddling is not all about racing and statistics, and we should all do more to attract and welcome those who simply want to be on the water for the pure enjoyment of it all. This is a relatively short discussion, but as always, Boyan is both entertaining and though provoking. He is constantly studying people, markets, other sports, and industries to glean examples and concepts that can be applied to drive further growth of surfski. I think you'll really enjoy this discussion
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PPP Episode 17: A Return to Structured Training with Sean Rice
07/13/2017
PPP Episode 17: A Return to Structured Training with Sean Rice
Today we connect for a second podcast with the red hot Sean Rice. Sean may well be the fastest surfski paddler in the world right now. He started off the year with a win and course record at the Amsterdam Waterland Marathon, then took his first win at Molokai and just recently won the Nelo Summer Challenge. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a win this weekend at the the and next weekend at the . Below is just a highlight of some of the key topics we cover in this 1 hour conversation: Relocating to the UK and getting back to structured training The difference between being K1 fit and Surfski fit Breakdown of a week of training for Sean Working with Haylie Nixon, doing paddle specific training & gym work Sean's favorite cross training activity and why Racing the as an unknown and getting the victory and course record. Here is a link to the very Sean mentions (choosing a good line and not taking any strokes in anger) Thoughts on the future of destination surfski paddling/coaching and a couple of his favorite places in Europe including and the Words of wisdom for maximizing your fun and learning in Hood River and having a good race day strategy Sean’s new on-line coaching offering: Plans for crossing the English Channel, possibly setting a record
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