Wednesday, June 30, 2010
[Blog] Oregon Open Ocean Classic: Here comes a fun one friends--as long as you don't mind a little nippiness in the water.
The Oregon Open Ocean Classic is an 11 mile, Nor... http://ping.fm/0OaM2
The Oregon Open Ocean Classic is an 11 mile, Nor... http://ping.fm/0OaM2
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The Blowout is ON...
(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/62GhU)
...If the wind cooperates. The Columbia Gorge Blowout has been going on for 28 years, and this year it includes a SUP race. I did the blowout a few times on windsurfers, and it was always such a blast. Not just the race, but all the after stuff too. Hood River is such a lively town as summer starts to unfold. Great restaurants, wineries, brewpubs, fun people, lots to do. It just flat out rocks here.
There was a bit of uncertainty and confusion (I'm blaming Matt, from Naish, he got me spun up over dates. You just can't do that to a guy with a geezer memory) but we’re on for the Blowout this weekend. The first Gorge Blow Out SUP Downwinder Race, this weekend June 26 or 27 depending on the wind forecast. This is an 8 mile course from Viento to Hood River, riding swells with the wind and battling against the current. The wind and swells win, but if you fall off you'll be amazed at how fast you go backwards. Registration is at Bob’s Beach in Stevenson, WA from 8-9:00 AM on the day of the race. Check the VMG website for race schedule updates http://ping.fm/yhBO1 to know what day to show up.
Classes:
12’6†and below
14’ and below
Unlimited
Be sure to check the VMG site for general info and registration. Understand that VMG runs this race, we just talked them into adding SUP and promote it. Just to make it completely clear, you check in at Bob's Beach in Stevenson at 8:00-9:00, sign their waivers, register and pay your race fee ($45). The fee includes snacks and beverages at the finish. Then you drive across the Bridge of the Gods to Cascade locks and travel up the Gorge to Viento Park. Viento has a $5 day use fee for parking. Bring a fiver, it's a self-pay system--envelope in a strongbox. We launch there according to VMG's schedule--approximately 10:00 but it could be a little later if the wind is still building. Trust us, we want wind.
Notification of whether the race will happen on Saturday or Sunday will be ON THE VMG SITE. We’ll mirror it as soon as we hear, and we’ll send email to anyone that preregisters with us (see our pre-registration form at : http://ping.fm/cjTbd
The Fast Way and the Fun Way
With the current being so brisk this year (lots of runoff from all the late spring rain) the fast way to the event center will probably not be the fun way. Fun is to get out in the river a bit and enjoy surfing the swells. You can get some incredibly long rides because the current keeps you in the swell so long. Unfortunately the current is much stronger anywhere there is swell, so the fast way is usually to hug the shore a bit. Then again, this is a FUN event, so if you get to Hood River without riding some swells, you lose out in the fun category.
You should also understand that the Columbia River is big, swift and cold. That means its dangerous, and you should NOT attempt this race if you are not ready for these conditions. Life jackets are required by coast guard regulation. Inflatable belt style or suspender style are fine. You might find a standard kayak jacket to be an advantage--it increases your sail area and doesn't hinder paddling. Be prepared for early morning temperatures and spring runoff water temps. A shorty wetsuit is recommended, though some folks will undoubtedly be in Boardies.
Hope to see you there. Race On.
...If the wind cooperates. The Columbia Gorge Blowout has been going on for 28 years, and this year it includes a SUP race. I did the blowout a few times on windsurfers, and it was always such a blast. Not just the race, but all the after stuff too. Hood River is such a lively town as summer starts to unfold. Great restaurants, wineries, brewpubs, fun people, lots to do. It just flat out rocks here.
There was a bit of uncertainty and confusion (I'm blaming Matt, from Naish, he got me spun up over dates. You just can't do that to a guy with a geezer memory) but we’re on for the Blowout this weekend. The first Gorge Blow Out SUP Downwinder Race, this weekend June 26 or 27 depending on the wind forecast. This is an 8 mile course from Viento to Hood River, riding swells with the wind and battling against the current. The wind and swells win, but if you fall off you'll be amazed at how fast you go backwards. Registration is at Bob’s Beach in Stevenson, WA from 8-9:00 AM on the day of the race. Check the VMG website for race schedule updates http://ping.fm/yhBO1 to know what day to show up.
Classes:
12’6†and below
14’ and below
Unlimited
Be sure to check the VMG site for general info and registration. Understand that VMG runs this race, we just talked them into adding SUP and promote it. Just to make it completely clear, you check in at Bob's Beach in Stevenson at 8:00-9:00, sign their waivers, register and pay your race fee ($45). The fee includes snacks and beverages at the finish. Then you drive across the Bridge of the Gods to Cascade locks and travel up the Gorge to Viento Park. Viento has a $5 day use fee for parking. Bring a fiver, it's a self-pay system--envelope in a strongbox. We launch there according to VMG's schedule--approximately 10:00 but it could be a little later if the wind is still building. Trust us, we want wind.
Notification of whether the race will happen on Saturday or Sunday will be ON THE VMG SITE. We’ll mirror it as soon as we hear, and we’ll send email to anyone that preregisters with us (see our pre-registration form at : http://ping.fm/cjTbd
The Fast Way and the Fun Way
With the current being so brisk this year (lots of runoff from all the late spring rain) the fast way to the event center will probably not be the fun way. Fun is to get out in the river a bit and enjoy surfing the swells. You can get some incredibly long rides because the current keeps you in the swell so long. Unfortunately the current is much stronger anywhere there is swell, so the fast way is usually to hug the shore a bit. Then again, this is a FUN event, so if you get to Hood River without riding some swells, you lose out in the fun category.
You should also understand that the Columbia River is big, swift and cold. That means its dangerous, and you should NOT attempt this race if you are not ready for these conditions. Life jackets are required by coast guard regulation. Inflatable belt style or suspender style are fine. You might find a standard kayak jacket to be an advantage--it increases your sail area and doesn't hinder paddling. Be prepared for early morning temperatures and spring runoff water temps. A shorty wetsuit is recommended, though some folks will undoubtedly be in Boardies.
Hope to see you there. Race On.
[Blog] The Blowout is ON...: ...If the wind cooperates. The Columbia Gorge Blowout has been going on for 28 years, and this year it includes a SUP race. I did the blowout a fe... http://ping.fm/ovEEY
Saturday, June 19, 2010
[Blog] Wellfleet Supathalon: Attention all you east coasters!! I hope you're getting yor piece of the Cape Cod Bay ... http://ping.fm/ccz71
Wellfleet Supathalon
(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/Sm31M)
Attention all you east coasters!! I hope you're getting yor piece of the Cape Cod Bay Challenge activities. The Wellfleet Supathalon looked like a real blast. Brother Bob did an Animoto slide show of the festivities. These guys put on a hell of an event, and it's all for charity. Next up is the Charles River paddle, which sounds like way too much fun, though having grown up in Boston, the notion of actually touching Charles River water seems totally foreign, but I guess it's really cleaned up these days. Challenge on the Charles, July 17thhttp://ping.fm/7lz7E
I'll be flying out to the CBCC on August 14th. I hope Bob has got me a decent board this time.
Here's the slideshow.
Attention all you east coasters!! I hope you're getting yor piece of the Cape Cod Bay Challenge activities. The Wellfleet Supathalon looked like a real blast. Brother Bob did an Animoto slide show of the festivities. These guys put on a hell of an event, and it's all for charity. Next up is the Charles River paddle, which sounds like way too much fun, though having grown up in Boston, the notion of actually touching Charles River water seems totally foreign, but I guess it's really cleaned up these days. Challenge on the Charles, July 17thhttp://ping.fm/7lz7E
I'll be flying out to the CBCC on August 14th. I hope Bob has got me a decent board this time.
Here's the slideshow.
[Blog] Wellfleet Supathalon: Attention all you east coasters!! I hope you're getting yor piece of the Cape Cod Bay Challenge activities. The Wellfleet Supathalon looked like a... http://ping.fm/oBCba
Friday, June 18, 2010
Racing In The Northwest
(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/73BBD)
It's been an interesting race season so far. Most of the downwind races have been what Dave Kalama calls "good training". In other words, a lot of work. The last race of the Portland Ross Island Races put on by Gorge Performance had to be postponed due to high water, debris and nasty current in the Willamette River. A product of the copious rain we've had lately. It's four days to the official start of summer and we've been freezing our butts off. I'm glad Bob postponed the race, I don't care to be run down by a root ball when I'm trying to race. That freed up last Saturday, so Rod Parmenter, Mark Ribkoff and I made the long trek to Port Angeles for the Wanda Fuca race.
This was supposed to be a high wind race, but the Straits of Juan De Fuca is a treacherous place, and this time the treachery was that there was NO wind. There was a strong tidal current, headed theoretically in the right directions: 13.5 miles along the coast to Port Angeles. But like all tidal flows it was fluky. Guessing where it was going and where it was strongest would figure large in the race. To make a long story short, it was a very tough race, basically flat water paddling for 11.5 miles and then against a brisk side wind and chop for the last two miles. I was glad to see the finish. Beau Whitehead won the race on a Bark, followed by Rod on his F18, then Rick Graves--I don't recall what he paddled. I came fourth on my F18, followed by Mark on a Starboard Surf Race. there were about ten or so SUP racers, and a big turnout of sea kayakers, OC-1s, and surfskis.
Back to Hood River, the mighty Columbia and Big Winds first race of the season. The river current is strong right now, and the winds are moderate, so I expected an easier time of it on the first leg of the course: upwind, but downcurrent around Wells Island. I was pretty surprised when we rounded the end of the Hook to paddle face into a powerful wind and some decidedly rough swells. My F18 was a handful in those conditions and bounced all over the place. Rod Parmenter took an early lead and I slotted in behind him, paddling hard. By the time we were halfway to the island Rob had given me the slip, and both Mark Ribkoff and another guy on a Starboard race board were edging past me. We reached the island and started along it's shore, trying to duck out of the wind and use the current. It was simply a gut-wrenching pull to the tip of the island. we rounded the tip and my F18 started doing what it does best, getting into small swells and ripping along in them. I pulled away from Mark fairly quickly, though he stayed on my heels most of the way to the event center. Rod was too far way to catch, but the guy in second looked close enough (don't know his name, sorry). I concentrated on my stroke, watching the water, keeping the stroke clean and fast, and edging towards the land where I knew the current would be much less even though the wind would be a little lighter. I started catching the guy in second, though very slowly. As we got closer to the event center second place edged out to catch more wind and swell. I considered this a mistake and increased my cadence to take advantage. Sure enough, as we entered the boat works channel I was neck and neck. We sprinted for the turning buoy and I seemed to have a small advantage. He rounded the buoy the wrong way so he could stay in the wind shadow, but I still had him by a length or two at the finish.
I caught a little static for having an F18 at a race where only 12'6" boards count for points. My retort was "hey, I'm 250 pounds and 63 years old. If I can't play the fat or old cards then you can't play the board card". I'm sure it was an advantage in the run downwind, but it certainly wasn't on the upwind leg. Guess I need to get a 12'6" race board. No idea which one will handle my weight best.
Time for a comparo, methinks.
Tomorrow is the last race in the Gorge Performance Ross Island race series. It's a neat event, been a lot more fun racing around Ross Island than I thought it was going to be. It's a pretty tactical race since there's so much current variation. Tomorrow will be even moreso since the current in the Willamette is still really strong. The return leg is going to be a real grind. It will be interesting to see what the times are like.
Through a bit of a fluke I seem to be the points leader for the series even though I haven't won first overall in any race. As I recall I've come in third in each race, but I was first in the unlimited class and the other classes have had turnover in the winners. Just a scoring oddity, but what the heck. I've been on the bad side of those things before. It also helped a lot that Mark Ribkoff bonked when he was paddling his F18, and missed the start in the second race.
Coming up soon is the Gorge Blowout, and SUP racing will be part of it. It's very cool to have Stand Up Racing added to this venerable and highly regarded event. In years past the party afterward was more physically taxing than the race. I don't know if that's still a tradition, but I'm hoping for the best.
Here's the basic details:
The Columbia Gorge Blowout is a classic Windsurfing event, they’ve been ripping up the Gorge for 28 years, and this year it’s going to include Stand Up Paddlers. The blowout is a big event, with lots of great activities surrounding it. We got together with the Darren Rogers, the principal race officer for the blowout and he enthusiastically agreed to include SUP. Get this on your calendar: Gorge Blowout June 26 or 27
The full blowout runs from Stevenson to Hood River, but we’ll be doing the short course version which is Viento to Hood River.
You can preregister for both the Gorge Blowout and the Kite blowout here:
The entry fee for the Gorge Blowout is $45 which includes food and beverages.
Kite Blowout July 23-24 For the past few years the Columbia Gorge Kitesurfing Association has been holding downwind races from Stevenson to the Hood River sandbar. This year they have agreed to add Stand Up Paddlers to the lineup. We are considering offering both a short and a long course for this race, with the long course being the full 17 mile run from Stevenson and the short course jumps in at Viento. Details to follow, but mark your calendar.
It's been an interesting race season so far. Most of the downwind races have been what Dave Kalama calls "good training". In other words, a lot of work. The last race of the Portland Ross Island Races put on by Gorge Performance had to be postponed due to high water, debris and nasty current in the Willamette River. A product of the copious rain we've had lately. It's four days to the official start of summer and we've been freezing our butts off. I'm glad Bob postponed the race, I don't care to be run down by a root ball when I'm trying to race. That freed up last Saturday, so Rod Parmenter, Mark Ribkoff and I made the long trek to Port Angeles for the Wanda Fuca race.
This was supposed to be a high wind race, but the Straits of Juan De Fuca is a treacherous place, and this time the treachery was that there was NO wind. There was a strong tidal current, headed theoretically in the right directions: 13.5 miles along the coast to Port Angeles. But like all tidal flows it was fluky. Guessing where it was going and where it was strongest would figure large in the race. To make a long story short, it was a very tough race, basically flat water paddling for 11.5 miles and then against a brisk side wind and chop for the last two miles. I was glad to see the finish. Beau Whitehead won the race on a Bark, followed by Rod on his F18, then Rick Graves--I don't recall what he paddled. I came fourth on my F18, followed by Mark on a Starboard Surf Race. there were about ten or so SUP racers, and a big turnout of sea kayakers, OC-1s, and surfskis.
Back to Hood River, the mighty Columbia and Big Winds first race of the season. The river current is strong right now, and the winds are moderate, so I expected an easier time of it on the first leg of the course: upwind, but downcurrent around Wells Island. I was pretty surprised when we rounded the end of the Hook to paddle face into a powerful wind and some decidedly rough swells. My F18 was a handful in those conditions and bounced all over the place. Rod Parmenter took an early lead and I slotted in behind him, paddling hard. By the time we were halfway to the island Rob had given me the slip, and both Mark Ribkoff and another guy on a Starboard race board were edging past me. We reached the island and started along it's shore, trying to duck out of the wind and use the current. It was simply a gut-wrenching pull to the tip of the island. we rounded the tip and my F18 started doing what it does best, getting into small swells and ripping along in them. I pulled away from Mark fairly quickly, though he stayed on my heels most of the way to the event center. Rod was too far way to catch, but the guy in second looked close enough (don't know his name, sorry). I concentrated on my stroke, watching the water, keeping the stroke clean and fast, and edging towards the land where I knew the current would be much less even though the wind would be a little lighter. I started catching the guy in second, though very slowly. As we got closer to the event center second place edged out to catch more wind and swell. I considered this a mistake and increased my cadence to take advantage. Sure enough, as we entered the boat works channel I was neck and neck. We sprinted for the turning buoy and I seemed to have a small advantage. He rounded the buoy the wrong way so he could stay in the wind shadow, but I still had him by a length or two at the finish.
I caught a little static for having an F18 at a race where only 12'6" boards count for points. My retort was "hey, I'm 250 pounds and 63 years old. If I can't play the fat or old cards then you can't play the board card". I'm sure it was an advantage in the run downwind, but it certainly wasn't on the upwind leg. Guess I need to get a 12'6" race board. No idea which one will handle my weight best.
Time for a comparo, methinks.
Tomorrow is the last race in the Gorge Performance Ross Island race series. It's a neat event, been a lot more fun racing around Ross Island than I thought it was going to be. It's a pretty tactical race since there's so much current variation. Tomorrow will be even moreso since the current in the Willamette is still really strong. The return leg is going to be a real grind. It will be interesting to see what the times are like.
Through a bit of a fluke I seem to be the points leader for the series even though I haven't won first overall in any race. As I recall I've come in third in each race, but I was first in the unlimited class and the other classes have had turnover in the winners. Just a scoring oddity, but what the heck. I've been on the bad side of those things before. It also helped a lot that Mark Ribkoff bonked when he was paddling his F18, and missed the start in the second race.
Coming up soon is the Gorge Blowout, and SUP racing will be part of it. It's very cool to have Stand Up Racing added to this venerable and highly regarded event. In years past the party afterward was more physically taxing than the race. I don't know if that's still a tradition, but I'm hoping for the best.
Here's the basic details:
The Columbia Gorge Blowout is a classic Windsurfing event, they’ve been ripping up the Gorge for 28 years, and this year it’s going to include Stand Up Paddlers. The blowout is a big event, with lots of great activities surrounding it. We got together with the Darren Rogers, the principal race officer for the blowout and he enthusiastically agreed to include SUP. Get this on your calendar: Gorge Blowout June 26 or 27
The full blowout runs from Stevenson to Hood River, but we’ll be doing the short course version which is Viento to Hood River.
You can preregister for both the Gorge Blowout and the Kite blowout here:
The entry fee for the Gorge Blowout is $45 which includes food and beverages.
Kite Blowout July 23-24 For the past few years the Columbia Gorge Kitesurfing Association has been holding downwind races from Stevenson to the Hood River sandbar. This year they have agreed to add Stand Up Paddlers to the lineup. We are considering offering both a short and a long course for this race, with the long course being the full 17 mile run from Stevenson and the short course jumps in at Viento. Details to follow, but mark your calendar.
[Blog] Racing In The Northwest: It's been an interesting race season so far. Most of the downwind races have been w... http://ping.fm/cKDdu
[Blog] Racing In The Northwest: It's been an interesting race season so far. Most of the downwind races have been what Dave Kalama calls "good training". In other words, a lot... http://ping.fm/gQp55
Sunday, June 13, 2010
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