On Downwinding: You’re Not Surfing
Most paddlers learn to think about downwind paddling in terms of waves. You catch a wave, you ride the wave, and you look for the next wave. Wash, rinse, repeat. That model works well enough [...]
On Training: Stress and Adaptation
Nothing in training happens without stress. In the absence of a stressor, our system remains exactly as it is. But stress alone is not improvement, and in an ocean environment, misunderstanding that difference is one [...]
On Racing: Starting Right
Most races are decided long before the first buoy or the first run. They begin in the final minutes before the start, when paddlers are already spending physical, mental, and emotional energy, whether they realize [...]
Blackburn Challenge to host 2026 National Championships
The American Canoe Association has selected the Cape Ann Rowing Club's Blackburn Challenge as the host venue for the 2026 USA Canoe Ocean Racing National Championships, placing one of America’s most iconic open-water races at [...]
USA Surfski Paddlers @ 2025 ICF COR World Championships
The 2025 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing (COR) World Championships were held in Durban, South Africa this past October. Worlds is the pinnacle international competition for surfski paddlers all over the world, in addition to World Cups [...]
Latest News
Battles of the Bay: Sean vs Us vs Jan
As all New England paddlers know, Jamestown is the heart of the New England surfski scene. This is home to three open-water races, the Dwyer family, and the best black raspberry milkshakes in the greater Narragansett region (I was a bit off my game this year, only logging 3 for the [...]
Gorge Downwind Champs 2016 Video
Gorge Downwind Champs 2016 from Media272 on Vimeo.
Jamestown Double Beaver: Whale Hunt
If any one New England race can be described as "passing Conanicut Island's Beavertail Light twice", it's the Jamestown Double Beaver and this year's Ride the Bull. My math may be off a bit. This was to be the 8th to 12th running (look, numbers just aren't my thing) of the [...]
2016 Double Beaver Video
2016 Double Beaver Race with Wesley Echols from Wesley Echols on Vimeo. Post Race Pics Pre Race with Tim Mike Dosta(2nd), Greg(1st), Eric Costanzo(3rd)
Casco Bay Challenge: Paradise Lost
While it's not unknown for a paddler to diverge slightly off the best line or inadvertently cut (or extend) the course by turning on the wrong waypoint, most New England races follow simple routes that would make it impossible to get truly lost. If you wander astray in Eric McNett's Casco [...]
Sean Rice: Newport, RI Surfski Workshops August 6th/7th
Sean and Emily will be joining us again. You can see the Saturday Novice/Intermediate workshop is scheduled after the Paddle the Bay Race in Newport. Sunday's all day workshop is for intermediate and advanced paddlers in open ocean working on downwind paddling, training tips, and more. PaddleLife will be back [...]
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