The lakes and rivers have thawed and the sun has started to warm up the water. Paddling season in Ontario is back in full swing.

I kicked off the paddling season in Kailua, Hawaii this year. First time back in a boat was to just "go for a paddle" in the Kanaka Ikaika Racing Association's final race of the season, a 10 mile race heading out from Kailua Beach, around Flat Island, out to Bird Island, up the canal to Pinky's Bridge and back to Kailua Beach. It was like this water was made for my first day out, nice and flat. That took the Hawaiian's surfing advantage out of the equation. I battled it out with a couple men the whole way and managed to finish as the top woman. Not to shabby for just going out for a paddle.

A five day training camp gave me lots of time on the water in both OC1 and in the OC6. My training group was amazing, lots of different expertise and experience. The camp gave me specific parts of my technique to refine and improve. It helped advance my water reading and wave riding skills. Plus it didn't hurt that we got to surf some killer waves during practice sessions!

The best waves came just in time for the Oahu Championships. Another 10 miles but this time a downwind run from Hawaii Kai to Magic Island. Biggest waves that I have ever experienced, wow! Started of as nice easy wind swell, caught some good rides connecting a lot of waves together. But then I found myself having to angle out from shore a little more to make sure I had a proper line to go around Diamond Head without getting caught in the surfbreak. The waves just kept growing as I made my way out to the open ocean. I got some amazing rides including one that just picked me up a little too fast, more than I was comfortable with and I just couldn't let myself relax, lighten the ama and ride it. Nope, instead I buried the ama and it ended up driving me across the wave until I finally huli'd. Got righted pretty quickly but couldn't get my seat back to a comfy position for a few minutes. Finally back in the grove, I was able relax and catch some great rides around Diamond Head. Once around the point I realized how close I was to the finish. I started looking for my best friend who was about 100m out to the side of me when I huli'd. I could see a white shirt way up in the distance so I turned on the jets. He beat me the previous week so there was no way I wanted to lose again! I put my head down and hammered, catching every little wind swell that I could as I passed in front of Waikiki. I started to pass a few people. My experience on lake water really helped me connect the small waves from the wind. Next thing I knew, my friend was right in front of me and I was gaining quickly! Managed to pass him with less than a kilometer to go and set my sights on a girl ahead of me. I made up a ton of ground on her, so much that I was right on her tail as we came into the finish line. She must have heard me coming because she turned on the jets with about 500m to go. Great race, great experience and great people. All the paddlers and spectators on Oahu were so welcoming and friendly. It was awesome to hear "Go Canada" from the shore!