Surfski Knowledge Base

Lk Samish - first liar
Reivers Dustin

Sep 18 #30116
I was awesome: I was special, unique and wonderful… just like everyone else.

I had my usual “measured start”. Don't know what that is. Some people think I'm being really crafty and managing my race like a boss. I think I'm lazy and hate hard work. Whatever. Eventually I caught up to my usual competition. In fact there was an interesting jousting match: Deano didn't see a buoy half-way to the bridge that jumped right into his path. Since we are all packed in like sardines, he has no room. He and another surfski guy did a whole big high five routine with their paddles and it took them a while to untangle. Nobody went swimming - a small miracle. After the bridge there's jockeying for position going on. Mike Lee and young son Ryan were going hard. Gerstle and Hammer were flying the canoe in this crowd. I got wakes from both. Dean kept climbing onto the next boat ahead. I noticed that whenever young son Ryan would see the nose of a boat he would level up a notch and Dad Mike would “up the grunt factor” to match. I remember those days from paddling with my kid. These kids just have that fearless joy. It was a messy turn at the south end. The open canoe was pushed wide, I lost my first wave ride and Dean pulled tight inside the turn to get clear water. Dan Mo crawled up on the Lee's wake and I hung with them best I could. Dean caught sight of Dave Hooper up ahead and pulled hard to close the gap. He didn't completely close by the freeway turn and by then we are dodging rowing shells. You have got to give rowers a lot of room for their sweeps. It was fast running from the South end turn up to the freeway turn, but then after that second turn the waves do that thing where they quarter off the back end. It messes up wake rides. Some of the pack pulled left for upwind position going toward the bridge. I saw them improve their pace, so eventually I did the same and it was smart. It was a good day for rowers - being fairly flat, but I know that stretch of quirky water messes them up. It's not just me. It was a riot going under the bridge with folks cheering us on. And after the bridge it's flat and clear, so now you dig for whatever is left in the tank. All I had was enough to hold my spot. But I could see the tussle going on up ahead. It was so good to hear Kim and Deb calling numbers at the finish … especially mine. I gave it a good go. Can't wait to see results. Might not have to much, this was another event timed by Marc Blake's team and we were getting awards announcement soon as I sat down with my cookie and chowder. Crisply done, as they say.

Fantastic to watch race director Steve working it. He was loud, kept it simple and had a great team backing him. It was so good to have this one go down. Hate that Mercer Island had problems. Oh yeah and Greg B showed up and continues to inspire. All the red-hot youngsters were gunning, but Greg just knows how. What a fantastic sport. Lots of smiling healthy people just lighting up the place.

Reivers Dustin

Sep 18 #30117
results:
Lake Samish Salmon Row Results – 2021 – Pacific Multisports

Looking at the pack Dean was in: Five finishers in an 8-second spot. wheeeheeuw!!!