We had our final series races Saturday at Dana Point.The turnout was huge.Now that the paddle boarders and stand-ups are participating heavily it was much bigger than we normally experience.We noticed that more women are beginning to compete in paddleboards and stand-ups.The finish of the short course seemed like an endless stream of competitors as they kept appearing around the corner and crossing the finish line. Some of the youngsters on surf-skis did well as they walloped a few of the oldsters.
Prior to the race, Super Dudes Chris Stolba and Cameron Flynn expound their confidence to crush everyone.
We were hoping for wind, but nothing but a breeze crossed our bows all day.Race Commissioner Cheance Adair said she received a report from back east that there was 4 inches of snow on the ground.We’re so lucky to have weather like this in California.So we can stop bitching about the lack of wind and swells now.Ironically we even complain when it’s too nice.
Long haired beauty coming across the finish.
The grassy area where we keep our boats before and after the race was so crowded, that I had to carry my boat all the way to the far end, before I could put it down.That was the longest portage I can remember.
Happy standup paddler glad the race is over.
Not having the results, as of yet, we remembered a few finishers in the short course.One of them was 19 yr old Celeste Wise, who raced the short course in an OC1.She was worried about doing well after not paddling since the Catalina 6 man race.Celeste is now rowing and has a scholarship back east in Pittsburg.She finished first in the women and in front of most of the men too.My buddy Eric Nakamura said, “Hey at least she didn’t pass me until the turn.”Right Eric!
In the long course, we were relegated to chasing phantom swells at the headland of Dana Point.It was calm enough to cut between the rocks and surf.The kelp was thick and if you didn’t have a kelp cutter, you were screwed.I saw several guys next to me racing full bore, and then suddenly they dropped out and disappeared.Kelp got em. At one point, there was a guy on my left and on my right.As we approached a giant kelp patch they got ahead of me by a boat length. The kelp patch left only one opening, which gradually narrowed like a funnel.The two guys slowly pinched together as the opening closed.While they banged amas, I was the lucky one as I trailed inches behind taking full advantage of the trailblazers in front of me.
Stand up paddler putting her best leg forward.
Meanwhile up front Surf skier Rami Zur and OC1 Danny Ching went head to head the first couple of miles, until Rami slowly took the lead followed by the other surf skiers.Some of the smaller swells reflected off the beach straight out to sea, which of some of us rode.That was a weird feeling surfing opposite of the normal direction.
Danny Ching teaching his cousin Garrett Crayton how to stand up paddle.
Coming home Ray Shipman said he noticed small swells wrapping around the rocks at Dana Point and decided to take a chance and cut between two rocks.He said, “I figured it was either going to be a really good or a really bad decision.”Ray jumped on a small swell and it squirted him out the rocks and over the kelp.He said his GPS peaked briefly at 14 mph, but it was enough to make his day.In California you don’t look for ocean swells, you look for boats.We especially love the big fishing boats. Heck even the whale watching boats will do.We aren’t picky.They can take you a long way, if the speed is just right.As luck would have it, the harbor was draining out with a five-foot tide….Aargh.Everyone just had to grind it out all the way to the finish into the current.
A spectator quietly observing all the commotion going on at the finish line.
Awards ceremony. Next race at the awards, we will have to get Cheance a megaphone, so we can hear her announce the winners.OR we can give her the courtesy of listening?It was so difficult for her to speak, because the paddlers talking in the background were literally drowning out her announcing. She has worked hard in the background all season to provide us with a good race each and every time, so let's give her a window of opportunity to speak without losing her voice. Thanks guys.
Mahalo to Dana Point OCC for hosting the race, the photographers and the skippers and officials.
A paddleboarder with matching colors of his board and jersey.
Next race will be in two weeks from Malibu to Marina, a 16 miler.Brad Gaines will be the main man and sponsor with his company called Paddleme.com.It’s the only race where you’re bused to the start line and race back.In other words it’s a one-way race.
Winner of the standup women division
This year Brad said, “We are not required to hire a Lifeguard boat as one of the escorts.”Last year the county required Brad to hire a Lifeguard boat at a cost of $400.00 as a safety precaution.Our association has always supplied our own escort boats for years, but for some reason, there was a mix-up with the county last year.As of now, Brad has three boats and is looking to hire more as backups.Contact Brad Gaines if you have an escort boat for hire.You can contact him at brad@paddleme.com
Hope to see you all at the race.
MahaloAl
Having a few at Taco Surf, we turned a quiet place into a roaring party.
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