Meet the Coaches

A large round of applause to coaches, who selflessly volunteer their time and talent to the paddlers of Pale Kai. This is an enormous undertaking that often takes away from a coach’s own paddling time. While there are standards in technique that Pale Kai adheres to, as in every sport, each coach has their own style of coaching. If you have any questions about your crew’s training, please feel free to discuss it with your coach or with the Head Coach.

Coaches face the difficult decision of determining race crews. Understand that coaches struggle to find a balance of what will provide successful racing results for Pale Kai (as a competitive club) as well as give as many paddlers as possible a chance to compete. In many cases, it takes years for paddlers to find themselves at a competitive level. We encourage paddlers to not be discouraged, but to continue the sport. Sometimes you’ll find that one extra season is a difference in making crew on race day.

Scott Bixler

Head Coach

A California native and Pale Kai Outrigger member for 20 years, Scott has previously held most all club positions including President, Men’s Coach, Women’s Coach and Treasurer. He looks forward to bringing his experiences to the challenges of guiding the men’s and women’s paddling programs and bringing every paddler to the top of their game during our racing season. Aside from competing in all northern and southern California 6 man races, Scott has also competed in multiple Hawaii races including three Molokai Hoe; six Pailolo challenges, and three Queen Liliuokalani races.

Scott Poe

Men’s Coach

Scott began competitive paddling nearly two decades ago with Pale Kai and has enjoyed being on the water with friends and teammates over the years. The competitive aspect of paddling is what initially drew him in but then over the years the constant challenges the ocean presents have kept him coming back for more.

Scott has a good understanding of where the club has been, where it is is, and is looking forward to helping advance the club in this next season. Technique and endurance will be two of the several focal points while focusing on the men's racing program. Scott looks forward to working with all level of paddlers to make their goals come to fruition in 2024!

Sarah Sandstrom

Women’s Coach

Sarah S. began her paddling journey with a passion for standup paddleboard racing in 2013 where she found success in races throughout the Pacific Northwest, organized clinics by top paddlers, and lead clinics for others. Sarah began outrigger paddling in 2014 with Sand Point Outrigger Canoe Club as a way to improve her paddling technique and cross-train throughout the year. In 2019 Sarah moved to the Central Coast and joined Pale Kai.

Fast forward to today, Sarah is excited to step in and help Pale Kai build upon the recent 2023 season women’s crew racing successes. As a 2024 women’s co-coach, Sarah looks forward to applying her experience in endurance paddle training to help the team become even stronger and faster, while still supporting fun and positive experience.

Josh Tickenoff

Novice Coach

Josh came to the Central Coast four years ago. After a year of "all work and no play", he resolved to get a life. Fortuitously, he met a paddler who shared her passion of paddling with PKO. One Demo Day was all it took; he was hooked.

Josh has competed in numerous races during his tenure with PKO. In addition to the "standard" Southern California 6- and 9-man races, he's participated in the Catalina Crossing, Another Dam Race (ADR), and the Gorge (on a 1-man canoe). He counts ADR and the Gorge among his favorites.

Before discovering outrigger paddling, Josh was primarily an individual sports guy - surfing, skating, snowboarding. "One thing I’ve loved about joining PKO is how it’s challenged me to step into a team and endurance sport. I love how PKO has challenged me to grow. It’s undeniable that we all “trauma bond” in competition."

In addition to paddling, Josh enjoys hiking, camping, light trail jogs ("no marathons for me!"), biking around town, and the many other activities available on the central coast. Josh is a huge fan of trying new things.

Josh considers San Luis Obispo his “Goldilocks Land.” Moving here, he says, was one of the best decisions he’s made in years: “Every day feels like a mini vacation.”