West Coast Singles Race #3 – Results

Video of the Race -

I Think I Can, I Think I Can…

Race #3 of the Offshore Singles Series gave us warm weather and another downwinder!  The temperature was actually about 40 degrees warmer than the last race just two weeks prior.  The race started with temps around 75 degrees with S winds at 15 knots.  However, the winds rapidly increased during the race and by the time the last paddlers finished, the winds were blowing between 20-30 knots.  This made for some fast times on the 10.5 mile course which included a final mile with winds in the face of the paddlers.

 After a short race briefing, complete with plenty of hand signals and gummy bears for all, paddlers hit the water.  Due to our recent cold spell, the water in the Gulf is still quite chilly.  No one wanted to get wet going out through the small surf.  After seeing everyone get out safely, I decided (without telling myself first) that someone needed to get wet.  I proceeded by falling out of my ski while fiddling with my heart rate monitor.  Damn was it cold!  After a few laughs everyone lined up and the race was off.

Reid Hyle led the charge immediately sprinting to the front.  He held his position throughout the race.  The suprise of the day was JP, the fair weather paddler, Atherholt who cleaned the dust off his spec ski just for the race.  JP is a master in the bump and hung close to both Reid and I for close to half the race.  Harry Mountain continued his dominance on the OC-1 edging out JP in the closing miles to finish 1st in the outriggers and 3rd overall on the day.  However, the real battle was happening just behind Harry.  The next 6 finishers were only spread over a four minute window.  Cortland Reilly, Jean Raas, Dave Robertshaw, Lex Raas, Randy Perkins, and Karen Mirlenbrink swapped positions throughout the race, but finally finished in that order.  Karen, I can hang with the boys, Mirlenbrink actually led a few of the guys until the last few miles when the wind came on the beam and eventually on the nose.  A little further back, Marc Dipiero and Mike Seiber had a great tussle with Marc just edging out Mike in the final uphill slog.  And finally, a big cudos goes to Mike Holland, Angela Eastvold, and Rea Seiber.  Mike on OC-1 and Angela and Rea paddling OC-2 were greeted with 25+ knots winds as they rounded the corner to the finish.  At some points of the quarter mile slog, it actually looked as if they were going backwards!  Never-the-less, they battled the gusty wind and finished in fine form.