US Surfski Champs Sept 29/30

Paddling is not just flatwater racing! And if you ever want to try another paddling discipline surfski is fun and the US Surfski Champs are probably the best place to race. You get to start next to the best paddlers in the world like Lewis Laughlin from Tahiti, Oscar Chalupsky from South Africa, Greg Barton from the US and Barry Lewin from South Africa. There were many more people from all over the world (http://www.surfski.info/content/view/524/147/). So for us this is not about winning this is about watching really great surfski paddlers show us how it could be done. Saturday featured a long (17miles) and a short course (6miles). The long course goes underneath the bridge and into the open ocean - really need ocean experience her to finish. Jeff did it though and finsihed strong in the middle of the pack. The short course goes out into the bay near Alcatraz - the more mellow water for "everyone". Katja competed in the short course. The great thing about that race was that Katja raced neck on neck with 2 other women for almost the whole race and we all finished seconds apart. Sunday featured a Doubles race (8miles) and a relay. Katja and Jeff competed in the doubles race starting right in between those top 4 paddlers mentioned above - that alone was worth the trip!!!!!!!

The finish line in San Francisco, Crissy Field

Mass start of over 100 paddlers

Katja and Eva racing against the cruise liners and each other

People finishing up the long course. Beside winds, waves and currents, the freighters are a real threat out there on the race course (you cross the shipping lane twice!!)

LEWIS Laughlin winning the long course. And look at his big smile - he is such a great and humble person.

Jeff coming in from his race - still looking around for freighters

Jeff crossing the finish line

The start of the doubles race - Katja and Jeff riding the wash of Oscar and Greg on our left and Barry and Lewis on our right for the first 30 sec.