Pacific Paddler April 2014 - (Page 30)

A new generation takes to the water Developing Hawaii's Youth as Inspirational Watermen and Women! JANIE BRYAN At the WYC Ikaika Waterman's Program, Hawaii's young water sport athletes aspire to make their contribution to the time-honored tradition of Hawaiian watermen. "By focusing on build- ing champion people first, and then adding to that foundation positive coaching, dynamic mentors, elite equipment, and the benefit of worldwide experiences, we strive to give our youth wonderful life enriching experiences," says Program Director Shelley Oates-Wilding, better known as Coach Shelley. Year round squads provide training as a pathway for developing athletes for local, state, national and world competitions. The WYC Ikaika Waterman's program is com- mitted to ensure that each individual gets what they need to push limits, explore potential, and develop mentally and physically as champion ath- letes and people, no matter their level of expertise. The popular Waterman's Academy for 7-14 year olds learning on a variety of crafts meets M-F from 9:30-11:30 during school breaks. The Bantams, 10-14 year-olds, meet 3x/week after school and, for the more adept, Silver and Gold squads train 3-10x/week. Besides kayaking competitions, the squads also focus on the Pa'a & Kanaka Ikaika Molokai Races in outriggers and surf skis. Cross training for numerous state, national and interna- tional events is possible with the many prestigious titles in both kayak- WYC Ikaika Programs. ing and canoe paddling. While in high The most rigorous of the school at Mid-Pacific, he was both training programs, the 10-week the ILH sprint and distance kayaking intensive Ikaika Gold Olympic champion 2 years in a row, made the Development Program (ODP), Junior U.S Kayaking team at age 16 focuses on holistic training for ranking Number 1, and ranked 19th personal excellence at National, at the Junior Worlds in Germany. Kalei World and Olympic events. is the International Va'a Federation Gearing up for the USA Canoe/ World Sprints Champion in the V1 Kayak National Team Trials in 500m for the U19 division. Paddling Oklahoma City April 22-26, for the Division AAA 2013 HCRA the ODP squad consists of 11 State Champion Keahiakahoe, the intrepid youth, who train like club founded by his great uncle Olympians learning what it takes to become elite athletes. "So many Ikaika athletes aspired to Stan Dickson, Kalei and crew placed Kalei Kaho'okele 13th in the revered Molokai Hoe. In February, Kalei won the Kanaka Ikaika attend the Trials, we implemented a race off with Kualoa Challenge in his age division and placed 2nd "Calling themselves the 'Eleven made in Heaven', Mid-Pacific and paddling for Keahiakahoe and Castle High standards for qualification", said Coach Shelley, they all work hard twice daily, supporting each other to enjoy growing, succeeding, and improving. As a coach, I couldn't be happier!" Of these 11 watermen, 20 year old Kalei overall. Kalei attends college and coaches kayaking for School. At the 2014 World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Kalei hopes continue his success in the V1, and to be inspired for the 2016 Summer Olympics also in Rio. Coach Shelley, the 2-time kayaking Olympian and Kaho'okele is working hard to realize his dream of world class paddler heading up WYC Ikaika and Kalei's kayaker. Starting paddling at age 8, Kalei has won extremely talented, yet humble despite his success and representing Hawaii and the USA as an Olympic coach for many years says, "Kalei is passionate and potential. He is a fantastic role model for the next gen- eration of Hawaii's Watermen and takes time and pride in nurturing others." Knowing the unique blessings of being an Olympian, Coach Shelley hopes to coach our youth from Hawaii all the way to the Olympics. Hopefully, both will have their dreams become a reality! WYC Ikaika's next two ODP programs start in May, one focused on the E Ono race in the ultralight 6-man and the other for the 2014 USACK Sprint National Championships in August outside Atlanta at the site of Coach Shelley's first Olympic games! Follow the WYC Ikaika kids at www.teamusa.org/USA-Canoe-Kayak when they compete in the U.S. Trials in April and Nationals in August. Contact WYC Ikaika Waterman's Program Director, Shelley Oates-Wilding, at shelleyoateswilding@gmail. com or visit Ikaikahawaii.com to find out more about supporting our youth going to OKC and/or Atlanta. 30 Pacific Paddler April 2014 http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Canoe-Kayak http://www.gobanaskayaks.com http://www.Ikaikahawaii.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Paddler April 2014

Imua Kamehameha... barely!
Kanaka Ikaika
PAA: Koanui
SoCal racing
Race Against Skin Cancer
PNWOCRA Canada
Choosing a paddle: an interview with Dave Chun
Conditioning for paddlers
A new generation takes to water
Kanehunamoku Voyaging Academy
Hokulea update

Pacific Paddler April 2014