Our Services
Clinics
As with the Foti Camps, Foti clinics are intended to educate and guide paddlers in a more condensed period of time. Clinics provide a great opportunity to take paddling to the next level with minimal time commitment. They are either one or two day events devoting the entire time to a particular aspect of paddling.
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Clinic Topics
It is one thing to be a good paddler, and quite another to successfully raise others to the same status. This theory-based clinic provides new coaches with key words and concepts for effective communication with new paddlers, as well as recommendations for structuring workouts to promote health and improvement in athletes. All of our suggestions come from personal experience of over 40 years of paddling and coaching, as well as an understanding of exercise physiology.
Steering Clinic: Introduction to Steering
Everyone should know how to steer. This Clinic is for any paddler, advanced or beginner, who knows NOT how to steer or is just beginning to steer. Jim Foti, steersman since the age of 6, will teach you the fundamentals and mechanics of steering, when to use the different methods, for how long and why. It will outline the roles a steersperson plays as well as the roles of all the other seats, and why it is so important for all paddlers in the canoe to have a knowledge of steering. By the end of this session, you will have a grasp, if not be well on your way to steering an OC-6. Two day clinic: 4 hours on day one and 2 hours on day 2. 10 persons maximum.
Advanced Steering: Regatta Sprinting and Turns
You already know how to steer but need to sharpen up your skills in regatta sprint races with turns. Regatta steering leaves little margin for error. Learn or review where and how to line up your canoe, how to predict the effects of different ocean conditions, what to look for when heading to your flag, where to line up the canoe for the approach to the turn and how to execute the pivot and escape route. Hear the advice and suggestions that Jim Foti, steersman with more OC-6 sprint victories than anybody in Hawaii’s history has to say. Improve your confidence and performance with discussion, Q and A, and on the water practice. Steerspersons of any experience level can benefit from this clinic. One day clinic, 4 hours. 8 persons maximum.
Advanced Steering: Open Ocean and Downwind Surfing
You already know how to steer but need to sharpen up your open ocean and downwind surfing skills. A good steersman can make a good crew great! But a good crew without a good steersman will never be recognized. This clinic focuses on how to effectively and efficiently steer your canoe in the open ocean. Jim Foti, Lanikai Men’s premier steersman since 1986 and winner of 5 Molokai Hoe races, will share his knowledge. He will help you understand what to be aware of, what to look for and how to read the water. You will learn how to capitalize on opportunities, create opportunities and minimize mistakes. Improve your confidence and performance with discussion, Q and A, and blue water practice. We’ll help give you the tools to become the best you can be. 2 day clinic: 2 hours day 1, 4 hours day, 2 to 6 persons maximum.
Basic Paddling
Our most general clinic is geared toward those who are relatively new to paddling. Because club coaches may have tens of paddlers from a range of experience levels on their crews, they may not have the resources to give new paddlers a proper fundamental education about paddling. We take it from the ground floor and build up: receive one-on-one attention including video analysis of your stroke, learn technique drills and spend time on the water solidifying what you learn. Learn to assess weather conditions and ocean safety, as well as protocols for managing yourself and your crewmates should crises strike. Finally, appreciate team dynamics, the distinctive contribution that each seat makes in an OC-6 and how OC-1 paddling can contribute to the success of an OC-6 crew. We’ll give you the information and direction you need to become a better paddler. For levels 2 – 4.
Advanced Steering: Regatta Sprinting and Turns
For those who are already confident paddlers, but want reassurance they are on the right track, and/or reassert discipline into their training, we offer a clinic that focuses on the finer details of technique and training. This clinic is similar to the basic paddling option, but accelerates through basics and is generally a faster pace with more paddling. For levels 4 – 6.
Advanced: OC-1 Surfing skills
Surfing the ocean is perhaps the funnest form of paddling. One of the greatest freedoms associated with OC-1 is versatility in wave conditions. A defining mark of the best paddlers is their ability to catch swells of all sizes, coming from all angles and stringing it all together. Ocean surfing is also the best way to turn a monotonous workout into a stellar day on the water that leaves you hankering for more. Getting to that level of proficiency takes time in the ocean, but we can help accelerate the learning curve by sharing tips of what to look for and how to react. This clinic will take you into the deep blue ocean where you have the opportunity to try your hand at surfing with a coache(s) to guide you along and make sure you are safe. Please note that this clinic requires enough experience and competence to stay upright most of the time in the rough ocean. Consequently, this clinic is for intermediate/advanced, strong level 5 paddlers and above.
Pre-Race Course Clinics
While most of our clinics center around one aspect of paddling, we also offer instructional sessions that touch on all the major factors pertaining to the local (Kanaka Ikaika Racing Association) races (see www.kanakaikaika.com for schedule). Many paddlers enter a race on a route they have never traversed. Not knowing what to expect of the water conditions and coastal geography often makes a paddler uncomfortable, putting them at a distinct disadvantage. We offer to paddle through the upcoming race courses to improve racers’ confidence and race performance. We’ll help construct a race plan including route recommendations based on tides and weather patterns, pacing, and tips to reduce the overall workload. Finally, we’ll take a paddle along the intended race course to solidify key elements of your new strategy. Replace nerves with confidence on race day, and optimize the fun. This clinic assumes that paddlers are race-ready in terms of fitness and technique, and only need course guidance.
Ready to Join?
Our team is ready to share their lifetime of knowledge with you. Explore our services to find the perfect coaching experience for your goals.
