Maddi Leblanc Doing the M2O for the Second Time

Last year, we followed Maddie Leblanc on her very first journey to Hawaii and into the legendary Kaiwi Channel. It was a big step into unfamiliar territory and an experience that clearly left a lasting impression.

Now Maddie is back in Hawaii for a second time—and so are we. After another crossing of the Kaiwi Channel, this time with more experience and very different conditions, we caught up with her again. In our second interview with Maddie, we talk about what has changed over the past year, her development as an athlete, the magic and challenge of ocean racing, and whether a solo Kaiwi Channel crossing might be next.

Aloha Maddie,

We were super stoked to see you back in Hawaii in the Kaiwi Channel. We had a nice story with you about your journey last year and you came back to paddle as team. Before we dive into your Kaiwi experience, can you tell us what you were up to since then?

Hi Mike! Thank you so much for having me on Stand Up Magazin again! It’s an honor to be back here! I can assure you I have still been active in the SUP Race community. I attended the ISA World Championships in El Salvador at the end of 2025. I had the pleasure to go to Germany for the 1st stop of the Euro Tour in Dusseldorf at the indoor boat show in January, as well I’ve been to every local race we have had here in Ontario Canada since our racing season began in May. I now work with April Zilg as my new coach, and train most days still twice a day to pursue paddling to the highest possible degree. Outside of paddling I have also been pursuing firefighting and most recently completed all of my certificates I needed to get hired! Now I’ve been applying to departments and hoping to get hired soon.

Before we go into the Hawaiian experience, I am wondering how you see the active SUP Sport developing in 2026.

I think stand up paddling is so exciting in 2026! We have phenomenal athletes like Marie Carmen pushing our sport to new heights and redefining what is possible, we have incredible venues to be able to travel to to showcase our sport like Dusseldorf in Germany for the EuroTour, and that the general public’s curiosity are still intrigued when they see us paddling by. I get asked all of the time “what is that thing?” or folks I pass on the beach or friends in my local gym will say to me “oh! I didn’t know you could race those!”. I also love that the sport is so strong and the participation numbers continue to grow in Europe! I love traveling there for races, and the prize money is a nice little cherry on top as well!

By the way are you going to the ICF in Italy and will there be a Team Canada if the ISA decides at the last minute to hold a world championship?

Yes and yes. My goal is to become a world champion someday. So I will be at every world championship until that dream comes true. I would also love to go to the Pan American games next year if I can qualify! So I’m training hard and preparing as best as I can for those upcoming competitions.

But now lets talk about the Kaiwi Channel, last year was your first time and you were so excited about it. This year you came back to paddle in a Team again. From what it looked like the conditions were much better than last year. Can you tell us bit how it was?

The conditions in the Kaiwi Channel this year were beyond my wildest dreams! I loved every second of paddling in that beautiful and absolutely magnificent channel. There were definitely sections of the channel that were easily 10+ ft.

It was much bigger than last year, and I felt as though I was finally able to understand what the Hawaiians were talking about… in relation to why that channel is called the channel of bones, and why it is also so magical. I felt on top of the world in that channel and nothing could take me out of my flow state. I was constantly scanning the swell around me, and looking forward to catching the next bump. I paddled a lot smarter than I did last year as I conserved as much energy as I could when I needed to, and then stepped on the gas when I needed to. My relay partner Jason Blinkhorn was also phenomenal to watch as he taught me so much about being graceful in that channel. He surfed so well, and was so calm under the intense pressure we had with the huge swell. I learned a lot from him that day and I am incredibly grateful for him as a relay partner. I wouldn’t want to paddle that channel with anyone else.

What makes Ocean Racing so fascinating?

It’s absolutely nothing like flatwater. Your environment is constantly changing and you have to be quick to adapt to those changes. When the swell got bigger, Jason and I had to surf longer and conserve energy. When the wind would not stop howling near the finish line, I had to put my head down, keep the negative thoughts away, and just grind it out all the way to the finish line. That’s what makes races like Molokai so much fun, and inspiring all at the same time. You’ll never be paddling in the same conditions ever, and the ocean is never just one set way the whole time. Ocean racing also exposes parts of you that you may never have known existed. I never knew I could surf so well in such a BIG swell, and I never knew that I could hold a solid pace even in 50+km headwinds. Ocean racing is the best playground, and best training ground to become an incredible waterwoman or waterman athlete that’s for sure!

Of course we are wondering how you prepared this year? Did you do something different?

I started working with my new coach April Zilg earlier this year. We focused heavily on building a stronger aerobic base for the first half of this year, which was the longest aerobic base building phase I’ve ever had in a training year! It showed when I was in the Kaiwi channel, because I was able to maintain a strong pace throughout the entire race.

Now that you crossed the channel twice in a relay are you still looking at a solo crossing?

I would LOVE to do this race solo one day in my life! Besides becoming a world champion someday… crossing the Kaiwi Channel solo is also a very special dream of mine. Since I have had the opportunity to see the channel in two very different conditions… I think I might just be ready for a solo crossing soon… 😉

I want to bring it back to your home country, how is SUP currently developing in Canada?

Absolutely. I would say SUP in Canada is currently in a fairly stable place. While we haven’t seen significant growth in participation in recent years, the sport certainly hasn’t disappeared or lost its community. We continue to have races taking place across the country, from the West Coast to the East Coast, and it’s really encouraging to see these smaller events continue to bring paddlers together and keep the community active.

As I mentioned earlier, I truly believe there is still a genuine interest and passion for the sport in Canada. I think the biggest opportunity moving forward is finding ways to nurture that interest, particularly among younger athletes and the next generation of paddlers. If we can continue creating opportunities for people to get involved, compete, and feel connected to the community, I think we can build a really strong future for SUP in Canada.

Thank you very much Maddi for your time, we are always stoked to catch up with you and with you all the best in pursuing your dream.

Thank you very much Mike.