A good lesson on the water deserves to travel beyond one practice. That is why I’m starting The Paddler’s Journal.

I’m Mike, a paddler with Mākaha roots and a belief that sharing what we learn can help the next person find their place in the canoe. This journal is for current paddlers, people considering their first practice, and the coaches and volunteers who help a club move forward.

What we’ll explore

We’ll talk about stroke technique, crew timing, and practical pearls of wisdom to bring into a coached session. We’ll explore the different demands of regatta and long-distance seasons, from preparation and communication to the lessons we take home after a race.

We’ll also make room for the conversations that matter on shore: welcoming new members, caring for shared equipment, communicating expectations, supporting volunteers, and leading a club with consistency and respect. As the journal grows, we’ll examine issues affecting the wider paddling community, with sources identified when reporting facts.

Learning together

This is a place to ask useful questions and share experience. No single article can replace a coach watching your stroke, a steersperson assessing conditions, or a club’s established safety procedures. The aim is to give us better questions to bring to practice and clearer language for talking about what we learn.

When discussing challenges, we’ll focus on behaviors, decisions, and ways to improve. Real disagreements deserve care; people should not become targets for a public lesson.

Mākaha roots, a wider welcome

This is an independent journal written from my perspective. It does not speak for Mākaha Canoe Club or establish club policy. Its roots are local, and its welcome extends to paddlers across clubs, generations, and experience levels.

Our opening collection will cover a shared coaching voice; Set, Place, Move, Release; regatta preparation; long-distance crew readiness; helping new paddlers belong; and clear expectations for equipment use.

My hope is simple: that something you read here helps you return to the water better prepared, more thoughtful, and ready to contribute to your crew.

Mahalo for being here.
Mike