My first SUP race was the second 'Battle of the Paddle." I had trained for months and was in pretty good shape. My beach start was decent, but after the first lap, my body began to to shut down: first my biceps, then my triceps followed by my shoulders and pecs...then my lower back. It was not fun. I remember this little, round Hawaiian man was laughing at me as he paddled right past me. "You needa technique to paddle mo fasta," or something like that. He was taking these quick, little strokes...it made no sense. I was clearly, the superior athelete. But, the harder I paddled, the slower I moved it seemed. I participated in a few more races...and repeatedly got my ass kicked. The same guys kept winning…