Surfski Knowledge Base

Reivers Dustin
02/17/18 #22506

Got to Jericho at about 9am. Sat in car with heater going full blast. Had a speed run across the border (Nexus) and through town (Garmin Nuvi GPS). But man, I didn't care much for the heavy snow coming down in Vancouver. And looking across Jericho beach nothing but frothing whitecaps pounding the sand driven by heavy north wind. yech. I've only done this race where they run us out to the big can and back. That would be death by beam-waves in this situation. Kept on thinking, “why did I pre-pay …”. Thought about sneaking away, but people started showing up. I texted my old barnacle group to whine, bitch, moan and complain. They all said, “don't go. we love you Reivers. back away slowly…” I found out that they all weenied and didn't do the MP run this morning. Just sat around the coffee and messed with me by text.

So, I grumped around the indoor meeting room trying to warm up. Turns out everyone was nervous. Race director Jan made a decision to run us upwind/downwind (two laps for long course). Well run race: quick pre-race mtg, fast warm-up and not much time sitting at the start line. But the start line was congested and the first two turns were not far into the race and hard 90's. So lots of fiberglass rash between boats. Peter M. got crammed into the anchor line of the first turn mark (a sailboat at anchor). That must have been fun. His amma hung up and while he's trying to get off, all the boats behind him are running over the back of his boat. I was stalled at the start (some folks just can't imagine that they should start in second row), and I took the first turn way wide. I gave up some time, but didn't get jammed so it was worth it. Maybe six or eight boats jumped out enough to get their clear shot (Beau in OC-1 and Mike and Brian B in OC-2). I had to work for it, but got in front of the main pack. I was just far enough behind the leaders to mis-read some of the favorable lines. All the switching winds had left a lot of crap-chop on the water. I felt strong, but never could relax into a rhythm. Every leg was a grunt. It messed up the OC boats as much as the surfskis. Long course was 12K and really none of it was rides. I had gapped Peter pretty good while he was humping that anchor line. But when I looked back halfway through the second lap I could see him and a wolf pack closing on me. I basically grunted my way in just inches in front. I could hear the screaming at the finish line so it probably looked like fun. It weren't. Not much of the usual finish line banter. Just a bunch of paddlers trying to keep their tongues from dragging in the very cold water.

Soup was hot. Race results were quicker than usual. The B'hamsters got podium in most divisions, but I don't think any firsts. Nice to have running water for boat wash, hot showers, indoor stuff and good parking. A bunch of bling got drawn. Beau got a photo of the 'hamsters with their bling. Hey! the podium awards were chocolate bars from “Chocolate Arts”. fantastic stuff. man. You can't eat a ribbon. Take a note SR, this is a new level of wonderful. Speaking as a chocoholic who is eating his way to rock bottom: this is good idea. I stuck Beau's photo in the “photo” page somewhere. Don't know how to attach.

rd