Ten Tips for HanoHano Race

Here are a few tips to help you prepare for the upcoming HanoHano Ocean Challenge, or any race for that matter.  You can make this into a checklist if you would like.  There are many more things involved, we have just come up with 10 important tips to get your mind thinking about the race.  Whether you are a beginner in your first race, or a seasoned veteran these tips apply to everyone.

1. Hydrate the day before.

2. Have a good dinner and get to sleep early.

3. Arrive to the event early. There are many pre-race things to get done before the race; unload, check-in, get equipment ready, chat to friends, warm up, etc.

4. Get in a GOOD warm-up on land and in the water.

5. Get to the start line early to secure a good position.

6. Take hydration! Just cause it’s “only” 4.5 miles it’s always better to have hydration just in case. If there is wind a 4.5-mile race can turn into a 90-minute race, in which case hydration comes in handy. Also it’s good practice to learn how to drink while racing, which takes practice, and this race is good practice.

7. GO for it! Start out with a bang! Then settle into your pace, then finish with a bang! Go hard at the start to put yourself in a good position.

8. Adapt. Be ready to change your game plan. Maybe you were going to draft so and so and try and keep up, but they you had a great start and find yourself in front of so and so and the whole pack of your age division, but you feel great. Then keep going! Maybe a jet ski comes flying by and throws 3 foot waves at you, making you fall… no big deal because you will be back on your board so fast you will barely get wet! Be mentally strong.

9. Stay focused! Focus on something. Try not to daydream. Focus on paddling straight. Focus on your stroke rate. Focus on your breathing. When you find yourself wandering pick one thing to focus on for a while.

10. Have FUN. Enjoy pushing yourself. Enjoy the community of 300+ other paddlers pushing themselves to reach their goals. Some have the goal of just finishing their first race. Some have goals of bettering their time or place from the year before. Some people have their goals of paddling a certain MPH for the whole race. But everyone out there is pushing themselves together and that’s pretty cool, and fun to be a part.  ENJOY PADDLING!

If you are looking for Private Coaching, thinking about joining the Performance Paddling Training Club, or have any questions feel free to send me an email: anthony@performancepaddling.com.

Performance Paddling is excited to announce the Catalina Ocean Experience.  Guided by elite paddlers Anthony Vela and Morgan Hoesterey, this 3 day, 2-night ocean adventure will take place in the pristine blue water of Catalina Island’s Two Harbors, from Friday, March 31 to Sunday, April 2. Open to both standup and prone paddlers looking to be more comfortable in, on, and around the ocean; the weekend will be spent paddling, freediving, camping, and learning about the ocean.

After arriving in Two Harbors Friday morning, participants will be treated to a brief history of the area from Two Harbors local paddler Natalie Foote, followed by a lesson in paddle adventure basics such as strategy, planning, packing and safety.  Participants will then put that knowledge to use as they paddle to a remote campsite where they will spend two nights sleeping under the stars.  

In addition to the fundamentals of adventure paddling, participants will be exposed to activities geared toward becoming better overall ocean athletes.  Anthony Vela will use his years of experience as an elite paddler and coach to help participants become more efficient paddlers.  Footwork, drills, and stroke technique will all be a part of the curriculum, and as an added bonus, Morgan Hoesterey will utilize the area’s pristine blue water to cover breath holding and freediving.

“Of all the ways you can have fun paddling,” says Morgan Hoesterey, “adventure paddling is definitely my favorite.  I love being out in the ocean, under my own power, and ending up in remote locations.  Each opportunity I have had to do these things has really been empowering, and that empowered feeling always stays with me, even off of the water.  Over the past few years, I have been lucky to have participated in various paddling adventures; and now, I am so excited to team up with Anthony Vela to share some of the tips and lessons that we both have learned along the way.”

Together Anthony and Morgan have over 40 years of experience paddling, training, racing, freediving, adventuring, and having fun.  Join the adventure!

CLICK FOR MORE INFO

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The Arizona Yacht Club proudly presents its Leukemia Cup & Birthday Regatta, a fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at the beautiful Lake Pleasant in Peoria, Arizona February 17-19.  This annual sailing event will introduce paddle sports (SUP, prone, surf ski, and outrigger) into the weekend.  The AYC Leukemia Cup is the largest sailing event in Arizona, and the first Leukemia Cup of the year held in the United States.  Now, SUP Paddlers of all levels are invited to enjoy Arizona’s warm winter weather and the beauty of this desert oasis, while SUPporting cancer research and treatment.

Saturday February 18th SUP and Spinnakers share the limelight in this all ages, all levels of experience, event.  Participants can choose between the 10K course and the 3K course.  If you have always wanted to try the fastest growing water sport in the world, come down to the lake and enjoy FREE SUP demos and instruction.  Spectators and participants will also be able to take part in a SUP yoga class courtesy of Element Yoga.

Registration: $35 before Thursday, February 16 5:00pm.  Includes bagels & coffee in the morning, commemorative t-shirt, raffle ticket, complimentary entrance to Lake Pleasant (usually $6), demos, SUP Yoga, and more.  All proceeds will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  $40 after 5:00pm 2/16/17.  Registration after this date does not include the $6 Lake Pleasant entry, and does not guarantee a t-shirt.  RACE DAY ENTRY IS CASH ONLY.

REGISTER HERE FOR RACE

Then on Sunday, February 18th Performance Paddling will be hosting a SUP Racing Clinic with esteemed coach Anthony Vela.  Participants will be treated to a 4-hour, in-depth, clinic covering a wide variety of topics, drills, skills, and training tips.  Cost is $150 per person which includes a goodie bag, snacks and world-class sup instruction from Anthony.

REGISTER HERE FOR CLINIC

Accommodations:

Thanks to our current sponsors:  Arizona Yacht Club, Riverbound Sports Paddle Company, Baja Arizona SUP, Infinity SUP, Imagine Paddle Surf Co., Cactus Wake and Element Yoga.

Watch the AYC Leukemia Cup website and Riverbound Sports Facebook page for updates.

For sponsor inquiries please contact Teri@riverboundsports.com and Chris@BajaArizonaSUP.com

Get ready for the 4^th Annual Quickblade Jr Pro & Youth SupFiesta presented by Infinity SUP.  In it’s fourth year, #SupFiesta16 has outgrown a one-day event.  The new format will allow competitors to focus on one discipline each day.  On Saturday we will hold the SupFiesta Grand Prix.  The Grand Prix will feature two races:  the Flyin Mile, and the Sup Scramble.  Competitors will compete in both races with each race counting towards their final placing.

With the events starting in the afternoon, there is plenty of time for athletes, spectators, and sponsors to attend the Standup for the Cure event in the morning, then make the short drive across the bay to NAC.

The Flyin Mile will test each athlete’s sheer paddling speed and endurance over this short 1-mile course. The Sup Scramble will feature six turns which will showcase each athlete’s technical abilities and strategy.  Courses will be posted the night before the race.

Newport Aquatic Center is a perfect venue for the SupFiesta Grand Prix.  Home of many past & future Olympians, NAC has graciously allowed us to hold our races.  The fast and furious racing will be spectator friendly so make sure to bring your cameras.

“Candice and I are very excited to have the SupFiesta Grand Prix at NAC.  It is rich in tradition and will be the perfect location to host the worlds most prestigious youth only sup event,” explains Race Director Anthony Vela.

We will have a taco cart, awards, and introduce this year’s Junior Pro Invitees on Saturday as well.  Competitors will receive complimentary dinner, while spectators will be able to purchase tickets for $10.

Then on Sunday the focus will switch to Sup Surfing at Bolsa Chica State Beach.  The world’s top juniors will compete for over $5,000 equal gender prize purse in the Junior Pro Invitational.  There are also 7 age-group divisions of sup surfing that will compete for fantastic prizes donated by our generous supporters.

There are NO BEACH ENTRIES.  Registration closes Friday night May 6 at 9:00pm.  Heats for Saturday and Sunday will be posted. Check in for the Sup Fiesta Grand Prix will begin at 2:30 pm, and races will start at 4pm sharp, beginning with the Flyin Mile, and followed by multiple Sup Scramble heats.

We are honored to have Infinity SUP as our presenting sponsor.  Infinity is one of the brands that were in the industry before there was an industry.  Originally founded in 1970 by  Shaping Hall of Famer Steve Boehne and his wife Barrie Boehne, their first shop was on PCH in Huntington Beach just one mile from the competition site.  They moved shop in 1981 to Dana Point and have been there ever since.  Steve and Barrie were 3x world champion tandem surfers with Steve shaping the boards.  Once Stand Up Paddling began he was used to making bigger boards for tandem, and it was a natural progression.  Now Infinity SUP makes the most progressive sup surf and race boards in the industry.  A family run business with Dave Boehne heading up marketing and design, brother Dan helping with the shortboards and on the shaping side, while Steve continues to shape everyday and Barrie holds everything together.  Infinity SUP has been a sponsor of the SupFiesta from day 1.  This year they have stepped up their involvement.  When asked why, Dave had this to say, “the SupFiesta has quickly become THE premiere JR’s event in the world. Past JR Pro champions have gone off to be some of the best in the sport. How cool is that! We are honored to support the youth movement!”

So far, we have competitors registered from Finland, Peru, Australia, Japan, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and all over the US!  You will not want to miss this one of a kind event.

San Clemente, CA.  Performance Paddling is excited to announce the 4^th Annual Quickblade Jr Pro & Youth SupFiesta presented by Infinity.  Once again the top youth sup athletes in the world will congregate for the largest youth only sup event in the world.  This unique event is comprised of three components, a Junior Pro Invitational Sup Surfing competition, Age Group Sup Surfing contest (7 divisions), and an Age Group Sup Race (7 divisions).

Candice Appleby and Anthony Vela have once again assembled an incredible list of Junior Pro Invitees from all over the world.  These Invites will be competing for a $5000 equal gender prize purse, and the coveted “El Sombrero”.  Jr Pro Invites have been confirmed from Australia, the Basque County, Maui, Oahu and more.  Along with the Jr Pro Invitational, there will be seven Age Group divisions of SUP surfing and racing.

Mo Freitas has aged out of the event, so a new men’s champion will be crowned.  Lara Claydon has participated in the SupFiesta since it’s inception, taking her first Jr.Pro win last year.  She will be back again this year to defend her title. In it’s 4^th year the SupFiesta will see some changes in the race format, taking place Saturday evening, on a flat-water course, at the Newport Aquatic Center. Sunday will then be dedicated entirely to the sup surfing portion of the event at its original location, Bolsa Chica State Beach.  The new race format will see some close, exciting racing from the top youth sup athletes in the world.

It is an honor to announce Quickblade Paddles as the title sponsor of this year’s event.  Since the very beginning of the sport of stand up paddling Quickblade has been an industry frontrunner in many different ways.  Quickblade has been a sponsor of the SupFiesta every year, and this year it’s exciting to see their support for the youth continue to grow, as the new title sponsor.  When asked about becoming the title sponsor for this year’s SupFiesta this is what Jimmy & Lizzie Terrell had to say,

“We get so many requests to support all kinds of races and events around the globe every year, we see this event as THE event that is really focused on what it’s all about. It paves the way for these kids to have a “life-long” sport that they can grow old with and it gives kids a chance to meet other kids from around the World that they will have a close bond with for the rest of their lives.”

World Champion Candice Appleby had this to say about organizing this prestigious event, “One of my favorite parts about the event is the friendships that have been formed in the last three years among the kids and their families. It’s so fun to see how much the kids have improved year after year, and I love seeing new faces join in on the fun as well.”  She also added,  “ This year it is very special having Quickblade as the title sponsor and Infinity the presenting sponsor.  The support these two mom and pop, family run brands give to our sport is incredible.  It’s an honor to have them behind the SupFiesta in a major way.”

Follow Performance Paddling on Twitter and Instagram,  and Facebook for #SupFiesta16 updates and information

Past Jr Pro Invitation Champions

2013    Noah Yap (Maui)        Vanina Walsh (Oahu)

2014    Mo Freitas (Oahu)      Fiona Wylde (Oregon)

2015    Mo Freitas (Oahu)      Lara Claydon (Maui)

Jr Pro Alumni:  Riggs Napoleon (Oahu), Noah Yap (Maui), Giorgio Gomez (Florida), Fisher Grant (Florida), Chris Rockwood (Florida), Ridge Lenny (Maui), Yuri Daberkow (Brazil), Kristi Page (Aus), Shelby Schweitzer (Maui), Sophia DeWolf, Natalia Smith (Kauai).

Photos courtesy: Greg Mendonca, Harry Weiwel, and Jerry Jarramillo