Oh boy, what a weekend for paddling. I don't know about you guys but I didn't even compete and I was stoked. The weatherman called for rain but we really lucked out. Once again the winter challenge dodged another weather bullet. Sunny skies gave way to two great days of paddling. As soon as the events were pau the rain came down.

Saturdays race turned out to be quite a challenging race. Wind chop, outgoing tide and with it a mean current on the longest section of the course, lead to some real soul searching out on the water. We had a great turnout which included a large contingent of paddlers from Southern California. I even heard we had a paddler from New York but I never got to meet him.

The short course went first and their course ran around Treasure Island. A fairly mild course but currents around the southern tip of the Island proved to be taxing for everyone. Jude Turczynski is on a mission with his new surfski coming across the finish first. Alena Sumner won the women's surfski, Chris Cooper won the mens OC1 and Cathy Newton took the gold in the women's OC1 category. The thing I really like about the short course is that it provides new paddlers a chance to put their training to the test without all the stiff competition. I'm seeing lots of new faces out there and that's great.

The long course was next and it proved to be really challenging. The race started at the northern tip of Treasure Island and headed north to the first turn about 2 miles up. From there the course headed west out to Alcatraz. The tide was going out so this part of the course had a nice current pulling the paddlers along. Paddlers had a choice of running the inside or outside current. There was a convergence between the two currents which made for a lot of challenging chop. Some paddler ran right down the middle. Once around the turn at Alcatraz paddlers were faced with a daunting current. The current was most noticeable coming away from the Island with a standing wave at the southern tip of it. I actually saw some paddlers going backwards at times. Once out of the grips of the Island the current remained steady all the way back to Treasure Island. I saw Patrick Hemmens and Mike Shea going in to try and get out of the current while others battled it out head on. I guess there is a fine line of advantage over current and adding distance to your race. Making those decision during the race can be a tough one. Once back to Treasure Island Paddlers came around the southern tip of the Island, under the Bay Bridge and back with some following current to the finish. The surfski division was led by Patrick Hemmens pretty much wire to wire and ended with a commanding lead of 3 minutes. Mike Shea and Erik Borgnes followed coming in within 30 second of each other. Deanne Hemmens won the women's surfski division. As usual, right there with all the top men.

The real battle took place in the mens OC1 division between Dan Barbosa and Chris Cornejo. Dan pretty much lead the entire race but with the tenacity of a pit-bull Corn scratched his way back to catch and pass Dan at the south end of Treasure Island. With about 2+ miles left and 10 grueling miles under there belts, the race was under way. Not knowing the course Dan thought the finish was right around the corner and really poured it on and retook the lead. After that he managed to hold off a barrage of attacks from Chris. It was a total slugfest. Every stroke counting and neither guy letting up. The finish was great and the two came across the line within a half boat length of each other. The rest of the field eventually came across the line, all with the same story, "That was a long race". Andi Turnbull won the women's OC1, her first victory of the season.

Boy, I can't say enough about racing in the Bay. The city skyline, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate and Bay bridge offer so much visually that you often loose yourself taking it all in.

On to Sundays race.

Sunday was day two and the flat water course around Biar Island in Redwood City. The course runs around a bird sanctuary and even the home to some seals. The course is relatively easy but local knowledge had an advantage. The long course went first which was led my non-other than local paddler Dave "back where I come from" Jensen. The first race drama came when the pack came charging around the course heading straight for a small pier that I had tied up my motor boat to get a good vantage point for shooting some video. I thought the tide was too high for paddlers to cut the course and go under the pier. But Jensen saw and opening in the smallest portion of the pier and with a pull up rudder, shot through it. Some paddlers were forced to go the long way around it. I heard a lot of comments from paddlers while Jensen made his move. One of which was "so he wants to play it like that". While others who shot the hole met it with mixed outcomes. Some felt their rudder catch bottom while others like Chris Cornejo collided right into the pier. Chris was holding a tight lead when he hit the pier. The impact managed to break his 'iako. Pulling to the side of the course he had to make some repairs. Against all odds Chris managed to repair the 'iako and continue on. Now way back in the standings Chris managed to claw his way back to second place behind Southern Cal paddler Bubba Parker. Bubba took the honors of first in the OC1 division.

As for the surfski division Dave was still in first around the back end of the course but with Patrick Hemmens close behind. The two would battle it out for a photo finish without a photo so both took equal first. Some of the other stand outs included Mike Shea who did the course on an OC1 winning the Waterman award for the umpteenth time and third OC1. Chance Adair and Dee Van Winkle took the coed OC2 in sporting fashion. Lance Kakalia and Cary Accord Maintained their lead in the OC2 division with back to back wins. Even Josh Banfield made a great showing finally beating his dad. Plan on seeing Josh start making his way back to the top.

The short course went next and saw many of the long course paddlers doing it as well. Tony Mueller paddled his surfski with his hands. He actually did pretty well.

The weekend was terrific. I think everyone had a great time and hopefully we will see everyone back next year. Many thanks go out the the traveling paddlers who came from Southern California, New York and who knows where else. Also many thanks to all the volunteer's who are the back bone of the Paddle Series. This is a community based effort so if you want to help at races don't be shy. Ask Mike Martinez or whoever if you can jump in and help.

See you at the Championship March 13 at Fort Baker.

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