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