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OC1 Malibu to Marina 08

Aloha Paddlers

Well the one-man series for this year is over.   It ended with the Malibu to Marina race last Saturday.  In the two weeks leading up to the race, many of us anxiously watched and waited for the weather to cooperate for the long 16 miler.  Most of the two weeks we experienced windy and rough seas, perfect for a long down wind run.  In fact last weekend was the best all winter bringing our hopes to a fever pitch high. 

A large group of guys paddled out of Cabrillo Beach to Newport Beach, a four-hour 30 mile run.  It was epic.  The wind was already blowing when they launched, but it peaked about 2 hours into the run bringing even larger swells.  At one point Marky Mark took a big one and was pitched down the face.  Organizer Danny Ching said, “I heard someone call my name and looked in time to see Marky Mark falling ama under on a big wave.”  Everyone survived and they had enough to talk about for the rest of the week.

Last week, also on Saturday, several guys did a long run from Malibu to Marina.  They too had a great day surfing except when they were about a mile out of the harbor.  Noelani Hirahara who was on her first run with the guys.  As she went right a big swell broke over her and snapped her ama.  Steve Cho had to some how paddle both her boat and his to the harbor, while she caught a ride on the back of another guy’s OC1.  It was a tough paddle.   Always make sure that some one brings a cell phone in a waterproof bag, doubled sealed or a waterproof radio.  It could be your only link to help.

When race day appeared, it was flat calm.  What a big bummer.  It was the second year in a row.  Race director and promoter Brad Gaines kept apologizing to everyone.  “Hey Brad it’s not your fault.”  We can only control what mere earthlings can, but not the weather.  I read the wind and surf chart about a half a dozen times and it still didn’t change.  Anyway we had hoped that a strong westerly wind predicted at 3:00 pm would show up early, but alas, it was too little too late.

The race started at 1:00 pm and by the time the wind and swells showed up, most of the paddlers were almost done.  In my race, I glued some large strips of Velcro under my water bag the night before.  Using a liberal amount of contact glue, I think some of it either melted or somehow leaked into the bag. About four hours before the race, I filled it with water and electrolytes and brought it to the race in a small cooler. 

About 20 minutes into the race, I took my first sip of water.   I exhaled fumes of glue after swallowing the drink. I knew I was in trouble.  But it was still early in the race and I was doing well and moving up on people around me, which made me think that maybe, just maybe I can pull this off.  I thought, “What if I only take a sip a little at a time.”  Yeah right Al.

About mile six, cramps started setting in and my speed slowly dropped. It could have been just my conditioning, but with the smell of glue on my breath, I realized that to go on, would possibility increase a build up of toxins in my body.  I finally stopped paddling and called for a passing escort.  I was really bummed.  However about an hour later, I started feeling better.  I was given a nice warm jacket and a cold beer.  With a beer in one hand, I used the other hand to wave at all my friends busting their butts on the flat race course.  As I faced into the wind, I now had beer breath instead of glue breath. Yeah.  Now that’s what I’m talking about.

Up front the field was cluttered with surf skiers, some of whom went to the right and some to the left of the rum line.  Each group had an idea that somehow they were doing the right thing.  In the end they weren’t too far off.  The group on the right of the rum line actually entered the harbor first, but only because they were in the lead from the start.  Rami Zur lead the field overall and commanded a lead from the beginning. 

Rami is headed for the Olympics along with several of the surf skiers.  They use these races as a cross training from their regular K-1 sport and seem to really enjoy the change in pace, meeting old and new friends and generally getting away from the routine of training at the Chula Vista Training Center.   Mixed within the surf skiers was Danny Ching as he led the OC1 division with about a four-minute gap. 

Following in second for 90% of the race was Steve Sinkus, Danny’s OC1 partner for the upcoming Catalina Challenge coming up this weekend.   However trailing amongst the surfskies in 3^rd place was young Will Reichenstein.  As we passed him on our escort boat it was about a mile from the breakwater.  When next we saw him, he had overtaken Steve as they entered the harbor.  I talked to 17 year old Will later and he said, “I was trying to keep up with an OC2 in front of me.”  They kept encouraging me.  I was dying, but I kept paddling.”  Congratulations to Will in his best performance yet.  Looks like a new young star rising in the east again. Thomas Shahinian finished fourth OC1 in a great performance.

In the women’s OC1 division, first was Juli Wolfe capping a great season.  She won most of the races this year.  Coming in second was Jeanne Barrett in a tough race to the finish with Nohealani Hirahara, who finished third.  Jeanne Barrett lost her training partner this year Jill Schooler who is having a baby.  It’s a phase of motherhood that Juli and many of the top women went through.  But when they came back, they were stronger than ever before. 

Nohealani is the latest young paddler from Marina challenging the top women.   This is her best performance yet and will continue to rise if she keeps her training up.  Congratulations all. 

The official results should be up at the time of this writing, but for now we won’t be able to report much beyond what you read here.  Please check the results when they come out at www.sandiegooutrigger.com/m2m08.shtml

Mahalo Brad Gaines and all the Marina paddlers who helped host this race.  Much aloha to the photographers, officials and skippers. 

This week Sunday will be the Catalina OC1 relay race.  We will be ending up at Dana Point harbor sometime around 1:00 or 2:00 pm.  Please check the official flyers.  Afterward everyone will be partying at Hennessey’s Tavern above Dana’s harbor.  I don’t know about you, but I will be taking Monday off from work. 

Mahalo   Al