Competed in my first OC1 race in a while yesterday.We had good weather and there were a few bumps to work.Very few, but hey who’s complaining when you have the ocean, the sun and your health.An hour before the long course drew near, the wind shifted blowing from the south. But the course was set a week ahead of time favoring a north run, the complete opposite.Several paddlers tried in vain to talk the officials to change the course to go south into the wind and return home surfing with the following seas.We would clear the kelp throughout the race.The advantages were obvious.However the plan was set in stone. The organizers decided to stay with the original plan.
NAC's trailor leaving for home after a long day.
So off we went at the start, like lemmings following each other downwind and into the kelp beds.It was ugly.My son borrowed my boat several weeks ago and snapped our kelp rudder, so I was stuck with a long big wave rudder.I must have attracted kelp for yards around.I swear it was the best resistance training I’ve had in a while.Tires? Who needs tires?I gauged whether I had kelp dragging by watching the paddlers around me.If we were about even, I assumed my rudder was clear.If they all walked away, I assumed I was dragging kelp. My first kelp was a particularly persistent one.It was big and brown and kicked up a wake like a destroyer.I had to swim back and wrestle it.By the time I started paddling again, the pack around me was gone and a new pack was around me.“Hi guys?”
I finally caught several paddlers from the original pack.Anyway it was interesting visiting different packs.By this time we were headed back south, grinding into a very long windy trek.Not much skill involved here, two steps forward one-step backward. Coming around Dana’s famous point, I saw this beautiful long opening in the kelp bed.I was ecstatic.It could be my secret short cut.“Why I could cut off at least a hundred yards”, I thought.I followed the opening and clearly caught some paddlers.The opening was now inviting me into a channel.Then the channel sprung its trap and morphed into a Cul de sac.Dead end.Race over.Kaput… No wonder nobody took this route.I had to go into 4-wheel drive to get out of there.“You know, the plant your blade and scoot-your-ass-forward stroke.”
When I finally got out of there.I dragged a green birds nest the rest of the way to the finish…but I wasn’t about to go swimming again.Are we having fun yet?Grrrr.I planned on using the race as a workout, but come on.Today I’m rebuilding my kelp rudder.
Everyone's cleaning up and saying their goodbyes.
Here today gone to Maui.
My two sons and I just returned from Maui for a family reunion and wedding for my niece.Had a great time.I planned on doing the Maliko race for long time with my friend Wendall Devera who owns the Tri-Paddle store inWailuku.“I swear Wendall I wish you would have name it Try Paddle.”I couldn’t do the Maliko run or the race, because of an injury to my left leg a few weeks prior. So three days before the race, I ended up driving my friends to the start and watching them enviously from shore. That day the wind was howling and I could see them drop their nose at a steep angle and take off.Afterward, we visited the Hawaiian Canoe Club’s awesome site for the first time. What a great place.I was impressed.Good job you guys.
My neice Mapuana Samonte dancing toward her new husband Rick Nowak.
Danny Ching met up with his friends and his coach, also known as boat-builder, janitor, and head shrinker Johnny Puakea. He escorted a team of OC1 paddlers from Maui to Oahu.Stopping at Molokai for a day, they continued to Oahu the next day.It was kind of flat and not much to surf, a real workout.
Don’t have a leg to stand on.
A month ago, I snapped my left Achilles tendon jumping from my canoe dock to the rocks.It was dark and cold after a workout.I could barely feel the bottom of my feet.The tendon snapped with a loud pop when I landed awkwardly.My partners were already cleaned up and leaving.I was on the bottom of the rocks out of site.I crawled up the barnacled filled rocks cutting my knees and waved to them for help.They waved back, smiled and almost left.Afterward, I joked, “If you guys left, the crabs would have got me.”In one moment I went from conditioned and healthy to an invalid.Life has a way of humbling you when you get too full of it.Living with a cast has its advantages and its disadvantages.When I flew to Maui, they brought out a wheel chair and we got to go to the head of the line.Me?But then on one airline we couldn’t find a wheel chair and almost missed the flight.At the gym most people don’t talk, but I found almost everyone asking about the injury and helping change the weights on my machine.Even the cute girl who never talked before would always inquire about my injury.Great way to meet girls, just break a leg. Cool.
The cast is off. Yes.
By the time the hard cast was scheduled to come off I was counting the hours.It began to itch and I swear there was a bug running around inside it.I knew it began to smell because my friend’s dog kept licking and gnawing on it.I had to fend it off with my good leg. Crutches verses canes.I like the cane better than the crutches.Doctor’s order, “The crutches take the weight and pain off your foot and transfers it on your body.”In reality, crutches beat the crap out of your body.Your armpits are the first to go.You quickly learn to remove the crutches before you sit down.If you forget …and you sit, the crutches will just about tear your armpits and shoulders off.After a week, your shoulders are burning and your hip and back is out. Alas, I am always a positive thinker, because, although my body is a total wreck, my foot is fine.I like the cane better, because it frees up one hand to carry things… like a beer.Also I can reach really far and hook things.It stops doors from closing on your good foot and can point out things of interest.Other than that it played more of a psychological role in helping my foot.
Racing with a bum foot.First of all there is very little drive power off the foot.Second, since it is slightly less intelligent than the smarter foot, it tends to allow the rudder to drift off course, resulting in many corrections. Swimming is an option.I dove in to untangle kelp, not thinking that maybe there was a slight possibility that I could have drowned, since a one-footed kick is not strong. Here is where the wonder drug Adrenalin kicks in.After the race, I chuckled when I thought back asking the doctor if I could do a little paddle in a canoe this weekend....12 miles later.
Aloha coaches, parents and keikis.
Regatta season is coming up and we now have keiki paddles for sale. Sizes 46”- 51”. It is not sold in stores.It can only be obtained through our web site here. If you are interested, please email me direct at this email address.Acelocc@aol.com
See our new email address as of January 2012 below
