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As I pulled into the parking lot, I saw the Naish/Cooney crew already in full swing setting up tents and flags, marking off big areas of Mai Poina Ole

La’u Beach with pylons for fitness stations labelled mysteriously “Zig Zag” and “Taco Roll” (huh?). At 7:00am, the paddlers began to roll in. Men and women of all ages and fitness levels showed up to participate. The Naish Maui Pro Center was on hand to demonstrate the latest SUP boards and paddles, and TRX and INDO Board had their own stations to showcase some SUP-related cross-training equipment.

After an intro speech from the ever-enthusiastic Suzie Cooney and a special guest appearance by 2x SUP Surf World Champion, Kai Lenny, we were off to the starting area. The airhorn sounded and 55 paddlers charged into the water with boards and paddles in hand. Although it was a non-competitive event, that didn’t stop everyone from trying their best and pushing themselves through the course. Around three buoys, back up to the beach, on your knees through the “Crawl” station (butt down!), up again, run side-to-side in the “Zig-Zag” station, down again, on your bellies for 10 “Pushups” (real ones!), up again, flop down to the “Taco Roll” station for a horizontal roll down a 10m stretch of flat beach (nope, it wasn’t a sushi-eating station, sigh) and then back up again to do the whole thing…all over again.

Suzie grins when she remembers the day: “I’ve never seen such a sight in my life. People covered in sand, almost puking and still smiling!”.

It was fantastic. Everyone had a blast of a time, made even more special by a raffle draw of some amazing prizes. This was my first “Beach Fitness and Paddle Challenge” and, I have to admit, I’m hooked. Can’t wait for the next one!

Thank you Suzie Cooney and Nitsan Solomonov & Dave Wissink from Naish for putting the day together. Thank you to all who participated, both paddlers and volunteers. You guys made it such a special event. Aloha!

- Christy Stesky, Naish International   See article on Naish here.

Check out more of Suzie’s SUP Fitness for Naish here: http://www.naishsurfing.com/2012/lifestyle/sup-fitness.html

See lots of photos and other write up: Naish & Suzie Trains Maui Delivers FREE Unique Stand Up Paddle Fitness Challenge as One to Remember.

Follow @SuzieTrainsMaui

Kai Lenny!

The event  attracted over 55 participants men and women and was hosted by Naish International and Suzie Cooney, fitness specialist, Naish Team Rider and owner of Suzie Trains Maui. To wow and inspire the crowd local Maui resident and recently crowned 2011 SUP World Champion, and Naish Team Rider, Kai Lenny also demonstrated his skills on the water and then

Suzie and Kai

showed off his nose riding techniques atop of the Indo Board gear that was available for people and the public to try. In addition to the Indo Board demo by Suzie Cooney and Indo Board Team Rider, Leighton Nakamoto , a TRX Fitness Rip Trainer demo was also conducted to show how it can be incorporated into one’s stand up paddling fitness training.

Suzie Cooney TRX Rip Trainer Demo

Stand up paddling is drawing great attention world-wide but is also helping people of all fitness levels to embrace a more healthy lifestyle. This non-competitive event was designed to challenge, inspire and bring people together in an environment that offered something different than racing without any pressure. The mission of Suzie Cooney and Naish and all of the wonderful volunteers was to provide a fun venue that offered a sort of bonding experience through a little literally, heart pounding action.

The course: 3 buoys in a triangle format marked the water action as a mass start began at the sound of a horn! Off to the first buoy paddlers were met by Maui’s own downwind champion, Jeremy Riggs who cheered and helped people navigate, some for their first time ever near a buoy, around turn number one. Then as paddlers began to spread out with some of the more experienced paddlers, such as Donnie McGean, Bill Hoffman and a few more in front,  it was time to land on the beach and begin the crazy fitness obstacle beach course that consisted of 4 stations with volunteers to cheer, encourage and assist if needed.

Donnie, crawling left, writes, ” As for the funniest moment it had to be trying to stand up and run after the taco rolls.  As for what I enjoyed the most, it was meeting new people that were interested in SUP.  My goal is always to give 100% and still have fun. As for what I found inspirational, it was that some of the best in the SUP world came out to help and share their knowledge and love of the sport.  Thanks again for a great event.”

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Donnie On the beach, participants hopped off their boards and ran to station number one, a 20 foot long  by 8 foot wide crawl area. Here people had their own unique strategy and style as they crawled, dove on their bellies or some on all fours under yellow caution tape.  Then up to their feet to run a zig-zag cone course, then drop immediately at the pushup station where Coach Leighton Nakamoto, resident of Makawao made sure people did 10! Boy,  was he tough!

The most spectacular entertainment of the day, was the sandy taco roll. Here, immediately after the pushups, participants had to drop and roll for

taco rolling

about 20 feet while trying not to get dizzy or roll into the ocean. Tommy Callan, creator of this station cheered and helped people up to their feet and guided them to the two Naish flags where one then had to run through and then run or jog back down the beach to get their boards and hit the water for one final lap and then one final spin through the course.

Although this was marked as a non-competitive event, one had to take notice of Maui’s Donnie McGean who managed to stay in front and finish in the lead. My other buddy and downwind training partner, Bill Hoffman of Pukalani was hot on his tail and finished 2nd. Everyone finished and everyone at this event were winners. Anyone who could simply finish this grueling course deserves a round of applause. I’m totally proud of all of them. People were laughing, grunting and looking at me with the look of  “you’ve got to be kidding”, but they kept going. It was great.

Visitors, spectators and anyone who happened to be on the beach that day could not believe what they were seeing and stuck around to join in on the cheering.

Salma

After the final finishers joined the others rinsing off all the sand in the ocean, all registered participants and volunteers had the chance to have their name drawn for wonderful prize raffle by companies and brands who support the sport and lifestyle. Naish, Indo Board, OluKai Premium Footwear, Kaenon Polarized Eyewear, TRX Fitness, Watermans Applied Science Sunscreen and Maui Ripper clothing company all generously donated fantastic gifts!

Lisa with OluKai Premium Footwear

Sam Bittner TRX Rip Trainer Winner

Alfred Kaeon Polarized Eyewear Winner

Leighton Loves Kaenon

I want to thank all the volunteers who got up before sunrise to help welcome everyone and greet everyone

Bill Indo Board Trainer Winner

with a huge smile and encouragement. Also a huge Mahalo to Kai Lenny for being you and an incredible inspiration to the sport and to us. In addition to the talented, brave photographers Simone Reddingius and Tracy Kraft Leboe for capturing so many awesome moments. Coach and Martin from the Naish Maui Pro Center for providing all of the cool 2012 new Naish boards for folks to try and to Tommy for helping me dream this event up. It’s his fault if some of you are still dizzy from the taco rolls.

Bill Hoffman ( 2nd person to finish ) writes:

“I wanted to say thanks for a great event and all the work you did. There were a lot of happy smiles there. I think it might be because it was none competitive. I enjoyed sharing the experience with my friend Alfred and winning a prize. At most events the guys out number girls 3 to 1 but at this event there were more girls than boys. It was nice to see them getting into SUP. The funniest moment was trying to walk straight after the Taco Roll.”

Stand up paddling is here to stay and it’s so cool to see it grow and offer a way to stay healthy, meet new people and enjoy the water. As some are still learning, it’s important to learn about water and ocean safety as well as how to be safe in a line up with other paddlers and especially surfers. Always be courteous, check your equipment, wear a leash and share the waves and throw a shaka now and then.

I also want to thank Naish International for helping me bring this idea to life and also to the Maui County for allowing us to offer an event like this to the public. We hope that our community and the island of Maui will continue to support and embrace events such as this.

Follow @SuzieTrainsMaui
If you or someone you know is visiting the island of Maui or if you live here and want to check out or rent the new line of Naish boards, contact Coach at the Naish Maui Pro Center at 808-871-1500 or go to their website:    Also, if interested in fitness training and especially SUP specific training while on Maui, you can reach Suzie Cooney of Suzie Trains Maui at http://www.suzietrainsmaui.com/contact/

Our talented Maui photographers Simone Reddingius and Tracy Kraft Leboe share their works here:

Simone: http://beachgirlmaui.blogspot.com/      Tracy: http://www.tracykraft.com/

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Sponsor Links:

Naish International

  COOL Sponsor Prizes         SUP Training Fitness Demo          Naish 2012 Board Demos

M A U I: Saturday 12.03.2011 Naish & Suzie Trains Maui Presents:

IMPORTANT EVENT INFORMATION: Parking: Please carpool, unload boards safely. This is a NON-Competitive event, ALL levels of paddling and fitness welcome.  Arrive early, registration begins at 7:00am – event cap 75 participation.

Paddle off those holiday meals and come join the fun and see what you’ve got!  Bring your board and bring your grrr, for the first of its kind beach fitness and SUP challenge! This non-competitive, co-ed event will put you to the test from the sand to each buoy turn. Demo the new Naish 2012 SUP boards and learn some new training tips for SUP with Suzie Cooney, Naish Team SUP Rider and Maui’s elite trainer. Indo Board & TRX demos.

Awesome raffle prizes! (must be present, participate and registered to win )

Date: Saturday, December 3, 2011

6:30 am – Drop off boards at drop of station near bathrooms (we highly encourage car pooling – parking limited)
7:00 am – On site registration, sign waiver, receive wrist band, register for prize drawing (Participant Cap, 75)
8:15 am – Indo Board & TRX Demo Suzie Cooney
8:45 am – Skippers meeting, challenge and course review
9:00 am – Challenge Start!

All levels of SUP experience welcome in this FREE EVENT!

Location: Mai Poina Ole La’u Beach Park, S. Kihei Rd., Maui

Course Map & Challenge Description:

Mass start for all participants. Paddle around each buoy counter clockwise for Lap One. Hop off board and run to first of (4) four fitness challenge stations and complete each fitness challenge. Then, run back to board and complete final lap and then back to beach for final beach fitness challenge. You are encouraged to give it your all!

Stick around to try out the new Naish 2012 SUP boards, cool down and maybe win some awesome prizes offered by our generous sponsors: Naish International, Suzie Trains Maui, Olukai Premium Footwear, Indo Board, TRX, Kaenon Polarized Eyewear, Waterman’s Applied Science and clothing from Maui Rippers!

Need to rent a board for the event?  Call the Naish Maui Pro Center: 808.871.1500

There was a sea of yellow Naish Glides ( that’s what I ride ) and others and wow, what a line of up fine athletes and new talent from around the globe!  This was a well-organized event thanks to Naish International, Maui Naish Pro Center, John Gangini and Blair Thorndike. The conditions were a bit questionable, but in grand Maliko style, after brother Joe gave the most beautiful Hawaiian ”Pule” the trades seemed to pick up just at the right time.

TweetFirst out the prone paddlers, then 12 footers, 14 and then unlimited like clock work. This was a staged start, with a 3 minute hold, and it worked quite well. Sitting at the start next to my buddy Karen Wrenn and to her right our newest team rider, Chuck Patterson and to my left my local gang, Julia Schweiger, Jeremy and Jill Riggs, Simone Reddingius and a few newbies as the boards were clattering and bumping before the horn.

Photographers, Erik Aeder, Darrell Wong, and Jimmie Hepp poised and ready to shoot. Looking around to see who would take “the” line was interesting. Normally we pinch up to the right hard and steady. This time it was madness to see who would get out in front first. I watched Chuck and others watching each other. The competition was fierce and you could feel the power ready to be unleashed!

Time to go! I hit the play button on my IShuffle, first song “My Wave” by Soundgarden. Perfect! I was getting pinched hard by a gal on blue 14ft, to my right. Sorry, but I’m way more competitive than I thought. I didnt’ mean to, whoever you are; to run over your paddle but it was time to go. Rick Sands, you gave me a run for my money. Congrats on your fine finish. Jill, you were with me quite a ways and it was just like practice coming into the harbor. Super fun for sure.

photo Jimmie Hepp 2011

Coming into the harbor was a breeze this time. Tiffany Ward in front, Jill then me. The finish was 100 yards further West than last year, thank goodness. This meant that if the winds were howling side shore it wouldnt’ be as brutal getting in.

Well, of course I couldn’t catch Jamie Mitchell, Dave Kalama, Scott Turdon, Kody Kerbox, Connor Baxter,  Ralf, Michi Schweigher or Jeremy Riggs; and Karen, Sonni and Allison were gone! I held my line and never looked up and thought, this is it, race day! How lucky am I to live Maui, paddle for Naish and paddle with my good friends in my own backyard. I gave it my best with a decent time and although the age group spread was HUGE( who’s in charge of that!?)30-45, I got a respectable 6th. 

Congrats to everyone and to all the new faces who are joining the racing experience.  I’ll be posting more highlights and updates soon.  Suzie Cooney!

Full Race Results:http://pseresults.com/events/364/results

Check out the full story and photos from Erik Aeder provided by:

Naish Ineternational:http://www.naishsurfing.com/2011/07/6th-annual-naish-paddle-championships-maui/

More photos from Jimmie Hepp:https://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/Jimmiehepp

    Get race ready and hop on your INDO Board Gigante Disc. Your foot-work is a critical part of catching glides.  Best 
                land training ever.

Mark and Donna

“Dear Friends and Family,

Autism affects 1 in 150 children. Donna and I both have friends and family whose children are autistic. Maybe you do too. These individuals are faced with huge challenges every day, but with a good support system these challenges can be faced with some comfort and even joy.

Next month we will be participating in an event that raises money to assist individuals and family members touched by this disorder. The funds we help raise will go to a variety of foundations focused on education for the children, family support and research that will hopefully lead to a cure.

The event is the SEAPaddleNYC and it takes place on August 12th 2011. Time is short now so we are graciously asking you to act soon by making a contribution of any amount to this cause. We understand well that the current economy is putting a strain on many of us. However, we are asking that if there is any contribution that you are able to make to help us reach our goal, we would greatly appreciate it. More importantly, the recipients of the foundation’s gifts will be touched by your generosity.

The SEAPaddleNYC is a 26.5 mile paddle around Manhattan we will do on our own stand up boards flown in from Hawaii. The paddle is expected to take between 7-8 hours. In order to participate we are required to raise a minimum of $1000.00 each but would like to increase that minimum to at least $1500.00 each for a combined donation of $3000.00.

The route:

The links below will take you directly to our pledge pages where you can make a contribution.
To find out more about the event and the foundations that will benefit simply click on the green logo in the upper left corner that will lead you to the home page.

Mark’s pledge page:

https://seapaddlenyc.dojiggy.com/pledge/index.cfm?585F2208177875137035215F407C050E7800037E

Donna’s pledge page:

https://seapaddlenyc.dojiggy.com/pledge/index.cfm?585F2208007E787B74650147515B357A050A09710B7B

If you are able to make a contribution please follow the links above. Also, if you know others who might be interested in making a contribution please feel free to forward this email to them.

With gratitude,

Mark & Donna Raaphorst

155 Hohani Pl.
Haiku HI 96708
(808) 463-4656

Good luck Mark and Donna! I’m sure you’ll get there and represent.  Suzie

Some of the fastest, elite paddlers converge for the 6th year in a row. The field of competitors is growing bigger and bigger and the finishes even more exciting! This race is fierce and serious. Get your water packs ready, gel, gu whatever your fueling weapon, for this backyard Naish event will light Maliko on fire!

For more information and to register: http://www.mauipaddleboard.com/

Get race ready and see my SUP FITNESS Tips exclusively for Naish.

Increase your SUP performance. Catch bigger glides, dig in that rail and improve your footwork to keep ahead of that guy or gal on your tail. Your paddling will improve quickly from land to water. Training your brain, training your legs and step on your board and watch what happens. One INDO Board Gigante disc under your board with max inflation is a wild ride, and two less inflated; one under the nose and the tail helps beginners and intermediate paddlers sky rocket their stand up paddling action!

See you there!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Standing Up for Mental Illness

photoby Darrell Wong copyright protected

A healthy mind and a healthy body go hand in hand—you cannot have one, without the other. As part of my work today I continue to stress the importance of staying active, as it helps lead to improved mental health.From childhood, mental illness has had a profound impact on my life. My mother, and three more of her six siblings, lived with mental illness. My mother was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and severe depression when I was a young child. Since I can remember I was a caregiver and lived in a house that was full of pain and constant upheaval. My grandmother did what she could, but years ago there was confusion about what mental illness was and not much support.

As an only child it was overwhelming. I was fragile. I had no person, or no organization, to turn to for help or support. In an attempt to escape I moved out when I was 15 years old. Ever since then I have experienced feelings of guilt for leaving my family in a time of crisis.

Realizing I had made a mistake I returned to help. A saying of my aunt and uncle helped me stay strong and forge ahead in tough times. “The well must stay well,” they said. I did what I could to maintain by own mental and physical health to provide the best help I could for my mother.

But times were still difficult. What my mother had to experience was agonizing both for her and for me. All the doctors did was lock her up, drug her up and then put her back into society with no coping skills. Consequently, the situation repeated itself, over and over, as we moved my mother from one apartment to the next.

Finally in 1997, I moved her overnight to an amazing community of progressive care in Contra Costa County, California. For a year, my mother was furious with me for taking action this way, but eventually she realized it was the best thing to have happened. Today she is able to live independently with only weekly visits from her amazing case manager and her physician, Dr. Ziba Rahimzadeh, who has been with her for over 12 years.

Growing up in California, the ocean has always called to me. Three years ago, and living in Hawaii, I got started in the sport of stand up paddling (SUP). As a professional trainer and model, staying active was not only important to my professions but made my mind feel healthier as well. In 2009, I was injured in a freak accident, breaking both my legs. I was confined to a wheelchair for several months. My lower body atrophied in less than two weeks and I began to feel depressed.

For me, I knew that the sport I had just started only a few years prior was the way to get both my body and mind back. Being on the water was soothing, it comforted me, it made me feel connected and part of something.

After standing up and helping myself, I realized that stand up paddling was a viable way to help others achieve improved health as well. That’s why I’m honored to partner with NAMI in hosting a SUP event in the Bay Area. The founder of East Bay SUP and I had become friends through our common interest in stand up paddling. Through conversations she bravely shared with me how she had gone through periods of serious depression herself and how SUP helped her as well. I knew that we had to hold an event that would also help raise awareness for mental illness. So on June 4 in Oakland, Calif., we are holding the “Bay Area Stand Up Paddle Clinic” to help support NAMI.

SUP is very easy to learn and people of all individuals can learn. It’s an easy way to get people on the water and an effective form of relaxation and therapy. Surfing is currently being used to help U.S. veterans who have PTSD recover from the effects of war. And although some might be scared at first to get out here it’s often hard to get folks back off the water.

For information on the event:  http://www.meetup.com/East-Bay-SUP/events/17552567/ If you have any other questions about getting involved in stand up paddling you can visit Suzie’s website or email her at suzie@suzietrainsmaui.com.

Maui: 2011 Third Annual OluKai Ho’olaulea: Ohana Fun Paddle & Pre SUP Race highlights and interviews:

Maui: 2011 Third Annual OluKai Ho’olaule’a Ohana Fun Paddle & SUP Pre Race Highlights from Suzie Cooney on Vimeo.

photo courtesy of OluKai

Maui’s N. shore attracted over 400 total participants in ocean adventure excitement and adrenaline pumping paddling action. This year was unique with the first inaugural Ohana Fun Paddle which I helped host, to encourage new paddlers to experience a non-competitive 3 mile down wind paddle. Anything you could humanly paddle was welcomed. SUPs, kayaks, one mans, six mans and the special OluKai sailing canoe; Kamakakoa launched from Paia Bay to Kanaha. This was an event within the event. Over 100 paddlers entered the water with a big finish.

photo courtesy of OluKai

Then on up to Maliko Gulch was the big SUP race. The momentum was building as more and more boards began to fill the valley as the paddlers got ready for their 8 mile, more serious race. And what a race!

Thanks to Matthew Murasko, OluKai’s Hawaii Ambassador and team, and to many friends and volunteers this event was over the top. It was so organized, from the start to the finish. The luau, entertainment and award ceremony welcomed not only the racers but our entire island and the world. Join us next year!

Suzie Cooney

Read:  “The Magic of Maliko“  Article written for Makai Hawaii’s Ocean Lifestyle Magazine

Suzie is available for SUP instruction/private event hosting and special events. Contact  suzie@suzietrainsmaui for more information.

Video work: Carl Royzcki  InVision Productions.

Also be sure to check out www.OluKai.com to learn more about OluKai.  To see more photos taken by OluKai’s Photography team, click here