Peak Paddle Performance Podcast

Today’s podcast guest is good friend and fellow Great Lakes paddler Erik Borgnes. Many of you may recognize Erik as the guy who has dominated the Chattajack 32 race for the past several years. He has also contributed several great blog posts to the surfski universe including boat reviews, technique analysis, experiments in dieting, and a treasure trove of information on ERG training, which is our focus topic in this podcast discussion.

It is always a great pleasure chatting with Erik and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that without Erik this entire podcast would not exist. Erik penned the first article I stumbled across back in 2005 that inspired me to figure out for myself just what surfski paddling was all about.

Below are some of the key tops we covered in this podcast and further down are several links to different material Erik has published on the internet:

Below is a list of various resources on the web that Erik has produced:

In this podcast episode we chat all things safety in extreme conditions with Rob Mousley.   Rob founded surfski.info based out of Cape Town SA, which is well known as  the de-facto global website for surfski information.   It is probably best known for the forums which provide an excellent global dialogue on all things surfski related.   In addition to the forums there are boat reviews, race reports, and most relevant to our discussion today,  many excellent articles on safety.

For the last decade, Rob has been very involved in the pursuit of safety in extreme conditions.   He has worked extensively with Cape Town’s water rescue services known as the NSRI, covered several surfski rescues, and has studied and tested in real world conditions  a vast majority of the safety equipment on the market.

In this discussion we discuss in depth the wealth of knowledge Rob has accumulated over the years.   I’m really excited to be able to offer this podcast not just beginners, but also to the experienced paddlers who I’m certain will benefit.    As the sport continues to grow around the world and in more extreme climates, we all need to continue this dialogue with our paddling mates and hold each other accountable for being smart and realistic about our safety on the water.

Below are some links to articles and resources that we reference in the Podcast:

In today’s podcast we connect with Jen Lee to hear the story of how she crossed the Molokai Channel in a SUP, OC1, and Surfski all in one season.   If that isn’t impressive enough, she only started surfski paddling two years prior and conquered the channel on a properly big day.

Jen is an accomplished water woman, but the message she’s passionate about  delivering is that anyone can achieve this with the right attitude, dedication to training, and the right boat (hint – Jen did the Molokai in a V8).  We cover a lot of ground in this podcast including the following:

If you want to follow Jen and her exploits or want to reach out to her with any questions, she will be more than happy to help you out.   Below is where you can reach and follow her:

Website:  http://www.jenjlee.com/

eMail: mailto:[email protected]

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/jenn.j.lee1

Instagram:  jennjlee

During the podcast I make reference to a great video produced by former podcast guest, World Class Athlete, and Mobility and Movement Guru Dr Kelly Starrett.  Below is that video

In this podcast episode I catch up with Carter Johnson, Race Director for the Gorge Downwind Festival.   In just four years this race has become the single biggest downwind event in the world.   With 750 participants, featuring equal numbers of Outrigger Canoe and Surfski paddlers, plus a good contingent of Stand Up Paddle Boarders.   But more than just a race, this has become a week long festival celebrating paddling, downwind, beer, Rivers for Change, and loads of camaraderie.

In this episode Carter provides some interesting insights into how the race has evolved and what to expect for 2018.   We touch on the following key areas and much more:

I hope you enjoy the podcast and more importantly I hope to see you out there in a couple of weeks!

Nick

In this podcast I have the opportunity to sit down with one of  the best surfski paddler in the world right now,  Cory Hill aka Chill Hill.  Like most surfski paddlers, Cory is incredibly humble and seems mature beyond his years.   Balancing relationships and a full time career,  Cory does an unimaginable  job competing at the very top of his game.   We have a  casual discussion covering a range of topics  as I work to extract what makes Cory tick and how he does it.   I can’t claim to be anywhere near the level Cory is at, but I felt that I really connected with his philosophy on life, paddling, competition, and what makes him tick.   I found it especially interesting to hear him describe the stories that can crop up in his mind both while racing and while working his day job.   I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did

Cory is sponsored by Shaw Hill Partners Race Team.  Check out their website for updates and some exciting content coming soon.

You can also find Cory on Facebook

Today’s podcast guest is the legendary Ivan Lawler.   Ivan is regarded as Britain’s greatest canoe paddler of all time, and many argue the world’s greatest marathon paddler. Ivan has also been recognized internationally for sportsmanship when in the 1990 world championship he and his partner stopped to wait for the Danish team who were having rudder trouble They could have won, but instead finished in second place by one second. Those who know Ivan, would not be at all surprised by this.

Following his competitive years Ivan has given back tremendously to the sport. He was recently elected president of the British Canoeing Association and is Chairman of the Elmbridge Canoe Club where he has coached across the spectrum from new kids to world champions.

Ivan has only recently caught the surfski bug. Many of you will recognize his voice as the commentator at the Gorge Downwind Champs and the Surfski World Championships in Hong Kong. Ivan has also become a legend with his hour and 15 minute forward stroke master class video on YouTube.    Ivan has a rare talent for articulating and simplifying the nuance of forward stroke technique. I’ve already replayed this podcast multiple times and every time I do, I’m incredibly inspired to get out on the water and FEEL my technique.

Below is just a highlight of some of the topics we cover

Ivan will be partnering with Michelle and Maggie of Paddle California and doing clinics at the Gorge and likely afterwards in Southern California.  If you are out that way, don’t miss this opportunity.

You can check out Ivan’s website and business at ultimatekayaks.com 

In this podcast we catch up with Oscar to get a front row view of the racing at the ICF World Surfski Championships in Hong Kong (check out the link for great live footage)  and the infamous Doctor downwind race in Perth, Australia.

This is a relatively short podcast at just over 30 minutes,  but as usual, it is always very informative to catch up with Oscar and get his perspective on the racing and the conditions.  Beyond just the race discussion, I jumped at the opportunity to pick his brain for some tips and tricks to successfully paddling a tandem downwind, which is something that can be very humbling and challenges many of us.  We also chat briefly about plans for the 2018 TC SURFSKI Immersion.  Below is a short recap of key topics:

Note: Don’t fast forward too quickly through the beginning of this podcast, I throw in a quick holiday promotional offer that all Podcast listeners can take advantage of now through Dec 25th 

Enjoy!!

In today’s podcast we welcome back Carter Johnson,  the affable and infamous creator and director of the Gorge Downwind Champs.   In this casual chat we recap highlights from the 2017 Gorge Festival and discuss lessons learned and improvement plans for the 2018 event.

If you’ve been to the Gorge, then you know what its all about, and I’m certain you’ll be excited to hear from Carter about the plans for 2018.   If you have not yet experienced the Gorge Downwind Champs I highly recommend listening to this podcast to get a great understanding of what its all about.    Some of the items we cover include:

For more insights into what a week at the Gorge looks like, check out my blog recapping my 2017 experience

And if you want to get serious about training for the Gorge in 2018, check out this Podcast I recorded with Oscar Chalupsky

Hope to see you there in 2018, if you’re seriously considering it, don’t delay in getting registered, it will sell out!!!

In this podcast I get a chance to chat for the first time with the great American surfski champion Austin Kieffer. In just 5 short years, Austin has gone from paddling a surfski for the first time, to battling it out for podium finishes with the greatest paddlers in the world. He is now a force to be reckoned with and a podium contender in any of the biggest surfski races in the world.

In this podcast we cover the story of how the last five years unfolded.  Austin is both candid and eloquent in describing the journey. I am certain that you will absolutely love this podcast as much as I enjoyed recording it. Austin’s story is both fascinating and inspirational.  He has a knack for articulating of the art of downwind paddling and the science of training (stolen from his website tagline).   In roughly an hour we cover the following key elements in Austin’s journey:

In today’s podcast we sit down with Dr Brendan O’Neill the Chief Operating Officer of Vaaka Cadence based out of New Zealand.    Brendan grew up in competitive kayaking starting at the age of 15.  He competed at very high levels in the UK during his peak years and then transitioned into coaching.   As a paddler, coach, and Doctor of Sports Medicine, Brendan found his true passion exploring the realm of physiology and related metrics to drive optimal performance.