PADDLING ON AIR
Are you full of air? Do you want to be?? Come out and join Coach Jo K. with your old inflatable or demo one of Venture Wild's new inflatables (or do both!) in order to get to Know Your Inflatable on Saturday, February 22. Many of us started our paddling journey on inflatables, but they are not all created equal. Come find out the difference between your Amazon/Costco special and the wide range of others out there (particularly Venture Wild's race and touring inflatables), and why it can be useful to have one even if you alreay have a hard board, especially while traveling. Bring a friend to enter a raffle for prizes! (Guest fee is $20). Hosted by Ohana and Venture Wild. The first of a three inflatable paddle trips (March 9 and March 22) - enjoy that trinity on air!
2025's Busy Start...
Although it is only February, the beginning of 2025 seems like forever ago with all that has been going on over the past few weeks. Let's recap, shall we? Ohana news only ahead, of course - Dr. Babs is trying to cheer y'all up! The less said about the rest of the world, the better!
Coach Mike Wang opened the new year with the first Race and Fitness League of 2025 on Saturday, January 11, that focused on interval training with different speeds and times, followed up by a nice paddle around Ballena Island. The group posed for the newsletter cover photo before working out in the sunshine. Gotta love these California winters!
Annie cannot paddle at the moment, but her unfortunate shoulder issue does not prevent her from getting creative with a handmade Ohana banner. Check it out at Sea Trek. Loving that creativity on Ohana's behalf!
KK led a sunset paddle during the January 14 full moon. A gorgeous evening! Keep an eye out for future monthly moonlight paddles announced in the Ohana WhatsApp chat.
Ed has no intention of letting Annie have all the creative fun! He showed off his own creative side with this Ohana Paddle Club sticker is based upon an Ohana paddle outing - up close you can see Jo W.'s doggies! Soon enough you can order a sticker or t-shirt for yourself!
Original inspiration for the sticker. Awesome, isn't it?
On Saturday, January 19, several Ohana members joined Redwood Water Sports to paddle around Alcatraz from Aquatic Park in San Francisco. No one dilly dallied in the channel, and a good time was had by all. No conclusion yet on speculation that potential Alcatraz escapees would have had a better chance of success on paddle boards (and no dilly dallying, of course!).
Coach Jen Fuller crossed the SF Bay to impart knowledge from her impossibly deep well of paddling wisdom during the Saturday, February 8 Race and Fitness League to a group of lucky Ohana paddlers. Dr. Babs' stroke improved just by looking at Coach Jen's photo!
And last but not least, Coach Mike serenaded a group of nine adventurous Ohana paddlers on the morning of Saturday, February 15, with a touching rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" before they set off on bathtub-calm water to paddle somewhere around Alameda. They paddled ALL the way around Alameda, to be precise, in this year's Alameda Islander/Half Islander (16.5 miles/9.6 miles). Austin and Louie led the way, followed by Ed, Tony, Jen (who started as sweep!), Karen and Helen. Some paddlers marked personal bests in distance, including Richard and Rita, who completed the Hard Half at Grand St. Marina, and Karen and Helen in the full islander.
Louie at the front of the pack
Austin crushing it
Ed and Tony glad to be finished
Helen and Karen at the (slightly more than) halfway point. Many hours to go before they can sleep.
Rita and Richard before crossing the challenging west end and into the estuary. Those smiles will be gone soon enough! But smiles will return when they reach the end, the glorious end!
The end for Rita and Richard - treats provided by Annie at the Grand St. Marina dock. Jen D. just refueling for her double-speed second half after spending the first half at sweep.
By the way, it still sucks that Lany's Harbor Mart Market is closed! This is an evergreen sentiment!
Be sure to keep up with the Ohana Paddle Club on Facebook and Instagram:
FB: Ohana Paddle Club | Alameda CA | Facebook
INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/ohana_paddle_club/
Ongoing and Upcoming Ohana Events
- Tuesday Race and Fitness League
The Ohana RFL offers a series of fun training paddles to work on skills and fitness. To elevate all members that attend, we try to stick together as a large group but sometimes split off into different groups for different skills, paces or to have sessions with a visiting coach. Note the earlier arrival time (5:00pm) and start time (5:30pm). for the fall. Please sign up on TeamSnap. Will start soon!
Calendar of Upcoming Events!
Know Your Inflatable* - 1st in 3-part series
Saturday, February 22, 9:30am-Noon (Arrive 9:30am)
Sea Trek Alameda, 1120 Ballena Blvd., #200, Alameda, 94501
Please sign up on TeamSnap
*Guests welcome with a $20 fee (launch fee + ACA insurance)
Coach Jo K. and Venture Wild
Weekend Race and Fitness League
Saturday, March 8, 9:00am-11:00am (Arrive 8:30am)
Sea Trek Alameda, 1120 Ballena Blvd., #200, Alameda, 94501
Please sign up on TeamSnap
Coach Mike Wang
Inflatable Brigade to the USS Hornet - 2nd of 3-part series
Sunday, March 9, 10:00am-12:30pm (Arrive 9:30am)
Sea Trek Alameda, 1120 Ballena Blvd., #200, Alameda, 94501
Please sign up on TeamSnap
Coach Jo K.
SUP Fitness of Your Inflatable - 3rd of a 3-part series
Saturday, March 22, 10am-12:30pm (Arrive 9:30am)
Sea Trek Alameda, 1120 Ballena Blvd., #200, Alameda, 94501
Please sign up on TeamSnap
Coach Jo K.
Weekend Race and Fitness League
Saturday, April 27, 9:00am-11:00am (Arrive 8:30am)
Sea Trek Alameda, 1120 Ballena Blvd., #200, Alameda, 94501
Please sign up on TeamSnap
Coach David Wells