Comments for Paddler Profile: Alexa Cole at http://www.surfski.info , comment 0 to 9 out of 9 comments http://www.surfski.info Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:09:58 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/699/156/#pc_2327 Although she and Pete are on honeymoon, I think Alexias record reflects her pedigree and abilities to do well in the Molokia. Being a friend to both her and Donia I have a little insight to some of the challenges these elite women face in regard of they amount of training they do, carrying the same logistic cost and getting the right equipment still (compared to the Elite men) only to receive lesser prize money for most events they contest at . Granted the field of female paddlers is fairly small, yet I think that after the Olympics we can expect to see the likes of Nikki Mocke & Michelle Eray joining this elite group of women paddlers and it will be interesting to see how these key events start to incorporate the female growth! Again to Rob & Jacques well done on giving some balanced & great coverage! - Jamii Hamlin Wed, 07 May 2008 12:45:31 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/699/156/#pc_2326 I do not agree with Daryl. Marathon canoe racing in north america has prooven that lighter paddlers benefit from shorter boats. This might not be true for big downwind conditions but seems reasonable for flatwater and upwind paddling. The big boats could be an explenation why Alexa is 'weaker' (by comparison) on these courses. Guess as long as Alexa is not trying the available smaller surfskis nobody can tell what she might achieve (or not) with these crafts. Cheers, Rolf - RoJo Wed, 07 May 2008 11:17:30 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/699/156/#pc_2325 Hello all, The issue that Alexa faces is not one of boat size, but one of cockpit ergonomics. Alexa, and many other top female paddlers are plenty strong enough to take advantage of the benefits offered by a 21 foot boat. Their strength to weight ratio is extremely high. The main issue they face is finding a cockpit that allows them to maximize their output. Simply put, a boat that is 2 - 3 feet shorter is not as competitive, and will probably handicap their ability. Both the Legend, and V10L adjust to fit shorter paddlers, and both have a lower "hump" under the calves to allow for efficient leg drive. The other concern is room for the hips, and some boats are too narrow. Finding the ideal fit is necessarily a personal choice, but I believe there are currently some great choices available for smaller paddlers. Best regards, Daryl - Daryl Remmler Wed, 07 May 2008 10:13:56 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/699/156/#pc_2324 Alexa, I have John Dixon's personal S1-A here on Oahu. I'll check w/ John, I'm sure he would be fine with you trying it out here; I'm only 3.5 miles from Makapuu point. It's only 18.5lbs, 18 feet long, super stiff and surf's like rocket. John designed it specifically for himself @ 140lbs, so while it still might be "big" for you, it would be far closer your size compared with the Fenn 6, V10, etc. - and it flys with lighter pilots. It also has John's super-surf rudder scaled down and hydro-modified from a moody airplane wing shape. For all you wish-someone-would build a boat for smaller people types, John's got a brand-new design half built that, if it works out as well as the S1-A and V-10's, would be an awesome light paddler boat. Feel free to contact me for a paddle (pending John's approval of course) Ken Moore 808-256-3191 - Kenneth Moore Wed, 07 May 2008 03:28:09 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/699/156/#pc_2321 Just to add to the list of omitted achievements… Alexa came 10th OVERALL in the 3rd race of the Cape Town Discovery/Men’s Health series this year, with a 93% time. As far as I know, this is a best ever result for a woman paddler in SA. Incredible! What I would love to know, is how somebody of 52kg/1.64m can generate so much power?!? - Craig van Heerden Tue, 06 May 2008 20:04:37 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/699/156/#pc_2320 The S1-A isn't that old is it? Dixon designed it for Huki in about 2004 if I'm not mistaken. Alexa would be a force on the S1-A. It's been used in a couple Molokai races - by Dixon, and Don Kiesling, maybe others. At least one S1-A exists on Oahu... -KH :-* - Kenny Howell Tue, 06 May 2008 19:34:54 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/699/156/#pc_2319 Great profile but what it does not mention is Alexa's numerous river paddling and marathon paddling achievements. Google-ing Alexa Lombard she seems to have won just about every event in SA at least once and was named joint SA Sportswoman of the Year in 2005 by the Sportswriters Association of South Africa. "In the period under review by the sportswriters, Lombard won every single women's marathon title on the South African calendar. She scooped the SA K1 title on the Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge last year, and then added the SA K2 river title on the Men's Health/New Balance Breede Marathon. In mid-year she took both flatwater marathon titles at the SA Marathon Champs in Plettenberg Bay. Her win in the K1 was particularly significant, as she has been working on her sprint speed to make her truly competitive at the flatwater champs format. Lombard made history in the annual Isuzu Berg Marathon when she placed eighteenth overall, the first time ever that a woman has raced into the top 20 overall. In October, Lombard added the cherry on top when she and her clubmate, Donia Kamstra, raced to the silver medal at the World Marathon Championships in Perth, Australia. Ironically, her medal at the worlds fell outside of the period under review for the awards." From http://www.southafrica.info/what_happening/sports/alexa-lombard-311005.htm http://www.southafrica.info/cm_pics/what_happening/694-1833-0-0_218102.jpg - Alain Jaques Tue, 06 May 2008 10:55:30 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/699/156/#pc_2318 The chick(en) or the egg...?! ;D Perhaps one of the manufacturers should take a leap of faith & produce a ski designed for the 50-60kg paddler. - Rob Mousley Tue, 06 May 2008 07:31:07 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/699/156/#pc_2317 Alexa, Huki has a surfski, the Huki S1 A, which is built for small paddlers but an older design. It is shorter with less volume. The women I know that own one really like it. Women here have the same complaint. We would like to see the manufacturers come up with something new for us. However untill more of us start surfskiing it would not make financial sense to them. Kathleen - Kathleen Petereit Tue, 06 May 2008 03:21:13 +0100