After a very long flight home and few days catching up, I have had some time to reflect on a absolutely amazing 3 weeks spent in North America.
Thanks to Think and Orka
Firstly I’d like to thank THINK Kayaks and ORKA Paddles for all the support with providing me with the best possible equipment to use in achieving my dreams. I really don’t believe any words or actions would be able to express my gratitude! THANK YOU!
This trip has been one that I have been looking forward to the whole year.
Our trip started off very relaxed. A easy flight up to Dubai with a not so easy 8 hour layover in Dubai. We tried our luck at getting into the Business Class lounge shortly before our departure and Sean got in. Fortunately I pulled out the ‘money maker’ smile and we were both quickly upgraded to Business Class for our 14 hour flight to Seattle! Needless to say, flying will never be the same again!
Before we knew it Daryl Remmler, Sean, and I, were on our way to a town called Stevenson, on the banks of the Columbia River. Unfortunately the few days we were down at the Gorge the “almost guaranteed”, wind did not blow much.
The relay race was a lot of fun with some tight racing between the top 4 teams. I was fortunate enough to team up with Don Kiesling who is a Gorge veteran. We got the short end of the straw and ended a hard fought 4th.
After Sean’s clinic on Sunday AM we started our journey to San Francisco, but we would take the more scenic ‘back routes’. The drive was really long but loads of fun. We saw some awesome places and some things that will forever be engraved in my memory. One of these places was Lake Tahoe. To say it is beautiful would be an understatement. We did a quick paddle on the Lake and tried to take in the scenery in one go.
Lake Tahoe
Arriving in San Fran we decided to head straight to the Bay Model so I could get an idea of what was in store before my first paddle on the course that afternoon.
Model of San Fran Currents
After a good day sight seeing in the city we headed to the Wednesday night race, which just happens to be held on the same course as last years US Surfski Champs. After a very informal start we were straight into the runs, not great runs, but the further in we got, things improved! The runs ended up being absolutely incredible and I soon forgot about the race completely! This race was just the confidence booster I needed because I was worried that my downwind skills were steadily getting worse, thankfully it appeared that this was not the case!
A week into the trip I noticed people walking up to me and start chatting away only to realize I was not Sean but rather a really good looking younger version! Needless to say to most would continue on their way to find the real Sean, ha ha.
The Better Looking Rice!
We managed to fit in the Muir Beach to Fort Baker leg of the course on Thursday. Paddling under the Golden Gate Bridge is incredible. This was something I had looked forward to a LOT! Photos just do not do it justice. When you sit under the bridge in your tiny surfski you realize just how strong the currents are, the wind, the size of the bridge and to see the everyday boat traffic is just incredible. It should be on every Surfskiers ‘Bucket List’.
Race day came, very slowly, but it arrived. I haven’t been that nervous for a race in ages. I’m sure all the top guys like Sean and Dawid, have learned how to control the nerves, but I think I am a long way off mastering that! No matter how hard I tried I could not stomach any food from about 11 in the morning till after the race! The only thing I could force down was some yogurt style drink.
The race went down very well. I had a great start and soon found myself on the back of ‘the bus’. It was a group of Jasper pulling, Clint on his tail, followed by Boothy, myself, with Dawid just a bit further out. On the inside were Sean and Sam Norton. Even though we went quite deep, this was not what I had planned. I had bought my ticket for ‘the bus’ and I was not going to be late! I turned in for the bridge earlier than others because I couldn’t see that deep line paying off for me. It was more a matter of hanging on for as long as I could, so I would still be in contact once we hit the downwind leg. This worked out very well and I found myself battling it out with Boothy and Sam Norton at the start of the downwind leg. I was pretty confident of my line in to the finish and I think this helped me just get ahead of Michael Booth and Sam Norton coming in to the finish. 500m from the finish I noticed a very familiar face slip through the last break in the jetty just ahead of me, Austin Kieffer, who was just to fast to catch! I ended up with a 6th place. I was super stoked with the result in a field with so many quality paddlers!
After a hard fought 3rd place in the doubles, with Sean on the Sunday, we jumped straight into the car and began the long journey to Vancouver, the home of THINK Kayak!
Vancouver is a really beautiful place. With endless amounts of trees and endless amounts of super friendly people!
Vancouver
After our first paddle on the race course, Sean and I came to a conclusion that it was easier just to forget about the currents for the race because they would not be terribly strong. This made it a fairly straight forward point to point race.
The local TNR race run by Bob Putnam in Deep Cove was definitely a highlight of the week. It was great to see so many people in surfskis at a time trial! Every single person out on the water wanted to be there and loved every second of it! Its not often that you see ALL the paddlers at a time trial on the water 20 minutes before the start because they are way too excited to hang around and chat! Followed by a burger and beer while you watch the race video at the local pub.
San Fran Bridge
After a good race in San Fran my nerves were more on ease and I felt quite relaxed during the day leading up to the race.
The start was faster than expected because of a hotspot +- 1.5kms from the start. I had a really good start and soon found myself on the front bunch at the turn. The bunch soon became 5 and I was not keen on being the 5th wheel on a bunch of this caliber. At roughly 11kms, just before the turn at Watts Point, I fell off after Clint came up on to the bunch. He paddled past me effortlessly and took my spot while I struggled at the back. My goal now was to not let them get away and stay a manageable distance for as long as possible. Once we hit the gusts and small chop in the last 3kms I realized just how tired I was when Jasper came past me like a steam train shortly before the 1.7kms of flat water. While trying my best to keep my breakfast down I gave it everything to maybe catch him, but that was not to be and I finished in 6th not to far behind some of the sports biggest hero’s!
I felt this was a great result for me to end off an unforgettable tour. Despite the fact that the weather didn’t play its part for all 3 of the races the organizers did the best they could and ran some awesome events that are definitely on my list for next year!
Thank you to everyone for their hospitality and support on this trip, you made it unforgettable!
Till next year!
Ken.
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