Howzit!

This blog focuses on paddling locally here in Hawaii as well as elsewhere. As a long time paddler with Anuenue Canoe Club, there's lots of good fun talk story time with Nappy and others on our crew. We even get around to some issues that get a lot of comments from the paddling community and need attention to improve our sport.

Friday, July 30, 2010

States Race stuff

Nappy is off to the Big Island this weekend for a SUP race. It's the lull before the States storm coming up next Saturday.

Once again when the subject of the States race came up, we talked again about the lack of a level playing field because of the differences in koa canoes. In our case, we are using a borrowed older boat from Hui Lanikila as our own koa is in need for major renovation. In contrast, the bigger clubs like OCC, Lanikai, Healani and others have more than one and generally will race in a renovated, state of the art koa. So when our crews paddle out to the line, already we are at a disadvantage which we have to overcome. Fair or not that's just the way it is.

What to do? Well, we can be patient, fundraise, and wait for the day when we have a beautiful almost new boat such as Leeward Kai's. The other option and one favored by Nappy is to make the States race a real test of who has the best crew with everyone paddling in fiberglass boats of the same design just as we do at World Sprints. The beauty and tradition of the koa canoe remains during regatta season but at some point, we should turn the focus on the best crews without the handicap on some of paddling slower, older canoes. The old guard approach is that this idea is pretty much heresy and not even to be considered. However just as the 'Eono Hoe race this year, the time really has come to look at ways to improve our sport and not get mired in the past. Controversial? You bet! Opposition? Out there!! Comments??

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

July 28th, 2010:

Fixing up my Smugmug Photo site right now. Good fun and lots of photos added. See: pekelo.smugmug.com.