Kelly Stevens - aka "Keli"

Originally a Laguna Beach gal, Kelly now lives in Dana Point. Known to locals as "Keli", she is often found down at the beach teaching standup paddle boarding or demoing OC-1's. Mother, business owner, paddler, teacher, and all around good friend, Keli is always on the go.

All through Keli's life she has used running as a base for her athletic activities. As a long distance runner training for the Olympics, back in the day, she developed and mastered the same disciplines she brings to her water training. Heavily involved in paddling sports, she maintains an intense workout week running a standup paddle board boot camp five days a week coupled with an outrigger paddling workout three days a week. It's no wonder she looks great. Oh, and she still makes time to run.

Over the past two years Keli has stepped up her game. She captured multiple wins in the 2008 southern California winter series and ended the season with a first place Catalina Relay trinket in the OC-2 Master Division. She went on to race in the Kauai World Challenge where once again, she placed first. One week later she challenged herself by paddling the PA'A (Ka'iwi Channel Solo), a 40 mile race from Moloka'i to O'ahu which challenges top paddlers from around the world. The Ka'iwi Channel is known to be one of the world's toughest crossings, testing paddlers both mentally and physically, and it's not uncommon for paddlers to drop out. Keli met this challenge head on, running in the OC-2 mixed division. She not only finished but managed to capture 2nd place even after dealing with "equipment malfunction". She'll have to tell you the story some time.

Keli continues to race through the summer with Dana Outrigger Canoe Club and as the 2009-2010 winter series approaches you will find her once again racing up and down the coast of California. As for tackling the PA'A again... let's just take it one day at a time :-)

  

  

 

 

 

 

  

*** NEW UPDATES ***

Keli has started the 2009-2010 winter series off with a bang. Taking first place overall in the Kona Queen Lili'uokalani race OC-2 Mixed April 30, 2009. After which she open the season off at the Southern California Winter Series with a stunning performance of first OC-2 Mixed and second overall less than a minute behind the first place canoe which was a men's team. Earlier this year she participated in the Battle of the Paddle a standup paddle board contest which attracted top paddlers from around the world. She raced in the elite class and placed 10th out of a star studded field of 21 top women paddlers.

Keli continues to push the envelope by training every day for her next event. You can still find her teaching and or running SUP classes at baby beach, Dana Point. Stay tuned for further news as the season progresses.