This week's featured paddler is Jay Moriarity, a legendary surfer/waterman who left us way too soon. Kim,
his wife, was nice enough to fill out the questions on his behalf and with the Jay Race coming up on June 13th,
it seemed appropriate to post this now in honor of Jay.





Jay, halfway between Santa Cruz and Monterey

Name: Jay Moriarity
Hometown:  Santa Cruz, CA
 
Years Paddling:   
8 + years.
 
Weekly Mileage:   
Approx. 15-20 miles
 
Preferred board length to paddle:   
12' stock.
 
Favorite Paddle route:   
Pleasure Point to New Brighton Beach Loop..
 
Favorite race:   
Paddle Across the Bay (Santa Cruz Harbor - Monterey Harbor) It was a Love/Hate thing...
 
I Started Paddling Because:   
Training for Big waves and Surfing.
 
Best ...

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Name: Dean Hanmer
Hometown: Gold Coast, Australia

Age: 21
Years Paddling: 6

Weekly Mileage:
About 30 miles at the moment

Preferred board length to paddle:
18 ft

Favorite Paddle route:
Snapper Rocks to Currumbin on a good day can be heaps of fun.

Favorite race:
Molokai. Everything about it is just awesome, especially standing on the beach at Kaluakoi and you can just see the mountains of Oahu, and you're like “that’s where we are paddling to?”

I Started Paddling Because:
I started paddling unlimited boards with a mate in a teams race on the goldie back in 2005, and I was hooked from then. Then I did the Hennessey’s Race in Australia in 2006, and I heard about this Molokai race in Hawaii and at first was like “that’s crazy. I’ll ...

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Name: Kimo Greenwell
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii

Age: 34
Years Paddling: Little over 3 years

Weekly Mileage:
..…..more in the summer, less in the winter.

Preferred board length to paddle:
Stock

Favorite Paddle route:
Hawaii Kai runs with my friends.

Favorite race:
The whole experience of preparing for and paddling in the Molokai makes
that race the most meaningful for me. There are so many participants in that field of
competitors which I look up to, so just to be a part of that event is pretty special.

I Started Paddling Because:
I got inspired while riding on the escort boat watching my
friends Mike Pietsch and Scott Gamble during the 2005 Molokai.

Best Paddling Experience to Date:
I’ll never forget ...

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Name: Frank Hotchkiss (old Hotch)               
Hometown: Long Beach

Age: 83
Years Paddling: 10

Weekly Mileage:
5-8

Preferred board length to paddle:
14ft.

Favorite Paddle route:
Around Naples Is. Or off Malibu or green can off Dana Pt.

Favorite race:
Zahn Memorial or Rock to Rock w/ son

I Started Paddling Because:
Watching son (Tony) race

Best Paddling Experience to Date:
Rock to Rock relay w/ Tony

Favorite Thing About Paddling:
Physical rhythm, shape of water and the gang

Thing I Hate Most About Paddling:
No hate

What I Tell Myself to Motivate on Days I Just Don't Want to Paddle:
Carpe Diem life is short

Best "Oh Crap" Moment While In Middle of Ocean:
N.A.

iPods While Paddling: ...

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Name: Bob Willis
Age: 46
Years Paddling: 5

Name: Francziska Steagall
Age: 44
Years Paddling: 5
 
Weekly Mileage-Bob:
Winter 5-10, Summer 20+
Weekly Mileage-Francziska:
Winter 12-20, Summer 30+

Preferred board length to paddle-Bob:
18’ 6”
Preferred board length to paddle-Francziska:
18’ 6” (The Dark Side!)

Favorite Paddle route-Bob:
Mother’s Beach to SM Pier & back.
Favorite Paddle route-Francziska:
Mother’s Beach to SM Pier & back.

Favorite race-Bob:
Malibu to Marina, because it’s local and I would be foolish not to do it plus it’s great to see everybody’s boards.
Favorite race-Francziska:
Catalina Classic- never done it, but I am on the timing team.  I have much respect for everyone who’s completed this event.

I Started Paddling Because-Bob:
My wife made me do it.

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Name: Mike Jones
Hometown: Carmel, CA

Age: 55
Years Paddling: 5

Weekly Mileage:
6 to 25 depending on when.

Preferred board length to paddle:
14 ft

Favorite Paddle route:
Carmel Beach to Stillwater Cove Pier to Ghost Tree to Cypress Point for stunning scenery both above and below the surface. 

Favorite race:
Santa Cruz Pier to Capitola Pier. It’s “unofficial.”  Great vibe, amazing scenery. It’s fun to paddle through the lineups and hear a few hoots. And last year, unofficially, I got a great unofficial result. The Jay Race is also a great one.


I Started Paddling Because:
It’s just me and the ocean. I found out in 2003 that the annual Carmel Surfabout has a 1-mile-plus “distance paddle” for surfboards only. I was just getting back into surfing after a 30-year break ...

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Name:  Gene Boyer Hometown: Redondo Beach   Age: 65  (June) Years Paddling: 5   Weekly Milage:
Early season is about 15 +/- and pre "Classic" is about 40-50.   Preferred board length:
18' Bark.   Favorite Paddle Route:
Over to the "Cove" from "Burnout" to surf stock boards with Miles Pritzkat and Tim Ritter.   Favorite race:
"Catalina Classic". It is a hugh high at the finish.   I Started Paddling Because:
I won a 14' Bark at the luau after the '04 Santa Barbara Island to the Isthmus, Catalina Island. I had escorted Tim Ritter, Miles Pritzkat and Greg Britewell. They took the inflatable back to our boat and told me to paddle. That was my first night paddle drunk on my ass.   Best Paddling Experience to Date:
Two come to mind. The "Malika Run" in the Hennessey '07 Maui race (real windy) and the "08 "Catalina Classic"(not windy)

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Name: Jay Miller
Age: 41

Years Paddling: 25 (started with sprint lifeguard races in the 80’s)  Started distance races in 1998.
Weekly Mileage: 30-50 (during the season)

Preferred board length to paddle:
18’

Favorite Paddle route:
16th street Hermosa to R-10 via PV cove with the Donkeys.

Favorite race:
Hennesseys US Championship (raffle and beer)

I Started Paddling Because:
I wasn’t coordinated enough to surf ski or row a dory.

Best Paddling Experience to Date:
2008 Catalina Classic. Threw it all out there…and was happy with the result.

Favorite Thing About Paddling:Friendship, brotherhood, challenge…raffles…Scott Lincoln (all day paddle fest)!....And beating Jay Russell.

Thing I Hate Most About Paddling:
Not being able to do all the fun races.  I really need ...

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Name: Mike McDaniel (aka: el Mikexican)
Hometown: Monterey, CA

Age: 43
Years Paddling: 5 or so

Weekly Mileage:
Uh... not enough to be proud of.

Preferred board length to paddle:
Unlimited

Favorite Paddle route:
Pebble Beach/Carmel loop at home, Santa Cruz to Capitola when
I’m up there.

Favorite race:
The Jay Moriarity Race is awesome because it feels like an honor to paddle in it, and the community is really tight that day,
just great vibes all around, everyone is inspired and stoked to remember Jay. The Santa Cruz Pier 2 Pier is super fun too.

I Started Paddling Because:
I needed something like a meditation in  my  life, but I can’t sit that still. Paddling is it for me. Plus, I  just  like to be in the water, and it ...

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Name: Herve de Lignieres 
Hometown: Morlaix

Age: 43
Years Paddling: 5years

Weekly Mileage: 
In winter (waves season) just surfing. Sometime 12' paddleboard. During the season (18'6) more like 10-12 nautical milles… depends on races coming up.

Preferred board length to paddle:
18’6 Richmond
12' Hurricane 18 '

Favorite Paddle route: 
in Morlaix's bay around an old castel (island) and lot of rockies islands  

Favorite race:
Hoalen crossing (island Ouessant-portsall Brittany) very offshore race

I Started Paddling Because: 
I 'm an old surfer who always paddling  a longboard on flat days... One day miracle !it's easier and faster on a real paddleboard! I really like to be alone at the ocean inside nature it's basic sport (biblic) with no superficial and crossing is the challenge 

Best Paddling ...

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