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Santa Cruz Ghostryder Downwind Race Report
Nicholas Cryder
05/19/18 #23016
Hey guys, sitting on the airplane all crusty and salty after racing the Santa Cruz Ghostryder Downwind race today, and thought I'd share the details from an absolute gem of a race.
After slipping into Santa Cruz on a long layover, Kenny Howell from Epic hooked me up with a V12 . Temps were in high 50’s with blue skies and wind holding steady 25 to low 30’s. Solid turn out, and the vibe was just so friendly, low key and fun. Everyone was smiling, some maybe a little nervously about the conditions (which were big by my standards)
This is a true open ocean, point to point downwind race from Davenport beach to Santa Cruz and the coastline is simply stunning and wild. Sea cliffs, rolling golden mountains, idiliic beaches and misting clouds to lure many an ocean lover into this high-tax / high-cost-of-living paradise.
After getting our shuttle, race kit and sled sorted the race meeting went off right on coastal California time at 1:30pm (delayed for 30 minutes to make sure that the wind was at peak horsepower…).
The pre-race safety briefing was hilariously brief:
“ Leashes are strongly suggested. If you're not up for this, we're not forcing you to do it… and don't even think about getting into the safety boat unless you are in dire need. Oh btw, there's a cooler full of beer at the finish at the beach… and even though Dos Equis sponsored this race, if someone asks you we didn't give you that. Got it? Have fun.”
The SUP and prone paddlers did a running beach start, with ski and OC1’s starting 15 minutes after everyone else in a small relatively sheltered cove. It was really fun to watch them charge off, but I didn't envy their chosen water toys. I did very much respect their skill however.
Despite everyone being told we'd start 15 minutes late, the race went off with half the paddlers not really aware that it did. I'm not really sure why. Long warmups I guess? I did see a couple OC1's take off well before the start. It reminded me of the way Alan does that on wildcat runs. Dawid Mocke once told me “never get left behind at the start.” Simple and very good advice but remarkably hard to do. Happens to all of us I guess, sometimes in big batches.
The hyper type-A surfski paddlers were on it however, and it was pretty intense for the first few minutes; paddling beam at full power in angry, breaking waves where a paddler just one wave to front or side was not visible except for very brief moments when dropping in high off the crest of a wave to try to sneak a side surf. Once out from the kelp beds and on-line, we turned downwind and it was just full throttle. I diced with a young Spanish paddler who recently moved the bay area. He was very fluid, and very fast! We traded leads, cut each other off and were risking it on questionable waves to try to get just one wave ahead. Eventually I lost my focus and fell a couple of waves behind. I realized I wasn't being very efficient or fast and that it was still very early in a very long race (14 miles). So I stopped forcing it and just tried to focus on finding the fastest line through the meaty water, scoring an over-glide when it made sense but otherwise just keeping the ski downhill and Nicholas side up. This paid off. I was suddenly very relaxed, efficient and connecting more and more rides. I stopped thinking about the other paddlers, the magnitude of the ocean and I starting having a really great time. I was also incredibly thankful to have a found a sport that brings me and so many others so much joy, even it means having sex with death every once in a while.
By the half way point in the race, the seas got a bit more organized with less rebound from the cliffs and I was now averaging very close to 14mph and boosting up into the high teens when I was able to catch ground swell. I was also back in the lead and feeling terrific as I skipped over the waves with my paddle on my lap and spare time to admire the waves smashing against the cliffs a few hundred feet away. This was just too easy, too much fun. It felt like the absolute essence of our sport, but something that is also incredibly illusive… and special.
I managed to pull a few minutes ahead by the end for the win, and was thrilled to find that cooler full of beer (*unofficially) waiting for me like a pot of gold at the end of the salty rainbow. Once everyone came to shore, the Californian's showed their true skill; partying! Unfortunately, I had to go full leprechaun and catch my flight after just a few high fives and rounds of liquid joy. Fortunately I know I will likely be back, hopefully with a few Bellingham friends in tow.
