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Ski to Sea 2011
Jeff Hegedus <jhegedus@…>
05/30/11 #10750
Hey everyone, I just wanted to say congratulations to those who raced yesterday in waters that were maybe a tad beyond their experience base. Nice job, that later in the day sustained 20 mph chop was some good 'looking in the mirror' stuff… way to go!
Gerardo Andaluz
05/30/11 #10751
Survived the first mile then I was nicely escorted by the Sheriff back to Zuanich… already looking forward to next year's.
Reivers Dustin
05/30/11 #10752
There is plenty of post race discussion by leg chairman folk, coast guard, sherriff dept and community leaders. These are the folks in the line of fire if there is a serious loss during the race. For us as racers it is simple: we can make the call. But for them it is not. Get this: your heirs, relatives and whatever attorneys might go after them no matter your wishes.
On the kayak leg, many are saying that the race should have been shut down very early on. For most of you reading this, that might seem knee-jerk. But I paddled back to the start and saw that late-pack thundering herd going out.
It was like a different race. It's the general public. Young kids in a kayak with no spray skirt and no idea about it. A well fitted spray skirt doesn't just pop, you have to pull the release grab. Not sure all those folks know that or maybe know it when they are upside down in cold water.
My thing: huge regards to the race committee, sherriff, Coast Guard, … all the folks who help manage this event even though some might say it's too risky. How would you feel about making this event an “elete athlete only” event? What about dumbing it down? I like it the way it is - hope it keeps going.
RD
Larry Goolsby
05/30/11 #10753
I agree with Reivers that this race has to be kept at a level that John Q. Public can handle. I can't tell you how mant experienced paddlers mentioned their awe at the conditions on Sunday's race after they were back on the beach. Hats off to those that gave it their all regardless if they made it to the finish or not. Some standouts among the crowd were Marc Whitlock and Elaine Eckers. Outstanding times despite the conditions. Also, hats off to Paul Clements for giving up his bike for the kayak leg. Lingbloom deserves a big award for his performance both on the water and in the beer garden. The race was well run and I feel that Larry B. made the best decision to shut it down before we had a catastrophe.
Gerado…Check your britches. I think your testicles grew a notch on Sunday. Thanks for sharing.
However, I have one rant: Did we really need a beer garden? Five bucks to buy a ticket that gets you one beer in a cage with no seating. To top that off, they had one barrista serving while I stood in line to cash in my ticket. If you are going to charge $5 for a beer, provide more servers and a place to sit. I guarantee that if you increase the staff, you'll sell more than enough beers to pay for the additional staff. On the way out we learned that the best party was up at the Arthurs; good beer and company plus a place to sit. I now know where I'll be spending my summer vacation.
LG
AKA LK
debbie natelson
05/30/11 #10754
Gerardo,
I'm curious, were you on your ski or a sea kayak? I just had a flashback to Deception Pass Dash a few years ago when you & Wayne had very kindly came to my aid. That's actually when I decided to get “picked up by the Sherriff.” I realized that every moment you or other paddlers were helping me, it was making your own race harder. And I didn't think it was fair of me to continue through the pass. But good effort yesterday!
And yes, more incentive to practice in the messy waters. Though I had already paddled Saturday morn, I went back out on the ski Sat eve when I saw the water getting all chaotic. …. a bit white knuckle for me, but it was good practice nonetheless.
Congrats to all of you S2S racers.
-Debbie
Gerardo Andaluz
05/31/11 #10755
Larry,
For a moment it felt more like I had laryngitis… unitl 'they' came down later on. Live and grow… Looking forward to next year's but for right now I'll settle for next Wednesday's race.
Gerardo
Gerardo Andaluz 05/31/11 #10756
ski… at this point totally committed to tame the beast (or get gored by it!!!). I felt the same way once I went in the water… no reason to tax other individuals with my lack of abilities/skills for those conditions at this time.
Larry <lbussing@…>
05/31/11 #10757
For the record: After an exilerating ride back to Zuanich, Mac Carter (Leg Chair) and I stood on the shore and watched Gerardo swim. I called Deputy Chad Heinrich, who confered with his other uniformed rescue boats and the committee boats. Chad also just received a Coast Guard weather update of Small Craft Warnings. With the number of kayaks needing help, WE made a pretty easy call.
For those of you left at Zuanich, my apologizes, but no regrets.
Larry B
paul clement
05/31/11 #10758
I was probably 1/2 way to the first buoy when you shut it down. There is no doubt in my mind you made the right decision. It was pretty gnarly out there. Well done to all!
Paul
Jeff Hegedus <jhegedus@…>
05/31/11 #10759
Excellent call, Larry. Thanks for working the race.
danieldalmeida
05/31/11 #10760
Paul, You came roaring by me on the last upwind leg. I got dumped at the end of the downwind leg (after some good rides!) and tried to use your cadence to keep me moving toward the finish. But I was gassed and you were too strong. Alas, I had no chance of holding your pace! Well done.
Dan (Team 108/Think Evo)
Larry <lbussing@…>
05/31/11 #10761
BTW, for those of you who are thinking of waxing your kayak seat to help with rotation…..don't. Larry B
erik.wermus
05/31/11 #10763
Yes, that was clearly the right call. I was out later in the day on a slower team and passed several swimmers on the course. As Whitlock and I were paddling back to the start, we spotted a guy signaling with his paddle in the air. I was expecting a safety boat to get there well before we did but I don't think they had seen him (…..or had their hands full). The guys said he was on his 4th attempt to get back in the boat and his legs were getting numb (yikes!). A safety boat ended up seeing us and plucking him and his boat out of the water. Gets pretty tough for the safety boats to both spot cover everyone on the bay in those conditions.
EW
danieldalmeida
05/31/11 #10764
Our Whidbey team is being interviewed this afternoon by our local paper. Wondering how this year's kayak conditions compared to the last few years? I did it last year and it felt about twice as big (wind and waves) as last year. Also, what is with all the cross chop about halfway to the orange balloon? Are there underwater features in that area.
Dan
Results Updated: Ski to Sea
Reivers Dustin
05/31/11 #10765
I just got word that they have updated the results. It now has MG and LB's times in there. (Rather suspicious!) Actually, they found the raw data from the original time-stamp for the RFID pass at the hand-off. It also no longer shows where a 300 pound bank manager and a 98-pound female florist from Des Moines were the top two kayakers.
The other legs might be cleaned up as well.
I'm convinced that the wind was only blowing while I was on the water. (Best excuse wins? - did you hear LG's: the tented racer number was a wind funnel and would focus the waves onto his chest. You can see who the best fiction writer is in the group.)
rd
Erik Borgnes
05/31/11 #10766
. . . and not only did the “tented number” focus the waves on LG's chest, that continual jet of water onto his chest lowered his pericardial temperature and prevented his heart rate from getting above 75.
The most fun part of the day was the paddle back to the start - all downwind. Conditions seemed the same to me from the time I started my kayak leg to when I got back to the marina - about two hours later. I did see a SUP just out from the marina going nowhere, though. Not sure if that was a competitor or not.
Observation 1: I suspect we're entering into . . . “the reign of Gabe”. Can anyone stop him?
Observation 2: After reviewing the Herald's photos online, Hilburn gets the most photogenic paddler award. Ian and Kirk . . .
Observation 3: I reviewed all the Herald photos online for all the legs. The amount of organization required for each leg and at each exchange zone - and it all going off without a hitch - is impressive.
Erik
Michael Gregory
05/31/11 #10767
Thanks for the results guys. The Epic V8 performed really well against the high performance 21ft skis, despite the biga– weed gathering rudder. Clearly, this was a clever device planted by Mr Putnam at the urging of my peers! MG.
Joe Breuner <jbreuner@…>
05/31/11 #10768
which boats do you all think handled best in the big waves yesterday? i was in a huki S but not enough experience in chop, enjoyed a ride back to the start on the zodiac
joe breuner
Bob Putnam
05/31/11 #10769
Good Race RD, You should have heard Remmler griping on the way home. Its not like you just nipped him at the finish, you crushed him. I told him you were crafty.
Bp
Eric Grossman
05/31/11 #10770
Aloha,
That was a fun race for this scientist and the wind did increase during the day as the plot attached shows….it peaked right about the time Paul K and I headed toward the first buoy 4:15pm or so…The S1-X Special was great on the downwind to the 2nd buoy and despite 20-25 mph winds (gusts to 29?), it was nice to sneak into the top-30 thanks to DJ's interval training. Maybe next year I can get on a faster team so I can see the low tide beach everyone was running up at Marine Park and even make it in time for a couple at the beer garden?
Eric
ooooo EXCUSE ME I DON'T MEAN TO IMPOSE, BUT I AM THE OCEAN ooooo
Larry <lbussing@…>
05/31/11 #10771
Speaking of rudders, Lingbloom came up to me before the race with his 4“ rudder and said he had decided to use it. I looked at him incredulously and asked if he was out of his “effen” mind! You can have my opinion anytime Rick. No charge. Larry B
dnjacobson79
05/31/11 #10773
He asked me the same question, I said go with the short rudder…what do I know. Good job to all Whatcom paddlers (and how about Gabe!!!! - almost speaking Hunglish out there!) Great having Zsolt in town for the week, big thanks to Duncan who set that up!!
The new Fenn Swordfish (cross between the Elite and XT) is heading our way and will be the perfect boat combining speed and stability!!
Don't forget to sign up for De Fuca Downwinder. Bellingham paddlers once again proved they can paddle upwind last weekend, how about trying a point -point downwinder (gasp!) - we hope to rock the club XT double!
-DJ
Jeff Hegedus <jhegedus@…>
05/31/11 #10776
Nice wind plot, that's exactly what leg 1 felt like getting in the water at 3:57! I've never really seen that mid-bay cross chop like that before. Kudos to the on-water teams.
Reivers Dustin
05/31/11 #10777
I heard a rumor that Daryl slammed down a beer before the race! If that's true tell him I drank a pint of Crown Royal to loosen up my rotation. So what's your story, Bob? I don't see you in the results - were you Daryl's corner man for this bout?
I remember long ago when I used to thrash you young pups on a regular basis. Now it's a rare day and I'm groovin on it. Braggin rights for a year - life is good.
rd
gabe newton
06/01/11 #10781
What a sweet race! I was just thinking how well everyone paddled given the conditions, hats off to everyone. And thanks to all the volunteers that made it happen!
See you on the strait,
G
Bob Putnam
06/01/11 #10785
Yes the rumor is true, Remmler is a pre-race beer swillin fiend, but we all knew that. But I can't believe how many people were talking about it. I did the XC Ski. A lot of work for 20 minutes of racing. The Kayak is certainly the Rock Star leg of the event, sleep in, show up in the afternoon, no logistics to speak of, getting to ring the bell in front of thousands of adoring fans, especially you Reivers. Daryl and I were racing with Action Sports Group, Canoe/Kayak Magazine, Powder Magazine etc.
Looks like a great event.
Best part was the Keg party at Arthurs….Thanks twas fun
Bp
