March Racing Calendar

Big Chop 2009 Race Scehdule

Big Chop organizers Ryan and Brian have announced the schedule for 2009.

This looks to be another record year for the Big Chop, as main series sponsor Mountain Equipment Coop is back for another year.

They are also looking for more sponsors to help out with this years series. So if you know of any companies or individuals who what to get on board, have them contact Ryan or Brian

RACE #1 - Thursday, April 30th
+ Opening night. 7km Big Chop & 3.5km Little Chop.
Course - West Side Loop

RACE #2 - Thursday, May 14th
+ 8km race & 4km Little Chop
Course - Back Side Loop

RACE #3 - Thursday, May 28th
+ 8km race & 4km Little Chop
Course - Surfer's Route

RACE #4 - Thursday, June 11th
+ 8km race & 4km Little Chop
Course - West Side Loop

RACE #5 - Thursday, June 25th
+ 9km race & 4km Little Chop
Course - Back Side Loop

RACE #6 - Thursday, July 9th
+ 8km race & 4km Little Chop
Course - Surfer's Route

RACE #7 - Thursday, July 23rd
+ 7km race & 3.5km Little Chop
Course- West Side Loop

RACE #8 - Thursday, August 6th
+ 9km race & 4km Little Chop
Course- Back Side Loop

RACE #9 - Thursday, August 20th
+ 8km race & 4km Little Chop
Course- Surfer's Route

RACE #10 - Thursday, September 3rd
+ Series Championship! 6.5km race & 3.5km "Little Chop"

Touring Through Delta

This mornings paddle was basically touring. Myself and my new foreign exchange student went for a leisurely paddle out of Deas Island and into one of the channels that go all through the area.

This was Shota's very first paddle in a kayak. Straight from Japan, and straight into a kayak. Sounds good to me. I had him in my Current Designs Extreme, and I was in my EVO surf ski. All I had to do was show him how the rudder peddles worked, hand him my SET wing blade, and off he went.

He had a smile on his face the whole time. I think he was having fun. We ended up seeing seals and blue herons, and heard, but did not see, one of the local bald eagles. At the end of our 12 kilometer journey, (boy is he going to sleep tonight) Shota practised paddling near the dock, while I did some full out starts to 100 meters. I managed to do about 5 starts, before things began to go south. So that's when I ended it.

A good paddle on a nice day.

Readership Expanding

When I started this blog on January 2nd, 2008, I thought this was a good way of keeping a training log for my lead up to the World Masters Games in 2009, and to promote kayak racing in general.

Since then it has been read in 73 countries and over 2,000 unique visitors as per google. This is cool, and I hope some of my training will help others in their goals as well. As well as my failures. (learn from my mistakes)

Thanks for reading.

Darrell

Deep Cove Race #2 Results

Here are the results from the Deep Cove Race #2.

There seems to be an error. I have noticed that Katja was left off of the standings. I think she finished near Jodi. If anyone notices any other omissions, please send a comment, and I will make the necessary changes.

As well, just a reminder that PFDs are mandatory and must be worn during the race. If not, your name (s) go to the bottom of the list.

Deep Cove Race #2

Today's race proved to be a good one for me. I was strong through out the race, not like last week's race. I had actually skipped Monday's swim and this afternoon's run, just so I could be rested for the race. Plus the Sun Run is this weekend, so I needed to cut back a bit for it as well.

I was pretty tight and not feeling great during the first part of my warm up, but I was feeling a lot better by the end. The air temperature was cold. I guess I was spoiled by the last weekend's warm and sunny weather.

The race was to go North out of Deep Cove to Lone Rock and back. I lined up on the left side at the start. Beside me to the left was Jeff, a double, and to the right was Ty and Terry in their marathon canoe, and Bob and Mike next to them in a XT double surf ski. The water was flat, so I knew the start was going to be a fast one. On the start my goal was to stay “close” to Jeff and hang on. Well that did not last long, but my start was really good and put me way up close to the leaders.

The next part of my plan was to get to a nice stroke rate and keep it there. This worked very well as I was just cruising at a high aerobic rate for me. Ty and Terry came by me, and I sucked onto their side wash.
As we were going towards the lighthouse, Kristin came motoring by in her K1. (man can that girl paddle) As she went by Ty and Terry seemed to weave a bit, so off I went around them, trying to catch Kristin. I managed to keep her about 5 boat lengths ahead, but could not close the gap. This position stayed the same until we got to the light house and the turn. Ugh. I am a horrible in the turns. As I was going around the light house, Ty yells to me , that they are going wide. Which worked for me cause whether I like it or not, so was I.

As we started back to the cove, I could see in the corner of my eye, a blue K1, cruising along side. I thought it was Jim at first, but it turned out to be Rebeca, and Kiran in her Super Lancer K1 ripping by. So I notched up the intensity, so I could attempt to stay with them. I had all three boats in front of me, so I just slid into the cradle made by Rebeca and Ty / Terry. This was great, but I wasn't paying attention and I got dropped off the back.

So now it was a grind to try and get back onto the group. It was long before the group got spread out as well. With Kiran charging ahead of Ty and Terry, and Rebeca falling off the back. So now I was trying to catch Rebeca as we passed the 5km zone can. I was trying to crank up the stroke rate, but could not do it. She got by about 4 to 5 boat lengths at the line.

I was pleased with my race. It is showing me that my training is slowly starting to pay off. Now I just have to keep reminding myself that this is a long term process, and it is not going to happen over night.
With each workout, I need to bring up the intensity, and duration.

In the Ocean Again

Well it is back into the ocean again. Today was my first ocean paddle in a long time. Launched out of Deep Cove and headed south towards Cates park.

The water was flat and I was in my Current Designs Extreme sea kayak. Of course it was raining. Being in Vancouver what else would you expect. ;-)

Cruised past Grey Rocks and headed to Cates, this is were the water started to increase in size. It was coming at me on the beam side. As I rounded the corner at the light house the waves now had white caps and my speed went up 2 kms without having to do anything.

Yeehaa full on surfing in my Extreme. It is a heavy boat at 56 Lbs. So surfing it is no easy task, you need some good size waves. Well off I went towards the Second Narrows bridge. The wind was really blowing and I knew this was going to be a great ride. That is until I had to turn around and come back.

I managed to ride for about 4 kms, all the way to the Federal Fisheries buildings, in an area that is known to be very shallow. It was high tide, so I wasn't too concerned until I looked down and no problem seeing the bottom just below my boat. Being in the shallow just made the waves get bigger, so I decided that is was time to turn around and go back.

Turning around was fun. With the waves hitting me from all directions, and the bow flying into the air off of just about every wave. Once I got turned around my decision to go for a long wave riding session was going to bite me in the butt. Man what a slog paddle going back. The wind was blowing straight at me, almost stopping in my tracks.

From there on, all the way back past the lighthouse was just plain mind over water. Head down and grunt it out the whole way. As I got closer to the lighthouse, I decided to stop at the fishing wharf at Cates Park, for a bit of a rest, and to eat something. The wharf was blocking the waves, so I stop for about 3 to 4 mins. The guys fishing there thought I was nuts for paddling in this stuff. (I was starting to think the same thing myself)

Well off I went again, heading straight at the lighthouse. Just as I was getting to the corner, there was someone paddling a canoe with a kayak paddle, and only wearing a nylon track suit and a garbage bag in front of me. I could not believe my eyes. This guy was nuts. The whole time I thought I think I am going to have to do a rescue soon.

When I got beside him we said hi, and I kept going, just shaking my head. I was listening for a splash, and a "Help", but it did not happen. Now the waves were on my beam again and my kayak was rocking big time. I managed to scoot around the next corner and into the bay between Cates and Grey Rocks.

From there I cruised under and the wharfs all the way to Grey Rocks. I stopped for a quick bite before moving on. I was expecting some wave action bouncing off of the wall, but when I got there it was flat. As I was cruising along the wall looking at the homes I wished I lived in, I bumped into Chris and Gary. They were heading out to go paddling the same route that I did. So we chatted for a couple and then headed our separate ways.

As I headed into Deep Cove, I was thinking to myself that this was a good paddle. 15 Kms, and some wave riding, with some hard work thrown in.

When I got home, I did one hour of Ice Skating to help loosen up my legs.
They got a little cramped while paddling.