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
2014 Molokai Challenge by Dorian Wolter
I had the worst possible preparation. The third polar vortex hit the Midwest at the end of March and the lakes were still frozen. Except for a few short weeks in California, I had been unable to get on the water. The days to the Molokai Challenge were ticking away as [...]
Sakonnet River Race, June 7, 2014, 10 am, 12 miles of Bliss!
Come join us for the 5th Sakonnet River Race. With the Snow Row, Narrow River, ROTC, and Essex out of the way, we now turn our attention to the Bay or Ocean race here in the Northeast. This is my home training ground which is a wonderful place to paddle for [...]
Essex River: Last of the Flats by Greg Lesher
Well before I even dreamed that it was possible, let alone desirable, to spend so much time and money on surfskis, the Essex River Race gave me my first taste of competitive paddling. That bitter flavor lingered on my palette for the hour and seven minutes it took me to complete [...]
“We Came to Play”, Essex River Race 2014
The Essex River Race is one of the best attended races in the Northeast because of the distance of 5.72 mile is doable by the casual paddler as well as the experienced racer. All classes were filled out from the rowers, to the stand up paddle boards, to the surf ski [...]
Run of the Charles: A Full House by Greg Lesher
In days past, the 6 mile Run of the Charles race was a relaxing spring event. A handful of paddlers would mess about on the lazy river for a while, then enjoy some crumpets and split a Zima. The real competitors were doing the 19 mile race, lugging their boats down [...]
Glide to Gehenna by Tim Hudyncia
Heidi gathered a shaky breath and reached for the doorknob. Its smoothness softened her rigid posture, but only for an instant... Hold up, dang it, I hate it when my alter-ego forces herself into the story! Let’s try that again… Prelude to Pulled Pork: The 32nd annual Run of the Charles [...]
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