Battle of the Paddle...here I come!

I've been wanting to head to the Battle since I first started racing Stand Up Paddleboards earlier this summer. As per usual I was too busy to get myself organized enough before my wedding in August and following honeymoon. By the time I returned a month later and two weeks before the event everyone I knew involved in the sport either had organized their own way there or couldn't make it.... I was bummed but tried to let it go and move on with other things.... THEN... two staff from Deep Cove Canoe and Kayaks were heading with space and kindness to share..... and I find myself packing and heading on a plane at a far too early time of the morning tomorrow...

I am sooo excited! I feel blessed that Bob and Mike were willing to let me tag along and I feel compelled and pumped to take in the entire experience and hopefully kick some SUP'IN butt.

I believe you can check things out at the Rainbow Sandals website

I will try and post some information but if not will recap when I return to Vancouver....

live, love, laugh,...DREAM!

lina

Bike, Hike, Paddle,... The multisport Honeymoon comes to an end...for now!

I can't figure out if it feels like we never left or it feels like it has already been a long while since we got back. In reality its been two days! Our honeymoon was just grand. Andrew wrote some sweet write ups on his blog while we were away and I just won't try and compete so definitely check it out HERE

In short, it was my kind of a honeymoon. We biked, we hiked, we canoed and we even raced! We live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world. It is huge, it is wild, and it is god damn gorgeous.... Biking along the Freedom highway (highway 20) was breathtaking, and in some ways it felt like we owned the road. Biking through the recent damaged forests was intense, so dead of life and sad. It makes one appreciate color, nature, and life.

Hiking the North coast trail was muddy but unique, the amazing beaches that are really not that far away and rarely stepped on are some of the most amazing beaches I have been on.

Bowron Lakes is something that is a natural phenomenon. What an amazing creation to be able to paddle these lakes surrounded by huge mountains and crazy wildlife.

Not only was the scenery and physical aspect of the adventure mind blowing but the people are really what put the icing on the cake. Everywhere we went we were greeted with smiles, welcomes, and cheerful conversations. From Port Hardy to Bella Coola, Williams Lake, Wells, and Bowron Lakes.

The owners of the Bear Paw Cafe Dave and Cheryl put on a lovely event called the seven summits hike and bike challenge. It is a low key but amazing event. You get to experience the trails and the alpine in and around Wells. Dave and Cheryl lent us their mountain bikes for the event and we were both excited to check out the local trails. I told Andrew to go fast on the bike and so we went our separate ways. Well, it was just my luck that I was feeling so good and givin it hell that I got myself good and lost in the mountains, I found a different summit and a different race's markers and a new mountain bike trail but disappeared for a good 2.5 hours until I found myself back on the course again. I managed to finish off the other summits and enjoy the afternoon but no cup for me... I did get the hardluck award and will be back to finish the challenge with the right summits next year.

honeymoon photos

It is tough to be back in the city after being surrounded almost entirely by trees and water for a month. I am already excited for our next adventure and I am sure it will not be too far off in the distance...

live, love, laugh,...DREAM!

lina

honeymoon

check andrew's blog for updates.

www.andrew-in-bc.blogspot.com

live, love, laugh,...DREAM!

lina

First in Ucluelet!

My family is visiting and helping me get sorted for the Big Day coming up on Saturday!

In order to keep sane and have some quality father daughter time, we headed to Ucluelet so I could race in the 4th race of the island series SUP races. I also thought it would be a sweet place to chill before the mad rush of getting a wedding sorted!

I met the crew from Comox Surf SUp and Compass Adventures. They are great and put on a solid race! I got to race on a prototype Starboard SUP board which was fun and reminded me of the "New" board that I have been paddling lately.

I have to keep this one short for now as there is tons of organizing to do but I wanted to push hard and I did and managed to stay in front with three other guys, two of which were on the K15 boards (I was on a 12'6). Yay, it was about a 6km race with some headwinds and chop. I stayed upright, felt good and had loads of fun. The event finished off with a BBQ at Relic Surf Shop.

Jessie, my old roommate, took my dad out on a whale watching tour and it was grand. We saw humpback whales, jumping, playing, eating, and even a mum and baby swimming around. We saw some crazy sea lions and enjoyed the speeds of the Zodiac! Thanks Jessie and Jamie's Whale Watching Tours!

Now onto wedding things!

live, love, laugh,...DREAM!

lina

Standing Up to Granite Falls!

I'm still lovin' the SUP...

This past weekend to celebrate finishing of my one year teaching degree and officially becoming a teacher, Andrew and I headed down Indian Arm for an overnight paddle camping trip. I thought it would be fun to do it STanding Up on the "New" Starboard paddleboard... it was fun for 99% of the time.... Andrew (aka the mule) kayaked and carried the luggage... We figured loading down Andrew would slow him down a little so he wasn't waiting too much for my slower Stand Up paddling.

Earlier in the summer I wanted to get a bunch of friends out on kayaks and down the Arm but due to a variety of reasons it didn't happen. As we had it Andrew and I were free with no plans for the weekend and decided to take the opportunity to sleep in and then head down to Granite falls. As it happens, this past weekend we were blessed with our first rainfall in over a month and despite some serious lack of desires to head back out in the rain (after a bike ride into town to meet some friends for coffee and getting soaked and cold) we went anyways.

I on the "New" Starboard SUP and ANdrew on the Looksha IV sea kayak. It took us a blistering 2.5 hours to get down to Granite Falls, we were blessed with some little downwind waves which helped in speed and increased the fun factor due to some minor surfing opportunities. I did have to sit down and create a semi canoe type vessicle out of the SUP for crossing through a side chop.... I managed and enjoyed the rest from concentrating on my balance. Despite the dismal weather Granite Falls was still packed with folks but we managed to find a perfect spot waterfront with trees. We set up camp with tarp and all. We managed to hiked around the falls as the water levels were low, ate, drank, and had some proper chillin time out under the tarp and by the ocean... no complaints just smiles.

We awoke to calm weather and headed down to the Wigwam Inn. A posh unfortunately members only Inn.... As we headed up the Arm back towards the Cove the wind picked up and I had quite the baddle with at times on the SUP. I thankfully did not a tow but at times wondered how I would make it back. I kneeled at points to try and become more aerodynamic... all in all it took us twice as long to get back, we hugged the shoreline nice and tightly and cruised into the Cove in time to make it for breakfast at Honey's. I wonder if I was the first SUP'er to make to Granite Falls and back?!?

More PICTURES!

I am off to Ucluelet this weekend with ym dad to hit up the 4th race of the Island Race Series on the SUP!

live, love, laugh,...DREAM!

lina

Long weekend.... on the trails in Pemberton and a new Canadian

A fine crew of us headed up to Pemberton for the long weekend to ride our mtn bikes and to celebrate Andrew's becoming Canadian. On Thursday July 29th Andrew became one of 70 new citizens of Canada. The celebration was quite good and the diversity of people was surprising from Russia to Argentina and everywhere in between.

We stayed at the Owl Creek Campground which was basic with a beautiful river (Andrew, Kala, and I had a little dip in the freezing yet refreshing river), the necessary outhouses and somewhere to park our tents. It was dirt cheap and nice enough. It even had two great trees for me to set up the slackline.... Talking about slacklining, a big congrats to the Yogaslackers and Dart Nuun for an awesome race in Tahoe...

We rode the trail 'resurrection' from the campground on Saturday . It was blistering hot with an adventure race style defunked logging road that was so steep and so loose that riding was near impossible... hike a biking up a logging road with our bikes in high heat was not considered to be too much fun by most BUT there was an exciting descent to follow... a little sandy at points but it added to the adventure... I was glad to have my flats and pads on for that one... The rest of the day we swam in the river, enjoyed some sun, drank coffee during a rather abrupt thunderstorm at the Mount Currie Coffee Co, hung out in Paul and Angie's massive tent during the second portion of the thunderstorm and slacklined once the rain ceased a little...

Sunday we rode Nimby in attempts to find the new Stimulus trail but read the map at the bike Co wrong and after some failed trail finding attempts ended up heading down Overnight Sensation, which is one stellar trail.. so all good! This trail has it all from rocks, to smooth in the forest trails, to technical steep trails and of course the heat and lack of rain (the rain the night prior did nothing to dampen the trails) some sand! I found it a little frustrating climbing nimby in my flats but I think with more practice I will get the technique but again enjoyed the steep technical downhill with my pads and flats. I am totally on a mtn bike buzz (as well as SUP and everything else buzz)We finished the ride off with a swim in One mile lake, and ice cream.... Perfect!

Monday it was down to three of us, Andrew, Kala, and I headed up to Whistler area and rode Kill me Thrill Me... despite living in Whistler I had never rode this trail... Yup, one of my favs.... loved it and it made me miss Whistler even more than I already do... what a wonderful wonderful place!

Now its 1 more week of school and then WEDDING and huge Multi sport honeymoon extravaganza!

but for now Tuesday Night Deep Cove Race on the SUP.

PICS HERE!

live, love, laugh,...DREAM!

lina

Hanes Valley Trail, Deep Cove, SUP, school, wedding and honeymoon planning...

I am one busy lady right now...

There is 1.5 weeks of school left with 4 major assignments. I am just trying to keep my head above the water.... One full year of school is almost over and I will officially be a teacher... Woohoo! Its been a long but beautiful ride...

Because of my poor attention span and focus I can't actually do work for an entire day so Saturday my break consisted of running the Hanes Valley Trail with Andrew... He was feeling a little ill but is a superstar and pushed onwards. This is a fun trail that goes from the Lynn Valley Headwaters to the Top of Grouse Mountain. You run along the river, past Norvan Falls, through the valley and then climb up boulders and scree to Crown Mountain Pass. From there you follow the trails over Dam and Goat Mountains and find yourself at the Grouse Mountain lodge. If you don't start at 4pm then you might even make it in time for ice cream.

Workin at Deep Cove Canoe and Kayaks is fantastic! I feel so lucky to be involved with such a stellar group of people all around. That being said I was there for 11 hours on SUnday.... I got myself a nice tan on face and arms!!!!

Tuesday Night Races:

This Tuesday Night I met up with the Trident folks and I had the pleasure of trying out a new paddleboard from Starboard called "The New". it is 12 6' in length and 23.5' in width. It is a full on racing boat and not sure now if it was me or the boat really but the two of us together definitely picked up some speed. I was mingled among the surfskis. I was a little worried about stability but I managed to stay upright the entire race!!!!

I enjoyed the easy maneuverability of the board. I could turn it when I wanted and with ease and quickness. I also enjoy the acceleration of the board. It typically takes me a couple minutes to get going but found I could get up to speed quite quickly and efficiently.

I thought the stability would affect my stroke but found that I quickly adapted to the width and with my surprise paddled with ease (luckily, it was a relatively calm night out in the cove..).

It is fast...

All in all it was fun, I especially liked the extra challenge of the stability and the speed!

The race itself is a stellar one: one of my favorite multisport (paddle, run, swim) races...

Look forward to the next one!

Now its time for more school assignments, wedding planning, and whatever amount of work and training I can squeeze in in between!

Live, Love, Laugh,...DREAM!

Lina