Snapshot of the unofficial Waterman's WPA challenge - this was not a race

It has been a fun few weeks after the Hanohano race. I have increased my training at the Sports Performance Institute (SPI). By the way SPI is offering paddle specific training now, I can honestly say they have improved my racing a ton in the last six months. http://www.sportsperformance.com. They are even offering a two-week free trial to their P.I.T. classes. Check it out.

I am currently spending three days a week at the gym and trying to paddle three days. One early weekday and the weekends. We had the first unofficial Waterman's WPA challenge Saturday. It was quite a show. Some super strong paddlers were in attendance, Rob Rojas, Danny Ching, Byron Kurt, Ernie Johnson, Pete Stirling, Brandi Baksic and a handful of others.

The concept started when I believe a paddle boarder was criticized for not standing and then it was game on. A 3.8 mil loop on a paddle board and then a 3.8 mile loop on a SUP board. This could be done in any order. Rob Rojas dominated the field proudly sports his drag suit Speedo. Danny Ching was second and Byron Kurt was third. Me well that is a long story and I will get into it next DNF! Bummer.

I was advised by Byron to SUP first because you get cold in the water on the paddle board, but in my infinite wisdom and with Pete Stirling's advice one minute before the race started (weak leg first strong leg last) I chose to paddle board first.

Well I went a few hundred yards on the paddle board (never paddle boarded before this non-event) and my shoulders started flaming out. OK, so I slow a bit and just try to get this leg done so I can get on my SUP. For those of you who know DP and the winds in the harbor this is when it starts to get interesting, I get half way around the course fall in a few times in the wind and chop round the outside green buoy and scratch my way back in to the harbor.

At this point I am frozen and cannot stop shaking, it takes forever to get back in to the beach. By the time I get there I believe I am starting to suffer from  hypothermia and fear getting back into the water as I am shaking uncontrollably. I get some TLC from my friends on shore I hop in my car crank the heater and sit there for 20 minutes shaking as my core begins to warm.

Fortunately, my bros did not give me too much grief for quitting and I spent the rest of the evening cauterizing my wounds at Hennesseys.

Back at it this week, hope to race this weekend in Redondo Beach.

Sancho

HanoHano Race recap

Had a good week of training at the Sports Performance Institute with both Rob Rojas and Brandi Baksic of Team Waterman's. The weather did not allow for any paddling as the wind and rain were to much for my old bones, I chose to spend the week training in the gym. My boys Mike C. and JT took good care of the team.

Saturday was the 14th annual Hanohano challenge. All types of paddlecraft hit mission bay. 294 competitors hit the short course on OC, Surf ski, Stand Up paddle boards and paddle boards. The short course was 4.8 miles inside Mission Bay. The water was calm and the sun even broke out for us in the morning.

The Stand Up Paddle stock race was awesome. Master paddler Danny Ching decided to paddle in the stock class making for a great paddle between two of the local paddle masters Byron Kurt and Ernie Johnson (EJ) going against Danny. Danny had an equipment malfunction (broken paddle), so the fans did not get to see what might have happen between the big three. The result was Byron first, EJ second and Danny third.

I had a great race dual with my bro Wally for about 3/4 of the way to turn buoy (half way Point), surged ahead a bit and then gassed as we came into the turn buoy, before I knew it I made a bad turn and Wally was gone. I got my second wind, but it was too late the space between us was too big. I pushed hard to the end and took sixth out of 39. Wally finished fifth and pushed one of the better paddlers in the field Dan Gavere for most of the race. Dan eventually got Wally in the end, but a good showing for Wally.

The lesson learned here is fight through the pain and start practicing your turns.

Brandi dominated the woman's field as always and Rob did the same in unlimited.

The other big news is Byron and I have officially launched our paddling association. The World Paddle Association or WPA. The WPA will go live in March. Stay tuned for more info on the WPA. You can follow us on Facebook in the meantime.

Sancho

I am back!

Last week was a long week. Monday Atlanta, Tuesday Atlanta, Wednesday morning Wash D.C, (airlines forgot to put my bag on the plane) Wednesday afternoon New York, Thursday morning get luggage (clean clothes), Friday return home. Mixed in a few workouts at the hotel gyms just to try and burn off the wine and food from the trip. Saturday had a good paddle with my boy Mike D,  hard sprints around the Dana Island. Sunday Rob Rojas and I took our brother and master trainer from the Sports Performance Institute JT out for his second paddle session.

JT is a beast of an athlete, if and when he gets this paddling thing dialed in we are in trouble. Monday rain is falling everywhere, no paddle I am off to SPI for a P.I.T. workout, unfortunately I bonked in the first set and barely finished. I was beginning to think I am over-trained. 500m row then three sets of 10 push ups, 5 pull ups (static) and 15 squats repeat all of this four times.

Tuesday still no sun, so off to SPI for lunch 30 minutes of just warm up exercise designed specifically for the workout designed by Mike and JT. The workout was all kettle bell action, pretty cool. Five renegade rows each arm and 30 kettle bell swings, four sets. Rob finished about 4:56, I was close behind at 5:22.

I actually felt revived after the workout, so I guess Monday was just an off day. I am looking forward to the Hanohano race Saturday. This is always a great event.

Big News! My good friend and fellow paddling beast Byron Kurt and I have just formed the World Paddle Association (WPA) and are looking forward to an exciting 2010.

More dirt on Sancho's quest this weekend.

SS

A Good Week

Last week I had a great mix of paddle days and training at the Sports Performance Institute (SPI). Monday at SPI was JT's special paddle workout. Indo Board Squats, Bosu Paddling, Overhead rope fly's, one foot balance board and much more.

Me and my boy Wallace did about 4.5 miles of sprints Tuesday, one minute on and one minute off. Three laps around the island. I love sprinting, it hurts so gooood!

Wednesday I decide to try the new Performance Integrative Training (P.I.T.) workout offered at SPI. This was a good one: lunges, knees to elbows, kettle bell swings and bent over rows. My high note for the day was busting 10 squats on the large physi ball, amazing how much core you have to recruit to pull it off.

Thursday sore from P.I.T. was planning on just going easy and resting the shoulders, JT talked me into another P.I.T. session, run 800m 10 minutes of non-stop core routines and finished with a mile run. I was beat after that.

Friday I met my bro and fellow SUP paddler beast Rob Rojas at SPI. The kind folks at SPI are building a paddling specific training program just for folks like Rob and me. I have been through this routine at SPI for the last four weeks, so I knew what was coming. The guys warmed us up for 30 minutes and just when you think your toast they actually start the workout. It was cool to have a fellow paddler join me for the fun I have been working on the last month. We got off easy and only had to complete two sets of the exercises, we typically run through it four times.

I am truly thankful to the folks at SPI for taking me under their wing to try and elevate my performance. I have already seen results in a very short period of time and cannot wait to see the progress in 2010.

If you are looking for expert help in your fitness SPI is the place.

SS

Tecolote 2009 Race

My hard work is starting to pay off. The Tecolote 5000m paddle race was yesterday. I made a concerted effort to push myself right from the beginning to see how I would do. I finished 3rd in the stock class and I believe 5th overall. Great finish for me. Both my strength and endurance are improving. Thank you to SPI and all my training partners for always pushing me.

Congrats to all my bro's, Byron 1st, EJ 2nd, Wally 4th and Mike 5th.

Team Beaver 3-5th places.

SS

This Weeks SUPdate

The 2009/2010 So Cal Ocean Racing Series started in November. At the first race in La Jolla I took 9th place in the stock class (12' 6" and under). I had a rough start and it cost me. The second race was two weeks ago in Oceanside. I finished 6th in the stock class. All SUP So Cal race results can be founds at www.johnsonbigstick.com/racing.html

My bro EJ finished 2nd to the paddling super freak Danny Ching. Wally had a great race in Oceanside and took 3rd place, congrats to EJ and Wallace.

Last week I was traveling for work and had little time to train. I was back at it Saturday on JT's new training curcuit:(Indo board weighted squats, paddle cable pull on the Bosu ball, pike push ups on the physi ball, jump rope-100 touches, lunge cable pulls and one-leg balance on the Wobble board-30 seconds each leg. Repeat this routine three times.

Sunday, 5.5 miles of sprint training in Dana Point Harbor. 200m on and then down to 75% in the off legs, no rest for 5.5. miles. This was a great race simulation. 

Monday repeat the SPI workout four sets. Tuesday paddle with EJ, Brandi and Wally. A full lap sprint around the DP island. Each racer was stage 20 seconds apart. The goal was to not be caught. I was successful in that task. We did two hard laps (1.6 miles each) and some sprints at baby beach. Wednesday, back to SPI repeat the JT workout, three sets. Mike Catanzaro of SPI worked on my shoulder tendinitis post workout. Thanks Mike.

SS

Welcome to Sancho's SUP Journey

In an effort to chronicle my SUP racing for the 2010 season. I have decided to post all of my progress on this blog. Follow me on this journey of training and racing in SoCal in hopes of continued improvement and ultimately top finishes in the biggest events.

A little about me, I am 45 years old (46 in March). I have been a Professional Body Boarder, Racquetball Teaching Pro, Competitive Rock Climber/Boulderer and now competitive SUP racer and surfer. I am married with two kids, Luc 8.75 yrs and Enzo 7.75 yrs, yes two kids in one year.

I have a core crew I paddle with on a regular basis, Wally Emory II, Mike "Metro" Dido, Ernie "EJ" Johnson , Byron "the Horse" Kurt , Brandi Baksic and occasionally Pete Stirling and Rob Rojas. I will join Pete and Rob when I can get my arse out of bed at 4:30 am. I have yet to do that this winter, Pete and Rob I will see you in the spring, too cold at 5am.

I currently train by paddling three days a week (usually early in the morning) and workout at my new sponsor the Sports Performance Institute (SPI) in Laguna Beach, California. The folks at SPI have adopted me and are beginning to develop a balance focused paddle specific workout for when I train off the water. I do believe that I cannot achieve my goals paddling alone and with my new angel "JT" at SPI pushing me, I will get to the next level.

I am currently affiliated and help promote the following companies: Hobie SUP, Hobie Polarized, Sports Performance Institute,  XS Energy Drinks, Waterman's Applied Science, Future Fins, Oxygen 4 Energy and Ember Clothing. Please visit them all, they are the best in class.

Wish me luck,

Sancho