Surfski Knowledge Base

flypaddle
10/08/12 #13398

Hey Gang,

It's been a while since I've posted anything on this site, but the last few years my paddling racing life has taken a bit of a detour. This last weekend changed all that when I was asked to participate in the “Tour du Teche”.

The Tour du Teche is a 3-stage, 135 mile, kayaking/canoeing race that starts in Port Barre, and ends in Berwick Louisiana. It's course is on the Teche Bayou, which traverses itself through the heart of Cajun country. The stages are a 49, 59, and 27 miles lengths.

What started all this was an email I received two weeks ago from Brad P. asking me if I would consider partnering up with him since his partner couldn't make the race. Brad lives in Houston, and is an avid ultra distance kayaker, that has recently been doing well in the US marathon kayak trials. When I informed him that the longest paddle I've ever done was probably 32 miles, he assured me that I would do fine anyway. To see for myself, I ended up doing two back-to-back 25 miles (3.5 hr's each) in my K-1 on a breezy Lake Whatcom. Speed wasn't the issue with me, it was purely seat time since the boat we were to use is a K-2. Apart from the usual fatigue one feels, I actually recovered fairly quickly and discussed it with Janice. I'm not sure why, but she was all for me going. I figured she was either telling me to get my bum back in the kayak and start racing again, or if I'm going to end it all, the alligator infested waters of the bayou was probably as good a place as any. Whatever her motivation, I accepted. This left me a week and a half to prepare, so I made daily outings in the K-1 ranging between 16-20 miles each.

Brad picked me up at the Baton Rouge Airport last Thursday night, we then drove to the race site and found out that our boat was nowhere to be seen. The person who was loaning us the K-2 finally shows up after dark, so in between swatting numerous bugs, we foamed up our seats, connected lights (required for this race) and spent a total of 5 minutes paddling it before we looked for a motel. I should point out that the town's thermometer read 90 degrees, and the humidity was very high. The next morning at the race start marked the first time I ever experienced loud cajun music blaring over the loud speakers while waiting for our 8:00am start. Among the boats present were a variety of Texas Water Safari type craft, which looked like a long slender canoe that hold 4 people with kayak paddlers. there was even a K-3 there. The start was insane in that there were a lot of boats lining up on a very skinny waterway, so skinny that it doesn't even appear on a map, unless one goes to google Maps and keep enlarging it, then it finally appears. After a bit of boat collisions, we finally were part of a four boat pack in front. Then after a few surges, we broke away and remained in front the rest of the day.

At the start of the second day was a bituneventful since the start line was a lot wider. About seven miles into it we encountered our first alligator who was basking just below the surface. We celebrated the event by inadvertantly running over it, which caused quite a splash. We had one portage that day which involves pulling up to a place along the shore that looks like it's reletively solid to step onto. Then when you don't expect it, you end up sinking into the mud over you knees. The only way I found to get out of it was to simply crawl on all fours while pulling the boat. Fortunately at this point we already had the lead, but I'm sure the people after us must have had it worse. That 59 mile day was stinking hot, and I was seriously starteing to doubrt why I was even there. I should point out that Brad is good at making the right concoctions for hydration, gels, etc., and neither of us ever hit the wall.

The third day seemed like an easy outing since it was only 27 miles, excet we had a strong headwind on all but teh last two miles. The race started at 7:00am, and the air temps were actually in the mid sixties, which for over there had people complaing about the cold.

We ended up winning the race, set a course record by an hour and took home $1300 each for our efforts. In spite of not having any support crew, paddling a boat that leaked badly, having accumulated significant blisters on both hands, hammered my tailbone, and have a few chafing marks that will take a while to heal, we both paddled well together and the course took us around 18:31 hours.

Sorry about making this a bit wordy, see you on the water,

Joost

Michael Gregory
10/08/12 #13399

How much more fun can a guy have? Right on Joost!

Michael Lee <mlee@…>

10/08/12 #13400

Nicely done!

fennmako

10/08/12 #13401

Fantastic result Joost. Congrats!

debbie natelson
10/08/12 #13402

Touche'. The results and YOU are amazing. Great story as well.
-Debbie N

Dean Bumstead 10/08/12 #13403

Way to ease back into Joost!
Dean

Elana Ecker
10/08/12 #13404

Thank you for sharing your adventure with us. Way to go for it!!

E

paul clement

10/08/12 #13407

What a story! Nice work Joost. So, now you are back. About time.

pc

Brandon Nelson <brandon@…>

10/09/12 #13408

Way to kill it, Joost!!! Now you’ll be haunted by the thought of doing more ultra. It’s a strangely addictive form of suffering. Yukon Quest in 2013!!!

Well done.

B

Morris Arthur

10/09/12 #13409

Way to pull it out of the hat, Joost!

Indeed: We all secretly want our paddling partners to get sick or injured… so that we can ask Joost to “fill in” at the last minute :)

Edoh Amiran
10/09/12 #13410

Joost,

Great performance.

I'm sure the result has something to do with your ability to maintain both yourself and the speed (with all due respect to Penington's concoctions of nutrition and electrolites)!

Edoh

Dale McKinnon
10/09/12 #13411

Joost, your wordiness is greatly appreciated. Sounds like you had a fabulous time!