Firsts. Paddling.
The first SFOCC-hosted regatta (outrigger sprint race) kicked off the start of the sprint season here in northern California a few weekends ago and it seems only fair, given the 16 hour day, that my club took home top honors in the big club category. (This moment of braggadocio brought to you by Bud Light Lime). Without going into great detail here's the day's synopsis from my point of view:
12:30am Drink too much wine/muscat/rum/beer with friends the night before
4:30am Coffee, breakfast and drive out to the race site
6-9am Unload cars, boats and trailers. Stand around. Wonder what to do. Drink a lot of water.
10am First race starts - #1. You are racing #29, 33 and 37. Drink a lot of water.
1pm Start to feel better. Race #13. You cheer on your teammates, take pictures, visit with friends.
3pm Change into race shirt. Stand around. Go to the bathroom for the 5th time. No more water.
3:30pm #29 race, 500meters. Win the heat. Kill it.
4:30pm #33 race, 1000meters. Dominate by finishing 58 seconds ahead of next boat. (Huge in paddling times).
5:30pm #37 race, 500meters. Get edged out by a nose at the very end of the race. Bitches.
6-8:30pm Eat, drink, recap the day with team. Manage to get down a celebratory glass of wine. Pack cars. Move boats. Load trailers. Complain. Hug.
10pm Drop off friends, unload coolers, pass out.
(Watching. Waiting.)
This is sort of the flow of any sprint race. This one was more involved because it was ours, it was a new site, and things progressed much slower than normal. But in general, there's a rush to get there on time in the morning to help unload and rig boats, then you stand around for what feels like an eternity waiting to race, then you go all out (it's sprints) so a race is over in 2-12 minutes and then you pack up and head home. It's a lot of day for a little paddle. But if you hit it right and you're not consumed with all the things you have to do it can be a fun day to relax in the sun, talk with friends, read magazines, maybe take a nap, get a little paddling in and enjoy being outside. But you definitely have to put on your happy patient face.
(Yariv)
In other firsts, Yariv raced his first sprint with a ragtag team of newbies from other squads. And yes, loyal followers, you read it right. Yariv is officially part of the SFOCC now making our cozy little friendship circle even bigger as it expands to encompass work, Crossfit, trail running, skiing and now paddling. Can there ever be too much Yariv? Well, of course. But I'm sure too much Samantha comes a lot quicker than too much Yariv. I like to think of this as good training for the day my hetero and available "Yariv" comes bounding in fresh from a day of skiing, after a morning sesh at Crossfit and an inkling to go out for a moonlight paddle. Is that asking so much? I mean, we definitely don't need to work together.
12:30am Drink too much wine/muscat/rum/beer with friends the night before
4:30am Coffee, breakfast and drive out to the race site
6-9am Unload cars, boats and trailers. Stand around. Wonder what to do. Drink a lot of water.
10am First race starts - #1. You are racing #29, 33 and 37. Drink a lot of water.
1pm Start to feel better. Race #13. You cheer on your teammates, take pictures, visit with friends.
3pm Change into race shirt. Stand around. Go to the bathroom for the 5th time. No more water.
3:30pm #29 race, 500meters. Win the heat. Kill it.
4:30pm #33 race, 1000meters. Dominate by finishing 58 seconds ahead of next boat. (Huge in paddling times).
5:30pm #37 race, 500meters. Get edged out by a nose at the very end of the race. Bitches.
6-8:30pm Eat, drink, recap the day with team. Manage to get down a celebratory glass of wine. Pack cars. Move boats. Load trailers. Complain. Hug.
10pm Drop off friends, unload coolers, pass out.
(Watching. Waiting.)This is sort of the flow of any sprint race. This one was more involved because it was ours, it was a new site, and things progressed much slower than normal. But in general, there's a rush to get there on time in the morning to help unload and rig boats, then you stand around for what feels like an eternity waiting to race, then you go all out (it's sprints) so a race is over in 2-12 minutes and then you pack up and head home. It's a lot of day for a little paddle. But if you hit it right and you're not consumed with all the things you have to do it can be a fun day to relax in the sun, talk with friends, read magazines, maybe take a nap, get a little paddling in and enjoy being outside. But you definitely have to put on your happy patient face.
(Yariv)In other firsts, Yariv raced his first sprint with a ragtag team of newbies from other squads. And yes, loyal followers, you read it right. Yariv is officially part of the SFOCC now making our cozy little friendship circle even bigger as it expands to encompass work, Crossfit, trail running, skiing and now paddling. Can there ever be too much Yariv? Well, of course. But I'm sure too much Samantha comes a lot quicker than too much Yariv. I like to think of this as good training for the day my hetero and available "Yariv" comes bounding in fresh from a day of skiing, after a morning sesh at Crossfit and an inkling to go out for a moonlight paddle. Is that asking so much? I mean, we definitely don't need to work together.
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