User Tools
Sidebar
Race Report LaConnor
Reivers Dustin
02/02/19 #24319
A very fine race was had by all. Except maybe the handful of accidental swimmers. Lots of junk in the water, very fast outflow going. Before the race during 'warm-up' a feisty young lady in an OC-1 dumped while just sitting there. Probably looked at the shore line and misjudged vertical. She was cussin up a blue streak and being the kindly reserved gentleman that I am, I thought it was the cutest thing I ever saw. She was regular height, but slim. So not much body mass to take the shock. She knew what she was doing and got reseated. But this kinda set the tone for the day. Huge turnout. I think Rod said 103 entrants. Biggest La Connor race in my memory.
Rod set up for three wave start. Even then it was a tight pack for the last wave (OC's and Kayaks). With the current blowing through so hard I stayed way back. Too far as it turns out, I was way off the line when he pulled the trigger. Probably because he had the cleanest start line he was going to get. So right away one of the kids from Gig Harbor went over, lost paddle, boat and composure. He had the good sense to grab ahold of DK's boat (might as well have the best). So DK helped him out, probably would have anyway, but he had no choice really. And Charlie B. grabbed his paddle. So it looked pretty good as I took full advantage and snuck past the wreckage. But whoa doggies, Winnie in her OC-1 was cutting across the traffic and here was another fine mess. Turns out it was a dang log in the way. Ernie claimed it was somebodies amma. If so there were more than one of 'em floating about. I got rolling again and finally glimpsed my GPS to see steady 8 mph speeds. Everyone crisply thundered out to the turn piling. Some of us thinking, 'wait a sec… isn't it further out than this?“ Jeff & Teresa K told me later they almost didn't turn. They were in front of the thundering herd with Team Nelson, John Mooney, Kevin, Jamie K, (and notice I wasn't in that pile.) Rumor is Jamie was first boat to finish.
Back in old barnacle herd, plenty of excitement. Big mess at the piling. The current was not flowing due West out there it was a harsh north to south flow. Easy to misjudge. If you didn't set up ahead of time (like Peter M, and maybe some other more sea-salty pilot types), then you got set hard into the piling. Up ahead of me I saw Mark get totally thrown to the greasy depths. I stopped until I saw he was going to nail the first re-entry, then bogied like a bastid to gain any advantage. It didn't work. He still clawed his way past me half-way back up the channel. That was a hard pull. I was seeing 4mph on my gps. And seeing LB pulling a slick inside line that allowed him to gap the gang of OC's chasing him. So basically the length of the race was farther than the distance of it. Or something. I got tired. Good to reconnect with all the old sound rower folks. Both Traci and Tracy got bling. Peter M got bling. Jonas E got bling. I got lots of cookies. totally worth it. can't eat bling.
The after race gloat party was in a neat covered area. Soups were over the top. First one gone was Shane Baker's clam chowder. He gave me the recipe but I have to kill myself if I tell anyone. Cookies were all hand made, none of the big box store stuff. Fun to see all the youthful enthusiasm for the sport. The Gig Harbor kids were all wearing team hats. Team Scoggins represented (Dad and Daughter) in HPK-2. Rumor is some of the newbies signed up Kayak, not knowing all the SR race division classifications. Extra shout out to John M for driving up from Eugene. We're not in Benton County any more Dorothy. whoo haaww!
Nap time for me.
Kevin Olney
02/02/19 #24320
Well said Reivers. For a flatwater race it sure was exciting! I was a little confused by the turn mark (isn’t it usually the green can?) but everyone seemed to go the same course so all good there. Congrats to Jamie Klein for topping a stacked HPK division and to Jonas Ecker for a standout performance. This guy is way past nipping at the heels of the leaders. He is currently eating grown men for breakfast and depositing their egos in the outhouse before lunch.
I took some screenshots of the results if you want a sneak peek before the officials come out later today.
Jonas Ecker
02/02/19 #24321
Who knows what the turn mark is… Last year we turned around the pylons, at least everyone turned around the pylons I guess.
Thanks for such an awesome race everyone!
Jonas Ecker
Kevin Olney
02/02/19 #24322
Official unofficial results:
