Yukon SUP Expedition...the road Trip up north

We took three days to drive from Vancouver to Whitehorse.
After last minute packing and boat pick up on Day 1 we drove to just outside of Quesnel at the Ten Mile Provincial Park.  All went smoothly. We managed to get a great little site and the bugs although more intense than vancouver definitely still manageable. We cooked up a great meal of left over veg and took a walk to the lake.

Day 2 We started off the day with a lie in and then a SUP and kayak around the lake at the park. We wanted to test out the gear and also get some exercise and enjoy the beautiful sceneray before hitting the road. It was perfect. We stopped in Smithers for lunch/breakfast/dinner (we forgot to eat this day..oops!)
Smithers is a cute northern town with a ski hill and a great little bike shop! The map told me there was a provincial park just north of Bell 2 but it lied so we ended up spending the night in our car at a rest stop not too far from Iskut. On this day we saw a lot of wildlife, a total of:  9 bears, 1 moose, 1 fox (with a dead bird in its mouth) and a deer type animal... we didn't think setting up the tent was wise... Yay for Subaru outbacks!

Day3
We had a truckers breakfast at Dease Lake and pushed on all the way to Whitehorse! We got in at about 530pm bought the Mike Rourke's Yukon River book, had dinner, set up camp at Robert Service Campground, ran by the river, and then went out for a couple of pints just because it was light out at 11pm!

Today: we managed to finish our errands early and are going to hit the trails on our bikes..YAY!

all is well

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

Holding onto my title as Queen of Kalamalka at the Kalamalka Classic 2011

Norm Hann and Me as King and Queen of Kalamalka!

This past weekend was filled with good fun, hard earned prizes, sweat, cheer, and a beautiful growing community of stand up paddleboarders.

First off a big THANKS to the organizers Kevin and Michelle from Kalavida Surf Shop for putting on a wonderful event full of events, food, and entertainment.

Last year I attended this race with a mere 28 or so paddlers. Most of us were on all arounder type boards and hadn't a clue about racing SUP but greatly enjoyed the two events.  I managed to come out as Queen of Kalamalka. This year I was back to defend my title but proved to be very different with the sport growing at a rapid speed the field more than doubled. I believe there were about 70 or so paddlers out on the courses. There was a recreational league and a competitive one. The competitive racers were racing with high speeds, with a good set of skills, technique, and strategy. We were all out there having tons of fun and trying to get crowned King and Queen of Kalmalka!

There were three different races, all testing different skills on a SUP and all counted towards the final goal of becoming crowned. I brought the board that I have been racing the Tuesday Night Deep Cove races on this year, my NEW 12'6 X 23.5.. it's fast but it does come with some consequences if one is not careful as it can also be quite unstable, and harder turn around tight corners due to its narrowness and instability. Thank you Starboard and Trident Sports for the use of this awesome board and the growing support! I must say I was a little nervous to use the board for the short course as there were lots of turns and there could have been some bumps etc. I know I can paddle that board well on my own in flat water but wasnt too confident on my abilities to turn etc on it in a crowd with some bumps.. I do have to say for racing I love this board!

On the beach with Starboard flag

Short Course:

I surprised myself here. I used the cross bow turning method, went out hard to get infront of the crowd, stayed on my board and just felt so strong and confident that I started passing some guys, then some more and without really realizing it finished the course amongst the top males... really it was a good confident booster for me especially heading up to the yukon this week and paddling the Yukon river... It made me feel like I could do it even more.

racing around the buoys on the short course

Sprint Course:

Here we had to use a 12' or shorter board...I was scrambling to find a board I liked and then Beau and Dale from WA were kind enough to lend me their 12' board. It looked like a goodie... and that it was. It was sort of like SUP cross. We had three people at the line, it was a sprint to the buoy. The fun part was you could turn around the bouy in either direction (causing mayhem) and finish with a quick sprint to the beach. Somehow our heat was pretty much the same twice in a row... hmmm but i managed to get out in front quick and avoid the chaos of the turn... There was one run where I had a true brain fart and forgot how to turn which in the end saved me. As I was gathering my thoughts about turning I drifted away from the bouy and was found on the outside of the chaos near the buoy, allowing for a quick escape back to the beach. I managed to pull out in front in the final heat for another win!

start of sprint course

Long Course:

The long course is what it is all about... This lake is gorgeous and the distance tough but very satisfying! I was back on my starboard New. I won't lie, when we arrived at the start I was nervous... it was choppy out there... everyone was so excited for the downwinder and I was peeing my pants... hoping I wouldn't fall off my board too many times.... The start was choppy but Andrew helped me out and told me to stay wide as the rec class got bunched up by the buoy turn.. I managed to stay out of any crashes and up right through the riviera and along the entire lake. It was actually quite fun and the little chop kept me on my toes and made for the time to pass quickly! I spent the first third of the race catching the other 12'6 guys until Beau and I were leading the pack. I think he got tired of me and took off and I couldn't catch him again... I managed to come in as a the 2nd 12'6 board overall and thereforesolidying my overall win as Queen! I felt great throughout the entire paddle down the lake... I used NUUN as my hydration (my fav)

crossing the riviera on the long course

The points were tabulated and Norm and I were crowned! Also a big congrats to Jen D and Kristin T for their awesome performances out there rounding out the top females and Beau and Stu R on the men's side...

Here are some pictures from ANDREW click HERE

Now its up to the north we go... for the 24 hour of light mountain bike race and my attempt to SUP the Yukon River from Whitehorse to Dawson.

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

train, play, train....more playing..getting ready for expeditions and races!

Lots of fun things on the horizon and therefore there's been a lot of playing (or training I suppose some would call it).

The Kalamalka Lake Classic SUP race in Vernon June 18-19
The 24 hours of light Mountain Bike Race June 25-26
Paddling the Yukong River Whitehorse-Dawson (see tab above) approx June 27-July 3rd
Raid the North Extreme 6 day non stop adventure race with Yogaslackers July 23-31st
Vancouver SUP race Aug 7th

Tuesday Night Paddling Races in Deep Cove have been awesome for getting a hard paddle in and especially with more and more people coming out on SUPs. I think we started the year off with about 4 or so of us (which is what it kind of maxed out at last year:)) and now there are some 14 or so people coming out to race the Tuesday Night Paddling races on SUPs. It is super fun  especially since Mike and I have been battling it out each week which has provided for some fun entertainment, a hard workout and awesome commaderie. Thanks to Trident Sports/Starboard for providing me with a super slick and speedy board (The New) without I might have to work even harder to keep myself in the running out front:)

I am really looking forward to trying out my new Kialoa Paddle when it comes...

I've also been getting out on the board Monday nights before teaching SUP Fitness classes. Come out on Monday night 7-8pm to the Cove and try it out... It is a totally different way of getting a full body work out while enjoying the fresh air and peacefulness of the water.

While not on the board I am on the bike loads... Commuting all over the city due to my style of work and then again riding on the trails on the weekends and some week nights! I am so stoked on mountain biking these days since I got my free ride bike (kona minxy).

The shore although still harsh, technical, and physical... it is not as intimidating as before. I love my new found confidence on the BIG bike and look forward to the day I start huckin'..OH YEAH:)


Running used to be my main gig, loved it and still do, but it is difficult sometimes to fit it all in and especially when events are coming up that are long and specific. Although I am still getting out for runs they are short and kind of a filler at the moment... When I return from WHitehorse it will be full on as I prepare for Raid the North Extreme, where I will be racing with team Gearjunkies/Yogaslackers.

I just love multisporting so much.. There is something amazing about being able to paddle super well but then hit the trails hard on the mtn bike or go for a long run and then climb up some rock or hit up the pool for a swim... I'm all about it these days...I just need a couple of more hours in a day and a couple of more days in a week to fit it all in :)

But for now,

paddle paddle paddle..... bike bike bike...
Kalamalka Lake and Yukon here I come!

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

Ridin' and Paddlin': Campbell River, Deep Cove, Pemberton!

CAMPBELL RIVER LONG WEEKEND
7 of us risked the ferry line ups and the potential of rainier/cooler weather for the long weekend and headed over to Campbell River/Quadra Island for the weekend. Now, we have biked a ton on the island but always on Cumberland trails (which are fabulous). Andrew and I were into heading to a new place and although I've passed through Campbell River a number of times I've never actually stopped and checked it out...

We stayed at the Elk Falls Campgroud about 2km from the center of town and about 3km from the ferry to Quadra Island. Saturday morning/afternoon we biked right from camp and headed up the Dean Martin trail towards the Snowden Mtn trails. We had some minor navigational oopsies but made it to the trail head of aligator and then all the way to the other end of the park to cheschire cat and back through lower deliverance and back the correct way down dean martin and elk falls... It turned out to be a great fast and flowy 5.5 hour ride.

The next day we explored Quadra Island on bikes. We were all newbies on this island and just kind of took a shot at some trails. We managed to find ourselves on a little bit of an epic hike a bike hiking trail... all fun and adventurous though we all came out with big smiles on our faces and really hungry. Nonetheless, after the grueling hike a bike we found a great little restaurant on the ocean had some lunch and proceeded to rebecca's spit where we threw rocks, lounged and enjoyed the afternoon!

Our final day in Campbell River we drove to the parking lot at the Snowden trails and rode from there. We rode Vlad's trail, Tax trail and three pigs.. All super fun trails with the right amount of technical excitement.

All in all some really fun trails over in Campbell river and really different than what we have here on the shore. It was a good warm up for the next weekend where Andrew and I will be racing the Nimby Fifty mountain bike race.

DEEP COVE TUESDAY NIGHT RACE
This past Tuesday was good fun. We had flat waters, a longer course and some fast folks out. We paddled hard and felt sore at the end... my kind of race.... I paddled the Starboard New and rocked it on the flat waters of that evening. It was a tough battle between Mike D and I.. he is strong and fast and someone to watch out for in the SUP scene!

NIMBY FIFTY RACE REPORT and ride
This is one tough race, it is long, it is technical and there is a crap load of climbing on switchback singletrack!
The weaher turned out perfect with a little rain the days before to dampen the sandy trails and a slight overcast to keep things from steaming up too much on race day. I always get a little stressed at the start of mountain bike races as I feel the pressure of singletrack riding and the need and want to pass and be passed fairly taxing and difficult.
So, I decided to start further back in the pack but kind of forgot that it was a road sprint leading to a long logging road climb into a short single track descent to more logging road climbing and then the lengthy singletrack ascent... I placed myself a little off especially due to a chain mishap right before the beginning of the long climb and found myself stuck in the wrong place for awhile.... it was a little frustrating as usually I climb hard to make up for my slower downhill but you know i am getting WAYYYY stronger on the descents and loving them all the more for it! WOot woot... On the switchback climb I felt stuck... I am not confident in my mtn bike racing skills to just say "excuse me I need to pass" so I just let it be until a good opportunity arose.. I felt this slow ascent slowed me down but at least when we reached the top I passed some people and the right people passed me and I got to ride one of the most exhilareting trails "overnight senstion" on my own with no stress and LOVED IT and rode it all! woohoo! I was pretty pumped from that which kept me fueled for the next grueling section of the course. This figure eight loop thing with tons of hike a bike (at least for the likes of me)... but again was pretty pumped to ride all of meat grinder etc trails no problems.. I even got a "nice line" from two guys I passed on the "DOWNHILL"... haha but alas my luck or skill would run out on the last huge steep rock slab.. I freaked mid way hit the brakes supermaned over my handle bars and watched my bike bounce handle bars over seat a couple of times on the rock and into the bush.. when I finally picked myself up and grabbed my bike it was twisted and something was dangling which shouldnt have been dangling.. my heart sank... but a nice man behind helped me out quickly and told me it was just my front gear switch and could ride but without switching gears... hooray I didn't have to run the last part! I got myself together and managed to finish off the last bit of trail on bike and then laughed at myself while pedalling on the road totally spinning out in my little gear... FRUSTRATING... haha.. In the end I beat my time from last year and it was a longer course.. I AM IMPROVING... and really thats all that counts in a race like that for me..

WICKED race! Totally recommend it if your into that kind of thing... 5 of us eventually headed back to Nairn Falls, enjoyed the falls, a campfire and general good camping fun times.

The following day Andrew, Ned and I headed back to Pemby trails and hit up a really new trail called Rusty Trombone... not even on the map yet! FUN,.. its tough with steep rock slabs and loose sand and some super steep sections..all good but I think ridin nimby up is wayyy better than the road... just a helpful hint!

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

Tour De Indian Arm: Deep Cove May 15th

Really fast, relatively smooth race this year. Last year this was my first SUP race with only 4 other racers. This year there were around 8-10 racers on the SUP and tons of different lengths and types of SUPs out there. The sport is definitely catching on here at Deep Cove Canoe and Kayaks.

I was on the Starboard NEW, a 12'6'' x 23.5 board. It is fast but also very tippy. I was a little nervous to race on that board as I know how choppy it can get out on that particular course. On a nice sunny day there can be tons of boat traffic which causes funny and unexpected waves.  Luckily for me, the weather actually cooperated. The rainy/cloudy weather didn't invite too many boaters out on the water and limited the rise of the wind that usually occurs from the heat of the sun. These calm waters created a fast and smooth race with only occasional boat waves (some were quite steep and a little nerve racking but I managed well and stayed standing on my board).

Right form the beginning Kelvin, Mike, and Dale shot out in front and I was in the chase. I never looked back and didn't know how far behind the next person was but I didn't really care as my goal was to catch the other guys in front. There were times where I could feel myself slowly getting closer and the reality of catching them real but just as my excitement would peak the distance would then stretch once more. This was my entertainment the whole race as i wasn't close enough to anyone else to have a chat with nor really battle it out with someone. It kept my mind focused on teh right thing (moving forward)

came out in 4th and 1st female and teh first 12'6'' board over the line. There was a great bbq in the rain and some fun draw prizes... one of my fav winner prizes BEER! Results are here and I didn't get any pics... BOO...

heading to the island this weekend to explore campbell river and quadra island on mtn bikes and hopefully some SUPin...

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

On the SUP at Lake Whatcom

Before Race Photo by: Katja

For this race I paddled a board from Deep Cove Canoe and Kayaks,  it was the Race(12'6'' x 26.5) board from Starboard. The Race is a really great board as it is fast on the flat but can handle the chop as well. I feel stable and in control when the wind picks up and feel smooth and quick when the water is crystal flat. I am still a fan of the 12'6'' boards but am up for trying out some more 14 foot boards as I love the longer races.

I got a ride up with good friend Gary and met up with Johnny, Ben, and Eric at Old Town Cafe in Bellingham. Awesome little breakfast place right in downtown Bellingham. The rain was just pissing down hard all morning so I was glad that we were heading to a paddling race over any other kind of sport that morning!

After the sign in and getting ready we were off. I was on the short course with some others 5 miles up and down the first section of the lake. It was choppy at the beginning  but as we headed away from the end of the lake it got flatter until we reached the turn around, the waves picked up a little and the board was getting louder with the thumps from the waves but I felt solid on the board. As we turned around the  markers and headed back I caught a few little rides but mostly kept working hard until the finish! Fun race and beautiful lake (even in the rain)

Following the awards we headed back into Bellingham to have lunch at one of my favorite spots Boundary Bay Pub and checkd out the local Saturday Market (lots of fun things to check out at the market from food to jewellery...). After  a stop at REI we were back home in Vancouver! Fun event even in the rain!

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

Comox Snow to Surf Relay: Fig Rolls Racing capture Gold

Fig Rolls did it again. We managed to pull off a gold chocolate medal and place 11th overall out of 176 teams.

The relay is a nine person team + much needed support driver.
The race consists of a downhill skier, nordic skier, 2 runners, mtn biker, kayaker, road biker and 2 canoeist in 2 canoe!

Andrew and I decided to race the canoe leg again this year as we had so much fun last year!
We were surprised to put the canoe on the water in 10th place... The current and wind were strong but waves minimal. We were hoping for a few more waves to put to use our canoe which was sturdier than other top teams in marathon canoes. Thank you Burnaby Lake for the lend of the canoe, it was fab. Last year we had people in marathon canoes tipping into the water all around us due to the waves but this year it was just an all out sprint with difficult steering due to the funny wind and current... Andrew did a stellar job steering the boat and I did as much as I could to keep the boat powering forward. We almost caught the boat in front of us but didn't and in the meantime a boat behind us managed to catch and motor right past us close to the end. Oh well, it was a fun finish nonetheless with our three boats sprinting into the marina all together. I've decided that I am really enjoying the canoe (probably stemming from my love of the SUP)

Lina and Andrew photo by: Paul Palfreyman

Paul put up some pictures on his blog HERE


During the week I have been busy working as a TOC and at Deep Cove Canoe and Kayaks, trail running, SUPing (on my Starboard), and mtn biking! All wonderful things.

A little promo: head to DEEP COVE MONDAY NIGHT for my SUPfitness classes. They are from 7-8pm. Tons of fun and a great work out!

We also figured out that we are heading to a small (china standards of small which is about 1 million people) village Yongchuan near Chongqing China with Maple Leaf Schools where I will be teaching some grade subjects and Andrew will be teaching ESL. We will truly get to experience chinese culture. We are both very excited about this opportunity and look forward to exploring, discovering, and enjoying a different part of the world.

Bring on the Adventures

Live, Love, Laugh,...DREAM!
lina