Training Grounds......No Complaints!

San Diego skyline behind me.

Another paddle in the Bay, all to myself.

Just cruisin'

That's the San Diego Convention Center behind me, I try and get out on the bay side 3 or 4 times a week. And then on the ocean side of the Island a couple of times a week.

To much splash on my recovery, Arrrrg!

Just hummin' along...love the way this board slices through the water.

Turn Around. Got to spend more time working on things like turn's....Just like when I used to swim, must spend a day practicing things like starts, turns and finishes. Drill, drill, drill!

That the USS Midway in the back ground...it's a museum now, but back in the day....

Just winding down.

And thats all folks. Felt great after this one. Pulled a total of 6.5 miles, at about 80%. My blood sugars were at around 190 at the start and were at about 107 at finish. Just before I took off I had my typical breakfast, oatmeal, water and coffee with sugar free flavored creamer. Works for me!

Full Moon Paddle July 15, 2011

Group photo. The SUP Cafe in Long Beach, CA. hosted an awesome event. Everyone that was there was filled with Aloha! Definately something I'd do again.

Thats Lori Pighini and I getting ready to take off. I met her and her husband Mark Pighini at this event they are both really nice people, full-on into the whole Stand Up Paddle scene.

Lori Pighini on her 404 chasing after Kristin Thomas and I. This was so cool, sun was setting and the atmosphere was electric.

Yours truly, flashing the pearly whites for the camera.

This picture doesn't really do itself justice. The moon was beaming and lit up the canals. Thanks SUP Cafe for an evening of fun in the moonlight. The whole time the song by Van Morrison "Dancing in the moonlight" kept playing over and over in my head.

• 2011 San Clemente Ocean Festival 10 K Distance Paddle Race 8th overall 12’6 SUP Stk. 2nd place in age group

MIke Rauber throwing the "shaka" We had just loaded up and were getting ready to head up the coast from San Diego to the Moonlight paddle in Long Beach and then to the 2011 San Clemente Ocean Festival.

I had finished the moonlight paddle in Long Beach ate and tested all was good. Got to the hotel outside of San Clemente got ready to crash and wham! a little exercise induced hypoglycemia. For those who don't have to deal with this.....let me tell you when your blood glucose level is at 34, that's not good. Believe me you don't even want to, nor can you imagine what this feels like. Needless to say it was all good after consuming some carbs.

My little pre-race ritual. A quick test of my blood sugar and a Juicy Juice, bring it on!

All smiles...diggin' life. The San Clemente Ocean Festival was a first class run event.

And were off! That's Brent Pascoe of team Infinity next to me.

My 2nd place Silver medal from the 2011 San Clemente Ocean Festival.

“ASI” Instructor Certification

 World Stand up Paddleboard Association and the Academy of Standup Paddleboard Instruction

"ASI" Class# 9

Lori Long, Paul Zacharias, Tasha Glover Hammer, Mindy Clark, Dick DeBoer, Billy Kho, Kristin Thomas, Jonny Kessel, Steve Serafino, Larry Froley, Dane DeBoer.

I had so much fun with all of these people. This is something everyone that is interested in teaching stand up paddle boarding and/or just becoming more proficient as a stand up paddler should do. It's fun and really teaches you alot.

Tasha Glover Hammer and Kristin Thomas going through the motions.

Lori Long and Billy Kho practicing the proper way.

This is the fancy certificate that is presented to you by Dick and Dane Deboer upon your completion of the course. The DeBoer brothers are first class Waterman all the way. And really are experts at their craft.

Officially an "ASI" Instructor as of April 29th, 2011.

Hennessey's SUP & Paddle Board U.S. Championships - 11th place SUP Stk. overall, 4th in age group

This was the hotel my friend Mike Rauber and I stayed at the night before the Hennessey's SUP & Paddle Board U.S. Championships. Accommodations on a budget.

I eventually would finish the 9 mile race, but nowhere's near where I wanted. I had not felt that great all week long leading up to race day. My blood sugars were all out of wack pre-race, definately felt like I was dragging bones the entire race. And I had to drink every last bit of the supplement that was in my Camelback just to make it to the end. Still no excuse, just part of racing and being a diabetic

The after party was fun but bitter sweet.

The results. I was frustrated, finishing behind Mike Richards and Billy Kho. I had beat these guys in previous races. But thats's the way it goes sometimes. Mike and Billy are both excellent paddlers and deserve the win.

I did get a laugh at the huge pair of shorts that came in the goody bag, the jersey was cool though.

But as lady luck would have it, the results were posted and I was absolutely stoked to see that I had some how squeaked out a good enough finish to qualifly for the WPA World Championships of Paddling to be held in Hermosa Beach, Sept. 17, 2011.

2011 HENNESSEY'S-WPA U.S. PADDLE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Qualified for World Championship				Pre-Qualified for World Championship
OFFICIAL RESULTS- SUP SIZE/GENDER
SUP Stk Men		Qualified				Pre-Qualified
Position	Boat #		Paddler(s)		Boat Make/Model		Final
1	135		VELA, Anthony		SUP Stk 39U Men		1:37:41
2	65		WILD, Jay		SUP Stk 39U Men		1:38:41
3	152		MORRISSEY, Dane		SUP Stk 39U Men		1:39:58
4	85		ROWAN, Joe		SUP Stk 50+ Men		1:41:57
5	102		HICKMAN, Trent		SUP Stk 39U Men		1:42:44
6	66		COLIN, McPhillips		SUP Stk 39U Men		1:42:50
7	91		RING, Karl		SUP Stk 40-49 Men		1:43:50
8	109		RICHARDS, Michael		SUP Stk 40-49 Men		1:46:46
9	146		PASCOE, Brent		SUP Stk 39U Men		1:47:30
10	34		KHO, Billy		SUP Stk 40-49 Men		1:48:22
11	139		ZACHARIAS, Paul		SUP Stk 40-49 Men		1:48:48
12	154		CURRIE, Grant		SUP Stk 39U Men		1:49:08
13	111		LOMBARDO, Jeff		SUP Stk 39U Men		1:50:43
14	172		SWANECAMP, Tom		SUP Stk 40-49 Men		1:54:07
15	32		FLORES, Ernest		SUP Stk 39U Men		1:54:45
16	14		PIGHINI, Mark		SUP Stk 50+ Men		1:55:45
17	137		RAUBER, Mike		SUP Stk 40-49 Men		1:55:58
18	121		CARANTO, Todd		SUP Stk 40-49 Men		1:56:39
19	138		FELIX, Larry		SUP Stk 40-49 Men		1:57:32
20	117		WALLFESH, Gerry		SUP Stk 40-49 Men		1:58:36
21	58		DOWDEE, Kevin		SUP Stk 40-49 Men		1:58:43
22	134		RANKELL, Nik		SUP Stk 40-49 Men		1:59:32
23	68		TYSKA, Brian		SUP Stk 39U Men		2:03:09
24	30		BROSTOWICZ, Allen		SUP Stk 40-49 Men		2:04:53
25	95		MONTGOMERY, Dana		SUP Stk 40-49 Men		2:11:18

• Santa Monica Pier Paddle and Ocean Festival - 4th place SUP Stk. overall, 2nd in age group

On the beach getting ready for the start.

And were off and paddling.

Felt really good during the race. The hard work paid off.

Post race talk with Dave Boehne and Chance Fielder of team Infinity.

Recieving my 2nd place award with Joe Rowan, who took 1st. Even though I finished 4th in the 12'6 SUP Stk. division I wasn't sure if this would allow me to qualify for the WPA World Championships. But I was really happy with the results.

My 2nd place award the "Bowl".

John R. Goodman and I on the Santa Monica pier with our "Bowls".

Post race celebration, again with the "Bowl". And for all of you wondering about the cold frosty adult beverages, it's light beer. Far less carbohydrates than regular.

Later that night at Posidon SUP in Santa Monica. These bowls really were an intregal part to the entire after race celebrations. And I'm sure that was a low carb. drink I was consuming.

• 2011 Hobie-Hennessey’s Waterman Challenge – 14th place SUP Stk. overall, 5th in age group

I really enjoyed this race and felt good. Again I was running up with the pack and thought I might have a chance to place fairly high and maybe qualify for the World Paddle Association (WPA) World Championships.

Looks like I'm going to have an issue with the one of the prone paddlers. But really its just a crazy camera angle.

I'm in the back ground just beyond Brandi Baksic and Mike Richards. on Brandon Lights tail. Brandi would eventually drop me, as well as Brandon. I was able to hang on and finish ahead of Mike Richards, no small feat. Mike is fast, and usually beats me.

Here we are rounding the inside bouy. Crazy swell,but made for an exciting race. But even with my best effort I was unable to pick up a finish that would qualify me for the WPA World Championships.

My good friend Liza Flowers arriving early with her carbon fiber Boga race board. She is awesome person and an inspiration to so many.

2011 Standup Roundup/Boardworks Knockout

I almost forgot about this race. I wasn't going to even do the race but at the last minute, because it was so close to my home in Mission Bay, CA. I went over to check it out. Didn't take my board was going to just watch. Once I was there though I couldn't resist. Dave Daum of Kings was nice enough to allow me to race one of his boards.

There was alot of sea grass and kelp along the short 3-mile course and it kept getting caught on the fin. I was forced to get off the board 3 or 4 times, flip the board over and remove the kelp. Despite the minor setback I was able to finish 5th overall in the 12'6 Stk. division, two positions out of qualifying for the final knockout round.

Hennessey Return to the Pier 2011

Crazy conditions at the Hermosa Beach race.

I'm bouncing around somewhere in that pack.

The race was from pier to pier and back. I drove up from San Diego, CA. with my friend Liza Flowers. The shore break was so intense she didn't even make it out, I struggled through this race, was not happy with my paddle. To date this was the toughest race conditions all season.

Finally, the end. I had to yell my race number two or three times to the folks on the race boat who were being bounced around like a cork in a bath tub.

I caught this wave in to the beach. Managed to catch one of the smaller sets and finally set foot on the sand. Very frustrated afterwards, but being the competitor I am I was ofcourse my own worse critic.