Lemmy Lambert is the co-builder and designer of the Va'a Factory V1 and V6 in Tahiti. An accomplished paddler himself, Lemmy and his team, Taaroa Dubois, Roland Teahui, Steeve Teihotaata and Heialanin Vairaaroa won the Te Aito, Super Aito 2009 V1 races, they also manufacture the V6 for Top Tahitian Teams.
Lemmy was just recently in Australia as coach of a V1 Clinic organized by Erica Hamp, Tracy Horan, the South Queensland Zone AOCRA Committee and Mark Kennedy (Va'a Factory Franchisee in Aust ZuluSurf) I had the pleasure of spending time with Lemmy at the 2 day Clinic and filming him demonstrating basic V1 Technique. The video above is part of that Clinic.
Thibert Lussiaa has asked me to help promote this race both here and around the world. He knows we are forming a Va'a Association in Oz and now have craft available here through Zulu http://www.zulusurf.com.au and wants paddlers to register their interest in this race. He tells me that lot's of Tahitian Top paddlers have agreed to support the event and Marsh "Tiger" Taylor has a new V1 being made especially for Ocean racing at this event that is much shorter than the sprinting V1.
Va'a Kane
The Ultimate battle of Champions V1 and OC1 a show down!!!.
-Pro Division ( Invitation only)
-Open Class Division... Kane and Wahine
June 6th and 7th. The Big Island of Hawaii, the Home of the Goddess Pele
The Va'a Kane is the Ultimate paddling event, Two days of Racing...Two different disciplines...Two different race courses and conditions...This is a timed event on each day and time from both days will determine the Ultimate Champion (Pro and Open Division)
-Day 1, June 6th is a V1 (Rudderless) race from Honokohau Harbor to finish at Keauhou Bay. 12 miles flat water race.
-Day 2, June 7th is a OC1 (Rudder) race from Keokea Beach park to Mahukona Launch. 14+ miles of Open Ocean water
Unique: Competitors must use a V1 (Rudderless) Va'a on day 1 and an OC1 (Rudder) Va'a on day 2.... No Exceptions!!!
One Champion...This event will define who is the best paddler in the World.
Much More race details along with web site and info out SOON!!
Race contacts:
Thibert Lussiaa (808) 895-1962 or tlusiaa@kukio.com
Mike Field (808) 896-6445 or mikefield@hawaii.rr.com
Mike Nakachi (808) 640-3871 or mikenakachi@hawaii.rr.com
From Tiger re the new Va'a
This canoe is an entirely new model. Like the old sprint model, the hull comes from va’a builder Philippe Bernardino of Tahiti. Its made for open water conditions. Smaller in volume, as the sprint model used in the IVF sprints is considered large, it has more rocker and no “V” through the center of the hull. It is looser and more maneuverable. The cockpit is high to keep water out. The canoe will have a skirt if one chooses.
Alohga
Tiger
Cheers Rambo
I was to fit a "GoPro Wide Angle" to a new Aussie Tahitian Va'a at a race on the weekend, but Travis Grant paddled his Hurricane instead, too rough for a Va'a, + it has no bulkheads yet, so it fills up with water. Had the wide angle level with the rear Iako on his Hurricane directly behind him. That is less than a meter away from his back and you could swear it was mounted at the rudder, it's that wide. He and Danny Sheard had a humdinger downwind battle, neither getting away from the other till the very end. Danny was in the picture the whole time. Only problem, with the huge lens, sunlight caused the inside to fog up after 15 mins on both Cams, so need additional anti fogging, plus it was extremely humid that day. No shit, these are the way to go if i can sort out a few little problems.
The Hamo Cup 42km DVD will Premier at Vaka Eiva on the big screen at "Jacks" ( if Victoria will let me) it's frigging awesome, be a classic.
Heaps to do before i fly out fly out Thurs to fulfill my commitment to film Vaka Eiva, including finishing the underwater housing for the new 1080i Hi Def Cam, this thing will blow your mind, the pics are stunning on my HD TV, as good as the HD channel on TV, now i'm broke again. :cry:
I will put the footage of Travis up when i return from Vaka Eiva. Also I have a new filming Gig in Western Australia shooting Multiple OC1 World Champion Karel Tresnak Jnr in Dean Gardiner's Perth World Cup. Karel has given me permission the put Go Pros on his Zephyr OC1 and i will be filming him from my own (Colin Bartley's - Outrigger Connection Aussie Distributor) media boat in Hi Def, this will be very interesting footage.
Heaps of other stuff happening more later ...........
Cheers Rambo
I know quite a few people have shown interest in Va'a Racing, like Greg Long, Kevy Long, Mark Kennedy, Rowdy etc.
A Va'a plug is actually already in Australia awaiting molding, so things are farther down the track than what one might realize. The NZ surfrigger has been around for a while, we have a few up here at Mooloolaba, but they are some what different to the Tahitian Va'a and lot's of Kiwis love the Tahitian designs.
Another informative video this time of the making of a Va'a
Wow - Super Aito Rudderless Surfing Video
Friday, September 26, 2008
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Posted by
Rambo
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comments (1)
This is the best rudderless surfing video i have ever seen, check out the skills of these guys. The video is actually footage from this years Super Aito
There is so much more to learn than just thrashing away with a paddle and pressing on foot peddles to steer as we currently do on ruddered canoes. The way they use their body, their paddle and the ocean is to me like "Equestrian" on the Ocean.
I'd like to propose we start a movement towards manufacturing and racing Va'a here in Australia, not just sprints but ocean racing as seen in the video. The skills learnt would be incredibly valuable for steerers in OC6 and create a whole new interest for OC1 paddlers looking for a challenge.
I want one.
Check out the leg drive and power generated by this young man (won the Open and Under 19 World Sprints)
Watch how his entire body weight is placed on the huge paddle and the way he scoots the Va'a forward almost like a C1 kneeling style, incredible glide after the power stroke.
His position on the seat as he slides, moves almost the length of his stroke. Not something you could do for an extended period of time, but awesome just the same.
Thanks to Mindy for the video
Some comments from other experienced paddlers
Leo Young - Very interesting technique and it looks like all the other Tahiti paddlers in the race are also using that technique. They drive with both legs together, which gives them tremendous drive, but this is counteracted, at least in part by loss of boat run due to the fairly violent boat movement up and down. It appears to work for them, but it’s hard to be sure if they’re superior rudderless paddling ability is largely responsible for the good end result.
Rambo - Most of the other paddlers appear to be paddling the V1 like they would an Oc1, but that's understandable, most probably do.
I think this video highlights just how different a Sprinting V1 is, compared to an OC1.
1. Higher seating position
2. Ability to slide on the seat
3. Longer waterline.
All these differences allow for greater use of the legs, body weight and alternate techniques. Not sure i want to go there, too much fun catching bumps in the ocean. But I'm sure there's something that can be
learnt studying it.
Pete Dorries - It's an interesting topic because what you are all talking about basically is technique. Technique in paddling, whether it be ski, kayak, oc1 or oc6 is continually getting refined. With kayaks we have seen the first Olympics (in my opinion) where each of the finalists had the same techniques. The is fine tuning to be done on all of the including the winners. This is what their coaches will do (hopefully) to keep that edge.
Getting back to the V1 race, What a great, explosive technique shown here. Although we look at it and say he is bouncing and sliding and doing all the things we talk about not doing, the paddler is having a great exit, a good recovery and most importantly a great catch. Something I bring into play with my board paddlers is a dolphin like bounce. We see that here in a very buoyant craft. As the paddler goes forward on his recovery we see the boat leave the water and drive forward then down. This movement then propels the boat up and forward again. Not bobbing up and down like a cork but forward like a dolphin.
Once you were told to keep craft slicing thru the water with no bounce. This was true on boards but as we started using thicker(therefore more floatation) boards we found as long as we didn't bob up and down we could drive forward and get the boards floatation to give us explosive forward power. I see similar technique in the C1 as the Board and ski and OC1. Twist and rotation from the hips. The C1 tend to get more movement too off the legs as they go down some through the groin area and return after the catch using all that power from the legs to the hips and stomach with a whipping motion. This is similar to what a board paddler is doing but can't get as much legs into it as they are kneeling on two knees not one.
Also technique and style shouldn't change from ocean to flat. What I teach at my classes we then adapt it to the ocean. Its all about holding technique under duress. IF feel you are faster in the flat it is because of less time in ocean conditions. This is where proper coaching comes into it. The problem in this sport is the person who is likely doing the coaching at your club is the person who has been paddling longer. I've even seen people with one or two years experience giving bad advise to newbies. But the newbies lap it up cos' they don't know any better. This is why it takes proper coaching, over time and especially on OC1's, to develop great technique. Labels: training techniques, V1, va'a
You think your a gun OC1 surfer ..... think again .... try rudderless Va'a surfing on the big breaks in Tahiti.
Full screen here http://blip.tv/file/441317
Cheers Rambo
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