Goodwin takes SUP Cup

Goodwin tears up the inside to take the Master of the Ocean SUP Cup 2010.
Goodwin's strategy of working the inside earned him the two best days of surf and the SUP Cup. Goodwin had surfed Encuentro for years, this experience paid off as he seemed to know exactly where the next wave would break. Goodwin was perfect 7-7 on his first 7 waves. He took the lead early and never gave it up.

"...I was catching clean inside sets between the bigger outside sets..." Said Goodwin "...when the bigger sets came in I was in the right place at the right time."

Maui John finished second both days while Gordon Gannon finished with 2 third places.

Goodwin Dominates SUP Master

The swell hit, the wind was perfect as the sun came up Saturday Morning for the Master of the Ocean Sup CUP. Glenn "Chico" Goodwin put the hammer down early and never let up. "...I had no choice I had to" said Goodwin. Goodwin began the day trailing Maui John and McLoven by 1 with only two days remaining. Pictured below, Glenn "Chico" Goodwin takes the wave from McLoven. Photo by Photo Lopez


Goodwin took an early lead over Maui John and Gordon Gannon, all the contestants had high percentages, but Goodwin managed the sets beautiful and quickly got a two wave lead, Maui John made a late charge but it just wasn't enough.


"that was the most competitive day in Dominican SUP history" said Gannon who is pictured below.



"..I caught the first wave, but Glenn got on fire and stayed hot" said Maui John "...that is the best i've seen him paddle..."


Photos by:
Photo Lopez

Best SUP Shot

Event Producer Marcus Brohmn is leading the SUP "Best Shot" catagory. Marcus tucked in t0 a nice barrel briefly in Friday's action. The swell is growing and glassing off, near perfect swell expected for Saturday Morning, with trade winds to follow!

Swell Hits for Master Surf

Swell hit and surfers surfed on Friday at the Master of the Ocean. Clearing winds came from the West all night and into the am hours. Winds calmed as the surf grew. Friday had the biggest surf of the competition to date. Maui John battled heavy conditions for 10 waves to take the day and bring the SUP Cup to a tie at 1- 1 with Gordon Gannon. Thursday and Friday are the days that count so far for the SUP CUP.

"...some people call these days 'big and ugly' to me it's head high surf with air conditioning" said Maui John

"it was a battle to get ten waves...at sunrise I thought that we would be kiting, surf cleaned up quickly as the Haitian wind laid down " said Maui John. "the swell is rising...tomorrow will be big...the 'Master' will be a big wave surfer...just what we wanted" said Maui John


Surf Qualifiers ran for the Overall Competition, good surfers struggled to get 3 waves in their heats, other surfers failed to catch any waves.

Maui John is using the Paddle Board in the Over All Surf...here is what he had to say..." the surf is gonna be big and if the wind stays away I should be good, but if the wind comes 'onshore' good short boarders will have a huge advantage..." said Maui John. I'm just hoping for no wind or off shore wind in the morning...the size is there...the storm passed...should have glassy surf in the mornings and good wind late...this could be a perfect surf and kite weekend!

McLoven leads Master SUP

Gordon "McLoven" Gannon takes commanding lead in the Master of the Ocean SUP Exhibition.
Gannon wins the first two SUP days by a narrow margin over John Holzhall (Maui John).

"...we count the best two days of surf..." said Gannon "so the first two days were small and fun, I won by percentage...they probably won't count, but we will see".

Large surf is predicted for the weekend.

Gannon caught 10 out of 12 waves the first day, 10 for 11 waves the second day where as Maui John went 10 for 13 the first day and 10 for 13 the second day.

"...i'm not used to the parties...i'm not a big drinker, but the Masters parties are so much fun it's hard not to go...i'm paying a price at sunrise" said Maui John "the last two days I missed my first two waves...but I had a great time at the parties!"


"...Master of the Ocean is really a celebration of 'Beach Living' and there is no better beach living than the North Coast of the Dominican Republic." said McLoven "...last night I was watching Canada beat Russia in Hockey at an open air beach bar, next door they were having the event party, they had a 'Best Lips Contest' ...20 brown girls doing all kind of things to show off their lips...all this after catching glassy surf in tropical water...fantastic!" said Gannon.

Master SUP Cup Warm Ups

A large swell is due to arrive Friday night, contestants had fun warming up in smallish waves today in Encuentro at the Master of The Ocean 2010 event.

The Event starts daily at 7am with the Stand Up Paddle Board Exhibition (SUP Cup).

Judging for the SUP Cup.
1. 1st one to 10 waves wins
2. Shoulder hops count for a half point
3. Heats last for an hour
4. Heat starts at 7am
5. The first one to get 10 waves wins that day
6 The two biggest surf days count
7. 15,000 pesos for the winner
8. 5,000 pesos for second
9. Prizes for third
10. There will be a winner Sunday night, awards will follow at LAX restaurant.

Here is what they have to say...
"...it was just great to get in the water" said Event Organizer Marcus Boehm

"...this is modern SUP and Dominican History"... said Maui John


"...i'm feeling good...had a great couple days of warm ups and big surf is heading our way" said Gordon "McLoven" Gannon.

Excellent surf for the Master

We asked SUP Champion John Holzhall for his wind and wave prediction.


Q. What are the conditions gonna be?
A. Looks like it will be windy through Friday, then A "Passing low" will bring waves. The swell should peak this weekend!

Q. So KITE for the 1st part of the event and SURF for the 2nd?
A. Yes, think about kiting through Friday and Surfing this weekend.

Q. How do you know?
A. I check the Navy Wave Model and make my estimation from there based on how fast the storm is moving. It is snowing in New York now and that storm will be bringing us waves.

Q. How do you know which way they will go?
A. Winter Storms in the Northern Hemisphere move from East to West...so if it is raining in Maui, an experienced surf should be able to tell you when the Rockies will get snow, the Southern US rain and the DR waves.

Inscription Master Of the Ocean

Inscription Party for the Master Of the Ocean is tonight at the Aloha Bar across from Ocean One Condos. The Party starts at 7pm, riders will sign up, pay, get event info and rash guards.

There is a pre-party at the Lagoon Lounge for Event Officials and those contestants involved in the Stand Up Paddle (SUP) and Kite Race Exhibitions.

Good luck to all the Contestants!

Who will be the "Next Top Waterman?"

Master of the Ocean Week is here!
"...this is the biggest event of the Winter and it marks the 'peak' of the Winter Surf Season" says current SUP Champion and competitor John Holzhall.

Q. Who will be the "Next Top Waterman?"
A. I spoke with Luciano Gonzolas in the surf this morning and he is certain that he will win!

Q. Luciano Gonzales, Why?
A. He has been training hard and he knows all three sports. The "tri- athlete" bracket is easier if you can do all three sports.

Q. Do you think you can win it?
A. I need an angle and that angle is big waves...I mean massive surf. The kind of surf people get hurt in. If we get big surf, I have a good chance.

Q. What is the outlook?
A. I'm calling for a swell to hit Friday night, I hope it's big!

Q. How does the judging work?
A. There are two brackets, the guys that are doing all the sports have a bracket and Individual sports have a Bracket.

Q. Who are the Judges?
A. Julian Kidd is the Competition director
SURF Ronald Quevedo
Kite Raul Corniel
Windsurf Adolfo Ramirez

Q. How does the judging actually work?
A. The Metric system is used for the Surf. Contestants get one point for a wave and then points for hitting the wave the hardest. Only the best 2 waves in a 20 minute heat count.

Q. Give me an example?
A. Well, Snoop... drop in - hit the lip - in the pit and back to the lip - down the line- head dip then off the lip. You hit that and you'll score 1.9..one for the wave . 9 for the action 1.9. Got it?

Q. How about Kite and Windsurf?
A. Overall impression rules apply to the wind sports because they are so much more dynamic.

Q. Give me an example?
A. Well Snoop, you will leave a lasting impression if you hit the wave face hard and boost high.

Q. What does someone have to do to become "Master of the Ocean?"
A.They have to be the best tri-athlete. Conditions dictate and contestants adjust. Wind and Water are the two most powerful forces on earth, the winner will be the person who dominates them the best.

Q. What is the best part of Master of the Ocean?
A. Getting paid to rip Encuentro and partying like a rock star because you know, no place does parties like the DR does. Masters is the biggest Ocean Sports celebration!

SUP Competition

Masters of the Ocean SUP-Exhibition Friday the 26th of Feb. - Sunday Feb. 28th from 7am-8am daily.

The Competitors
3 Past Dominican Paddle Boarding Champions are sighed up and ready to compete.
Glenn Goodwin, Gordon Gannon, John Holzhall.

Ocean World Casino odds on Favorite has John Holzhall to win, Glenn Goodwin Second and Gordon Gannon 3rd.

How does the Exhibition Work:
The same rules as the Dominican Championships apply.
1. Contestants hit the water at 7am
2. The first one to ten waves wins
3. The heat finishes at 8am
4. In case of a tie, percentages count 10-12 beats 10-14

Here is a Quick Q&A with Dominican Paddle Boarding Champion John Holzhall

Q.How do you like the format?
A. I love it. It is what "happens" every time there are good waves.

Q. It is very different that Surf Contests?
A. A "Surf Contest" is more like a "Prom Queen" set up unlike the Dominican Championships which is based on catching waves.

Q. Is the guy who catches the most waves the best?
A. For sure, the guy who catches the most waves is the best surfer. There is no way a great surfer is going to let a good surfer catch more waves with out a battle.

Q. What happens if he does?
A. The day the "good surfer" catches more waves is the day he is a winner. This happens everyday in great surf. That is the way waves work.

Q.So you are documenting what happens in Paddle Boarding naturally?
A. Exactly...Surfers always keep score , and Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) is more so because you are either standing or falling.

Q. I see, the best Paddler will always catch look the best and catch the most waves?
A. Exactly, we just added structure.

Q. How long does it take to catch 10 waves?
A. In big waves under an hour...If you catch ten waves in less than an hour, you might win.

Q. Do you think you will win the Masters SUP?
A. I'm gonna have to work for it...this event will be competitive.

Q. What is the Key to winning?
A. Execution...the guy who goes out and goes 5 for 5 is gonna be in good shape, after that it's all strategy and conditioning.

Q. Is it hard to catch 10 waves?
A. Most surfers only dream about catching 10 waves in a day. In this event the winner will probably go 10 for 10waves.

Q. So the winner has to be perfect?
A. Ya, to win plan on going 10 for 10 or 10 for 11.

Paddle Boards

Masters of the Ocean

Masters of the Ocean will have a separate Paddle Boarding Exhibition daily from 7am-8am at Playa Encuentro, North Coast Dominican Republic.
the same rules as the DNPBC apply, they are:
1. First one to ten waves wins that day.
2.In case of a tie, percentages count. ie 10-for-12 beats 10-for-13.
3. Shoulder hops count as 1/2 a wave.
This event counts as points towards the Dominican National Paddle Boarding Championships.
4. The one who wins the most days takes the trophy.

To sign up email us at methodlodge@gmail.com or go to Masters of the Ocean

This is it, the Crown Jewel of Winter Season starts next week...here is what the competitors have to say.

The wave:
"I love that wave says" Gordon Gannon, "it's gonna be fun. Encuentro is a perfect place for the event and "Coco Pipes" is a great SUP wave.

"this is a big Paddle Boarding event here in the DR" says John Holzhall. "I'm excited, the format is perfect, the wave is fantastic and the competitors are strong. Everyone is looking to win this event! To win the Dominican National Championships Winter Season you almost have to win this event. The waves will be there, the photographers will be there...it's gonna be good!"

Big Saturday

The swell hit and the wind went off-shore. John Holzhall got in a groove early at Punta Goleta's "Heaven and Hell" break while Glenn Goodwin stayed home and surfed "Glenn's Point." Both surfers got their 10 waves in and tied for first. Later that day the "Kiteboarding 4 kids" Paddle Boarding Race took place. John Holzhall won easily.
Here is a quick Q&A
Q. What did the race in tail?
A. It was a race from LEK Bozo beach, out through the surf, catch three waves and then paddle into kite beach.

Q. How long did it take you.
A. 52 minutes.

Q. What was the hardest part?
A. There was not much wind, so the paddling was easy, but the surf was big, there was a loto stretagy there.

Q. Who else was competitive?
A. A weak filed to say the least. Gordon Gannon was a slight favorite to win, but he got "Maple-leafed".

Q. What is Maple Leafed?
A. That is when a Canadian guy goes out for "a couple beers". Those couple beers turn into a few more and then they start signing the Canadian National Athem. Night turns to day and the "athlete" becomes "baggage." Even if they do show up, they just arn't worth much.

Q. How about Glenn Goodwin?
A. You are not gonna pull him away from large surf...not a chance.

Q. So it was an easy win?
A. Yeap, beat them like they weren't even there....

Mo swell

2010 has brought excellent surf! Swell from the storm that just paralized the US east coast will hit the DR tonight, so the Big Wave Competition is on this Weekend. There is also a paddle board race at 11.am Saturday. Vegas odds put Gordon Gannon slightly ahead of John Holzhall. "...just tell me when and where, i'll be there" Says Gannon. "...it's gonna be tough because we will be surfing massive swell at sunrise and then racing at 11am...don't be suprised if someone fresh takes it" says Holzhall.

New Spot
Holzhall has been working some new spots. Here is a quick Q&A with John:
Q. What is the new spot
A. Punta Goleta, it's an 'all time wave'
Q. When does it break?
A. It takes large and extra-large swell

Q. What kind of break is it?
A. the reef goes from deep to a shallow plate, so it draws up quickly out of nowhere like a Hawaiian wave. The right is long...like 300 yards long...and holds it's shape. The left is solid.

Q. How is the channel
A. Works great until the surf is massive...then it closes.

Q. Is it your favorite SUP wave?
A. With out a doubt.