Mariko Strickland

Such a fun day of engagement photos with the talented...

Sun, 07 Oct 2012 22:34:32 -0400

Such a fun day of engagement photos with the talented @fawnefrailey & partner #Sebastian! Big mahalos! #pristineconditions #laughsallday #blessed😃 Good job @kainoalum for kicking us into some nugs! 😘 (Taken with Instagram)

@officialmauijim Pre-race dinner at Mahe! #sushi #tepanyaki...

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:27:25 -0400

@officialmauijim Pre-race dinner at Mahe! #sushi #tepanyaki #grindz (Taken with Instagram)

Stickered & ready for Battle! #travisgrantsboard...

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 20:33:20 -0400

Stickered & ready for Battle! #travisgrantsboard #winningboard. Fun pre-race practice sesh today at Doheny! #getwaves!! 🌊 (Taken with Instagram)

Despite the light winds it was a great day on the beautiful...

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 06:06:24 -0400

Despite the light winds it was a great day on the beautiful waters along Na Pali coast! We got small bumps pushing us all the way thru to Polihale with no head wind:) Big mahalo to Evan Valiere for putting on the 3rd annual Na Pali Race! Great job to all the competitors! Surfboard division, you have my utmost respect for paddling the coast on 12ft & under boards! Wow! Stoked I took first place for overall women. Mahalo C4waterman, Kona brewing, Kona red, Hinano, I ❤ Hanalei, vestpac:) Looking forward to next year! (Taken with Instagram)

Na Pali Race, Kauai. Trophies made with original art work from...

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 05:59:25 -0400

Na Pali Race, Kauai. Trophies made with original art work from Uncle Steve Valiere! (Taken with Instagram)

Took first place in women’s SUP division. Kealia surf...

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 17:46:03 -0400

Took first place in women’s SUP division. Kealia surf Festival 1st annual. (Taken with Instagram at Kealia Kountry)

Finish…most beautiful scenic ending to a fun solo...

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 20:45:10 -0400

Finish…most beautiful scenic ending to a fun solo downwinder! 😁👍 @konabrewingco Mahalo @kananisachiko for picking me up😉 (Taken with Instagram)

Haleakala..house of the rising sun!!☀ (Taken with Instagram at...

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:50:01 -0400

Haleakala..house of the rising sun!!☀ (Taken with Instagram at On top of the world)

Pulling weeds and planting native plants @olukai @tgangini...

Mon, 14 May 2012 21:34:59 -0400

Pulling weeds and planting native plants @olukai @tgangini @kainoalum (Taken with Instagram at Honokawai valley )

@olukai give back to da Maui Aina day! (Taken with Instagram at...

Mon, 14 May 2012 16:43:05 -0400

@olukai give back to da Maui Aina day! (Taken with Instagram at Ka’anapali)

C4 crew before race start! (Taken with instagram)

Sat, 12 May 2012 21:46:07 -0400

C4 crew before race start! (Taken with instagram)

Olukai here we come!! (Taken with instagram)

Fri, 11 May 2012 21:17:20 -0400

Olukai here we come!! (Taken with instagram)

Kauai girls 💪 (Taken with instagram)

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:43:34 -0400

Kauai girls 💪 (Taken with instagram)

Somehow made the June issue of O Mag👍 (Taken with instagram)

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:38:57 -0400

Somehow made the June issue of O Mag👍 (Taken with instagram)

Team “Uncles Favorite” took 1st place for the Canoe...

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:00:44 -0400

Team “Uncles Favorite” took 1st place for the Canoe Surfing Contest!! Myself, Tai Kaneakua, Scooter, & Kawika Carvalho.

An all Kauai wahine team,”No Panties,” was charging...

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 03:57:43 -0400

An all Kauai wahine team,”No Panties,” was charging today!! Da Life Teamed up with C4waterman to put on a fun event involving 4 man surfing canoe and 7 man supsquash contest! Great fun today!! Such a great event to follow the Kauai world challenge.

My paddling buddies Kawika Carvalho & Kalani Vierra at Kauai...

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 03:53:43 -0400

My paddling buddies Kawika Carvalho & Kalani Vierra at Kauai World Challenge. Drinking Kona Red and eating jabong to refuel:)

Kauai world challenge sponsored by Kona Brewing. I took 3rd in...

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 03:52:31 -0400

Kauai world challenge sponsored by Kona Brewing. I took 3rd in the SUP division, only wahine to compete. Let’s go Kauai ladies!

Concluding Australia

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:29:16 -0400

Although Kauai is a great place to call home, we found ourselves missing Australia upon our return. What a great trip! I was so stoked to fly away with some great SUP as well as life results. First place in the SUP surf, 2nd in the SUP race, and some new blingJ

If you ever want to travel Australia renting a campervan is the way to go! It is your transportation and housing all in one. We had a mini refrigerator, stove, microwave (which you need to be plugged into electricity at a holiday park to work), kitchen equipment, and storage space. Our back seats transformed into a dining table as well as a full size bed! We stayed at holiday parks where the facilities were extremely clean and comfortable. Or we stayed with friends or family, showered at friends house and slept in our van! haha. If you have any questions about it please don’t hesitate to ask me! I love helping and inspiring people to go on adventurous trips!

Although the ultimate goal of a surf trip is to score epic waves, it is not the soul indicator of the successful enjoyment of your journey. When I take a trip for surf, soccer, or paddling, of course I’m hoping to score the best conditions relative to the sport. However, the other benefits of traveling is embracing the culture by indulging in food as well as new friendships.

The ALOHA spirit is so heavily associated with Hawaii for good reasons. However, it is a life style and culture that is felt worldwide. Australians truly embody and exude the Aloha spirit, Aussie style that is! We were fortunate to experience the concept everywhere we went as new friends, mutual friends, and complete strangers welcomed us in the lineup as well as into their homes.

I can’t wait for the next trip! Till now it is back to the grind of substitute teaching by day, waitressing by night, and paddling from one job to the next! On the horizon are the Quicksilver Paddle Festival on Oahu May 5 &6, and the following weekend Olukai Race May 12 & 13 on Maui.

Mahalo for all the support from my Sponsors (C4 Waterman, Kona Red, Maui Jim, Hinano, and Kona Brewing), as well as Dukes Canoe Club Kauai for enabling me to travel and compete in these great events! Thank you for reading my blog!

Aloha,Mariko

Camels in Australia? Apparently Australia has about...

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:09:32 -0400

Camel Toe

Camels in Australia? Apparently Australia has about 150,000-200,00 camels distributed throughout the country! The first Aussie camel was imported from the Canary Islands in 1840! Pictured is the first aussie/japanese camel toe imported from Hawaii;)