Tired to do a good 13 km downwind on my lifeguard spec ski to get more used to it for the USLA Nationals in a week. The 7 knot breeze turned into a nothing slog for over an hour. Had a good hard push trying to get the ski to glide like the Mako 6, but it dosen't...it plods like a spec ski....40 pounds of 19"wide, 19' long with plenty of rocker and a big ole bowfoil....gotta love those specs!

Ok so now we are all keen to do the USA lifeguard nationals after the weekend soooo we went down to Hungtinton Beach with the spec skis and did 8 x jump in starts out for 200 meters...surf in, and 2 x 2000 m. Awesome to get in the ocean surf some more!

Super fun weekend spent on the beach. Friday was the Junior lifeguard regionals where Hayden (11) went to compete for Huntington State Beach. He had a fantasitic day, getting 2nd place in the C age group boys paddleboard. It came down to a sprint off the wave and he was up on his knees and running for 2nd. He was thrilled and is gunning for first at the nationals.

Patrick and I decided to go and compete in the Seniors. He represents Laguna Beach as he was a lifeguard there for many years. I go as an associate member because I never worked. Team Hemmens won all the surfski races..what a great day. Pat won the open and the age group and so did I. I managed to get a chance to try and beat that Aussie girl from last weekend. Turned out not to be a wave for me this time and I was ahead from the beginning...and no wipe outs at the finish. So relived to get the surf jitters out for a while. I jumped on the a paddleboard too and had a fun race winning the age group.....All in all a super day on the beach, even Danica was there for 7 hours...slept in her stroller..what a tropper.

Alone today so went for hard work on the course. 3 x 2000m rest 3' wind and current opposites. Times slow, but work out good.

A super fun event that we have not been to in over 5 years. Last minute we decided to go and race in the surf. The Aussie team was here from Victoria for the Whale and Sheild yearly event with LA County. The first event in the morning is the 10km surfski race. Starts on the beach and goes out around and back..finishing on the beach. The surf was small, but sets came in which made you have to be careful in and out. Steve Woods from SA was the winner in the mens, with Pat right behind..yea old boy. I won the womens, getting in and out throught the surf with out losing my hat (ha, I did not wear one). Then there were some dory races and paddleboard and all the things we don't do anymore and might die if we tried without some training. Steve though,(24 years old, not 44) was trying to win as much prize money as possible, so he jumped in the 1000m surf swim. I think he got points, but it was dominated by Olympic swimmer Chad Carvin. Next was the 2000m surfski sprint..surf was picking up and all morning I told eveyone how I would just back off the big waves and paddle in the back of one. Steve won the mens, although he decided to go the wrong way and almost missed a buoy...he came around and had to paddle hard for 10 strokes to get back in front. Pat raced in for 3rd..again well done old man. I had a bad(normal) jump in start, some Aussie girl busted out through the surf and I had to go hard to catch her...passed her on the last turn and then was home free for the win, except for the big wave that I decided to take off on, not back off of and so I wipe out good...(always keep paddling, but do I? no)..so as I swam to the finish, the Aussie girl won. Bummer...but all in all a fun day...I think I will be sore for another week.

Beautiful light breeze with some small white caps today..perfect for a quick downwind. Paddled up and walked across the pennisula by myselft and then out the surf (small but a strong shore dumper). I managed to time it perfectly into the peak of the curl and smack...punched right through, but darn it, lost my visor again! Don't laugh Adam. At least I didn' fall out in front of 50, 9-11 year old junior lifeguards. I think 10-15th street has every cap and visor I've owned. Some day I will learn to take it off. 13 km of gentle rides....love summer for that.

Too many kids/camps/beach/business/relatives/popsicles/pool/fireworks/and fires for Patrick.
Not enough sleep/time/babysitters/energy....but life is sooo good.

great paddle, same at Pats yesterday. slight breeze, small swell...59:50 for 13km..ok time too.