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
Blackburn Challenge: Process of Elimination
The forecast for the 29th Blackburn Challenge was promising, at least for those of us who make their living writing about sudden and unexpected immersion. Winds of 10-12 knots from an atypical summer direction meant that it'd be a perfectly credible (and excusable) exaggeration to claim that the race was held [...]
My 2015 Blackburn Video Filmed by Chris Chappell
Wesley Echols - 2015 Blackburn Challenge from Chappell iStudio on Vimeo. Wesley Echols of Stellar Surfski and Kayaks completing his 13th Blackburn Challenge. Some video taken at Halibut Point, about 7 miles into the 20 mile race. A few pictures at the finish taken by Tim Hudyncia. Great Race! This was [...]
2015 Blackburn Video by Chris Chappell
Blackburn Challenge 2015 from Chappell iStudio on Vimeo. Blackburn Challenge, July 25, 2015. Video from Halibut Point State Park, with a 10-15 knot NNE wind creating some 4-6 foot seas. This is an excellent video by Chris showing us the conditions of the race at this point shot at Halibut Point, [...]
2015 Canadian Surfski Champs Video by Wesley Echols
Below is my Race Video of the 2015 Canadian Surfski Championship in majestic Squamish, British Columbia. Race was 14 mile long in fjord on Howe Sound. My summary will be later but this captures the race.Eric Costanzo and our families had a wonderful time. Sean Rice won it for the second [...]
2014 Canadian Surf Ski Championship “Success” by Bob Putnam
The Brain Worm Well I can’t remember when the hair-brain scheme for the First ever Canadian Surfski Champs took a hold of me. It was sometime around last October. Somewhere between the Epic Dealer Conference and the Hong Kong Dragon Run. I believe that Daryl Remmler of Think Kayaks used some [...]
Gorge Paddling Festival-HUGE!
Join Rivers for Change for the Gorge Downwind Paddling Festival (GDPF) – a week-long event at the Columbia River Gorge near Hood River, OR, from July 19-25. There are two premier events – the inaugural North American Surfski/OC1 Downwind Championships and the incredibly fun and popularWildside Relay. The week will also feature clinics [...]
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