Its been awhile since ‘Ive written anything…lots of personal stuff going on…lots of paddlings stuff too. Patrick and Sean had a fun, if uneventful Molokai race in the double…I opted to give up Patrick to Sean and let them race together..as it turned out, no wind again for the channel crossing, so I was happy with that decision. The older I get the more wind I need….seems true for us all.
Usa champs was an incredible event and as I watched from the shoreline, I had mixed emotions about not racing…But with the cold weather, and lack of windy conditons(unusual for SF) I once again was happy with my decision. Wavechaser did a remarkable job running the event and pulled off the best race ever…10 years and the champs have become what Patrick and I only dreamed it would be when we started this race in 2002. Hats off to Dawid Mocke again…he continues to show the paddling world why he is number one, but even more than that, why he is such a genuine and kind person.A few stand out accomplishments from some people who aren’t in the limelight. First of all ,kudos to Kim Hayashi who weekend after weekend races up and down the coast in every water craft there is… braved the conditions (cold….she’s itty bitty) and finished strong in the short course. Then there is Duane Stosaker, a highly respected sea kayaker, racing the long course and finishing well after only a year of surfski paddling…talk about setting a goal and making it happen..this man is an example of what you can do if you set your mind to it…plus he has serious skills!!
There are lots of stories within the big story….but I want to thank Patrick for all his support, not only to me (high maintanence wife), or for all the work he does to get skis and stuff to everyone with a good attitude…driving that loaded trailer on I-5 is something else….but his parental support as now he’s on a plane with our son Hayden to the lifeguard nationals on the East Coast….Good luck boys and Huntington State Beach!!!!