inspiring stories
Meet Sarah W, from hong kong.
Sarah had more experience paddling OC-6 than OC-1 when she joined the Intermediate Camp, but she had plenty of desire to develop her confidence in surfing conditions.
My Hawaii Paddle Camp was the best camp ever! I’d heard the training sessions were really good but hadn’t grasped just how good! Anna has designed and refined a program that will allow you to progress quickly, while also having an incredible amount of fun.
Each day is well-structured, with appropriate skills sessions and coaching to iron out any kinks, equipping you for the next surfing experience. At the same time, Anna will be checking in with you to ensure that you’re feeling confident in the water you’re in and happy to go to the next level of surf experience. I kept saying ‘You bet’, so the adrenalin rides kept coming!!!
Having the luxury of days to immerse in your chosen sport delivers a great holiday. While I’ve had coaching before, not being rushed in trying to grasp new concepts accelerated my paddling development. As such, the camp delivered constant epiphanies, as Anna helped me connect the dots between all the little snippets of paddling knowledge that people have shared with me but which I couldn’t contextualize…and did I mention how much fun it all was?!
Meet Carol S, from Santa Barbara Ca.
Carol came to an Intermediate Camp with decades of paddling experience but only 4 years of OC-1 paddling. What a difference it made for advancing her skills!
I am a 30-year veteran of OC-6 paddling/steering from California with only 4 years of OC-1 experience. I have a 5-year goal of getting better at OC-1 and Anna’s camp seemed perfect for learning more about surfing and water conditions. I was also registered for the Maui-to-Molokai (M2M) OC-1 relay and wanted to have a base of knowledge and understanding of what to expect for that race. Anna’s camp and her coaching style helped me meet both of these goals.
My experience was very positive. I came away with so much new knowledge to apply to improving my OC-1 paddling. Anna is extremely articulate in explaining OC-1 surfing and has a strong base of knowledge about water and wind conditions. To put it succinctly: she explains things very very well. She has a knack for it. She has a very positive and focused approach to her coaching, and uses tools and language that are motivating. She understands various personalities and adapts her coaching to each individual’s needs to bring positive results and the best out of each person. It was so valuable to be on an OC-2 with Anna, coaching me through a downwind Hawaii Kai run, and I also learned a lot from the dryland session we did on cross-training and conditioning.
While this was only the tip of the iceberg for me, my knowledge of understanding wave patterns, the different velocity of waves, and how to surf different waves increased. I learned that for the most part I’ve been “out-surfing” a wave instead of staying on it, riding its sweet spot and connecting to the next. This was a huge “aha” moment for me. I also honed in on the skill of effectively working the front of the paddling stroke to get on a wave. Having this knowledge of how waves work helped me immensely in the M2M race! I felt I hit the jackpot in advancing my OC-1 skills.
Meet Sarah B, from hong kong
Sarah wanted to develop her OC1 skills and came to both our Intermediate and Advanced Camps. She left much better equipped to manage her own training sessions.
I wanted to develop my OC1 skills and better understand how to use the water and ultimately be more efficient in the water. What better place to learn than in the amazing blue waters of Hawaii! Plus many of the great races are out there, so I can return and develop even more in the varied conditions there. I thoroughly enjoyed the camp, it was very organized, relaxed, informative, inclusive, friendly, welcoming and nothing was too much trouble. And no matter what the conditions, we knew we were in safe hands.
Anna’s style is very personable and democratic, so we had shared decision-making when deciding how our day would be planned. Anna guided us towards selecting and achieving our personal goals, with positive guidance. I really got a better understanding of the water, what to look for, what to ignore, how to surf and a plan of how to structure my own training sessions on the water.
Meet Stacy V, from hawaii
Stacy is an Intermediate paddler with lots of experience, but didn’t have a solid foundation of technique. She decided to finally get some professional training…
I have been paddling OC1 sporadically for about 10 years but never learned some basic techniques. I’m finally at a time in my life where I can paddle more but wanted professional help instead of relying on advice from friends.
Anna is very patient and knowledgeable. I would, and have, recommended this camp to others wanting to improve their technique on the OC1. She knows how to communicate in a way that even a novice would understand and make everyone feel safe.
I learned a lot that I didn’t know I needed to learn. I learned a better way to carry my boat, a better way to flip the boat back over if you huli, I learned a better way to surf and most importantly for me, to paddle with more stability on the right side.
Meet Luisa S, from california.
Luisa came to our Intermediate Camp to get experience in Hawaiian waters with calm, professional coaching. Her paddling has improved immensely!
I took this camp mostly to learn skills on how to navigate in big water and feel comfortable. However, having known Anna for a few years, I would take every opportunity I can to be coached by her, since I know that will help tremendously to improve my paddling.
I was amazed by how well the camp was organized and Anna’s phenomenal skills paddling in serious downwind conditions. She progressively introduces you to more challenging water conditions. Her comfort level and calm transmit confidence. The only unfortunate thing (which is outside Anna’s control) was that the water conditions were a little too challenging for me (over 22 mph wind and 8 feet swells).
I learned the ability to use the brace stroke and feel comfortable paddling on my right side, and how to read the swell line, looking for the next swell, and the feeling when I need to increase my stroke rate to catch the wave and when I am on the swell and need to ease up.
You must take Anna’s camp if you want to improve or learn downwind skills and overall awareness of Hawaiian waters, and especially if you want to race in Hawaii. The water here is different from what we experience in southern California. I got great tips on how to surf and how to read the water.
Meet Kristin B, from california
Kristin is a relatively new paddler who joined us for the FUNdamentals weekend. She gained experience, skills, and most importantly, confidence.
This camp was absolutely fantastic! Anna arms you with knowledge before you head out into the water, and is there to support and guide you during each paddle. I loved the step-wise approach to the camps, starting with technique-based activities and ramping up to bigger downwind paddles. She has a gift for honing in on your learning style and adjusting her coaching approach accordingly. Her coaching while you are paddling is so helpful to reinforce technique and also give you the confidence to push your limits as much as you want.
As a relatively new paddler (been paddling OC1 for about 2 years with a persistent huli problem), I wanted to reinforce (and/or test!) some skills learned from Anna’s past technique clinics in SoCal and also get some new experience in bigger HI conditions (wind and surf), to gain confidence paddling downwinders, and successfully surf a big wave (or 10).
I gained so much confidence paddling in rougher conditions and no longer feel like I’m just “winging it”. Anna taught me to read the water, and what my “job” is for each of the conditions I paddle in. Everything I learned in Hawaii I’ve been able to apply and build on in my home waters.
Anna takes the time to get to know you as a paddler and find out which style of learning is most effective for you, and also what your goals are for the camp. Her goal is to give you the best experience and not just provide a “cookie cutter” itinerary for each camp.
My biggest takeaway was the confidence to push myself, and a huge ear-to-ear smile thinking about how much fun each day was!
Meet Elyn R, from new jersey
“By going to this (Intermediate) camp, I hoped to overcome my fear of paddling in the Atlantic Ocean. When I first arrived at camp I was so fearful, I stayed on the OC2! But by the last day, I went from the most fearful, to the most comfortable paddler in our group. On our last 10-mile downwind run, I had the time of my life, even having the opportunity to fly the ama. Learning to brace is certainly a girl’s best friend. This entire experience is something I will never forget!”
Meet Deanne Y, from hong kong
Deanne attended our Intermediate and Advanced camps to be part of a supportive female group, where she knew she would gain skills and improve her confidence on the water.
I decided to come to Hawaii to do one of Anna’s camps as I find it a great way to learn and improve while being in a supportive female group. Anna’s teaching style and the beautiful Hawaiian water make it the perfect blend. In this environment you will achieve your goals and even exceed your expectations.
Anna’s coaching style is very effective, the way she talks to each of us and is open to each person’s needs and makes each person feel part of the team. She was very supportive and encouraging, allowing me to face my personal fears and self-limits. I found the camp very empowering, my confidence on the water increased 10-fold, and I learned some really valuable things to improve my paddling.
The best part was experiencing the downwind waves, feeling the power and push, and learning how to read them, understand them and use them. No matter how many videos you watch or how much you talk about it, nothing beats actually experiencing the real thing.
This camp is for anyone that wants to learn, improve, and push themselves to a new level, and enjoy the wonders of paddling in Hawaii. Anna has a range of paddle camps and depending on your ability and experience there is a paddle camp for you. So go ahead and do it!
Meet Jackie G, from pennsylvania
“I am an adequate flatwater paddler and was able to take it to the next level (or 3!). I am certain that those far more experienced would also get a lot (maybe even more) out of the (Intermediate camp) experience. Sometimes I am sure the nuance was lost on me, or I didn’t always have the strength or skill to implement.
The coaching style was individualized and patient, and I developed a better understanding of the water as well as the confidence to take it to the next level.”
Meet Dawn Lee, from canada
Dawn came to our Intermediate camp after meeting us at the Gorge Downwind Championships. Through individual attention and small student-coach ratio, Dawn found the “magic recipe” for improving both her skills and confidence.
I first met Anna at a small group clinic at the Gorge Downwind Championships in 2016. The thing about her that connected with me first was her quiet determination to find a way. Nothing is impossible. Something I too believe deeply.
I was at the Gorge with a group who was not doing the clinic and paddling elsewhere for the day and somehow a mix-up occurred and I was given the wrong set of iakos for the canoe I was using. Anna didn’t judge or dismiss me as done for the day. She asked around and amazingly got a stranger to let me use his iakos on my canoe for the clinic. This impressed me.
A few days later I raced the big 23 km Gorge Downwind Championships. Still quite new to downwind paddling (coming from a short distance sprint background) I churned out my worst performance ever and I finished dead last. I had read about Anna and her background. When she started racing outrigger she too placed last. Another connection. She could relate and understand what I would need to do to get better. I read more about her Hawaii Paddle Camps and liked that it was small group and I felt this guaranteed a good amount of individual attention due to small student-coach ratio. I also liked that it was all women as we communicate and learn differently and it’s just so empowering to have a group of strong women together doing something they love together. All of these things sounded to me like the magic recipe for learning how to surf, read the water, connect bumps, race better and race faster. And it was.
I signed up and the week was incredible. I learned a lot, did some downwind runs (Makai Pier, Hawaii Kai!) as well as out-and-backs and we got a lot of individual attention as well as time to practice skills we learned on our own while she worked with others in the camp. And every day was stunning – the camp is held in the most beautiful waters, this amazing scenery alone will breathe life into you daily.
I’ve described how Anna connected with me but I have witnessed that she has a unique ability to connect with all her clients and is able to understand and meet (if not exceed!) their needs and goals. This is what you want in the ideal coach.
Meet Robyn, from australia
“I’ve been paddling since 1998, and my first trip to Hawaii to paddle was in 2002. I wanted to paddle in a non-competitive environment with fun like-minded girls in some of the most beautiful water in the world. No matter how long you have been paddling, you are always learning and to have the opportunity to be coached rather than being the coach, have someone focus some time on me and improve how I paddle and how I think about time on the water was what I hoped for.
I took away the feeling (from the Advanced camp) that it’s ok to have fun and play while learning and growing as a paddler. There are many different ways of showing or getting a learning experience across and we covered pretty much all of them.
Anna’s caring, encouraging nature saw all of us working on ways of developing our paddling technique and skills, building confidence and setting goals to bigger and better paddling adventures. I wish I could attend Anna’s Hawaii Paddling Camps every year!!!”
Meet Lene, from hong kong
“The first time I joined Anna’s camp, I had only paddled outrigger for 1.5 years and there was a lot to learn. Doing the first paddle camp I learned a lot and I had a lot of fun, so I chose to come back for 2 paddle camps the following year, because I had decided to train for Maui to Molokai (M2M) race and also for the Kaiwi Channel race. I hoped to improve my paddle skills and learn to surf big waves, and I wanted to get ready for races.
I learned new skills (at both Intermediate and Advanced camps), and Anna gave me a lot of technical things to improve, and also explained the importance of training technique, intervals, and long distance training. My first race in Hawaii was an OC2 relay with Anna, and then I had a short solo race before trying M2M. It helped a lot that Anna knows all the races and could guide me to which one matches my experience level.”
