Frosty Toes and Glass

I blew off the gym yesterday.  Good Call

Orange Bowl Paddle Championships

After Surf Expo I left Orlando and drove to Miami for the Jimmy Lewis Orange Bowl Paddle Championship.

Orange Bowls

  I have never been to Miami before.  I had visions of  sunshine, pretty girls in bathing suits,  blue water, and a tranquil  Biscayne Bay.  WELL.... 3 out of 4 ain't bad.

Upon arriving at Miami's Bayside Marketplace race venue, I was greeted with everything I had hoped for except a tranquil bay.  The wind was blowing in the high teens with some gust close to 25.  In addition to the wind, the waves bouncing off the seawall created some serious psycho chop.  At 7 in the morning I knew it was going to be a long day.  I just didn't realize HOW LONG.

Gusty winds filling in at sunrise on Biscayne Bay

In addition to some of the top pros from around the world including Candice Appleby, Danny Ching, Jimmy Terrell, and Anthony Vela, Maryland was well represented by Dawn Ehman Marohl, Sandy Deeley and Ron Gossard from Ocean City, and  Basil (Chip) Tydings formally from the area and now  residing in Chicago.  I knew from the beginning I was completely outclassed.  Still,  there are not many sports where the pros and amateurs can line up on the same playing field, and I headed for the start both excited and  more than a little nervous.

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Danny Ching and Candice Appleby before the start

 I had borrowed a M-14 from my friends at Jimmy Lewis to use for the race.  The M-14 is a great board, but it is designed primarily for going downwind, and its upturned nose was  more than a handful in  the wind and the chop.  It wasn't long after leaving the protected harbor that I took my first of many swims.  I bought a new leash at surf expo and was happy to have it.  It would have been tough to catch the board if it had gotten away. RULE # 1; USE A LEASH.  I honestly have never paddled in such rough conditions.  If it is that windy, I'm going windsurfing, not paddling.
 RULE #2; IF YOU ARE GOING TO RACE IN ROUGH CONDITIONS, YOU HAVE TO TRAIN IN ROUGH CONDITIONS. 

Chop City (photo- TKS Miami)

 I soon found myself fighting it out with 3 or 4 others for for DFL.  They would go for a swim and I'd get a lead.  I'd go for a swim and I'd be behind.  I  thought about quitting, but I just kept trying to make it to the next float, the the next buoy, the next marker and finally the turn buoy at the Rickenbacker Causeway. I don't know whether I'm stubborn, stupid or a maybe a little of both, but I just kept paddling. One stroke at a time.   RULE #3; DON'T QUIT.

I paddled, crawled and swam on the right side of the board going out, and now it was time to do everything on the left side going back.  A little side trip  up and down  the Miami River, one more  beating in Biscayne Bay, and then back towards the harbor and to the finish... ALMOST.  Just as I was entering the harbor, I found myself headed right into 92 paddlers starting the 3 mile race.  Oh well, nothing like a little insult to injury. I managed to thread the gauntlet and cross the finish line.  Speaking of injury, I had picked up a sweet new Sawyer TRS paddle at Surf Expo and used it for the race. Unfortunately it is about 2 inches longer than I usually use.  I did a spectacular job of killing my shoulder. 

 RULE # 4; A LONG HARD RACE IS NOT THE BEST TIME TO TRY NEW GEAR!  

Danny  won the mens class in 1 hour and 12 minutes.  Candice beat the ladies at 1 hour and 26 minutes. Dawn, Ron, Sandy, and Chip all had respectable finishes.   I dragged in at 2 hours and 14 minutes.

Candice taking home the money!  Equal $ for men and women.  Awesome!!

Tired and beat up, but still smiling.  (photo- Ken Russell)

 

  I'm a little embarrassed to have finished at the rear of the pack.  I wish I had done a better job of representing team East of Maui.  I paddled as hard as I could and I finished where I finished.  I think I had fun. I know I had fun.  I saw some old friends on the trip and met some new ones. I learned some new stuff, and reinforced some stuff I already knew.  I know I will be never be a top finisher (or even close), but I will paddle harder, I will paddle in rougher conditions, I will do my best, and I won't ever quit.   RULE #5; I WILL HAVE FUN!  Oh yeah,  I also have a craving for Cuban food, but hey, that is another story.

Sunshine, pretty girls in bathing suits,  blue water, and yes, after the race a tranquil  Biscayne Bay

 To Ken Russell, Garry Menk, Jimmy Lewis, and everyone that made the Orange Bowl Paddle Championship happen, great job and thanks for all of your hospitality and  hard work.

 Aloha, 

MB  

 

 

 

SURF EXPO Jan 2013

I spent last week in Florida.  The first few days were in Orlando at the Surf Expo Tade show. 

 The show was packed with Stand Up boards.  After looking at all the  boards  available, I'm convinced that East of Maui has the best selection and the best brands of Stand Up boards available on the market today.  However, in addition to our already extensive line, we have decided to add the BOGA boards to the brands we carry in our store.  They are affordable boards and very popular for SUP Yoga. Their 12'6 Race board also has a strong following

Boga

Boga Yoga

I had hoped to see more the new 2013 Surftech SUP boards, but they were mostly focused on surf at this show. They did have the sweet new BARK Phantom on display.  I want one, but A: I can't afford it, and B: after my lack of performance at the Orange Bowl (more on that later), I'm not worthy!  But, if you can afford it, you won't have any excuses if you race this board.

Bark Phantom

  BUYER BEWARE!
I saw a lot of really nice boards at the show, but I also saw some junk.  There are few companies (and I will use that term loosely) that are copying designs and them having them knocked off cheaply in China.  Not everything that comes from China is bad, but I saw some bad stuff.  A turd painted with glitter, is still a turd.

Someone asked me what the "coolest" thing I saw at the show was, and with out a doubt, it was Ricky Carroll's   tribute board to Donald Takayama.  Donald was a legendary surfboard shaper that passed away last year.

Donald Takayama

Every so often at a demo or trade show I will try or see something I just have to have.  After getting the rundown from Pete, I'm going to have to add these fins to our store inventory, and my personal quiver.  Look for them at East of Maui soon. 

Future Keel and Triangle

 NEXT STOP: MIAMI AND THE JIMMY LEWIS ORANGE BOWL PADDLE CHAMPIONSHIPS!

Last Paddle Out 2012

2012 Santa Paddle

Merry Christmas

Santa and  his helpers

Merry Christmas form City Dock

After City Dock, Santa and the Elves paddled out to Bay Ridge

Santa and Head Elf

Stoked Santa

Add caption

Got Boost?

I got a chance to hit the water in my new O'Neill Boost Drysuit last weekend.  When I headed out at 9am on Sunday, the air temp was around 44 and the bay temp was about 48 resulting in some pretty heavy fog.
It wasn't real cold, but there was a damp chill to the air. 

Horn Point Shoal Marker

 Underneath the Boost,  I wore a pair  mid weight polypro tights on my legs and a silk weight top under a mid-weight stretch fleece.  I wore a pair of 6mm boots and a 3 mm pair of gloves.  I was a little overdressed and started sweating as soon as I hit the water.  All of my base layers did what they were supposed to do and wicked that moisture away, and after those 1st few minutes I no longer felt any dampness next to my skin.

Fog Starting to lift

I paddled for a little over an hour by myself, and then was joined by Sarah. Now time to water test the suit!  I lowered myself in to Back Creek doing my best to keep my head out of the water.   Even though I had "burped" the air out of my suit before heading out, as soon I was in the water I ballooned up like the Michelin man.  I could feel the cold through the suit, but was still not uncomfortable in the water. I'm glad I had a leash on as I think it would have been difficult to swim in the suit. Note to self, burp a little more air out next time.  As soon as I climbed back on the  board and started paddling I was nice and toasty again.

Boost gets 2 Shaka's!

When I got home and pulled the suit off, I was surprised on how dry the inside of the suit was, indicating the beathability of the suit was actually pretty good.  I have worn some drysuits in the past that were completely soaked inside from my own sweat.

My initial 1st impression of the Boost is that it works well and is a good choice for someone looking to paddle comfortably in cold weather and water.  I still need to dial in my layering system, but unfortunately I hurt myself surfing on Monday and it maybe a few weeks before I get a chance to give the Boost another test.
East of Maui has a Large Boost in stock,  if anyone wants to check it out.  Other sizes available special order.
Ahola, and happy warm paddling.

Papa Mark