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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

Matt Ripp'n with the TRX Rip Trainer!

Introducing Matt Lennert, long distance  and wave SUP paddler, SUP event director, windsurfer and surfer; stopped in for an all-on SUP performance tune up with me in my studio during his recent visit to Maui. He was up for any challenge, that’s for sure! I threw medicine balls at him full speed while he managed to amazingly hang onto whatever training apparatus I placed him on top of.

His sheer determination and already a finely tuned athlete;  he was on top of his training game. Wow! He performed well this day and left with a good sweat.  Unfortunately the conditions for a Maliko Run were not up to par but we’ll have to try again Matt when you come back with your family!

I see a strong SUP future for Matt as he returned home to share with us his adventure on Maui: http://windycitywaterman.blogspot.com/2011/10/suzie-trains-maui.html

Matt, come on back anytime and we’ll hit Maliko!
Aloha, Suzie Cooney, CPT  owner of Suzie Trains Maui

Suzie is available for fitness training for all levels and SUP coaching.

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!

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

I had the pleasure of doing a few training runs last year with her when she was here training for another event, and asked her to write about why this event, the Ho’olaule’a and why it meant so much to her.   Her story is heartfelt and expresses her thoughts on how Maui and our community here has embraced her, as the ocean and land embraces everyone.  She will inspire you and others to hopefully make the same journey to Maui!

Jenny writes: I can remember as kid I LOVED the beach! We lived so close and my mum would take me almost every day. I can remember playing in the ocean and getting tossed round by the waves never being scared. I can remember very vaguely, around the age of 4 having to go to the doctors. Something was wrong with my ears. Little did I know it spelled the end of my ocean love for a decade..

From the age of 4 to 13, I had several ear infections and grommets all was going okay until I was 7. One grommet came out early leaving a hole in my ear drum – and until it healed. I couldn’t dive, swim, etc. So I was always swimming with my head above the waves. I got to the age of 13 and was old enough to have a skin graph operation on my ear to close the hole. The operation was a success and for the first time in many years I was free to swim again. Until about 2 weeks later where I caught an unknown tropical ear infection. My ear would weep nonstop and this continued for about 12 months. Doctors, specialists, Ct scans, bone scans, referrals; no one knew what to do It wasn’t until my specialist suggested an old wife’s tale of Aluminum Acetate that it stopped in 3 days . I was 14 and had lost 70% of my hearing due to scar tissue, but I had the all cleared and within a month I picked up a surfboard.

I started surfing and loved it straight away and it was freedom. I could leave all my problems at the shore go for a surf.and somehow everything would be better.

I have been short boarding on and off for 10 years and gradually over time would see more and more SUPs. I was curious and a close friend was getting into it. He was telling me how awesome it was. Doubtful and curious I had to give it ago.

It was a 10ft Bonga Perkins. I lost count of the number of times I fell in. Persistence paid off and in a few months I was entering SUP surfs comps. Due to the small number of women entering these events..we were always up against the Men. We continued to enter the events and only recently have women surf sup has its own division in all the main surf contests. It’s great to know that in some way I’ve contributed to the progression of Women’s SUP in Australia alongside my fellow competitors/ friends. My proudest moment was placing 2nd in the first Women’s Australian SUP Title and this result enabled me to be sponsored by Laguna Bay Stand Up Paddle.

As SUP started exploding in oz races were starting to become more frequent. After a small fun race, Phil Gregory (aka Iron Phil) approached me – saying I was a weapon of a paddler and that I should really think about getting into racing. If it wasn’t for Phil that day i don’t know if I would be racing now. I started training with Phil for local races and started to build my confidence and strength.. it was during these training sessions I started to hear about how amazing the race scene is in Hawaii.. and about all the races, the people, and just the sup scene in general..

It was NYE 2010 when I decided that I was going to do the International Naish Race. I had only been training one month barely doing 10km and this race was 16km. I set myself a time of 1:40:00 and decided to go for it. Six months of solid training was my lead up and before long I was heading to Maui.

When I first got to Maui the first thing I noticed was the wind! I couldn’t believe how windy it was all the time. We hardly get over 15knots at home. This was something foreign. I did my first Maliko run. I couldn’t believe the runners. It was an amazing experience surfing the swell bumps, seeing turtles, and taking in the amazing coastline of Maui.

It was so inspiring and I was so excited to keep doing these runs. Race day came round so fast. I was nervous, and excited but enjoying every moment. It really started hitting me. This was it. Everything I had been training for was here and now! The prayers were said before we raced. This tradition is something I really admire. It gave me goose bumps. I felt instantly the energy at Maliko.

The race was amazing. I caught some of the most amazing runners of my life and hit my target time of 1:40:42. To say I was happy was an understatement! For me I learned that if you really put your mind to something you can make it happen. It was after this race that my whole belief system changed. I started to believe more in myself and wanted to come back to Hawaii again.

The Maui experience for me was more than racing. I got to meet some amazing people, and also see/ meet some amazing athletes. I had an overwhelming feeling that I belonged. I didn’t feel out of place. I knew I had to come back to spend more time with the beautiful people I had met. The people I met in Maui really made my last trip memorable. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming with open arms. The whole SUP scene in Maui is incredibly different to that back in Australia. There is a very strong competitive edge in Australia. This is not a bad thing, just different.

I didn’t know at the time but during my time in Hawaii, I had anemia. It was only once I got back to Australia that I couldn’t handle the fatigue anymore. I was burnt out, emotionally drained, over trained so I took a break from paddling to make a 100% recovery. This took 5 months. I got back into surfing and started getting into Pilates.

I started back at training in January with Phil. We decided to mix training up a bit. We did lots of ocean training and also flat-water distance. My body was coming back and my desire to compete came with it. I really started to enjoy training again. I started to enjoy training in the ocean.. I got to see so many amazing sunrises, dolphins, and surf great waves on my 12’6 Secret Agent SUP. I also enjoyed the early morning long distance training. Getting up before dawn and hitting the water.

We paddled in the canals on dawn, through several housing estates and also through swamp land. The swamp land was my favorite part – I would often see Kangaroo’s, Wallabies, Cockatoo’s, and other wildlife. It was a great way to start the day. I started to look at races back in Hawaii, and I recalled hearing about the OluKai race.

I started researching this race and started feeling that this was the race I should be entering. This race wasn’t only about competing but it also focused on the tradition that is Hawaii, something that I never got to really experience on the other islands or other races. I wanted to be able to learn about the Hawaiian tradition. For me the OluKai Race was the best opportunity. I decided to make the OluKai race my main race of focus for this year. This event is a measure of how far I have come in the last 6-12 months; a measure of the my strength, and my soul.

Its apart of my journey and I’m following my dream of becoming an athlete. I want to be able to inspire other girls to get out there and give it ago and to be able to follow their dreams and to be able to make them happen. Not just in SUP, but in all aspects of life.      Jenny Ryan

Sincere thanks Jenny for sharing this great story and I look forward to seeing you the morning of the race in our circle of prayer. I wish you all the best in the event and with each race you enter in the future. May Maui and the Ho’olaule’a be as special to you as it to me and thousands of others.  See you on the water!

Suzie Cooney

Jenny’s Accomplishments

Results

2009- 1st – Kirra Surf Stock Paddle Race
2010- 3rd Noosa SUP Race
3rd Roar Industries SUP Race
6th Naish International Paddle Race
2nd Australia SUP Surf Titles
2nd Kirra BOP Race
2011- 2nd Wild Women’s Surf Day
4th Noosa SUP Women’s Division
3rd Noosa SUP Race
3rd Malfunction Sup Surf

Peter Swanzy and the kids!

This paddle was our second practice paddle since our first April 2nd, 2011 was such a huge success. Click here to see the video. We wanted to share again and encourage families, new paddlers and those who’ve never done a down winder, to come and build their confidence.

Peter Swanzy and Julianna Prater from Paia Youth and Cultural Center had five youth from 13 to 14 years old join in the practice paddle. The youth have been training with Pete and Julianna over the last month and their training paid off as this was the first time that these youth had paddled this 3 mile distance. A huge sense of accomplishment and pride way to go! We also had paddlers from Sweden, Nevada and England participate.

For some, this was the first or second time ever experiencing a coast run. After everyone signed in, had a little morning coffee and juice, we all gathered as Matthew Murasko, OluKai Hawaii Ambassador,  announced our 3 mile course.

Then the ice chest was turned over to me, and I stood up and asked everyone to join me in some warm up exercises and jumping jacks to shake off any pre-paddle  jitters or butterflies!

The conditions were perfect and inviting. The trades were light at about 10 knots that provided for some fun glides.

copyright Ron Dahlquist

The first group of paddlers arrived to Kanaha in 30 minutes and the last group arrived in 60 minutes. Upon completion paddlers were treated to water, juice, granola bars and Whoopie Pies, a chocolate cake-vanilla ice cream confection handmade by my boyfriend Tommy Callan.

The Finish! Kanaha

Mahalo to the Maui lifeguards ( Tony Colletta ) from Baldwin Tower and Kanaha Tower for PWC saftey…and special mahalo also to Milton Martinson of Haiku for PWC water safety as well as SUP water safety guards, Chris Pagdilao, John Smalley, Joshua Kjorven, Randy Royse. Also lending a hand and expertise, Deb Driscoll and Blair Thorndike.

We’d also like to thank the crews at the Naish Maui Pro Center and Second Wind for providing a few extra boards for the kids from the youth center.

I know this paddle provided many an amazing, life-changing ocean experience. I was touched to see everyone supporting one another out there and on the beach. For others it was a chance to encourage their loved ones and friends to go to the next level. Well done.

Keep up that that training!  The real OluKai Ohana Fun Paddle is May 14 at 9am, same place, same course. Arrive by 8am and Register at OluKai.com. Entry Fee for the 3 mile OluKai Ohana Fun Paddle is $20 and includes one luau dinner wristband.

Aloha and thanks for supporting in community.

Suzie Cooney, CPT  Suzie Trains Maui    SUP Clinic/Director/ Instructor   SUP Team Rider for Naish