The End of the Outrigger Season

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Still catching up...

We finished the outrigger season as a team in September with races in Tahoe and around Angel Island on the bay. Great temps and mellow winds meant all the races went off over Labor Day weekend and despite the small turnout from SFOCC, Steph was able to grab some extra paddlers from Sacramento to get crews for the coed and the women's races where we surprised ourselves (or maybe just me) picking up 2nd place in both.

But the highlight on the water was the Tam women's team serenading me as Jessica swam across to our boat after the finish - like Jack swimming to Rose in Titanic - to wish me a happy birthday.


It was a great weekend to be in Tahoe, celebrating another birthday at Donner Spa with my longtime friends John and Andrea, who hosted a superb east-coast-style birthday dinner with crab legs and shrimp and wine deliciousness and a knockout chocolate cake from SusieCakes that Jamie brought up from the city. I'm always asked what I want to do on my birthday and usually without making any sort of plan or commitment (yes, I'm admitting to this) it always ends up being perfect: paddling or running, eating, drinking and just being happy in the mountains with friends. Thank you to everyone who was a part of it!


Back in the bay area, the Tam team hosted the final race, Kula Anela, of the local season and as always, they rolled out the red carpet. Good weather, delicious food and drink, great course, great people. Would've been better if my boat could've caught the Tam ladies in the end to beat them at home but it wasn't meant to be. Still fun and a great challenge trying to catch up to them. Our men's boat did the honors later taking 1st and 3rd for an SFOCC sandwich around the 2nd place Tam team.


Anyway, it was an all around spectacular day spent outside eating, drinking and laughing with some of my favorite people in the community, on one of my favorite paddler's last races (Dary moves back to the UK in December) and with my paddling-partner-in-crime Jessica.
Dary and Auntie Bird

SFOCC girls and Jessica
A season that started out a little rough, with Jessica leaving SFOCC to join Tam, turned out to be better than I expected. Got to race my first race in Hawaii, killed it at Alcatraz, got to know some of my teammates a little better with my go-to girl now gone, continued to forge friendships with other clubs and in general, had a pretty positive attitude and good experiences throughout. And now, the cherry on the top, Phil just told me the Kia Kaha paddles we purchased are in! Oh great paddle of pretty colors, please help me to find timing on my left side.

Good night Power 6's
Good night foggy blows
Good night calloused hands and always runny nose

Good night giant lats
Good night giant coats
Good night San Francisco and giant yellow boats

Mahalo. See you next season!

Comments

Jessica said…
It was a rough start, but we pulled through. We are still partners in crime, even if from across the bay! We will always be partner in crime.

Here's to another fantastic year for YOU, and joint fun for US! The off-season is going to be a blast, then bring on the snowriffic winter!

Cheers!

Jessica
8:04 PM
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