The Sting Ray Shuffle

Let this video serve as a reminder to shuffle, shuffle, shuffle... 

Lessons from an 11-Year-Old Girl

Today I had an awesome paddle with an energetic 11-year-old girl.  This was her first time out on a SUP board but she caught on quickly.   Watching her reminded me about 3 simple things I need to remember as I'm learning to surf:

1) Just go for it. (She jumped right on the board and went at it.)
2) Don't give up. (She struggled a bit but pushed herself on the massive board that was twice her size.)
3) Have fun.  (She laughed and had a great time.)

As adults, we sometimes bog our minds down with so many things that it can be difficult to focus on a single task.  We over-think and over-analyze.  Children are so resilient.  They know how to live in the moment, something taken for granted as we get older.  When I hit the surf this weekend, I plan to clear my mind and keep things simple by following steps 1-2-3.

Thanks for the lessons!

The Chula Vista Nature Center... a Local Treasure

The CV Nature Center is located west of the Interstate 5 at the E Street exit.  It is a wildlife refuge and is visited by many people each year.   Yesterday I was an honored guest of the Nature Center because my extraordinary kid donated her $10,000 grant to them.  She won as this year's Cox Conservation Hero and chose the Nature Center as her beneficiary.  They were due to close this past February as the City can no longer fund them.  They have become their own non-profit organization.

This was my first time to the Nature Center.  What a wonderful place!  Even more amazing is that all the sea creatures I have been running into out in the ocean were there.  They have all the local fish in the aquarium, a couple of large sea turtle and about four baby sea turtles from a recent rescue.

Here is a leopard shark.  These are the ones I see at La Jolla Shores.  They also had the orange Girabaldi fish.

These guys are the reasons why we need to do the shuffle dance in the shallow water.  I definitely don't want to end up stepping on one of these sting rays!

How amazing is this sea turtle?  There are several out in the bay between J Street Marina and Coronado Cays.  They apparently like the heat that radiates from the power plant.  I'm waiting to run into one as I'm paddling out there.

Please support this local treasure, the Chula Vista Nature Center, by visiting one day.  It's a great way to learn about our local wildlife and how to help preserve our environment.

Perfect Paddle for a Female

There are so many different paddles out there, it can be overwhelming if you're shopping for the first time.  I know I was.  I was fortunate to have a knowledgeable salesperson, plus he is actually a SUP boarder himself.  I bought my paddle at Bob's Mission Surf and I had the man himself, Bob, help me find the right paddle.  I feel I bought the perfect paddle for the price I paid.  Paddles can cost around $200 and up.

 
I ended up purchasing the Kanaha Quickblade.  I love my paddle.  It has a comfortable palm grip and Bob cut it to the perfect length for me.  It's ultra lightweight at only 20 oz.  The blade comes in different sizes.  I chose the small (8.3).  I like to feel the pull through the water when I'm paddling.  I've tried narrower blades, which glide through the water more easily but I prefer feeling the tug.

Notice that I put wax on the shaft.  It get pretty slippery when it's wet so the wax helps with my grip.

Also, Bob put an edge protector because newbies like me tend to hit the sides of the board (rail) and you don't want your baby getting all dinged up.  The best is that my fiberglass blade is a smoking hot red.  You don't have to throw away your fashion-sense when it comes to sports.  I'm not afraid to stand out and you can spot my blade in an instant.

Lastly,  check out the qb headgear.  Don't be afraid to represent!

Why Did I Look?

Have you ever been told "Don't look" to save you the misery and pain from whatever it may be?  But then, you LOOK, regrettable because at that point it's too late to turn back.  Humans are naturally curious people.  Some of us are better at controlling our curiosities than others.  I, on the other hand, always have to look.

A friend sent me a link to a site called Sharks Are People Too  I knew it would be best not to check out the site for now because these shark sightings are starting to freak me out!  I don't want it to affect me getting into the water.  Well today my curiosity got the best of me.  I opened the link.  First thing you see is a Great White Shark.  I ask myself, "Do you really want to look at this?"  No... yet I still surf through the site.  What's my problem, huh?  

The Odds

They say your chances of being attacked by a shark are less than of being struck by lighting or being in a car accident -- and people get in their cars every day.  What does the shark hold over us then, that makes us so afraid?

The website has a ton of interesting facts and information relating to sharks.  There is even a link to Ocean Tides and Temperatures for anywhere around the world.  The 2010 Pacific Coast Shark Sightings is what caught my attention.  I quickly scrolled down each incident, checking to see which areas had a shark siting.  Unfortunately, all the places I enjoy paddling has had a shark sighting already this year.  Why did I look?  

I'm just gonna go with the odds stated above under the picture.  Someone asked me when I mentioned about the shark sightings, "Well would you rather die bored, aged in a hospital bed or continue the enjoyment of the ocean and getting attacked by a shark?"  Hmmm... trick question.

Time to Play With My New Toy

You can never have enough toys.  At least in my case, because that's how I roll.  I love to play!  Of course, I enjoy the occasional new shoes and clothes but I love toys!  Just the other day I had to go to REI to return something from the myriad of items I purchased the last time I was there.  As I walked through the front doors I told myself, "Just return and go."  From the time the cashier asked, "How may I help you?" to "Have a great day."  I convinced myself to check out their limited items of surf gear.  Cool, didn't really find anything outstanding and started moving towards the exit.  A blaring red "clearance" sign caught my eye and low and behold, a Burton Lux snowboard, 150.  My size.  That's an omen.  So I walked out with a new board.  Go figure.

Today I received my newest toy... the iPhone 4.  Yeah, I know.  I'm not usually one to follow the pack but I did my research and it was the best option for the pretty penny I paid.  So, I neglected my baby (paddle board) today to play with my toy.  The point I wanted to get to with this post is this new app:

How awesome is this!  All I have to do is click the icon for the surf report and bam.. all I need to know in one tap of an icon.  I'm still playing around with it.  Look forward to future posts.

Surfing for a Cure

The summer heat has hit San Diego a little late this year but just in time for everyone to enjoy the Luau and Longboard Invitational in La Jolla.  Each August, the annual Moores UCSD Cancer Center Luau and Longboard Invitational surfs for a cure to raise awareness and much needed funds for cancer research.  By bringing together some of the most respected men and women in surfing history with business leaders, scientists, local politicians and national celebrities, the Longboard Luau is one of the world's most successful surfing fundraiser and has an international reputation for celebrating the "aloha" spirit in the fight against cancer.

Each company-sponsored team of four is paired up with a longboard legend
to compete in the surfing contest.
I believe that's O'Neill in the white with red lettering shirt up front with the lei.

My life as a paddler has definitely effected the way I watch surfing.  I was definitely taking mental notes on what I was seeing.  It was awesome seeing the legendary surfers still going at it.

I'm not sure who this guy is but he was rippin' it up!

Aside from the surfing, there were entertainers as well.

Yeah, of course there were the wahines but
most of my photos were of these guys :)

It was a great day watching the surfers, enjoying the sun and hanging out with a couple of cool people.  Thanks Rebecca and Nancy!

Me, my new friend Nancy and good friend Rebecca.

If you want to read more about the event, click on the link below:

DelMarTimes.net | Surfing for a cure: Luau and Longboard Invitational promises swell time

An Amazing Morning!

So I checked out a new surf spot with a friend this morning... secret location.  Apparently, I moved up a notch in paddle-world status and was privied access to surf here (it's actually public and local, I just didn't know about it!)  It was the mecca for newbie stand-up paddlers like me.  Don't get me wrong, there were some experienced SUP surfers in the line-up but this time I didn't have the "loner new-kid-on-the-block, trying to act like the big boys" feeling like I sometimes get paddling between the rippin' surfers in IB. 

I met some cool people (even someone who's read my blog!  thx), caught a couple of waves (still need to work on my style--right?!), and saw the most amazing sight that made my day, week and possible month!!

 I saw a couple of dolphins (not unusual), and then a couple more (okay cool), and then they start coming straight at me (was a little nervous)... before I knew it, there were dolphins all around on the inside, playing through the waves right in front of me!  Others behind me and to the right.  I was ecstatic!  I was like a kid walking into Disneyland for the first time, with so much excitement I could hardly contain it.  The dolphins got so close I could have jumped on one and rode it like they do in Sea World (was tempted but not stupid).  Just another reason why I love paddling.  It was one of those moments that will be ingrained in my mind for a lifetime. 

WTF!

As if I don't have enough to think about when I'm in the water! What's up with all these shark sightings I'm hearing about? I thought sharks liked warm water? I'm sure you've probably seen this one by Chuck Patterson taken in San Onofre.

Me my Shark and I from Chuck Patterson on Vimeo.

Just think, I wanted to hit DogPatch this weekend too. Geez... having second thoughts about hitting the water today.

Okay, that lasted for a minute- I'm headed out!

"You Got This!"

There is a ton of things that goes on in my head as I'm headed out to hit the surf.  My three most important words for myself, "You got this!"  The following is an attempt at a play-by-play of Liza's thoughts:

"Let's get this board off the rack!"
"Wetsuit, check.  Board, check.  Paddle, check."
"Car locked up and ready to roll."
"Oops, slippers still on.  Leave them under the car as usual."
"Look at those waves, I can handle those." (I'm always having to hype myself up before I get in the water.)
"You got this."
"I'm definitely catching one today."
"Water is not too cold.  Nice."
"You got this Leez." (More hype.)
"Easy."
"Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle." (This one added as my friend just got stung by a sting ray yesterday!  ouch!)
"Okay baby (my longboard) let's do this!"
"Shuffle."
"Push the board by the tail over the whitewater."
"Jump on now?"
"Another wave coming."
"No prob. You got this."
"Shuffle."
"Push board."
"Okay NOW Leez."
"Paddle."
"Keep going. Stay on."
"Dang, that's a lot of whitewater."
"Whatever, just don't fall!
"Paddle hard."
"You got this!"
"Paddle straight."
"Stay on."
"Don't fall."
"Paddle."
"Where's the fricken' open water?"
"Man, I'm getting tired already."
"You got this!"
"Paddle harder."
"Finally.."
"Okay, let's stand up now." (I paddle in on my knees.)
"About time.  Catch your breath..."
"Now let's try and catch a wave."
"You got this!"

And then it's an entirely new conversation with tons more of, "You got this!!"  And someday, I will get it!

I Like It On Top

Most of the time I prefer being on the bottom.


            Sometimes I'll take it on the side.


                             Or come up from the rear...

The toughest for me is carrying my longboard on my shoulder.  What?!  What were you thinking??

I see many surfers carry their board like this but
it just doesn't work for me with this huge board.  Can you tell by the look on my face?  ugh.

Today's post is about finally succeeding in carrying my board on my own without much struggle.  It can get pretty cumbersome or just down-right ugly trying to carry an 11' longboard as an unexperienced beginner.  Imagine, I've never in my life had to carry something that large AND not drop it or ding it.  Of course, the number one motivation to keep the board intact is the price I had to pay to purchase it!

The easiest way to carry a SUP longboard is on your side using the finger-hold.  But if you plan on carrying it for a long distance or your just exhausted from trying to catch waves for a couple of hours (consistent personal experience), carry it on your head.  The question a newbie would ask, "How do I get it on my head?"  Well, I used to come up from behind the board, fin-side up and angled it forward until I can get into a position to place my head on the center, then lift.  That got old fast.

Once I got used to the weight of the board (mine is about 15lbs?), I lift it to my head as demonstrated above and voila...

Hope this post helps some of the newbies out there and brought back memories for the experienced ones.

Hook, Line and Sinker!

In a former life, I was a kayaker.  My friend Pete and I would launch off J Street Marina in Chula Vista for a cruise.  Today I asked him to meet me out on the water but this time I had my longboard.  We paddled across to the Coronado Cays.  He parked his kayak on shore and I told him, "You have to try this!"  He didn't seem too excited but obliged.  I gave him some basic instructions to get him going.

 He fell once.  

Then twice.

Three times.  

Okay, multiply by twenty (and I was patient)

... but when he finally stood up and started moving--  hook, line and sinker!  Watch out SUP world, there's a new paddler in town :)  

Mama T-  I know what Pete wants for Christmas!!

The Happiest Place on Earth

I was never really a Mickey Mouse fan so I'm definitely not talking about Disneyland!  I'm talking about the Sacred Craft Surfboard Expo.

For a newbie like me, it was all so awe-inspiring and overwhelming.  I met all kinds of cool industry people who were willing to share their knowledge.  Check me out with shaper, Tim Stamps from Huntington Beach.  My #1 SUP friend John gets his boards made by him so I had to meet the man!  His specialty are shortboards.  When my skills are up to par, I'll definitely have to pay Tim a visit.

It was sweet being able to watch the shapers in action.  Here the foam core is just being cut and shaped.  These guys are quick.  They definitely know what they're doing.  Many years of experience I'm sure!

These guys are putting a wood veneer on this surfboard.  They used a 75% bio-resin so that it is more environmentally-safe than other epoxies typically used on surfboards.  They get a plus from me.

Lastly, there was one female shaper in the house.  You rock Dessa Kirk!  She is a sculptor and fairly new shaper.  Her boards are not only high-performance but works of art as well.

 If you missed the Sacred Craft Show... bummer.  Make sure you hit it up next year when it's here again at the Convention Center.  Enjoy this last photo of me getting into my Classic 1950's Woody...  right?!

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” ~Gandhi

Yesterday I lost two dear friends.  

May they rest in peace.

Visualizing Where You Want to Be is Key

I am a visual and kinesthetic learner, meaning I learn better by seeing and doing.  Since I've chosen not to surf this week, I'm learning through visualization.  This is where YouTube becomes handy.  I've watched many videos from basic instruction to paddle racing to paddle surfing (yes, I'm hooked).  I have to say that the majority of the paddlers are male so when I see a female on the board I get hyped up!  In college, my volleyball coach taught me the practice of visualization.  You basically close your eyes and see yourself doing what you're set out to do.  In order for me to do this, I need a good example to study.



I've watched this video so many times that I can play it in my head.  But instead of seeing Kristy, I see me in her spot.  The hope is that when I'm back out on the surf, I can mimic the moves and make paddle surfing look so easy like she does.  If you haven't already sensed it, I'm an overachiever.  I'm hoping by the end of the year I'll be able to post a video of me showing off my moves.  You'll have to stay tuned to check out my progress!

How to Cure "Paddle Withdrawals"

Recipe for Paddle Withdrawals

Ingredients
   2 piece swimsuit or wetsuit (depending on the conditions).
   1 set of board and paddle.
   1 billion-trillion (Is that a true number?) gallons of water.

I'm not much of a cook but I can handle this recipe!  If you've been keeping up with my blog, you're probably asking, "How can you have paddle withdrawals when you are a paddle maniac?"

Well, let me explain... injuries.  As much as I don't want to admit it, I'm hurt.  Physically, that is.  I've mentioned the sprained ankle before and I'm not being a baby about it boys!  It's been 3 weeks since I sprained it at the Irvine Mud Run.  Shortly after was my Day 1: First Day, First Wave entry.  What I failed to mention in my blog was that during my first attempt at catching a wave my leash (strapped around my right non-injured ankle) caught around the other ankle and tugged on it as I was pulled underwater.  Ouch! So, this non-surf week is an attempt to recoop my ankle, and other bumps and bruises acquired on my journey to catch more waves.

Question: I'm finding that my leash is constantly catching around my other leg when I fall off a wave.  I'm a natural foot and wear the 9' strap on my right ankle.  Is this something I need to get used to or am I just doing something wrong?  Advice?  Suggestions?  -Mahalo

Dancing on Water

I've come to learn that paddle surfing is like dancing.  You need to let the ocean take the lead.  Your movements need to correlate with the movements of the water.  Otherwise, you end up using too much energy and/or fall off your feet.  As a beginner, it can be difficult to read the ocean and her movements.  There are so many conditions to take into account, such as the tide, wind and direction.

The usually quaint IB town was packed with hundreds of people
visiting to see the Annual IB Sand Castles Competition.

Today was a rest day for me (no paddling- sad face) but I still had a wonderful day at the beach with family.  As I sat on the beach, I studied the ocean.  I still have a tough time knowing when to start paddling to catch a wave so this was needed homework for me.  I need to learn to anticipate where and when a wave will break so I can be there to catch it.  Hopefully, my success rate improves soon because my body is getting beat up by all my wipeouts!

Old but New Gem to Paddle

I had an awesome paddle this morning at La Jolla Shores.  I say "old but new" in my title because even though I've been to La Jolla Shores many times before, I was seeing it through an entirely different lens.  We paddled out to the caves.  While we paddled out, there were leopard sharks and big orange fish (forgot the name) that you could see below us. There were also sea lions laying out on the rocks and a few in the water. 

That's the cool thing about paddling, your board can easily take you to so many cool spots with just a few strokes of the paddle.  I can't wait to explore other amazing places!  Imagine how limitless owning a paddleboard can be.  You can paddle flatwater or surf, ocean or lake, anywhere around the world!  If you haven't paddled you should give it a try.  I guarantee that if you love the outdoors, you'll get sucked into it like me.

A photo of the river mouth in IB before we headed out to La Jolla.

P.S. After a rough day yesterday trying to catch a few waves, I caught a wave coming in from our paddle.  Just do it!

I'm Becoming a "Paddle-maniac!"

I took the day off to paddle all day today.  I take any available free time to hit the water.  I continue to paddle on a sprained ankle.  And I still can't get enough... Is this normal?

Paddle board already loaded and ready for an early departure tomorrow morning.

Do You Have What it Takes? Part II

Second Lesson: Paddleboarding takes commitment.

You should commit yourself to going out to the water as often as you can. It does take time and energy. Before you invest your money in the above items, make sure you are committed to do the sport. Plus, when and if you are ready for the surf, you need to know that you are committed to go out there. Otherwise, you can set yourself up for failure.

The ocean can be a friend or an enemy. It will be your friend if you listen to it. What I mean is that you need to know what is going on... Is it high tide? low tide? southern swells? choppy? I've learned that there is so much to learn in order to read and anticipate the movements of the ocean. You want to make sure that it is ideal for you to go out there, especially if you're a beginner like me.

Going out into the surf with my paddleboard for the first time was overwhelming. I was excited and nervous at the same time. I had to watch the surf and wait for a lull between sets to try and get out past the waves before another set rolled in. Once I was out there I had to get used to the currents allowing my lower body to move with the swells. (It's kind of like standing on a Bosu ball if you've ever done that for core exercises.) I had the jitters the whole time out there!

The epitome of it all for me is surfing. Remember my first blog, "My First Day, My First Wave"? Let me think back to the experience. I can remember paddling for an upcoming wave. I chanted to myself, "zero to sixty, zero to sixty, zero to sixty", what I was told to basically paddle fast and hard. I could feel my adrenaline rush and before I knew it, I was riding a wave. I just did it. The few waves I tried to catch after that I set myself up for failure. I'd intentionally bail out for whatever reason. At least in retrospect, that's how I see it. I needed to be determined and committed to catch another wave but on the first day, I guess I was satisfied with the one.

In any situation, if you can't get your own board at this time and have to rent or borrow, the most important lesson is:

"be COMMITTED"... whether it's catching waves or anything else important in your life!

Do You Have What it Takes to go From Zero to Sixty?

I've learned a lot about paddle boarding in the last couple of weeks.  I've been fortunate to meet people along that way who were willing to help me learn and I'd like to pay it forward.  I'd like to share my experiences with those of you who are new (or not) to the paddle boarding industry, in hopes that you gain a passion for the sport as I have.

First Lesson: Paddle boarding has an expensive price tag.  

Money- The start-up cost of paddle boarding is pricey.  A good board will cost around $1,000 and up.  The toughest decision for me was what type of board I wanted to purchase.  Boards come in different shapes, sizes and material.  You can go with a longer board, which is better used in flat-water for speed or a shorter board, so you can rip up the surf.  I ended up choosing a narrow longboard since I am new to surfing and probably won't be doing any crazy tricks in the surf for a while.  In addition, you need to purchase a paddle.  Paddles cost around $250 and up.  (I told you it was expensive!)  Paddles can be made from different materials as well.  I suggest before purchasing your own board to rent and try different sized boards to get a feel for what you like.  Same goes for the paddles.

Think we're done?  Not quite yet.  Now you need to think about how you will transport your board.  Do you have a truck to throw it in?  Or do you have roof racks on your car?  If not, you'll have to get some.  I was lucky that my new Subaru Outback has soft top racks.  But then I needed to purchase straps so I can carry the board on top of the car safely.  I purchased 8' SPT lockable tie down straps from REI.  They were a little more pricey ($75) than straps without locks ($30) but if I have an errand after a paddle, I don't have to go home first to drop off my board.  They are actually pretty cool and strap on easily.  Check out the pics.

Aside from these basic items, dependent on where you live, you may need a wetsuit.  The water can get pretty cold out here in San Diego during the winter so I purchased a 2/3 O'neill fullsuit which keeps me nice and warm when I'm out on the ocean.  And I get cold easily!

For the most part, these are the material things you have to pay up front but they can last years if you take care of them.



Check in tomorrow for Lesson 2!

Cruisin' Watching the Sunset

So as I'm sitting here icing my sprained ankle I'm wondering if paddling today was a good idea. 

Heck ya! 

Earlier, around 7pm, I received a phone call from John, "I'm going paddling".  He didn't have to ask me if I wanted to go, I was already out the door.  Funny because a few minutes before he called I was justifying staying home instead of paddling, such as "I have to finish laundry," "I have to do dishes," and "I really should let my ankle recooperate." (BTW- the ankle injury is from the Irvine Mud Run two weeks ago and not from paddling.)

I rushed out to IB.  It was a totally different scene out on the ocean today.  There were only a few surfers, the waves were small and the water was glassy on the outside. The best part was that I got to witness a beautiful sunset while I was cruisin' the ocean.  How cool is that?!  It was so serene.

Can you see the paddler in the distance on the water?  That's me!
Thanks to Spiderman for taking this awesome photo.

Tonight was not the time to try and catch waves.  My ankle was even more aggrevated by yesterday's paddle and surf session.  I knew it would probably be best not to go but sometimes you get a craving for something you can't control and I just needed my quick fix. 

I wish I could tell you that I caught my second wave but I'm sure you'll read that soon enough.  "Patience little one"... at least that's what I tell myself.

DAY 1: First Day, First Wave

Today was a beautiful day in Imperial Beach.  The sun was beaming, I paddled past the surf incurring no major injuries, saw a few dolphins, but most importantly, caught my first wave on my first day of paddle surfing.  What a rush!  This was definitely a momentous occasion worth documenting for posterity.  Therefore, here is my first blog.

I first tuned in to paddle surfing while on a trip to Maui a couple of months ago.  I fell in love with the sport just watching it.  When I returned home to San Diego, I was on a mission to go paddle surfing.  I googled it online and found an awesome instructor, John Ashley from Imperial Beach.  He took me out on the flatwater for my first lesson.  After a couple of excursions paddle boarding,  I bought my own SUP board because I knew this was a sport I wanted to dive into.  I went out a couple more times to the flat water but I was really itching to get to the surf.  Well, as you read in the first paragraph, it was the most beautiful day in IB.  I'm still on a high from it all and just needed to share.

I'm sure my journey through paddle surfing will have some interesting and exciting stories, so feel free to check in every now and then.  I'll be as candid as I can, even if it causes some embarassment on my end because I'm sure not every day out will be as perfect as today. 

Thanks for reading and get out on the surf!

Here I am after my first day out.  That's my new baby.. 11x29x4 Takayama.  Note: Fins forward :)