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===== New Directions for Samish Race =====

**Reivers Dustin** \\
09/26/15  #18059

Couldn't race so I volunteered - really something to see behind the curtain.  New race directors Sharon and Steve were great.  Many years ago I directed one race.  I was nervouser than a dawg poopin peach pits.  Since then Sound Rower races have become even more involved with many divisions and a really high bar with food, schwag, wider ranges of boats & skills.

I didn't stick with it and was a one and done race director.  The warts and problems in the race ate my self confidence.  I could tell Steve and Sharon struggled with the blizzard of problems.  But I could also see that these two have really phenomenal teaming skills.  If you want to see this (and other S.R. races) continue to grow give some love to the race directors.  Especially new ones that step into this challenge.

Maybe you had some problem with your experience of the race.  For example the start.  If you were one who didn't hear the warning horn, No Whining.  It is up to you to be at the start line when the gun sounds.  This is not kindergarten.  If you go to world's and squawk about not hearing the warning horn the other racers will absolutely laugh in your face.  Then there's drafting.  Or jumping the start, or whatever.  oops, bit of a rant.

It was a privilege to see how Sharon and Steve quietly adapted.  They pulled some great staff together to help them and were smart in how they used their support.  They handled a ton of prep and will be working through clean up most of the weekend.  I hope this is the beginning of a wonderful relationship between them and Samish race.  I must say Steve can rock a tux & sneakers.

rd

**Samish race report\\
Reivers Dustin** \\
09/26/15  #18060

Crazy rain.  At least it didn't snow.  Missed seeing the Jacobsons, but now that there's one more in the fambly means we'll see more of them next time.  Losing that little drive across bridge really hampered the boat unloading.  Lesson for next year:  drop your boat off, drive car to parking, Do Not Rig your boat, Do Not Register until you have parked your car.  It was a mess getting folks to move their car after unload.  Lots of folks had to sit waiting while the unloads did a lengthy meet and greet session or fiddled with their boats.  Not so good.

Now for the gossip.

Shawn and LG complained about Mom and Son Eckert's raging bull start and could not get past them.  It's tough to get "Chicked" and "Kid Thrashed" in the same race by the same boat. Who said something mean to Peter M?  Maybe he was lonely for Whitlock's drafting him.  Peter smoked the course like a striped assed Jaybird.  And Rick L. had a monster race as well - did he slam down a Jolt Cola pre-race?  Epic battle in mixed C-2.  David S. and Thom P. have paddled since the invention of water.  The big deal today was their wives competing with them.  Thom and Joan came out ahead this time so that means bragging rights until next season.  The world wants to know what meds Duncan is using.  He whines until he gets his own age group, then humiliates the younger set.  Jeeze.  Next year we better bring oxygen for LB - we might lose him if he kills himself like this race (trying to hold Dunc at bay.)  If things keep going like this Dean's reign of terror might be coming to an end.  Well, probably not.  Dean is bitter about Greg B moving into his age group.  Today it looked like GB was 20 years younger.  Probably just throwing down in front of Nick C.  Wish I could have seen those two running that stretch from the start to the bridge.  They must have panicked every fish in the upper basin putting high wattage out.  Overall the rowers ruled the day.  Fun to see so many gifted youngsters out.  OC boats had some monster bashes I'd like to hear about.  Almost forgot:  women's surfski is happening.  Heather, Vanessa and Gwen stormed the course and stayed in range of the 60's males.  Awesome female athletes breaking it down there.  I'm not sure I could keep up.  Pain City, baby.

Would love to hear your story.  Wish I could have paddled.  rd.

**Nicholas Cryder** \\
09/27/15  #18066

Love the short form race report Reivers. To put that first kilometer in perspective; my gps pegged it at a 3:54, and Greg had three boats on me by the bridge. As he just motored away I thought "Wow, Greg is fast". And then I remembered we still had 9k to go as I blew up.

**Larry <lbussinger@...>**

09/28/15  #18070

I regretfully have to congratulate Duncan for a well fought race.  I had a great race by being beside Dean the entire time, I haven't been able to do that before.  I had a shi... race by letting Duncan out-sprint me.  I literally had to stop paddling 15' from the finish as I couldn't suck in enough air to sustain consciousness.  Fortunately I coasted across the finish before Heather ran over me too!  Gail H took a super picture from the bridge with all of us strung out in a line with only inches between us.

Larry B

**Awesome Job Scoggins Crew!!!\\
Pmarcus** \\
09/26/15  #18062

Hey nice job today at Lake Samish Race!!  Lots of racers, boats, volunteers,Safety Boats and crew to take care of....Job well done, although you forgot your Bow Tie for your MC Tux!!

Cheers,  Peter

**paul clement** \\
09/27/15  #18063

Second what Peter said.\\
Super organized and probably the best clean no nonsense start ever.\\
Great food and plenty of it as well as excellent dessert options from the kids who let me overpay without complaint.\\
I even saw Greg B hefting his award in a moment of private pride that was like a back stage glimpse at the Olympics podium ceremony. Well played.

The only improvement for next year that I can think of would be to ban drafting IN class ;-)\\
Paul

**Kevin Olney**

09/27/15  #18064

Yes, the lack of bow tie was a major disappointment. Otherwise, great show Steve! Big thanks to Sharon, Peter, Duncan ,Tom, Tom and the rest of the volunteers who made it all happen!

**I have Complaints ( from a man out of his league)\\
bill** \\
09/27/15  #18067

OK fine, if no one else will complain I will.

First,  I have a beef to pick with Heather. So what's up with that wide, smooth, powerful stroke of yours?! It won't let me sneak up and draft right alongside you. I was going to say something on the water but I would have needed another lung. Because of that im relegated to drafting right on your stern. But then the stern of your ski swings back-and-forth like a pendulum making it difficult to draft. I would appreciate it next time if you held an absolutely straight and true course and narrowed your stroke slightly allowing me to draft on your side easer. Or at least not snake around so I can stay on your stern with a minimum of fuss.....just common courtesy really.

And then there was Duncan. After getting tired of drafting Heather and paddling all over the lake 'to go straight' I switched to drafting Duncan, at least he paddles strait... ish. So there I was sitting on Duncan's stern feeling good with less than a mile to go. I was planing my sprint to a glorious front of the pack finish with the crowd cheering and chanting my name, or names I can pretend are mine as no one knows who I am.... Right then I stuffed my paddle blade inside the cockpit while trying to rotate a bit too much.  After two very deep braces and visions a crippling flat water swim of shame, I came to a total stop but upright. Finally after getting back up to speed, low and behold my drafting gravy train was 200 feet ahead.  Did Duncan have the common courtesy slow down and let me catch up to my previous drafting position?... No, no he did not. I mean what kind of comradery is that? I felt like I was left for dead. I will not forget that.... Just say'n.

I was right there with the pack that I had my eye on from the start. My carefully crafted plan was working and I was going to out sprint the pack to the finish and bask in the glory of finishing somewhere mid pack! Then everyone went and made it difficult for me and even capitalized on my mistakes! Can you believe  it!?............ "I coulda have been a contender!" ( in my best Marlon Brando voice)

It just goes to show how ruthless the Bellingham paddlers are. Fair warning, I will be gunning for you next year.... You know who you are.

Thanks to the organizers for putting on a super event. I had a blast and it seems even more fun the the less sore I become. Tasty food, good company and physical pain, all good. Even though they are ruthless on the water, the locals seem quite nice on shore.... strange.

Next time I would like to win something in the raffle and I would appreciate it if someone could arrange that for me.  It seams like  that's the only way I'm going to win anything at these events now that I'm 50... This age group sucks.

Bill Cirino

**Salmon Row\\
Steve Scoggins** \\
09/27/15  #18068

Hello to all.  First all, a big thank you to the community for supporting the race.  It was an honor to put on the event.....a CRAZY sort of honor, but an honor nonetheless.

Lets talk about the folks who really made this thing happen.....

Howats:  This family has built the event to an enormous standard.  There was a substantial amount of hard materials such as signage, BBQ grill, vests, etc that were provided.  Even more were the soft materials consisting of knowledge and encouragement.  Any questions or needs were immediately answered.

Peter Marcus:  Seriously. Y'all, what you don't know here is this.....the Salmon Row wouldn't have happened without him.  Period.  I do not possess the boats, the buoys, the know-how, the connections with his safety crew, etc, etc, etc.  I had absolutely nothing to do with course set up or safety direction, or course removal.  It allowed me to focus on other things.   Thank him profusely when you see him.  Maybe even give him a "WetWillie".

The Swetish family needs to be commended for everything they did.  Tom and Sara provided essential help during set up, registration, timing, awards, and cleanup.  Mimi was a major help during the event, especially during food service and awards.  Ana raced like a champ, then skipped her other plans to help do cleanup.

Thom and Sandy Gilliard were on site Friday afternoon.  They helped organize anything necessary.  They showed up early the next day and continued helping up to race time.

Scott Odell and Chris Noskoff spotted from the bridge.....very helpful.

The safety crew was top notch.  We still need to do something nice for them.

Dean, MG, and Dennis.....cash sponsors.  That's huge. The "Mowry most improved award" was not issued due to my lack of organization. Please send me your vote for which male and female you think improved the most this season. You can email me at scogginssteve@....  This  award will be issued at the paddle for food relay.

There were several highlights during the race.  Big wave Duncan clearly is not ready for the 70+ category yet.  The Gwyn/Roger/Hooper/JoanthomStarbuck/Romo cluster was crazy.  I was stoked to see so many C2s out there.

The Sprint team kids were an impressive force out there.  Jonas and Ana clearly were not a handicap to their adult partners, much to the chagrin of other unnamed tandems.  The  Wolgamot Bartlett Duo finished amazingly well.  I think that was the first time they had paddled together in a double.  The Sierra/ Abby K2 comprised of a 10 and 13 year old put down a pretty impressive time for their size, placing above four different rowing quads, 59th of 98 boats...of course I'm a little biased on that boat, but still, it's a pretty impressive finish for a couple of kids.

The WRA and NCC rowing teams should be thanked and supported.  They bring large checks in for registration.  The event just wouldn't be the same without them.  Like almost 1/3rd of the entries....it'd be tough to get the site, have food, etc without their participation.

The biggest of the thanks goes to Sharon.  She did more behind the scenes work than I have room to write.  Please thank her next time you see her.  It couldn't have been done without her.

Ok, enough, enough, here's what you really want to read...,

http://www.webscorer.com/racedetails?raceid=53074

Steve
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