Brings you decades of paddling success
Born from Lanikai, Built for the Ocean.
The Foti Brothers were raised steps from Lanikai beach, paddling and surfing for pure pleasure. Frank, John and Jim (and sister Kathy) began paddling as soon as they could see over the gunnels, and by age six had all learned to steer their family’s homemade three-man canoe. Lanikai Canoe Club’s base was steps from the Foti home, so they naturally began racing at an early age. By the time the Fotis were young adults, they were all acknowledged as some of Lanikai Canoe Club’s premier paddlers and steersmen. They have been paddling competitively ever since, logging thousands of hours in canoes.
The Foti Bros. Difference
Why Foti Bros?
Who are the Foti Bros. and why should you consider joining a Foti Paddle Camp, clinic or private session?
We also offer
Paddling services
Camps
The focus of the scheduled Foti Camps is on OC-1s, however, all but the advanced camp includes at least a day of OC-6 with an emphasis on steering. Camps are broken up by experience level.
Clinics
Clinics provide a great opportunity to take paddling to the next level with minimal time commitment.
We offer a wide range of coaching services that can be scheduled to meet your schedule.
Remote Video Analysis
Send us a short video of you paddling (not more than 2 minutes) from which we can analyze your stroke, and then we’ll set up a skype meeting to review and discuss your technique, and give you tips and drills to improve your skills.
Team Building
The next time you’re looking to boost morale around your company, why not give your employees a fun day on the water that demonstrates the need for coordination, communication and a sense of humor in a successful crew?
So you don’t want hard core paddling, but just want to go paddling. Perhaps you want to the Mokulua Islands in Lanikai with a lifetime resident of Lanikai? We can accommodate this.
We can guide you pretty much on any run you want: Hawaii Kai, Makapu’u, Windward Oahu, North Shore, West Side or even something extreme like from Maui to Molokai or across the Molokai Channel.
Reviews
Carol Schick
What you are to canoeing is what most of us can only dream about. Thank you!
Satisfied Steersman
Steered this morning @ 7. Felt good and the class helped me feel more confident in the canoe,
Raye Soares
Steering Wisdom
Mahalo, Mollie and family, for the special day of Jim’s steerage wisdom. I learned a few important things and went on to work feeling so good! Aloha,
Alexandra Avery
RANK YOURSELF
to Joining the Right Paddling Camp
The focus of the scheduled Foti Camps is on OC-1s, however, all but the advanced camp includes at least a day of OC-6 with an emphasis on steering. Camps are broken up by experience level. It is very important to select the appropriate experience level to ensure you get the most out of the coaching opportunity. Camp sizes will be restricted to no more than 10 paddlers per camp to assure that each paddler gets personal attention, so register early to get the camp and date that works best for you.
Your are at Level 1 when:
- Never before paddled. Might call an outrigger paddle an oar, and a canoe a kayak.
Beginner
We do not currently run camps for absolute entry level beginners. However, if you would like a one-on-one introductory clinic, or know of a group interested in an introductory camp, feel free to contact us here and we’ll build a curriculum right for you.
Your are between Levels 2 to 4 when
- Have paddled, but not for long. Are very novice and have never participated in any races.
- Have paddled for a year or so. Maybe have competed in a few local races. Probably only have paddled OC-6, but maybe have borrowed an OC-1 a few times.
- Have paddled for a few years now and am starting to get competitive in either or both OC-6 and OC-1. Know the basics well, but don’t have a lot of experience in open ocean, and long races.
You belong to The Basic Camp
Introduction to outrigger paddling in Hawaii; why we paddle, where it came from and who paddles outrigger. Learn how to handle OC-1 canoes; how to rig and care for them. Learn to assess weather conditions and ocean safety, as well as tips to avoid trouble on and off the water. Focus on stroke technique with a video analysis, learn technique drills relevant to your stroke, and spend time on the water practicing. Learn balance and stability techniques, as well as when and how to apply them. Introduce yourself to surfing and reading the water. Learn to steer the big canoes and better understand the basic fundamentals of OC-6 team dynamics. We’ll also give you training tips and tools, information on nutrition and how to build a game plan to accomplish your goals. Finish the week with some fun paddling, all the while reviewing and practicing the things you learned. Leave with a better understanding of what proper paddling should feel and look like, and why it’s so fun.
Your are between Levels 4 to 6 when
- Have paddled for a few years now and am starting to get competitive in either or both OC-6 and OC-1. Know the basics well, but don’t have a lot of experience in open ocean, and long races.
- Now you are definitely a paddler, having competed in numerous races over the past 3 or 4 years, you are no longer in the beginning novice category with your club and you feel you know what you are doing. Maybe you own an OC-1 and are starting to feel like you are getting pretty good in the calm and mild seas.
- You are a long time member of a club, you own an OC-1 and race both OC-1 and OC-6 regularly. Might have some open ocean experience, but need to improve your skills in the big water and surf.
You belong to The Basic/Intermediate Camp
Follow a similar curriculum to that of the basic camp, but with at a faster, more advanced pace that assumes some of the concepts are merely review. It will give you either confirmation of what you are doing correct, or the realization that you are not doing it correctly yet. We will still conduct video reviews and technique drills as needed, but this group should grasp concepts faster, giving us more time on the water and allow us to journey farther from home into more challenging conditions than the basic camp.However, we won’t cut the ocean safety portion short. Our aim is to give you the skills that will take you from being a more recreational paddler to a competitive racer. We’ll cover the same steering lesson as with the basic camp but will accelerate as necessary depending on the paddlers in attendance. We’ll also touch on race goals, preparation and planning. From experience we’ll tell you how to get to the top of your heap. Leave the week feeling more confident and accomplished a paddler than ever.
Your are between Levels 5 to 7 when
- Now you are definitely a paddler, having competed in numerous races over the past 3 or 4 years, you are no longer in the beginning novice category with your club and you feel you know what you are doing. Maybe you own an OC-1 and are starting to feel like you are getting pretty good in the calm and mild seas.
- You are a long time member of a club, you own an OC-1 and race both OC-1 and OC-6 regularly. Might have some open ocean experience, but need to improve your skills in the big water and surf.
- Regatta season, OC-6 distance and OC-1 distance. You do it all. Have experience in the open ocean, but still haven’t figured out how to make the ocean work for you. However, in flat races you place respectably well in the OC-1 division.
You belong to The Intermediate Camp
For those who want to step up their competitive game; we’ll fast forward through the basics and hit the water earlier and harder. We will still do the video analysis as you will always learn from analyzing yourself. We will also maintain a focus on ocean safety every step of the way as well as make sure everyone can steer an OC-6, which is a must to advance into the expert category. We will hit the blue water and challenging conditions, practicing and refining open ocean surfing and reading the ocean. We may choose to paddle in various locations based on the weather conditions, needs and desires of the paddlers. We will also discuss the finer points of training programs and race planning strategies for different types of races (sprint and distance courses, OC-1 vs. OC-6). We know what it takes to be the best and will share the tools. Primary focus will be on OC-1.
Your are between Levels 8 to 10 when
- I own five paddles, each for a different paddling condition. I am comfortable in the open ocean and big water. Have done many races of all sorts, not just local races. Are able to read the water well enough to keep up with a fast group in a good downwind surf run.
- Very good, experienced paddler. Very competent and confident in the open ocean, rough water. Paddles all types of canoes and pretty much kicks butt. Have a solid resume of races done. And I probably am a coach.
- Molokai Hoe? No big deal. You are the best of the best. Paddles everything well in all conditions, paddles a lot and has been “there” time and time again, with a long resume of success and accomplishments.
You belong to The Advanced Camp
This is a camp specifically engineered for highly experienced paddlers who want to paddle the extreme courses and conditions in Hawaii. Basics are not necessary and video review is out the window. This is only a 3 day camp with the majority of the time spent on the water doing surf runs and/or paddling the “out of bounds”. This is ideal for the experienced paddler who simply doesn’t know the area and how to get around, and wants to do it in good equipment. OC-1 focus, unless requested otherwise.
Join the Foti Bros Ohana
Your paddling journey starts here. Whether you’re looking for expert advice, the best gear, or just want to talk story about being on the water, we’re here to help.
