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.
Austin Bixler
Men’s Coach
Austin's passion for paddling began in 2009. Paddling and racing in every seat has offered a unique perspective on the challenges presented in every seat as well as what makes a boat run fast. Almost exclusively steering for the past 2 years has provoked a greater understanding of what it takes to win and how to mentor a crew into being the best they can collectively be. Boasting a top 10 overall finish last year in a SCORA Iron race is just the tip of the iceberg. The focus for this year’s Men’s team will consist of: individual duties with collective, synchronized response. That combined with surf, endurance, steering, and efficiency training will make us a force to be reckoned with.
Patrick Lyons
Womens Coach
Andrew Wilkening
Novice Coach
Andrew discovered outrigger paddling in Maui when he joined his high school's varsity crew. In this first year of paddling, and under the incredible coaching of Paul Lu'uvai, Andrew quickly became a leader in both fitness and technique. His team won the MIL Championship and earned 3rd in the State finals.
A decade later, Andrew found a second family - Pale Kai. Although his first year was filled with bumps and trials, just like the waters of the Central Coast, his dedication and love for the canoe kept Andrew on this path that continues to impact his body, mind and life for the better. Andrew continues to paddle all over California with the support of Pale Kai's aloha spirit.
Bob Teaford
Novice Coach
Bob joined Pale Kai in 2019 as a Novice, paddled through the 'COVID years,' and raced as a veteran in 2022. His background in sport includes road bike racing, mountain bike racing, car racing, as well as lots of sailboat racing and cruising, more than 10,000 miles all around the world. He joined Pale Kai in pretty poor health and, after four years of paddling, claims his fitness is as good or better than in his 20's. Bob's hope as a Novice coach is to provide a safe, supportive, and encouraging environment for everyone to reach that elusive combination of great fitness, deep sense of well being, and development of new friendships, all the while working together as a team toward the common goal of paddling faster than all the other novice teams!