World Traveler Westley Fields at La Jolla Invitational, California

As a traveler it is always a treat to have opportunities to paddle with like minded folks in brilliant venues. Last month I had a bucket of treats world wide. It confirmed to me just how great our sport and the people in it are. It all started with some terrific down winds with Chris Storey and Rob Mosely at the classic Fish Hoeke and, my personal favourite, Hout Bay in Capetown, South Africa on a Fenn XT, then to Pretoria to paddle with the Hippos in a K2, cranking it through Sydney Heads Australia on my Stellar SES in a strong nor easter, relaxing in the tranquility and challenge of windy dams and lakes in Nashville Tennessee with Mike Tossing then the big finish with the !st of the SoCal race series in La Jolla Sth California.

Westley with Dawid Mocke

Westley Fields excited about La Jolla

All the way I had the very best of hosts and like Barry Borm and the legendary Chris Barlow for my last race in La Jolla.

Barry picked me up from Manhattan Beach and drove me down the coast just after midnight the night before the race. Up early having time only for some delicious home style eggs by his wife Cherry, then off to La Jolla. It was predicted to be a terrible day but nothing was going to stop my great month of paddle mania. We drove to the venue and La Jolla stated to show off it’s incredible style. Beautiful houses, massive palm trees reaching to the heavens, pelicans in arrow formations stretching across the sky, the classic La Jolla Shores hotel on the beach and the sun parting clouds to produce a picture perfect day.

One thing that I had missed all the way round was my paddle. So I decided I would buy an Epic Small Mid Wing from Chris. Not only did he provide the Mid Wing but also a carrying case ( a rifle case) to get me through the airport and back home. I did get a few odd looks walking through the airport on my home, with my gun case, though 😉 Interesting point was that the very same paddle was $325 AUD in Capetown (only they were out of them) $425 AUD in America and $625 AUD in Australia – the paddles are made in China (closest to Australia) go figure? Anyway that is another story!

First up was the short course that showcased the junior ranks. Now, as is obvious, I travel quite a deal. I can safely say that there is no where on our planet that I have ever seen that has a more talented group of kids to watch paddle that those at the San Diego Canoe and Kayak team. Of all the great things Chris Barlow has done, in my opinion, nothing is better than what he has done with that club. They are seriously worth watching and will no doubt form a very solid heart of US paddling teams to come. Yes they are that good. They didn’t disappoint with a very hard fought race in challenging side chop conditions.

As the rest of us watched whilst waiting for the long course you couldn’t help but wish that the organizers were paying attention and had noticed the wind shift that caused the side chop. The pre set long course was to be the same nagging chop. Too many times have I seen perfect conditions ruined by inflexible race organizers who forget that they are actually suppose to be working for the paddlers rather than the other way around. I was most pleasantly surprised and very, very happy when race organizer, Cheance Adair, actually understood how things should work. She quickly adapted the course sending us straight up wind and out to sea for 4 or so miles directly into the swell. That move set up a fantastic run back home. The perfect race for all.

The long course started and off we went. We had competitors from Italy, Australia, all over the US and more no doubt. There were stand ups, outriggers and ocean kayaks galore all pumping our hearts out as we ploughed through the building swell, towards the horizon.

I kept my eye on the Italian, I just couldn’t let Italy get one over Australia but was concerned as I knew he was a pretty good flat water paddler.

I was in a V10 sport and have to say I just loved it. My coach Jim Walker constantly says the fastest boat is an upright boat. The extra stability certainly allowed me to concentrate on paddling alone so it was on. I had one guy (sorry for not remembering names) he looked Hawaiian, who closed from my left. At that point I remembered Dawid Mocke’s fine words, if you are paddling about the same then it comes down to mental strength, I called on that to take the lead from him once again. Unfortunately there was no problem with his mental strength and he got me after the third attempt – doh. I should have pushed a bit more but relaxed when I saw Barry and Chris come hurtling back on the swell in their double. This race was way too much fun to be too serious, I was having a ball in La Jolla and didn’t have a care in the world.

When we eventually turned around the buoy, it was instant rides for all. In a 3 to 5 foot swell with runners left and right. I was telling myself, take the little ones right to get speed up then swing left onto the big ones. I got completely carried away with the fun and forgot my game plan. I was fascinated with how well the outriggers went on the runners, pretty impressive and just loved relaxing in the swell. Anyone who has visited La Jolla knows that there is a huge weed bank out on the left and, yep you guessed it, I paddle smack bang into the middle of it. It totally freaked me out as we don’t have that type of week in Australia, it was like cement. So thick that all I could think of was that, if I fell into it, I would drown.

I came to a dead stop and watched what the others were doing. Some seemed to just adjust to a shallower paddle, duck feeting, their way across the week, others seemed to sail on through, some tried negotiating the skinny channels in between, the best ones knew it was coming and stayed left to miss it all together! Yes, yes the important of a game plan. If you have any clue on what I should have done please write a blog on ‘paddling through Californian weed banks!’

Anyway I did eventually make it back having enjoyed a bit of local La Jolla conditions including hearing the seals croak loudly from the racks or what ever they do, again not a normal occurrence in Sydney. Back to the beach through some smaller swell then off to enjoy the more than ample food, frivolity and friendship of what will always remain a fantastic and most enjoyable memory. Even picked up my first medal for a third in division 😉 And I beat the Italian home!