13th August was the show down at my local event.
BaySUP & Sorted Surf Shop collaborated & we put on a paddle board extravaganza all weekend! Blessed with a bit of swell we spent all morning surfing, trying boards & mucking about.
We decided for the race we’d make it one tough, painful battle of the paddle style race in & out through the surf, into the wind for half a mile & back with the wind & swell, a short sprint up the beach & back in for 3 laps.
The start of the race was total carnage, i didn’t have a great start (normally my strong point) and fell twice on the first leg which set me right to the back of the pack. I push really hard & made about 5 places on the first downwind stretch, managing to get some good runners. The transition was smooth, my board caddy (Paul from Bournemouth Surf Centre) did a great job. I smashed out but fell again on the top turn loosing some places again. The downwind I re-took all of them & back in for the final lap.
Again really frustratingly I fell on the top turn. With one last effort I smashed back to shore & caught up the places I’d just lost.
I finished 3rd in class which was my worst result of the season, very disappointing especially as it was my local event, but it’s all cool, it was such a great laugh anyway.
The rest of the afternoon was spent surfing & later in the afternoon we ran a single board make sprint series. Just out to a bouy & back man on man knock outs. I got through to the semis against Mark Slater & in a thrilling heat we both caught the same wave into shore but mark had the inside line on the run to the finish line & just pipped it, brilliant, brilliant racing & a great way to finish the day with a bit of a laugh.
Next year I’ll do better 🙂
My results
Battle of the paddle – 3rd Place