In his first master clinic in North America last October 6-7, Shell Va’a legend David Tepava imparted his Tahitian pearls of wisdom to coaches from eight of Hawaii’s top outrigger clubs. Clubs represented were: Waimanalo Canoe Club, New Hope Canoe Club, Lahaina Canoe Club, Lahui o Ko’olauloa, Outrigger Canoe Club, Hui Nalu Canoe Club, Kai Oni Canoe Club, and Waikiki Beach Boys.
ARE Tahiti, which sponsored this clinic, is grateful to those who attended and helped make this event a huge success.
For two days, Tepava took experienced coaches “back to the basics” of paddling, focusing on the basics of technique, stroke, and how to paddle with maximum efficiency. Efficiency has long been the hallmark of Tepava’s Shell Va’a paddlers, who get more out of each stroke and thus conserve strength and energy over the course of a race. Tepava also addressed the synchrony of team paddling—how to position each paddler in a 6-man canoe for best results.
Even Rain Doesn’t Dampen Spirits
On Day 1, an unexpected torrential downpour hit the island of Oahu. But it didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits. Tepava changed course and brought paddlers indoors for an in-depth lecture and demonstration. Tepava began with the basics. “Sometimes,” he says, “you have to go back in order to move forward.”
And “move forward” they did. On Day 2, Tepava took to the water. There paddlers put into practice what Tepava had presented “in the classroom.”
Tepava’s tips and strategies will help coaches pass along valuable insights and instruction to elevate their own teams, plus the passion of a man who has lived for va’a all his life. And in Tahiti, va’a is life itself.
This will be the first of many Tepava clinics, according to ARE Tahiti—in Hawaii and on the mainland U.S. Soon everyone interested in paddling can benefit from Tepava’s “basics” plus advanced instruction. Stay tuned for the next clinic!
To learn more about ARE TAHITI canoes and coaches, visit www.aretahiti.com. Or visit ShopOutrigger.com for everything a paddler might need, including canoes, clothing, and accessories.
