Surfski Knowledge Base

Larry Goolsby
09/25/10 #9282

A really great day for a race: sunshine and wind. Just before the race, Duncan announced that there were whitecaps around the corner. Of course nobody believed him and of course he was right. There was $1000 in hot spot money up for grabs and Duncan increased the challenge by making a rule that you couldn't draft outside your own class. That meant singles could not draft doubles. Strategys had to be altered. Another alteration was that the rowers started five minutes ahead of the paddlers.

DJ and I chose to race the tandem surfski. My plan was that if Shaun couldn't attend, then I would race paddleboard. What was I thinking? Not all the paddleboards were able to finish the race and they are all better than I am. Besides, I don't think that the paddleboards had any hot spot cash available to them. Maybe next year I'll post a prize for them. Anyway, DJ and I went out hard with the Arthurs on our draft. We wanted the hotspot money. We couldn't shake the Arthurs, so DJ cleverly steered us under the oars of a whaling boat. This drove the Arthurs back far enough to give us lead for the cash. I'm still picking pieces of wooden oars from my teeth. Since we didn't pay attention at the pre-race meeting, we would have gotten lost if it wasn't for the fact that there were a string of rowers for us to follow.

We finished first with a time of 41:45 and the Arthurs right behind us. We had over taken almost all of the rowers with only three shells finishing in front of us. The top singles skis were Kiesling, Moll, and Kirk in that order. Almost every division of boats got in on the hotspot money. DJ and I decided that we will donate our check to the Paddle for Food relay coming up on Oct. 16th.

This was the biggest and best Soundrowers race that I have ever attended. Over 120 boats entered and everything was so well organized. Food was awesome but I difficulty finding the beer. There were some Stellar skis there for demo, but most of us were too tired to even think about testing one out. The prices seemed pretty reasonable with the lowest price being $2350 for a heavier model.

Duncan and family, you did good.
LG

And the Canadian judge says…
warren bruce
09/25/10 #9284

The Salmon Row was a 10 out of 10. For organization, competition, and conditions. Great work Duncan! I spoke to the awards girls and asked them to pass on my thanks as you were out on the water picking up marker buoys. You asked me how I got across the border - I guess someone in US Immigration slipped up.

Thank you Larry B for donating the cash for the masters men hotspot. I will be buying Tequila with it and sharing it with anyone who comes to visit me in Baja this winter. (surfskibaja.blogspot.com).
Warren

Re: Samish Roe and Paddle…..
Reivers Dustin
09/25/10 #9286

This was quite the 'do'.

Most important: safety first. It was rough on the unsuspecting there at the lower half of the lake. Normally this is a rower and canoe paddler bonanza, but not this year. Special credit to Howats and Davis's (Jeff and Mary) for having good safety boats and a response for those in trouble. Extra credit to Shane B for assisting.

Next important: the idea is to support the sport. We had these huge numbers because there's many newer participants. Fantastic to see Autumn Rose field two teams out there. His Majesty's Navy in that exotic wherry was splendid. Just great to talk to some of the new challengers. Awesome, awesome diversity on the water.

Next: who put the spike in Kirk's breakfast? Can we get video of the nuclear duel between Eric M and DK? (one gets the hotspot, the other gets first finish!) How is it that the Arthurs can hang with two of our studliest in the double-ski? Was this the year that paddlers got revenge on rowers (look at those times!)? Is there a better Father-Son team than Dean and Devon? How about the wolf-pack of single skis scrapping their way around the course? I am looking at my race metrics and it's showing impossible heart-rate and hull-speed. For humility, I must remember that Nelson's in their double edged me out. This while Heather paddled with basically two people in her lap.

Helluva race. Really epic.

rd

Re: Samish Roe and Paddle…..
Larry <lbussing@…>
09/26/10 #9289

Kudo's to the Howat family. Looking forward to going head to head against Duncan next year. Or if we work together, we could pick off Kim! Kudo's to Shane for rescuing not one, but two boats this year. And then still placing in his division. Go figure. Larry B