After arriving home from a contest in the Maldives, I heard the Rock to Rock paddle race was going to take place in three days, June 21st. Even though I had not been on a paddle board since the same race two years ago, I thought what the heck, let's do this! The Rock to Rock is a 22 mile paddle board race from the Isthmus on Catalina Island across the ocean channel to the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The paddle consists of three classes in length of board: 18 feet and up, 14 foot, and 12 foot (a.k.a stock). My weapon of choice this year was the short, fast, but deceivingly difficult 12 foot board. Race day kicked off at 6:30 on an unusually calm and cold Father's day. After shooting through the parked boats at Catalina, everyone settled into their anything but mellow pace. I was surprised to see how competitive and cut throat all of the watermen are even though no incentives, prizes, or checks are handed out at the finish. About half way through the race, the wind and swell picked up and I felt like an ant in a sandstorm. It is a very surreal feeling in the middle of the channel because there is no land in sight at all and very very dark, deep water below. Reliance on GPS is a must. One can't help but think about sharks and just why he did this race in the first place (hahahaha)! After hitting a few walls, dodging a giant freighter, and on the verge of throwing up I crossed the finish line in 3rd place (stock division) with a time of 4 hours and 54 minutes.
