1st Annual Salt Life Pacific Paddle Games - Performance Paddling

1st Annual Salt Life Pacific Paddle Games - Performance Paddling
So proud to be a part of this training group! Come join us in Dana Pt., CA & get your game on for your next SUP race! Performance Paddling‪#‎ppsupteam‬ ‪#‎team‬ ‪#‎fun‬
http://performancepaddling.com/1st-annual-salt-life-pacific-paddle-games/

::Larry Cain's Blog::: Get some “Grit” and Go Faster

::Larry Cain's Blog::: Get some “Grit” and Go Faster: I’m engaged in an interesting study at the moment on behalf of Canoe Kayak Canada in which we’re looking at our past medalists at the Olym...

::Larry Cain's Blog::: Keep your Board on Top of the Water

::Larry Cain's Blog::: Keep your Board on Top of the Water: I’ve done a lot of writing about the concept of “gears” in paddling (see “ Stroke Rate in SUP Paddling ” ). Although it has been a whil...

Top 10 Reasons to Get on the SUP Train!

I live in the San Diego, CA area-one of the SUP meccas of the world. Living in this area gives me access to many paddle groups, and professional SUP coaches.  Do you have a group in your area? Who or what motivates you to paddle?  I joined a SUP training group in January 2015. I believe that being a part of a paddle group is key to your success & fun as a paddler. Before joining up with Performance Paddling in Dana Pt., CA.,  I would go out on my own & paddle. Sometimes I did intervals, and buoy turns. But mostly I just paddled. 

EJ Johnson leading the draft. Photo S. Adams

Here is TOP 10 Reasons you should join a SUP training group or start one yourself:

1. More fun racing around buoys with 5 or more people. How often do you go to a race & you’re the only one going around a buoy because you are so far ahead of the competition? NEVER!
2. Group training provides you someone to chase & makes you work harder! Maybe you started the session tired, but Susie is really paddling strong tonight. I think I’ll try and catch her. BAM!
3. Practice drafting! Okay so I can’t draft a guy when I’m in a SUP race, but I can when I train with a group.
4. Encouragement from your coaches & teammates.
5. Demo other boards, paddles, & check out each others gadgets-speed coaches, & watches.
6. Get faster and stronger.
7. Fashion-yes what are the other girls wearing! Shallow as it is we like to look good on our boards! 
8. Hang out with other SUP addicts.
9. Group training forces you to paddle in conditions you wouldn’t normally paddle in if you were paddling by yourself. 
10. Meeting up at SUP races, racing with & against each other! Especially fun when you & your teammates are standing next to each other on the podium!

BONUS: Laughter, health, motivation, friendships, & safety.   

Performance Paddling. Dana Pt, CA Photo V.Wold

Performance Paddling. Dana Pt., CA Photo M. Adams

Hanohano Race Mission Bay, CA Photo S. Adams

Paddle Oceanside Harbor and Beyond in Oceanside, CA

Come stand up paddle board in and beyond Oceanside Harbor! It’s a great place for the beginner to advanced paddler. Oceanside Harbor is located 37 miles north of San Diego and 83 miles south of Los Angeles. The marine life is abundant-sea lions, dolphins, and garibaldis. Be sure to get an early start as boat traffic can sometimes be heavy on the weekends (mostly summers).  The waters are normally calm allowing beginners a fun and easy place to stand up and paddle.   If you are a beginner, I recommend you stay within the inner harbor (see map below).  Check out the photo sphere of Oceanside Harbor at https://goo.gl/MmXLgH.  If conditions are calm in the outer harbor east of the jetties, beginners can paddle here as well.  The outer harbor tends to be more challenging due to winds and ocean swells as it is more exposed and closer to the jetties.  You can check the conditions for the Oceanside Harbor @http://www.surfline.com/surf-report/oceanside-harbor-southern-california_4238/.  The inner harbor is approximately 1.5 miles all the way around. The addition of the outer harbor will give you another 1.5 miles for a total of 3.0 miles. I've done some group paddles in Oceanside Harbor with the SUP Chicks So-Cal.  It's a fun place to meet up with friends for a paddle & then grab a bite to eat at the Jolly Rodger. If you are an advanced paddler then head out to the Oceanside Pier or the seal buoy. These are fun places to venture out to with some friends. If you go by yourself be sure to leave a float plan in your car, take your cell phone, snack, & water. If you're interested in a stand up paddle board lesson in the Oceanside Harbor than contact me @www.bluepaddlesup.com.

 

Launching

There are a couple of places to launch your board in Oceanside Harbor. They recently put in a launching dock just for kayaks and stand up paddle boards. It is located between boat slips #21-#22 at 1509 N. Harbor Dr., Oceanside, CA. There is parking on the street & bathrooms located across the street. The dock is just located down a short ramp from the street. The other place to launch is behind the Jolly Roger Restaurant. It is located at 1900 N. Harbor Dr., Oceanside, CA. There is ample parking, but try to park where there are no bird droppings! I also recommend wearing flip flops down to the docks to avoid stepping in bird droppings. The smell can be a little strong, but disappears once you get to the docks! When launching from the docks, paddle on your knees until you clear the dock area. This is especially good advice for beginners-you don’t want to accidentally fall and hit your head.

Safety
Take safety precautions when paddling with boats & follow the rules of the road @http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.americancanoe.org/resource/resmgr/sei-educational_resources/brochure_rules_of_the_road.pdf. The Coast Guard has designated SUPs as vessels. When paddling in the Oceanside Harbor you need to have a personal flotation device (PFD) on your person or securely attached to your board. If I’m heading out to the pier or beyond I will also wear a leash, & bring water.  I like to wear bright clothing so the boats will see me, and keep my whistle handy. 

Oceanside Weather 

Over the course of a year, the temperature typically varies from 40°F to 77°F and is rarely below 34°F or above 81°F.  The warm season lasts from July 4 to September 26 with an average daily high temperature above 74°F. The cold season lasts from January 16 to March 29 with an average daily high temperature below 66°F. 
The main complaint about the climate (like most of the south coast) concerns the “May Gray” and the “June gloom,” a period of night & morning low clouds along the coastal strip.  If you would like more information about Oceanside then go to this link:

https://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/default.asp