Buckroe Beach

The conditions were perfect, 20 -25 mph winds, straight up the beach, sunny and warm!
The only limiter for the "race" was the lack of distance we would be able to paddle and then get back to the start. We took the 2.5 miles for what it was; an opportunity to go really fast and have fun. There wasn't any opportunity to hang out at the start as you started getting pushed as soon as you got out in it. Every paddler for him/herself and see you at the finish!
Kevin Kahikina and Bill Graf brought their own boards but left them on the beach to try out the Jimmys. Safe to say they were very happy with the decision. The last I saw of them was their elbows and back sides. My wife Anne paddled her 10' JL Surf specific SUP and stayed right with them. It was smokin' fast and every ripple was a potential ride. The next time we get conditions like that we will paddle till we can't and figure out the way back home later.
The (un)official results for the first ever Stand-Up-Paddle-Eastcoast-Racing series race goes like this:

• Bill Graf 12'6" JL
• Kevin Kahikina 12'6" JL
• Craig Vaughn 12'6" JL
• Anne Gassett 10'0" JL
• Bill Gassett 12'6" JL
• Frankie Dole 12'6" JL

While we SUPER paddlers were out exploiting the wind. The ECORA OC-1/2 outrigger paddlers were slogging it out for more than an hour of racing. Freda Rosso, the race organizer from MAPA took pity and shortened the upwind finish and I know the seated paddlers were grateful. After the outrigger paddlers finished their death march race a few brave, arm weary souls picked up the long SUP paddles and took a quick 1 mile spin down the beach. I believe they had fun...mission accomplished. Freedom Surf and Revision Eyewear hooked up the winners with killer schwag. Bill came in one outfit and left in another! In fact everyone that paddled got schwagged and that will be the goal for the rest of the season, you paddle, you get schwagged. More fun, get it? We all busted a move for Mama Rosa's Pizza joint where the food and beer was sweet. Many mahalos to Freda and the rest of the MAPA crew for their Aloha and organizing the race.

Next event will be at the East Coast hub of Aloha, Kent Island Outrigger Canoe Club Maryland, where we will crank it up a notch. Don't think for a second that we are going to end this season with out a little pain. But fun will be the focus. Pain with out it, isn't...fun.

Aloha,

Dukey