Donald Miralle is a 6X World Press Photo Winner, Emmy Nominated Filmer, swimmer, surfer, and paddler, among other things. If you paddle, you’ve probably seen him at a race, but, if you don’t, you’ve most likely seen his incredible photo work out in the world. He was kind enough to answer some questions about how and why he got into paddling- and continues to paddle today. As our training paddles get longer and the season progresses, Don’s words on the sport offer us some inspiration to keep getting out there and be grateful that we get to do it!
When did you start paddling, and why?
Growing up swimming, body surfing, and surfing I didn't even know padding was a thing until I saw lifeguard competitions in the late 80's. At the time I was competing in alot of ocean swims with my swim team (Bud Light Ocean Fests, Seal Beach, Naples Island Swims) and first hopped on a paddleboard sometime then. I didn't get back on a paddleboard again for another 18 or so years when I had been living in North County for several years and came upon the scene there. I was doing the ocean swim at the PowerHouse Paddle Race and a gentleman by the name of Roch Frey said I should jump on a board and try the "short" race. 6 miles later I couldn't move my arms but knew I liked the sensation of gliding on top of the water. Another several months passed before my wife bought me a 14' cream colored board shaped by Brian Szymanski, a local surfer who just won the Catalina Classic that year. It was the only board he had so she grabbed it for my birthday present, not knowing she had just created a paddling addict. I started paddling on my own as just an excuse to get out in the ocean and I was hooked. That first year or so, I spent a lot of time out in the ocean by myself, getting sunburnt, and lost along the coast. I entered a couple more races, including the old 20 mile Bay 2 Bay race, which I won but had no idea what I was doing paddling without nutrition or a GPS. My wife said I looked like a ghost when I crossed the finish line.
What races have you done?
After the Bay 2 Bay, I tried shorter local San Diego races like the Seaside Slide, the Eaton La Jolla, and the Powerhouse again. A couple years later I decided I was going to try the Catalina Classic, which seemed like such an insurmountable paddle at the time. So I figured I'd qualify by paddling the local 14 mile point to point race, The Waterman Challenge. My first Waterman I didn't really know what I was aiming for, and took a wrong turn towards the Pier and La Jolla Cove, and wandered around there for a bit asking fishing boats where Wind and Sea was. I think I was one of the last finishers and was embarrassed but learned my lesson that first year. The Waterman still remains one of my favorite races.
The following year I finally did my first Catalina Classic with 7 stitches in my head from a surfing accident the day before the race, when a stray longboard single fin from a hipster at Cardiff nailed me in the head. But I decided I still wanted to paddle it because of all the time I had put into the training. That was a painful and humbling day, but I got across I believe 11th overall with a lot of vaseline on my head to keep the saltwater out of my stitches. Since then I've done 6 more Catalina Crossings, a Catalina Relay, 1 Rock 2 Rock, 5 Molokai 2 Oahu World Champs (including one solo crossing on a SUP on the flattest day ever!) 3 Jay Races, 2 Davenport Downwinders, 1 Tahiti Watermana and a bunch of Hennessy US Championships. But what is even more fun, are the random paddle adventures I've done on trips, when no one is looking and it's just me, my thoughts and the water.
You spend a lot of time photographing incredible athletes, the Olympics, major sporting events, etc. Being immersed in the sports world- is there anything that you’ve noticed about paddling as a result of this or learned about being an athlete yourself?
I got into sports photography after they cut the Swim Team at UCLA, I got accepted into the Fine Art program there, and started shooting my old teammates and other athlete buddies. I definitely had an advantage especially with shooting water sports since I was comfortable and in my element. One thing I've noticed about paddling that's different than any other sport, is that the paddlers are doing it because they just love either being in the water or hanging out with like minded people. There is no monetary compensation or sponsorship opportunities dangling in front of them, it's a core sport of ocean athletes who've come from other sports to do an activity that's rad and connects you to the ebb and flow of the ocean (especially when the surf is small).
What do you like about paddling and what keeps you coming back and doing it?
To elaborate on what I said previously, paddling in the ocean definitely makes me feel more connected to the ocean and the ocean community, both of which are important to me. Just being able to turn off and be completely disconnected from society and all the noise just a mile off shore. But here is also something about being immersed in the ocean, crossing bodies of water, seeing whales, dolphins, sharks and all the sea life and ecosystems out there that make you realize that you're connected to it and have to respect and protect it. It may sound cheesy, but being out there in the middle of nowhere whether it be in the ocean or on top of a mountain, makes you feel closer to this planet and your significant insignificance on a rock floating in the middle of a giant void. Paddling grounds you and connects you to this planet and those around you interested in the same things.
What are you looking forward to this season specifically?
You always have big plans at the start of the season, first by just trying to knock off the winter cobwebs and get back in shape. Unfortunately, just as I was starting to paddle again I found out I have a bad torn labrum in my left shoulder ontop of other damage in there, so my season and expectations have dramatically changed since. It may be an "off" recovery year, where I just try to get my body back and healed again.
What’s your training like? (You don’t need to divulge any training secrets, haha)
I have no secrets when it comes to training, anyone can see what I do on Strava and I like to share all my dryland supplemental exercises I do to prevent injury (I didn't do enough this winter!). Typically in the winter off-season I alternate days of surfing and swimming, with recovery days of just swimming, and don't really touch a paddleboard after Catalina in August to about early February. The break off the paddleboard keeps me from getting burnt out and keeps it seasonal for me. By the time the waves stop and the water warms up, even though I haven't touched a board in about 5-6 months, my paddle and core muscles are still in shape and just have to be fine-tuned to be paddleboard specific. That's usually a gradual 2 days a week going 6 miles, then acclimating to 2 x 8 miles, then adding a third longer day on the weekend eventually. In that early season I usually do a lot of sprint intervals; and as the season goes my paddles get longer. By the end of the season I am doing 2 x 10 milers plus a 25-30 every week. There's been seasons when I've done 100 miles in a week, and others when I just average 50 as my big blocks. I tend to train on the smallest boards possible, grinding on 10’6”, quality cadence on stock, and only use my UL for quality longer paddles and only if I’m going to race on it. I’ve always really enjoyed training and racing on both stock and UL, and it’s fun and beneficial to mix it up. I just try to listen to my body and do what feels right.
Any words of advice to new paddlers?
Be patient- it takes a year to two years to really build the base especially with knee paddling. Protect your shoulder from injury by doing supplemental exercises, and be smart with your nutrition and recovery days as much as big training days. But most importantly have fun and paddle with other people who are more experienced than you so you can learn.
Lastly, anything you want to share about paddling? Coolest experience, best/hardest race, something you’ve learned about yourself, memorable training paddle?
My 2nd Catalina Classic, my father in law died from melanoma and I dedicated that paddle to him raising money for melanoma cancer research. It helped me cope with the loss of a man I looked up to and gave me a reason to paddle that year. As always I was confident with my training going into the race, and was much faster than the previous year and on a brand new blue and gold 17'10' Bark UL. But once I started to approach the R-10 Buoy I began to fall apart, cramp, and serious doubt entered my mind. We have all been there before on that channel. But right as doubt began to enter, a massive 60ft blue whale surfaced between my board and PV, then submerged and went right under my board. It passed only a couple feet below me, so close I could see the texture of his skin and the details of the barnacles. My boat captain and good friend Tom Candelaria and I were in complete awe and we were both hooting and hollering. Tom managed to get a beautiful photo from his iphone of the encounter. From that point on, I stopped cramping, all the pain left my body, and I had no more doubt. It was the most enjoyable R-10 to Manhattan I've ever experienced.
