Gorge Downwind Champs

[PonoBill]

I didn't shoot any pics--to busy trying to go as fast as I could. Here's one Angie Jackson posted. For perspective, the river is about 3/4 of a mile across there.

[PonoBill]

Oscar going Tandem yesterday



Saw a lot of this:


There's actually a boat under that guy.

[PonoBill]

The safety boats pulled out more than 20 swimmers. I don't know if they really ditched their boats/sups or not. 290 entrants elected not to go. Probably very wise, it was definitely not a great run for people without a lot of experience.

[Rider]

So kind of a black out on Gorge Downwind Champs. No race results. What gives?

[PonoBill]

They kind of screwed up the results--technical glitches, but they're putting it back together. I saw my results. I got first in the over 70 unlimited category, but of course, I would have had first if I'd passed out on my board and drifted to the event center.

I actually had a good race, though I finished far behind the main pack. I screwed up early in the race and lost touch, and could never catch up. Even the stragglers were impressively hard to catch and pass. I guess most people that weren't pretty good at downwinding just never started. I was in about every bump I could catch, paddled hard all the way, and surfed bumps the entire way. I had quite a bit left in the tank at the end, which felt pretty good after a 14-mile race. The last half mile was a bit flat, and I ran down and passed a much younger dude on a 14' who had passed me when I inexplicably fell next to Wells Island (picking daisies I guess). I pulled out enough of a lead on him that I was able to undo my railsaver from the board (my leash is permanently attached to my Camelback) and walk through the finish. I don't run unless someone has a knife. I was pretty pleased with all that.

[connector14]

I guess if I wait until I am 70 I can then participate and maybe enjoy some of the glory?!  Sounds like a ball.
I did the Viento run for the first time a few years ago and I was worn out by the end. Your performance is an inspiration to me .......

[PonoBill]

I confess to a certain trepidation about the race. Previously I thought 14 miles was a gimme--I generally do double downwinders all summer. That's 17 miles with a short break to shuttle in between. I haven't been doing that this year because the wind hasn't been as good as normal. I decided if the wind wasn't ripping I wasn't going to do it. I also had plans to go foiling and hear the Ultrons play in Manzanita over the weekend, so if the race wasn't on Thursday and it wasn't nuking I wasn't going to participate. Both the wind and event organizers conspired to get me on the river, and I'm very happy they did. It gave me renewed confidence that I haven't lost my ability to do long, hard races.

And yes, it was a blast.

[connector14]

I guess you are not the only 70 year old geezer that's in good shape......https://www.wsj.com/articles/no-ocean-is-no-problem-for-this-vermont-stand-up-paddleboarder-1532170800

[PonoBill]

He's in better shape than me. I'm more like a diesel. I know Bob, I've competed against him in several of the PPG and BOP races. Nice guy, very driven. We're actually pretty well matched. I sometimes beat him on the longer races, he beats me in the sprints.

[connector14]

Ok.....so I am adding you and Bob to my list of SUP heroes.....Dave Kalama was first on my list.....but I guess at 54 he is still just a kid ......but I only add him anyway because he designed 2 of the boards that I own and use the most......my 14 Rocket that he designed is just simply outstanding!  (but he is still a pretty darn impressive "waterman" )

[PonoBill]

We see him in Maui a lot, he did M2O. Took him forever, but he did it, and that's what counts. I wouldn't even try that grinder. I've paddled the end of it just coming around the end of Oahu doing an extended Hawaii Kai run--the rebound off China Walls and cutting across Portlock. Brutal. Even Dave Kalama keeps saying he'll never do another one, but somehow he does.

And Dave is the big Kahuna. No doubt. I want to be like him when I grow up.

[covesurfer]

Dr Danger is here on Maui now, he raced the Poi Bowl (Maliko) Race on Sunday. Here's the results. PB, if you'd been here, you would've been guaranteed a podium spot in the extreme geezer 70+ category. The wind looked like it was going to be light but the clouds retreated seaward and it filled in nicely for the race. Big foil contingent also raced, some of the guys began passing me when I was nearing the harbor (we had a 30 minute head start on them). It was damn cool to see, even though I have no desire to be flying one of those contraptions.