Registration open for OC1 Canoe camp:

February 19-23, 2024 Oahu Hawaii 

The intermediate camp focuses on developing ocean skills for paddlers who are looking to  improve their downwind paddling. 

This camp is for you if you train on your OC1 regularly, you are willing to huli,  you are focused on developing your ability as an OC1 paddler and specifically want to learn to surf your OC1 downwind.

You have experience paddling OC1,  and you want to step up your training and start racing, or maybe you already race OC1 and want to expand your skill set so you can take on more challenging events.  

I’m Anna,  I’ve been coaching women OC1 paddlers for over 10 years.  I turned my own progression from novice downwind paddler into multiple podium finishes at major races around the world into a system and a methodology by which to coach other women to enjoy downwind paddling. 

Women who come to this camp are athletic, they are determined and they want to learn as fast as possible with the support of a coach. They want to pursue downwind paddling as a hobby and need the right skill set in order to do so.

Women come from all over for this camp – Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, California, Canada, Florida and even from Hawaii for a staycation.

Typical areas that intermediate camp attendees struggle with are:

• Getting left behind once they leave protected water
• Feeling unstable and not knowing how to improve that
• Not being fast or confident in choppy water
• No access to coaching for learning how to paddle in the ocean so they don’t do it as much as they want to. 
• Leaning left a lot because they are afraid to huli and don’t know how to sit centered. 
• Have heard people talk about surfing but not sure they are feeling or seeing any of what they hear people talk about.

If you wonder what faster paddlers are doing that you aren’t doing this camp will change that for you. 

Your knowledge of paddling will improve in these ways:

• Identifying and fixing the technique mistakes you are making that are holding you back.
• Understanding the most common surfing mistakes and what to do to not make them.
• Practicing the five main downwind concepts and skills over and over again with a coach by your side. 

The benefits of doing a five-day immersion are that you develop the whole picture of yourself as a paddling athlete with a coach by your side. Throughout the five-day camp, we will work on improving your technique and understanding of how to train, how to surf, how to read the water.

You can expect to:

• Tune-up your paddling technique and improve your paddling posture 
• Sit more centered in the OC1 
• Learn how to brace and practice the brace stroke over and over again
• Repeatedly practice catching waves 
• Experience a progression over the week with easier conditions in the beginning, and harder conditions towards the end
• The goal is to complete a downwind run (or 2! or 3! ) by the end of the week

Camp structure:

• 5 days in a row, 3 days are double sessions
• 8 sessions -at least 6 session on the water, 2 sessions dry land 
• You can expect to paddle between 10-15 miles on 3 of the days
• You will spent 25 % of the time on the OC2 with the coach. 

This camp is limited to four participants so that you get individual coaching attention 

Other details:

• You need to find your own accommodation and transportation on Oahu.
• You’ll need to pack your own lunch every day.
• Camp cost: $1,250 per person excluding Hawaii state tax.
• OC1 and OC2 included, you need to bring your own paddle.

You can read all the details on the FAQ page.

Prior experience paddling OC1 in the ocean is important to get the most out of this camp. You do not have to be proficient (if you were you wouldn’t be looking for coaching!) but you need to know what you are getting into. If you have only paddled in a lake and have no ocean experience, the conditions in Hawaii may be too advanced for you. 

If you are not sure if you have the right experience, don’t worry we use an application process to make sure this is the right camp for you! 

If you are not sure if this camp is for you (either it sounds too intense or too easy) please use the application at the bottom of the page to get in touch with me and we can determine together if this is the right fit for you.   

Please note, this camp is not for novice or first-time paddlers, or for Dragon Boat paddlers who only use OC1 as cross training.
If you are new to OC1 and want to build your foundation, check out the Precision Paddling Program. 

To enjoy this camp, you should be able to paddle 10 miles nonstop, and be focused on building strength so that you can pull yourself on to waves.