A weekend Full of Kayaking

Lake Whatcom Classic Race

Ben picked me up with the Mark 2 and XT Surfskis on his roof. We headed to Surrey to pick up Johnny and off we were to Ferndale to meet up with some other paddlers at Larry’s new home. It was neat to meet a bunch of fast kayakers. We had some burgers and drinks, chatted about kayaking etc and then headed to bed in Larry’s old house next door. My sleep wasn’t the best. I scored the couch but still managed to twist and turn all night long. Oh well, better than outside I suppose. We awoke Saturday morning to rain. BOO. Ben, Johnny and I headed to Old Town Café in Bellingham for some breakfast and off we went to my first official Kayak Race. My friend Chris came down to see me which was awesome. He is an awesome guy that I had met back in my Whistler days. While, we were registering and organizing the boats I was starting to feel a little nervous. I wasn’t nervous about the placing but more that I would finish and love it and feel good and not tip over. I felt fairly steady climbing into the boat to go warm up.

I was grateful the start line was very long and so it wasn’t as intimidating as others races are with all the boats beginning at the same time and the wash from all the boats creating large waves that could knock a beginner surf skier off their boats. So the horn went off and off we paddled in the rain. Now, it’s an odd feeling not being able to go as fast as your strength will let you due to poor technique. This is where I am at in the surfski (oh and still figuring out the whole balance part.. but its coming surprisingly quickly…I am grateful for this.). I was doing fairly well (all things considered) until about ¾ of the ways through the race. My butt muscle (I still haven’t figured out which one) seized up which caused me to experience severe pain in the buttocks area and down my legs. This pain was fairly intense, to the point where if I moved my lower body at all shots of pain were going through me…it was fairly unpleasant and therefore, I was no longer concentrating on anything but my pain and the need and want to get to the finish line…I was moving slowly (after all my hard work catching up to the double kayak…arg). In the end after a couple of hours, a good night of waffles, drinks, biking and catching up with good friends I was feeling much better and excited about surfskiing again.



Tour De Indian Arm – Deep Cove

Sunday morning I was still somewhat sore in my back and butt muscle (I wish I knew what muscle it was?) but decided to head out for a morning run to loosen everything up before my second surfski race. Following my run I practiced a little yoga to try and stretch it all out.


Once we got to Deep Cove and got our selves all organized I decided it was a much smarter move for me to do the short course rather than the long as I had nothing to prove and I have a big race coming up this weekend in Lake Mead (Desert Winds) with a fabulous strong team (Dart-Nuun) and I want to do well for them (and me!). When you race lots sometimes you have to pick and choose your battles and this race was lower on the scale for me at this time than my Adventure race coming up. On a weekend, Indian Arm is a popular place, especially with the power boats. These power boats would prove to be my enemy throughout this race. I was doing well (for me) for the first half of the race. Going across the channel a huge powerboat managed to create some large waves for me to fight through. I was doing fairly well (well… surviving) until midway through these series of waves one managed to tip me over. I was so surprised and nervous that I slipped back into the boat in nearly record speed but just sat there with my feet dangling out until the series of waves passed by. I regained my concentration and off I went across the channel, a little shaky at first but my fear of falling disappeared. It was great. Coming back from Grey Rocks I again was being challenged by the motor boats. Waves were coming at me every which way and due to my lack of experience I was lucky I managed to stay in the boat at that point. I crossed the line in 1:02. I received my first Kayak Ribbon and a 1st place blue one at that! I got the pleasure of watching Ian Mckenzie and the other great paddlers (Ben and Johnny) cruise in from the long course.
All in all the weekend was a great experience, I am learning lots and am so excited to learn more and watch myself improve. I need to really concentrate on my technique…



Live, Love, Laugh,…DREAM!

Tuesday Night Deep Cove Race #4...the attempt at the surfski

So there I was sitting in Stu's XT Fenn, with Ben's paddle, wearing Johnny's farmer john wetsuit, gittery with nervousness, excitment, curiosity along with a bunch of other emotions that come with sitting for the first time in a surf ski by yourself on a start line of a kayak race full of experienced surf skiers. "No pressure, try to finish without dumping and have fun" these were my thoughts I was trying to ingrain into my head. I was nervous: the water was cold, there was some wind, and a lot of other boats. The megaphone yelled go, I stayed put, let all the boats go and then off I went, the lone boat out in the back,...it was a new and different feeling to be in the back but I wanted to play it safe, get my confidence up and enjoy the experience. As we turned the corner and headed across the channel I pretended I was in the Molokai (this race I would like to do in a couple of years and eventually win...) and started to just go for it, I didn't care if I dumped and fell in anymore, I didn't care how big the waves were and who was in front or behind me, I was in the zone, trying to figure it all out. The stronger my stroke was, the faster the boat went and the more my confidence increased. It was such a neat feeling to beable to get past the fear stage and into the "I don't care what happens lets see what i can do here" phase. In the end, I did not place well but I finished with a smile on my face wanting more...Come to think of it: I believe I infact did win the race, I won my own special race. My next challenge....The Whatcom and Deep Cove races this weekend.

live, love, laugh,...DREAM!
lina

Paddling, Slideshow and my first Knee Knacker Training Run

9:30am Johnny was kind enough to come grab me and help me paddle a single and double surf ski. I’m planning on racing in a surfski next weekend but have little to no experience paddling this type of boat. Stu was kind enough to lend me his XT Fenn surf ski to practice on. Without these guys my paddling dreams could literally not be reached, without a car, boat, paddle, or instruction I wouldn’t get too far. Through this select group of paddlers I am learning so much and finding out that I just love to paddle. Johnny was nice enough to paddle with me for 2 hours this morning and let me freak out a couple of times while he remained calm as a rock. Following our paddle session we went to Stu’s house where he kindly made us some delicious cappuccinos, and Johnny entertained us with a slide show of his bike trips. Wow, he is a machine and has traveled more kilometers on his bike than most do in a car. There were some pretty awesome pics (he scanned each one individually from his film camera, his pics dated back from 1985). Thank you Johnny, you inspired me to keep traveling by bike. I was getting fidgety by the end of the show though as I was hungry and feeling a little unsettled. I felt horrible but I do get grouchy when I am hungry. SO I headed home, ate, relaxed and decided to head out for my first training run for Knee Knacker (I’ve been putting this race on the back burner but it is quickly approaching and I need to start training as it is not an easy race). I spent 2 hours running around on the trails behind my house (Mt Seymour). It actually felt great; I didn’t push it all and just cruised along and enjoyed the trails and my thoughts! Cane home, made some dinner, read and relaxed. What a great weekend!

Live, Love, Laugh,…DREAM!

Suburban Rush Adventure Race

Suburban rush is a sprint “adventure race” out in Port Moody. It is designed mostly for new adventure racing racers but there were some old timers and speedy AR racers there as well. The course is extremely well marked and so there is very little orienteering involved. You can also race solo or in a team of two. I had done this race last year but didn’t fair too well…This year I was excited for the race but feeling a little tired from the many weekends of racing in a row since my return from the big race in Baja. I was trying out my brand new Giant Trance X0 mountain bike as well this race without even riding it in the trails yet (I always seem to tell new racers never to try anything new race day but this is my second week in a row trying out new equipment race day…hmmm). The race course although meant for more the beginner adventure racer is tough. It has a lot of elevation gain and some fairly technical mountain biking sections. Thank you to Jordy, Ryan (I think) and everyone else that helped me get to the race start and drive my stuff to all the necessary areas (things like this get a little more complicated without a vehicle). The race began with a run that was essentially straight uphill. I actually felt pretty good the entire time, I tried not to ever really really push myself knowing that I would bonk if I did. I managed to keep a nice steady pace and pass those speedy off the line runners that don’t know what will hit them in about 20 minutes time…hahaha…The Bike section began with more uphills (my strength). Throughout the first section of technical downhill two girls passed me, which forced me to really start moving on the down. We then had another run that included a little more orienteering than the first one. Here, I managed to pull away. Side note, funny at first I thought it would be smart for me to run in my bike shoes,….I lasted about half the run until it got rocky and I stopped and quickly slipped on my runners, my feet were much happier.


The last bike section was awesome, rolly, with lots of single track. Normally, I would not enjoy this but on my new bike I was rolling over everything. It blew my mind. I managed to be the first female across the line. It was a good feeling. I ended up setting up my slackline while we waited for awards and practice away. Thanks Dean and Shawn for a wonderful event!


Live, Love, Laugh,…DREAM!

I am crooked…A magical haircut and Critical mass

I love appreciation days! We had a day off on Friday and because I had a race on Saturday I decided it would be a good time to do some errands, treat myself to a hair appointment, slackline and join the critical mass ride….
I went into Paris Orthotics to get some ankle braces. I came out without any ankle braces but new orthotics and the knowledge that my parents didn’t build my body for long distance running…I am crooked and a mess but somehow have been managing these ultra distance races…hmm….good thing I met the yogaslackers because I need to learn how to stretch and do it all the time…haha….
I then headed to get my hair done and had the most touching unique hair appointment experience. My hair stylist, a lovely lady named Kamal is just the most fabulous person (and great hair stylist). We had the most touching, deep, and beautiful conversation for over 3 hours. I left feeling tingly, emotional and at peace. I received a call from her last night that brought tears to my eyes. She just wanted to let me know that I was a beautiful person, inspiring and motivating….THANK YOU Kamal, that is not a compliment you receive every day and especially not from a random hair stylist you met for the first time. I hope we keep in touch…
I set up my new slackline at Kits Beach and practiced some slacklining…I have been itching to get up on it since I learned in San Diego but my brain couldn’t figure out this one simple way of putting the slackline up….well, thanks to Jason and the internet…I managed. It was great to be back on it….

Critical Mass….My friend Christa and I were de-virginized on Friday. It was our first critical mass experience. Critical Mass is a mass bike ride that happens the last Friday of every month. A large group of bikers storm the streets of Vancouver, stop traffic and promote the amazing sport of biking!!!! All sorts of riders come out on all sorts of different bikes. I managed to bump into several friends and eventually found myself at The Raglan in North Van with Christa and a new friend Rad. We had some delicious food, good chatter and eventually parted ways (they headed to the sea bus and I headed home). I managed to get a lot of kilometers in on my bike…so much for a rest day…

My New Lover….

Who is he? This is probably your first question…well, the answer…not sure if it’s a he or a her…hmm…haven’t decided yet but I’m leaning towards a her. Its my new mountain bike.

I am in love. No joke, I get that tingling nervous feeling every time I walk by it in my apartment…I can’t wait to ride it again…and its only been three days…trouble…haha.. I might be moving too fast…luckily unlike “people” relationships my new Giant will not “run away from me”, it will love my attention and the more we hang out in the woods together, the more I stay close to it, cherish it, clean it, have intense moments with it the stronger our bond will be and the smoother and faster our rides will be…oohh that tingling exciting feeling is rippin through my body just as I am writing about it. Part of me doesn’t think I deserve this bike yet and part of me doesn’t care if I do or don’t because it is a beautiful ride…Thank you Kim and Steed Cycles, Giant Bikes, Sram, Avid, Rock Shox.




Kim, does this mean I have to be all fast and stuff now?

Tuesday Night Kayak Races

This past Tuesday Johnny and I raced in the double baidarka. We thought there might be a run as well and so figured it would be the best boat to paddle in with running shoes. Alas, there was no run...once we fixed our seats and had a good warm up we were off. We began well, and as we crossed the channel to head up and around Jug Island the wind picked up and the waves grew. This proved to benefit us greatly as we were more stable in the big double. I was a little nervous at times but felt safe and confident with Johnny in the front. I tried my best just to stay in time with Johnny's stroke. I know for a fact if I were racing the little blue baidarka I would have not enjoyed the race so much( it is a fairly tippy boat...) Once around Jug Johnny did a wonderful job at steering us so we could ride the waves as best as possible. We managed to pull away from the double surf skis and k1s and even lots of the single surf skis. We went for an all out sprint at the end (it hurt....I forgot how hard sprinting was). All in all we did super well and once again were the first double kayak across the line. YAY! We finished off the night with our regular visit to the Raven with beer, food and kayak talk.

live, love, laugh,...DREAM!