With only five days until the OluKai 5th Annual Ho’olaule’a SUP & OC1 race approaching this weekend, the weather forecast is soon to be taking shape! The normal trades are predicted to return as competitors will be competing for a purse of $15,000. We’ve had an unusual spell of Kona breezes that look like they’ll be on their way out!
Here’s a peek at the forecast for May 11th & May 12th:
Register now or day of event. For more information click here.
This past Sunday, 90 eager stand up paddlers, that included one prone paddler, two kayaks and one OC1; journeyed 3 miles down Maui Hawaii’s famous North coast to experience a mini downwind and wave adventure, all in preparation for the wildly popular, non-competitive Fun Paddle Division of the 5th Annual OluKai Premium Footwear Ho’olaule’a. This SUP & OC1 race and event is the biggest downwind race in the world with equal gender prize money and includes an amazing line up of entertainment, luau dinner and Hawaiian culture games and sailing canoe rides. This event will be held May 11-12th, 2013. Click hereto register for the main event.
Sharina Husted from Wailuku, Hawaii writes: ”What a fun day! Great gang of people and an awesome event!! Thanks for giving back to our community and doing FREE events like this!! I’m hooked….next step…8 miles Olukai!”
This practice paddle is now a tradition and allows people of all ages and all levels, to build and gain their ocean confidence with water safety and proves to pull a large community of residents and international visitors. We always encourage people to come out and paddle anything humanly powered to join in on the fun. Normally Maui’s N. shore is known for high winds and wave swells, but today was unusually calm that added more of a workout paddle element but also allowed everyone to enjoy the colorful reefs and get to know the course.
With the OluKai flags flying the courtyard at the Paia Youth & Cultural Center filled with boards and excited paddlers. The skipper meeting began promptly at 8:45am with Matthew Murasko, OluKai Premium Footwear’s Hawaii Ambassador reviewing the coarse and finish. Then it was my turn to warm up the crowd and get them pumped and excited.
With upper body exercises, 20 squats counted out loud and then my trademark “warrior warm up”, we headed down to Paia Bay to prepare and launch. The beach was beautiful and calm, waters inviting and the sky an incredible blue. Getting in was easy with minimal shore break, as the safety ski was already out and ready to guide and patrol the group. It was smiles and a few nervous jitters for others, and off we went!
The fastest paddler to Kanaha Beach was about 40 minutes and the last group arrived about and hour and ten minutes. Everyone was a winner. People were high-fiving and applauding every paddler as one by one they came in stoked. Talk about community spirit!
Each year we notice many of these paddlers move up to the main event, which is the full 8 mile course that begins at Maliko Gulch. As a trainer and paddling coach, it’s very rewarding to see how hard these folks have worked to get there.
We’d like to thank all of our volunteers and vendors who helped keep our event safe and worry free:
Milton Kalani Martinson – Safety Ski
Paia Youth & Cultural Center – Location Host
Maui Lifeguards
Jimmie Hepp Photography
Kelly Moore of Moore Watertime- Board Shuttle Service
Scott Smith – Medical Support
Neal Wagner – Video Specialist
Patrick McCarthy – Sweeper and Stoke Captain from Kihei
Local SUP & Surf Shops – Board Rentals for Participants
This year’s Fun Paddle Division costs $30 to enter. Participants get a special t-shirt and luau dinner. You can register the day of the event or take advantage of online registration here: http://www.olukai.com/Hoolaulea/races
Mahalo everyone for coming out! It was awesome to meet you and we look forward to seeing you on the big day. Please share this with your friends or feel free to leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you!
Suzie Cooney
To get the latest news like this, SUP fitness tips, videos and more sign up for our Suzie Trains Maui newsletter here:
The Biggest Downwind Event & Race in the World: MAY 11 -12TH, 2013
The 5th Annual OluKai Ho’olaule’a
REGISTER NOW HERE! Sign up before May 4th and receive a free pair of premium OluKai sandals.
Ho’olaule’a – literally, it means “celebration”, but for us, it’s also an expression of gratitude. Each May, we hold our interpretation of this storied Hawaiian tradition on Maui’s north shore. The event blends elite competition with family-friendly cultural activities and gathers some of the world’s best SUP, OC1 & OC2 paddlers to race the legendary 8-mile Maliko downwind run. Friends and families come together to enjoy canoe sailing and surfing, ancient Hawaiian games, traditional luau, hula, and live music. We take this opportunity to recognize and honor our ‘Ohana Giveback partners, as the community shares collective gifts of time, energy, and spirit.
I hope to see you there!
Suzie Cooney
Owner of Suzie Trains Maui
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For those living and visiting Maui, we are so fortunate to know Kelly Moore who owns Moore Watertime. We paddle, she drives! Enjoy your downwinder stress free and save time. The van is air conditioned with a smooth ride so you can catch more bumps and glides.
The vibe on the shuttle is fun and who knows who you’re going to meet. It’s a blast to meet people from all over the world and get inspired, talk story and then off you go. You can be sure each ride is an “experience.”
Here’s a little video of a few friends and a typical day from the Harbor to Maliko. Here’s Simone, Bill, Livio and Ralph rapp’n in the back with us. Like tunes, she’s got them. Champagne, well that’s the private shuttle. We’re all in training though, right?
The trades are always plenty on Maui, make sure you RSVP. Texting is best: 808-250-1984
Also be sure to get on her email list so you know when and what’s going on.
Thanks Kelly for supporting all of our SUP and Canoe events on Maui!
Check out the latest in April 2013 ThePaddler Ezine Magazine – This issue Suzie Cooney is featured to inspire you and encourage those new to the sport of stand up paddling, to hop aboard and get started now.
MAUI: FREE Three Mile Stand Up Paddle Downwind Practice Paddle in Preparation for the
5th Annual Olukai Ho’olaule’a Fun Paddle
Sunday April 21st, 2013 9:00am
It’s that time of year again to get your stand up paddle board, canoe, kayak, Oc1, prone paddle board; and if you’ve ever dreamed of doing your first downwinder with a hundred other first timers or downwind beginners, come out and join us! Now you can experience Maui’s epic North shore with an experienced safety crew to guide you. Experience what it’s like and prepare for the May 11th, 2013 real Fun Paddle. Or, maybe you’ll be brave or are ready for the longer distance of 8 miles from Maliko to Kanaha Beach Park.
There is NO registration required for this practice paddle. All levels of paddlers are welcome. Recommended board length is 10 ft or longer. You are responsible for board and transportation to and back to your car from initial starting point, the Paia Youth &Cultural Center. Please do not contact PYCC for details. Contact Matthew Murasko 808-214-4349 or Suzie Cooney 808-283-2121. You may also email me through this website.
It is highly recommended you have stand up paddling experience. If you are unsure you can contact me. There is no shame in being on your knees should you feel more comfortable.
DATE: SUNDAY, APRIL 21ST 2013
TIME: 9:00am Please arrive by 8:15 to sign safety waiver, unload board and prepare for skippers meeting at 8:45
WHERE: Paia, Maui Paia Youth & Cultural Center ( see map below )
FINSIH: Kanaha Beach Park First paddler in, usually 30-45 minutes, beginner novice 45 min + Weather dependent. Course length 3 miles.
What to bring: Board, leash, paddle, rash guard for sun protection, sunscreen, courage and enthusiasm!
Don’t wait, register now for the real deal, May 11th, 2013 here at the official registration site at OluKai. For $25 you get a t-shirt and ticket for luau and live entertainment!
Love to see you all there! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Aloha and Mahalo, Suzie Cooney, CPT
Owner of Suzie Trains Maui, LLC
FREE SKYPE Session with Suzie Cooney of Suzie Trains Maui
March 16th, 2013
Here’s your chance to train with the best! Improve your stand up paddling now! Increase your core strength, leg strength, reduce foot and leg fatigue, catch every wave, bump and glide, step up your game now! With the purchase of ANY piece of Indo Board Balance Training Equipment, through this website, you will also get a FREE 15 minute SKYPE training session with
Suzie Cooney, CPT of Suzie Trains Maui
Hurry, deadline for offer ends June 16th, 2013
Suzie Cooneyis an Indo Board Team Rider, a professional fitness expert, sponsored SUP Team Rider for Naish and can help you take your training to the next level. You’ve seen the videos and nows your chance to get your best game on and learn all of her jewels specific to your training needs.
For stand up paddling, learn all the cool tricks and how to be more powerful and ready on your feet! Have your questions answered, watch do and learn! Don’t miss another wave and learn how you can reduce foot and leg fatigue, improve your balance, strength and confidence.
Her suggested gear is the Indo Board 24″ Gigante Flo Cushion combined with either the Rocker Boardfor beginner to intermediate use and/or the Kicktail Pro, her favorite for the more advanced training. She believes this premium combo offers the best in all dimensional training. Pictured left to right: The Indo Board Gigante Flo Cushion, The Pro Kicktail and the Rocker Board.
Suzie’e favorite! Pro Kicktail See photo above.
To learn more about how you can increase your SUP Performance with the Indo Board Balance Training Equipment and train like the pros, check out our videos and past articles:
Music makes the world go round and it makes me paddle faster! Let’s face it, training at high speed anything takes a little motivating and maybe some groovy tunes will help you paddle faster too and keep your stand up paddle training sessions more focused and gratifying. Gear review below.
photo credit Darrell Wong All Rights Reserved
Whether you’re training for long distance courses, or adding time or additional miles to your current training regime and you’re a recreational paddler, those long hard miles with some tunes to make you smile through the pain and increase your pace could be just the trick for you. I want to share with you here how to enhance your SUP training so it’s more structured and enjoyable with music.
Like any kind of training I do, I treat my stand up paddle training sessions like a session in my studio or on the beach. I have a plan usually with a goal in mind; I’m well hydrated and fueled ( solid breakfast ) and have my rock’n play list that puts a smile on my face. I have a variety of artists that I’ve selected that actually help me control my interval spreads.
Tip: Don’t play the music too loud for you’ll want to make sure barges or cruise ships or other paddlers have you in sight and you know they are there.
For example, plan: 5 miles flat water intervals Kahului Harbor. There may be side chop or head winds. First, I warm up to (2) two mellow grooves, then I know after my 6-7 minute paddle which is about how long these two songs will be in total; the next song is going to have a faster tempo so I’ll increase my paddling tempo a one notch up.
In this warm up mode to medium tempo paddling speed, my stroke distance is of average length with a decent reach and my breath is steady as I begin to prepare my mental state for the next song.
Then full on heavy guitar, full throttle song like Renegades of Funk by Rage Against the Machine, reaching and digging with everything I’ve got! Yeah! Now here my stroke distance changes, my brain state shifts and I’m finding my deepest power in my obliques to share the load and power.
I’ll break it down. So that full throttle song is 4:34 minutes, too long to maintain a true state of and normal anaerobic threshold, so I give it 1 minute, then don’t cool down fully but bring down my pace, lengthen my stroke for the rest of the song. I’m still focused, head down and keeping my form in hopefully consistent from left and right side of board. I know this is temporary. I drink a sip of water from my hydration pack and get ready.
What’s worse than a toothache, hitting your thumb with a hammer or forgetting your paddle at home? Getting a ding on your SUP or surf board! What else is there? Whether you did it or your “buddy” returned it to you like that and didn’t tell you, it’s happened to all of us. Who you gonna call on Maui when it happens to you? Gramps, at Rocking Chair Ding Repair in Haiku, that’s who.
Gramps has helped me wipe a few fiberglass tears and shrug off the epoxy blues and sorrows of mysterious dings and other nightmares; like when my downwind board took flight off a rack only to hit the side of my house requiring serious surgery. After I picked myself off the floor I reached for my phone and immediately called Gramps. He told me my options and although I may have required oxygen at the time, my board was going to make it. Sure enough in no time I was back in action on Maliko!
Here he shares his years of wisdom and knowledge on how you can keep your shiny, slick stand up paddle board ding or hole free. But first meet Gramps:
“Aloha, My name is Richard commonly known as “Gramps”. I started surfing in 1963 at Bolinas Beach in Northern California. In 1964 the local surf shop put me to work helping to make surfboards. I moved to Maui in 1986 to work for Sailboards Maui, building surfboards.
The evolution of surfing has been very interesting to watch and now entering the age of SUP. I have been working on SUPs since Laird and friends introduced them to Maui and the world.
Rock’n Chair Ding Repair is the name of my business. Need help? Questions answered? 808-575-7859
Here are some tips to help keep your SUP in good working order.
1. The sun is very wearing on these boards. Try to keep your board in a cool place as much as possible.
2. Check your board after each use, even a small crack will let water in.
3. Most SUPs are built light not strong. So be careful around rocks, cement, car racks, truck beds, garages etc.
4. Try not to loan your board to anyone! Too many times it will come home with a problem!
Boy Howdy!
This is TRICIA BUTI
Powerful paddler and Amateur Champion, world ranked cutter is what we call in Hawaii a real panilo.
I didn’t know this, but time in the saddle ( literally ) translates to an amazing new stand up paddler. It wasn’t until I had the pleasure of meeting Tricia Buti who came to Maui real recently to take a SUP coaching session with me; did I learn that to be able to manage the power of such an amazing animal, a cutting horse you have to have incredible balance to look so graceful while you herd a head of steer.
Both sports SUP and cutting horses require balance, courage and strength. Learn more about this courageous gal from the great North West who has been through quite a bit. With determination and a strong will, she is now doing more than every and feels that SUP has helped her in the saddle.
I told her there would me no herding me, but I’m always open to learn new things. She opened my eyes to a whole other world as I watched her on the water, so strong, so focused with a special fire in here eye. Get ready world and the state of Washington! Meet Tricia: ( in the photos of her below, she mentioned this day was a brisk 40 degrees)
By: Tricia Buti
As a competitive horseback rider, being in sync with my horse with impeccable timing is what brings a big score and the win. Cutting horses have an innate ability to read a cow and mirror its moves, with very little help from the rider. In cutting, the horse and rider cut a particular cow out of a herd. Once the cow is moved out front, the rider then puts their hand down and is no longer able to cue the horse via the reins, and can only use their feet to cue their horse, and their seat to signal stops. The horse then mirrors the cow and keeps it from returning to the herd. Perfect sync results in high scores.
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April 21, 2013
For those living and visiting Maui, we are so fortunate to know Kelly Moore who owns 
Session with Suzie Cooney of Suzie Trains Maui
![gramps1[2]](http://www.standuppaddlingfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/gramps12-786x1024.jpg)
![Gramps sign[2]](http://www.standuppaddlingfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Gramps-sign2-300x145.jpg)
Boy Howdy!
By: Tricia Buti
