Surfski Knowledge Base

John Rybczyk
04/23/17 #21131

Here's the draft of the results. Let me know if there are any mistakes. Thanks for the good turnout and thanks to all my volunteers. We caught a little break with the weather and even had a bit of surf. We had a few swimmers and a few DNFs, but to those folks I say…it's all part of the steep curve and we've all been there, so get back into that saddle! Or be like me and get a fatter boat! It was also wonderful to have all of those groms racing…bringing it full circle to our clan of wave riders. Once I fire up the Cray super computer, I'll report the results of the Think International Challenge. See you on the water…johnr

Long Course

Place Time Name Class Place in Class

1. 1:06:33 A/ Kiefer HPK 1

2. 108:42 G. Barton HPK 2

3. 1:11:16 Olney/Clement HPK 1

4. 1:11:13 G. Redman HPK 3

5. 1:13:41 N. Cryder HPK 4

6. 1:14:00 Lowe/Edward HPK2-Jr 1

7. 1:15:33 J. Klein HPK 5

8. 1:15:42 Nelson/Ecker HPK2-Jr 2

9. 1:17:08 D. Kiesling HPK 6

10. 1:17:38 Wermus/Ecker HPK2MX 1

11. 1:18:21 BBOP:Lance, etc… OC6M 1

12. 1:18:51 Scoggin/Scoggins HKP2MX-Jr 1

13. 1:18:57 S. Martin HPK 7

14. 1:20:20 P. Marcus HPK 8

15. 1:20:43 T. Swetish HPK 9

16. 1:20:47 D. Bumstead HPK 10

17. 1:21:08 H. Nelson HPKW 1

18. 1:21:27 T. Gee HPK 11

19. 1:21:35 T. Landboe HPKW 2

20. 1:21:37 T. Bohm HPKW 3

21. 1:22:57 B. Putnam HPK 12

22. 1:23:07 S. Wallick HPKW 4

23. 1:23:11 L. Bussinger HPK 13

24. 1:24:52 M. Kelly HPK 14

25. 1:25:04 M. Whitlock HPK 15

26. 1:25:24 M. Ching HPK 16

27. 1:25:38 L. Stanley HPKW 5

28. 1:27:42 D. Reivers HPK 17

29. 1:27:46 A. Swetish HPKW-Jr 1

30. 1:27:50 T. Brown HPK 18

31. 1:28:21 D. Remmler HPK 19

32. 1:29:15 D. Scherrer HPK 20

33. 1:29:52 BBOP: Thompson OC6MX 1

34. 1:31:26 S. Wallick HPK 21

35. 1:31:56 Reeves/Dierich OC2W 1

36. 1:32:46 BBOPW OC6W 1

37. 1:33:27 M. Gregory HPK 21

38. 1:33:43 Lee/Boatman V2M 1

39. 1:33: 52 G. Biernacki HPK 22

40. 1:34:08 D. Howat HPK 23

41. 1:34:30 C. Wonham HPKW 6

42. 1:35:28 T. Niemier HPKM 24

43. 1:36:21 H. Klinedinst HPK 25

44. 1:40:15 Prichard/Aven OC2 1

45. 1:41:45 J. Davis HPK 26

46. 1:42:37 Redman/Redman HPK2MXjr 1

47 1:43:27 M. Durban HPKW 7

48. 1:44:45 L. Goolsby OC1 1

49. 1:48:19 R. Lamb HPK 27

Short Course

1. 38:12 Smith/Smith HPK2 1

2. 38:42 E. Wolgamat HPKW-jr 1

3. 39:12 R. Wurtz HPK-Jr 1

4. 40:00 Kai Pana? OC6 1

5. 40:06 Kai Pana? OC6 2

6. 40:31 D. Hooper HPK 1

7. 41:08 R. Lingbloom HPK 2

8. 42:46 T. Halstead HPK 3

9. 42:57 P. Helms HPK 4

10. 43:19 D. Stimac HPK 5

11. 44:06 Z. Woodard HPKW-jr 2

12. 44:35 R. Bunn HPKW 1

13. 45:11 J. Buchanan OC1 1

14. 46:00 A. Bunn HPK 6

15. 49:43 T. Clarke HPKW-jr 3

16. 50:18 S. Scoggins HPKW 2

17. 50:19 T. Carke HPKW 3

18. 51:19 A. Zipperer HPKW 4

19. 51:28 S. Lundgren SK 1

David Scherrer 04/23/17 #21132

John,
You may want to double check on Lee/Boatman finish..I could have sworn they were up there with Marcus and gang…..least thats how it looked from my vantage point, quite a'ways behind.

David S

allipp01
04/23/17 #21133

They were….until they had technical issues with their steering, resulting in Brian being able to only turn right and Mike left. Or was it vice versa?

Dale McKinnon
04/23/17 #21134

Boatman-Lee broke their rudder out near #2 and paddled in close to shore.

Nicholas Cryder

04/23/17 #21135

John, once again a great event and the weather worked out pretty nice. A lot of fun to actually surf (small) waves in one of our local races. Post race meal looked ace. Y'all let me know what you think of the Bear's Breath.

Michael Lee

04/23/17 #21136

After struggling to fix the issue on the bay, we limped into Marine Park and reattached the rudder cable….then realized that we had attached the wrong cable to the steering assembly. Brian controlled rudder -right and I controlled rudder-left.

David Scherrer

04/24/17 #21137

Is it my imagination, or does it seem according to how the points are computed, that the Barnacle class of older and slower paddlers are really not doing anyone any favors by being in this particular event?….. As noticed in the result figures.

Steve Scoggins
04/24/17 #21138

Being part of an event that, by its existence, strengthens the paddling community is paramount. Points computed mean nothing. You're doing all of us a favor by showing up to every event you can possibly be at.
That's just my opinion from middle age and middle pack.

Are you requesting that there be an age breakdown to add to the points structure? Kelowna will probably bring their entire Senior Center if so.

Steve

allipp01

04/24/17 #21139

Every adult male paddler beyond the first 12 finishers from each country earns a one point deduction. That means that you, David, actually helped the team more than Austin! Yes, he earned +1 point, while you and all the other barnacles earned -1. And remember low score wins, so it is really all about the number of paddlers that race. If you want to help even more, maybe you can ask John to consider giving a 5 point deduction for each senior citizen that paddles.

allipp01
04/24/17 #21140

Note I should have added that every female and junior paddler already presently earns a 5 point deduction, so it would make sense to include seniors in that class!

John Rybczyk
04/24/17 #21141

A point of information. It is NOT true that the slower paddlers don't contribute points. EVERY surf ski participant not placing in the top 12 for their teams earns a one point deduction for the team (which is good because low score wins), including those who do the short course. This adds up to a lot of points for the home team. In fact, it would be impossible for a team to win without a good showing from the work-a-day paddlers on home turf.

Michael Lee
04/24/17 #21146

And the OC6? How many points did Alan's crew put on the board for the home team?

John Rybczyk

04/24/17 #21147

Michael, right now the Think International Surf Ski Championships (a race within a race) is only for surf skiers. There have been some discussion about including other paddle craft in the scoring and perhaps that will happen one day. The overarching Dan Harris Challenge race, now 13 years old, welcomes all self-propelled watercraft of course, from war canoe to prone paddler, but they don't factor into the Think scoring.

johnr

Michael Lee
04/25/17 #21148

Thanks. I know, I'm just giving Alan a hard time. The OC winter series welcomes surf skis and other human-powered watercraft, but only OCs can earn points towards the championship. There's nothing wrong with keeping Dan Harris as a surf ski-focused race.

Gerrymandering
allipp01
04/25/17 #21149

John, since we have so many senior aged surfski paddlers here in Bellingham, I'd like for you to lobby for a 5 point reduction for each paddler over the age of 60 that races in the Think International Surfski Challenge.

Would this be considered gerrymandering?

Dan Harris Start
Kevin Olney
04/25/17 #21158

A quick video my friend Chris took at the start of Sunday's race. Gregs Barton and Redman can be seen leading the pack at the top of the screen while Austin takes his own line on the inside.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-9-rmKij88

Think International Challenge Part 2 - Indian Arm Challenge
Bob Putnam
04/26/17 #21162

Speaking for Canada, not something I do often, but we all had a great time at the Dan Harris Challenge!! Thanks John R, and volunteers. Thanks to the Whatcom Crew for being warm and welcoming.

This cross-border paddling challenge is something very unique, and I like the suggestions from people saying we should expand it to include OC and SUP. We have a growing SUP contingent at our Deep Cove Tuesday Night Races, and they are very enthusiastic. We should all be very proud of this cross-border relationship and in the coming years do everything we can to foster its growth. The biggest thing anybody can do is PARTICIPATE. Whenever I tell paddlers from other parts of North America they say things like, “Wow, that's so cool!”….dude.

Indian Arm Challenge - May 13 - Register Here
20 miles - Race Details Solo or Relay.

I know some of you are grumbling about the distance, but I will be looking at it as an opportunity to get some early season miles in. Perhaps we should make a civilized rule that everybody paddles at tops, 6 mph and then start racing with one mile left. ?? RIGHT! Like that would work.

If you have never paddled to the top of Indian Arm, it is truly spectacular. Silver Falls, Granite Falls, The Historic Wigwam Inn, and the Indian River Estuary are all worth the effort. Indian Arm is the southern most classic coastal fjord in North America. Check out this promo video we shot at the top of Indian Arm.

Registration is a bargain: Weak Canadian Dollar makes registration fees a bargain.
Spend the night: Race starts at noon, we have designated parking. There will be a post race Dinner and party at Deep Cove Outdoors. 7 PM- ?? Maybe we could get some Bellingham musicians to perform?? Hey?!

Ambleside on Sunday: Many of you have heard me speak of it, some of you have experienced it. The current is running at a civilized time, with Max ebb at 11:50. Leisurely breakfast coffee, and given a nice westerly, you can paddle in the best Gorge-Like conditions north of the Columbia. Also at the end of the video there is some Ambleside footage on a light day.

So join your paddling brothers and sisters in Canada on May 13. #PaddlersWithOutBorders

Early sign up really helps us plan. 61 people signed up so far.

Think International Challenge Score After Round 1
John Rybczyk
04/26/17 #21166

After Round 1 (Dan Harris) the scores stands at USA = 17, Canada = 152 (low score wins). Now, this is how it goes every year, what with participation points, etc… the home team dominates. A few things did stand out this year…both teams took major deductions (remember deductions are good) for women surf skiers and USA took some big deductions because of a good turnout from the juniors. Also women placed in the top 12 for each team outright and so did some over 60 surf skiers. USA also took 8 of the top 10 spots, so that was a factor as well.

I do not know if this is enough of a buffer for the USA. Right now, for the second leg of the Challenge (Indian Arm: https://www.webscorer.com/registerlist?raceid=89898) there are 19 surf skiers registered and none of them are from the US. However, on the plus side for the USA, there is no short course for the Indian Arm race and usually the home team picks up a lot of participation point deductions from locals doing the short course (not too many go through the trouble of crossing the border to just do the short course).