The Sayulita SUP Open was held over the weekend and SUP racers from all over Mexico, Hawaii, California, Puerto Rico and Tahiti came to compete. It was fantastic to see a SUP event return to our main beach as racers of all ages battled against waves, wind and each other in a distance race, a technical race and a SUP surfing event.
Friday evening there was a competitors meeting where important information was given out and final lists were made for the weekend. We met some people in the SUP world we knew from the USA and here in Mexico. Alex was also happily reunited with some of her team mates from the CONADE Junior Games from last October. Pretty standard stuff but it was nice to be around SUP folks again and see who the weekend competition would be. We also were able to meet world champion paddler, Conner Baxter, who was super nice and chatted it up with us for a bit.
Photo with the "GOAT", Conner Baxter.
I might have had a few tequilas before arriving at the meeting and decided that signing up for the races over the weekend would be a great idea......hmmm. So, I handed over the pesos for the entry fee and declared myself a competitor along side the kids. Ashley would have to watch three of us compete over the weekend.
Trace out in front to begin the distance race.
Saturday morning was the distance race. The course was 10 kilometers long with lots of wind. The women's division was headlined by the women's SUP champion from Argentina, Juliette Du Haime, and she was just plain stronger in the headwind and outdistanced Alex for the win with Alex coming in second.
When Alex came to the finish line the Juniors kids from the SUP Team she coached last year saluted her at the finish line with their paddles raised as she ran beneath them. Such a great gesture from the kids who meant so much to Alex when she was the Jr SUP Team's assistant coach.
Trace and Juliette.
Trace, however, paddled beside Juliette for much of the race and finished 7th in the Men's division. Considering the top three finishers were a Men's world champion, the Mexican national champion and a professional waterman from Tahiti Trace's efforts were certainly noticed as a 14 year old and the youngest in the Men's Open Division.
Trace has begun a physical transformation the last six months or so. He has been anxiously waiting for his day to come since we have always told him he will most likely be as tall as his Uncle Greg at 6'2" or so. He has always had great paddling skills but now his body is catching up. The potential of the two working together began to show about 2 months ago and we thought that maybe he would have a strong showing this weekend. At the end of day one we felt were correct in our prediction but his strongest event was still to come.
Sunday was the technical event where the racers navigated waves and turns to complete a 3 lap course. Large waves arrived the night before and the organizers considered a course change and even discussed not having the race since many paddlers did not have the skills for these kinds of ocean conditions. The kids, however, train in these conditions each week and is where they thrive. They wanted nothing to do with a modified course and wanted to get after it. Finally, the decision was made to keep the designed course and all the competitors were off the starting line and into the super wavy and demanding conditions.
Trace kept up with the lead men's group staying in the top three or four for most of the race catching waves and paddling back out through the surf. It wasn't until the last turn where the competitor from Tahiti caught a wave that Trace could not catch up to and beat him to the beach and the final spot on the podium. His coach and professional paddler, Conner Baxter, were waiting for him at the finish line and tried to grab him to hoist him in the air celebrating his effort that came up just short. Trace actually had the energy and eluded them running to the finish under his own power.
By the end of the first lap it was clear that Alex had something that the other women competitors didn't and had distanced herself from the field. She had more hometown training and skills in these conditions and more energy for battling the demanding course. Alex cruised to a first place finish in front of a cheering crowd on the beach.
Ozzy, Alex and Trace begin the technical race.
We were so happy to have a dozen or so friends who are in town come down to the beach and support the event and our family. The group must have been close 15 people or so and got a taste of just what Alex and Trace train for several times a week. Many remarked that they really had no idea that the kids had skills like they showed during the race and thought SUP was more of an after school activity for them.
It took me a while but I completed the course as well. A bit soggy but I finished.
The awards were given out at a dinner in town later that evening. A small gathering of competitors and guests rather than on the beach following the races. Alex received her 2nd place trophy for the distance race and then proudly took the top spot on the podium for her technical race victory! Even better she received a check along with her award! Everyone loves an oversized check!!
Trace's evening would be quiet...or so we thought. He finished off the podium in both races but had an incredibly strong competition. He certainly received a lot of attention and made us and his coach proud. During the Men's technical race awards the podium was full, trophies presented and photos being taken. I could feel Trace's disappointment at missing out on that 3rd podium spot as he stood just behind me as the awards were given out.
In an incredible gesture from the 3rd place finisher, Henere Harrys, Trace was asked to join the winners on the podium. Henere actually gave Trace the 3rd place trophy to keep for himself. The two battled for 3 laps and Henere knew that he just edged Trace out at the final stretch. Ashley and I were speechless and in tears as those gathered at the presentation applauded and cheered. Such a show of sportsmanship and respect towards a young athlete and we are so grateful to him for what he did.
So, that is a wrap! The Sayulita SUP Open was great and we hope it returns next year with more paddlers. Thanks goes to Ashley who was solo on the beach for this one and kept things organized and everyone fed. The kid's next race will be in April when they will compete in a qualifying event to earn spots to go the CONADE Junior Games which will be held sometime later this year. The Jalisco State event will also happened at some point to qualify for Mexico's National Competition. For now, we rest.
Alex has been racing paddle boards with her brother for about 6 years. What began as an after school activity and social meet up time with friends has turned into something much bigger. We always support our family paddlers. We try to get them what they need to be successful as long as they continue to show that they are serious and dedicated to what they are doing.
The international SUP brand, SIC Maui, is one of the few brands who feature exceptional junior SUP athletes and bring them under their banner. Alex has been paddling on SIC Maui since 2018. This year, Alex put together a string of strong race performances on her SIC Maui race board. The company's brand manager took notice and after some brief discussion with us and Alex an invitation was extended to join the Team.
Several stand out SUP athletes have been part of this youth Team the last few years and have gone on to make their mark in the SUP racing world. Alex and Trace are friends with all these talented juniors and we really like their families as well. Lots of fun to see our daughter be recognized outside of our small Mexico town for her years of effort and dedication. She has the Team, the talent and our full support so let's see where she goes with it.
It has been several years since a SUP event has been organized in Sayulita. This March, SUP competition returns!! The Sayulita SUP Open is the new event that will attempt to rekindle the days of the Punta Sayulita Longboard and SUP Classic but minus the longboard component. The Punta Sayulita Classic was one of our favorite weekends of the year when some of the best paddleboarders were in town with music and great action. This new event is the energy of several local big names in the Mexico SUP world and hopes to draw from not only Mexico but north and south of the border. There will be SUP surf, SUP long distance racing and SUP technical racing.
We will have to wait and see how things work for participation numbers go since COVID still is making travel difficult. The kids are stoked to be racing down the street in their own back yard and we hope to see a number of the kid's friends on the junior sup team participate as well as perhaps some kids from the CONADE Games that Alex went to in October.. No planes, board rentals or hotel reservations for this one! Whatever happens during this SUP event weekend it will be fun to see people come to race, surf and be good hosts to everyone so that this can become a beginning to something that happens every year.
Back in the spring of this year Alex qualified for Mexico's Junior National Games aka the Juegos Nacionales CONADE. She would join other youth surf and SUP athletes from all over Mexico for a week in Oaxaca's Puerto Escondido. Each state would send their 15-18 year old representatives to compete. Our state of Nayarit is not all that organized especially on the SUP side of things so she would be representing a Team from the neighboring state of Jalisco. The organization called CODE is the athletic development body for each state and Jalisco's CODE program is exceptionally strong and well funded for all athletic pursuits. SUP is still relatively new to the CODE program so to have a paddler like Alex with her experience is definitely an asset to the program.
One last practice before traveling to Oaxaca
Alex had been practicing occasionally with the kids on the Team from the Jalisco since last April. Alex was by far the most skilled and experienced of this group. Her Team would be joined by another group from the interior of Jalisco who were in a developmental program for canoe. Some of these canoe athletes were crossing over into SUP. The crossover to SUP from canoe and kayak is exactly what the sport is currently seeing especially in Eastern Europe. The two groups would meet up in Guadalajara and fly together to Puerto Escondido. Alex had actually met many of these "Canoe" kids at a two day qualifying event last spring to she was happy to see them again.
The two groups of the Jalisco Team meet up in Guadalajara.
Alex and amiga, Dani.
The impressive part of all this is that CODE Jalisco would be picking up the bill for everything. Travel, lodging, meals, uniforms for the entire week! The Team even traveled with a doctor and physical therapist. Alex' Jalisco group would be led by the Jalisco Surf and SUP Federation president "Fiky" who has been super to Alex since she joined the Jalisco Federation last spring.
Alex and Fiky.
The Team arrived all together in Puerto Escondido and the plan was for them to get settled and to train for a couple days ahead of the SUP events, sprints and long distance. The forecast called for waves so Alex was pretty excited. Variable conditions were comfortable for her and she felt like demanding conditions would give her an advantage especially against those kids who trained on flat water locations like lakes or rivers.
So, while the competition turned their attention to the surfing and body boarding disciplines the SUP competitors took to getting some water time and practicing in some waves. Alex was super happy to burn off some nervous energy and rode wave after wave into and back out of the surf and the question being asked on the beach was "who was the gringa charging the waves for the Jalisco Team"?
All was good until it wasn't. On her last ride into the beach a wave picked her up and drove her board nose first into the sand. A smashed board only a day away from competition. Nooooooo! This was NOT news anyone wanted to hear. All her preparations and travel just to have a broken board!?!? Alex was already fighting a nagging injury but now she also had no useable equipment?! Fortunately, there was a very respected repair guy nearby and he was able to get Alex board water worthy again overnight and she would be up and running by the time the sprints happened a day later.
Alex' SIC RS race board looking sad.
After practice back at the hotel.
While Alex' board was off getting repaired, the Team got ready for opening ceremonies on the beach at the event center. This was basically a small tent city where each state had their own space to call their own during the competition. This is where the kids were able to mingle a bit and be teenagers meeting other teenagers from other places around the country. Some of the other team coaches actually didn't want their athletes to mix much during the competition but everyone managed to meet other teams despite the coaches efforts and make new friends. I think this was Alex' favorite part of the event weekend and she still keeps in touch with the kids she met and hopes to see them again at the National SUP Competition in 2022 or at future Conade Games.
The event center.
Post opening ceremonies Team photo.
Day one of the competition for SUP was the sprints. 200 meters. It sounds easy enough except that the swell that brought waves the previous couple days was still sending energy into the event area. So, the paddlers needed to not only paddle as fast as they could but also contend with wave energy coming sideways to the way they were paddling. Again, Alex trains in these kinds of conditions so she was unfazed by what the ocean offered that day. Several of her Jalisco team and other competitors fell during the race since most, if not all, of their training is in protected water that is almost always flat. This was a real disappointment for some of the kids and the coaches but if you want to win in different conditions you have to train in different conditions. In the end, Alex advanced from her qualification heat to the final and ultimately won a sprint 15-16 year old division gold medal for her and her Jalisco Team.
Alex headed out to her first sprint heat.
If the competition didn't see Alex practice catching and riding waves during the week then pretty much everyone saw her sprints during the competition. Alex said kids started coming up to her for advice which she was happy to share but at the same time wondered if she should say anything that might help the competition in the distance race still to come the next day.
Alex relayed a story about how she arrived at a social event between teams a bit late and everyone was busy talking. She stood patiently to the side until one of her team mates called her over to where they were all talking with another team from the State of Guerrero. The Guerrero team wondered about Alex. Blonde, blue eyed, tall girl who was probably the most skilled paddler at the competition. Who was she? She joined the group and they were totally surprised that she spoke Spanish at all. They thought she was standing off to the side of the conversation because she didn't speak the language. She had to explain that the only reason she was standing off to the side was because she didn't want to interrupt. Another good question was when she was asked about how she felt about Mexicans. Puzzled she asked what they meant by the question. The kids said that "Americans don't like Mexicans" and they wondered how she felt. She had to tell them that she has spent most of her life growing up in Mexico and has lived here since she was barely six years old. Asking her how she felt about Mexicans as if she was a born and raised north of the border just didn't fit who she is. She said the kids had some difficulty understanding that her upbringing was much different than what her appearance said. After taking with her they finally understood that she was very different than what they expected. Alex said that the kids they were speaking with do not live in a community such as Sayulita where people from all over the world live, visit here and many languages are spoken. They just figured Alex was American and had certain opinions or views about things and never even considered that she may have grown up here and might have other feeling towards people than what they thought was the truth.
Team Jalisco girls getting ready for the long distance race.
Day two brought the long distance races. Alex and the other 15-16 year olds would be racing 9km and the older group 12km. A 9km is not terribly long for a distance race and Alex had been working on her conditioning before the event so she was confident going into the race. Three 3km laps to the finish line and ocean had calmed since they first arrived so there would be no advantage there. It had rained the night before so the hot sun made things sticky-humid but Alex went out prepared with a hat and camelback filled with electrolytes. Alex and Trace also train in the afternoon heat so the temps did not have an effect on her like it did with many of the other kids. During the day kids were stumbling up the beach at the finish and were provided IV fluids or were even removed from the course by jet ski. Alex, on the other hand, ran up the beach in first place for the girls, grabbed a hydration drink and happily received congratulations from her team and coaches. She even did a couple post race interviews. She went out prepared and had no problems with that day's conditions.
Another gold medal for Alex and her Jalisco team. Her good friend, Dani, finished second and the Jalisco boys did great as well. I was actually able to see a live stream on FB of the end of the race and tuned in just as Alex was paddling her last half KM or so to the finish line. So much fun to see her since we are always there in person to see the kids race and had to painfully live by texts and photos all week.
Such an amazing experience for Alex and her Team in Oaxaca! The Conade Games is something she can continue to compete in for another couple years and Trace will be old enough in 2022 to try and earn a spot to go to the games as well. Alex absolutely loved the week traveling with her Team and meeting kids from all over Mexico and we really think it was a fantastic learning experience. She will be doing more traveling like this when she goes to Peru in March with her online high school. Capable world citizens was Ashley's goal from the day the kids were born so this type of thing helps move that along. SUP has provided several great opportunities to travel and a meet people inside and outside Mexico and we are grateful for that. Looking forward to more in 2022.
Back in March, the kids were invited to go to the Juegos Estatales de Surf in Jalisco held in Barra de Navidad. It was our first SUP racing competition since August of 2019. We thought that one event may be the only race either of the kids would see until perhaps later in the summer. That was until we were contacted by the Team Manager for the Jalisco State Team a few weeks ago.
After some information gathering by the Team Manager it turns out that both our kids could qualify for Mexico's SUP Nationals since they are "permanent residents" of Mexico. They did not need to be Mexico passport holding "citizens" to compete and qualify for future junior Team positions representing the State of Jalisco. We live in the State of Nayarit but since they had never been Nayarit Surf and SUP Federation members they were allowed to be associated with the State of Jalisco Federation in which they won their age categories back in March. The Nayarit Surf and SUP Federation never really looked to recruit the kids either so Jalisco is our Federation now. Very cool!
Alex begins the distance race.
Then there was a twist to all of this. The Jalisco Sports Federation that governs all the State supported sporting activities is called "CODE Jalisco". Alex was asked by the Jalisco Team manager if she would be interested in competing to qualify for an event that is called Juegos Nacionales Conade. The event is basically Mexico's Junior Olympics where the States would send their Junior Champions to compete in sports of all kinds like track and field, gymnastics and archery. Trace would unfortunately be one year too young to qualify. If Alex qualified she would be invited to travel with the CODE Jalisco Surf and SUP Teams and go to the Junior National games. The State of Jalisco sports federation would pick up the travel and lodging expenses. Fortunately, the qualifying event was in Puerto Vallarta so off we went both Saturday and Sunday mornings last weekend.
We knew it was going to be a smallish event but when we arrived the first morning there was a good sized group of teenagers on the beach with coaches and several were in sports uniforms. They were all tall, super fit and they immediately wondered who the blonde girl was with blue eyes as she set her bag and paddle down on the beach. Turns out that the Code Jalisco Canoe Team was invited to participate over the weekend to see if there was potential in their ranks to race stand up paddle boards. Once the Team Manager arrived and told everyone the schedule for that morning she introduced Alex to the larger group speaking specifically about her winning the Jalisco State event in March and having paddled at several large events in the States. Alex immediately felt like she had a target on her back now that she was labeled as the most experienced and accomplished paddler in the field. The time had come to make sure her race performance matched her paddling resume.
Alex on the water doing a Sprint race demo.
The girls were in the water first and it was immediately clear that no matter what size you are, how strong you are or how accomplished in another water sport you are having SUP paddling and racing experience is the most important factor. Alex had 5+ years of experience to pull from and it showed. The girls on the water began seeking out Alex and asking for some advice for the race starting in a few minutes. The girls could certainly paddle but did not know how to paddle equally on both sides of the board, turn or feel comfortable on the board in a standing position. Their canoe expertise did not help much in this racing format.
We did see some of the kids that competed in the event in March. It was good to see those folks again and keep those SUP friendships going. The two strongest girls Alex raced in March were here paddling as well and are getting better each time we see them. One of them is even a CODE Jalisco member of the track and field team and cross trains racing on her paddle board.
All the canoe Team members were really friendly and were happy to have Alex join their group conversations and some of the boys wanted snapshots with Alex before the weekend was over. By the end of the weekend, Alex won the distance and sprint races for her age thus punching her pass to compete in the Conade Nacional Games as a member of Code Jalisco. The event was pushed back from June to October or November this fall. How this might overlap other events like the separately run Surf and SUP Nationals in the second half if the year is anyone's guess right now. That event will include Trace. This kind of thing is pretty exciting since we thought SUP racing in Mexico this year was a one and done kind of thing back in March. Looking forward to training leading up to this event later this year.
It has been over a year and a half since the kids competed in SUP racing. All racing events were shut down for 2020 so the kids continued to practice and wait...and wait...and wait for their next opportunity to stand on the starting line again. This last weekend the state of Jalisco Surfing Federation held its State Championships. The kids were invited through their Team coach who is a Jalisco Surfing Federation member to attend the event.
The Eco Sport loaded and ready to leave.
Ashley was in the States so it was up to the kids and I to pack up and head south for the 5 hour drive. It was the first time I had been away from Sayulita since August 2019 due to COVID and the first time I had gone on the road with only the kids since we arrived in Mexico.
The three day event was held in Barra de Navidad. The kids would compete in three events over the course of the long weekend. We stayed along a canal system that led out to the protected bay and beach so the the kids could put their boards in the water near the house rental and paddle over to the competition that was going to take place in the area of the town's malecon and jetty. Pretty cool to be able to paddle over to race.
Barra de Navidad was quite a bit different than Sayulita. Much quieter, really clean, fewer cars, few vendors/performers and very pedestrian friendly. The downtown area had wide sidewalks, legitimate one way traffic and we never had to dodge motos delivering tortillas or 10 year olds driving golf carts. Yes, it was super nice but it did lack Sayulita's energy and vibe. It was a nice change of pace for a few days but it made us appreciate our home a bit more.
Trace charging during the Sprint event.
The kids were competition rusty and nervous as they arrived for the day one sprint competition. Upon arrival it was clear that it was a small event as far as racer numbers and we even recognized several competitors from other racing and surfing events we had attended in Mexico. It was clear that Trace and Alex were two of the most experienced racers in the competition with just a couple of exceptions. As soon as the horn sounded for the first race it was clear to most everyone as well that these two were a little bit different.
Alex pulls away during the sprints.
The kids had only a little competition and won their divisions easily. A good start and after a short intermission it was on to the other side of the town's malecon for more open water and the Technical race. The juniors would race first for 2 laps with 3 turns each lap and then the adults would race 4 laps with 3 turns each lap. Alex would race with the adult women's Open division.
The Technical race is fun to watch as competitors navigate turns, waves and each other during the event and lead changes are common. Trace was up first and is his strength. Make turns, ride waves, sprint and then repeat. Trace loves it. After the first lap the other competitors started to make mistakes while Trace paddled clean and finished well ahead of the 2nd place paddler.
Alex was up next and was in an Open group that included the men's division. Alex isn't quite as skilled as her brother in the turns on her larger board and spent some time in the water. She made up for it on the straight runs with her 14' board and managed to still finish first in the women's division and finished third overall beating her coach who finished just behind her.
Alex outrunning her coach to the finish.
Sunburned and exhausted that would be all for the day and we would have to wait until morning to hear if the surf was good enough to run wave events or if the long distance event would be bumped up one day from the originally scheduled last day of competition.
Alex approaching her turn to head back out for more kilometers.
At 8am the event organizers met and the updated event schedule was announced. Race day! So, the kids headed off through the canals to the distance race. The morning was beautiful, winds calm and the water was flat. Conditions that were so much different than what we are accustomed to in Sayulita and it allowed for some fast paddling. It would be a group start and the kids sluggishly got on the starting line still tired from a full day in the sun the day before. Trace would be racing a little over 8K and Alex a little over 12K.
Just a beautiful morning to be on the water or near it. Lacking any real competition the kids cruised to first place finishes in their events. Trace actually like the conditions so much he even considered going out for an additional lap so his sister couldn't say she paddled more than he did that day.
So that was the event. The next morning we got an early start to beat the end of the weekend traffic headed north. The change in the schedule for the distance event cancelled out a "rest day" for us where I had hoped to walk around town a bit and explore. We will have to return and perhaps do just that in the future.
So glad the kids received the invite to compete and we thank the Jalisco SUP Community. Considering they were guests, not members of the Jalisco Federation and not even Mexican everyone was super nice, welcoming and complimentary of the kid's paddling skills. Of course they blew some folks away with their Spanish language abilities since they were not exactly what they appeared to be when they arrived at the competition. Their results didn't compromise anyone's pursuit of qualifying as a Jalisco representative for the National event in the fall so their presence just really raised the level of competition for the event and opened a few eyes as far as what needs to be done to elevate Jalisco's place in Mexico's SUP development. The final Jalisco results and point system will be tabulated for only Jalisco Federation members without Alex and Trace's results.
Some folks were very curious about the paddles and boards the kids used and some even took them out to test drive. Spreading the stoke! Hopefully the trend towards more small races continues into summer and and the kids can be on the water racing again.
This year has seen some changes with the kid's SUP Team. Our coaches, Bicho(a Mexican national) and wife Shelby, are temporarily relocated up in Kentucky,USA as Bicho's immigration paperwork is sorted out. Bicho cannot come back to Mexico during the process so the family is away from the SUP Team this winter. We have an interim coach in place. "Nando" is a 5 year member of the team, and assistant coach and Mexican National Champion. The problem was that while he was familiar with the program and the kids he just couldn't do what took three people to do when the coaches were here in Sayulita.
So, Shelby reached out for some parent help and a group was formed to assist with Team operations this year and allow Nando to focus on his strengths...working with the kids and their paddling. The rest of us would worry about dues collection, sponsors, paying bills, equipment etc. It provided a chance to make some upgrades, repairs and to rethink all things Team while the coaches were taking care of things like life, family and their future.
One of the things I was in charge of was sponsors. Something that the coaches had never pursued or had much luck with in the past but I was willing to try and gather some financial and equipment support for the kids. The last year our family has made some good industry connections and I also felt like some local parents could do their part in having their business support the Team with some pesos.
Well, I was right about that. We did get a new local SUP supplier to give discounts to the kids for the brands they represented. This business, Performance Stand Up Paddle, was the same outfit that introduced Trace and Alex to the high quality brands they use like SIC Maui and Quickblade. Finally the Team had product support! Prices would not be cheap but considering there is very little brand representation for SUP equipment here this was a HUGE step forward.
The next thing that was developed was a tiered sponsorship structure. Real basic and each level of support had it's benefits. Almost all the sponsors were parents who had local businesses and kids committed to the Team or had supported the Team in previous years so as soon as we started asking around the sponsorship positions filled up quickly with one exception. The "Title" sponsorship. The hope was that a business in the SUP or surf industry would fill the spot and it looked like the business we were targeting would take it. We had one in business in mind but needed the decision to be made ASAP since we were looking at the beginning of 2020 and the Team had practices beginning and several events on the calendar. We certainly wanted the kids to look fresh in the new neon orange jerseys and of course be walking around with the 2020 sponsors on the backs of every paddler.
Well, the hopeful Title Sponsor did not fill the position like we hoped. The other sponsors were offered the spot but everyone was happy with their commitment and declined the offer. Shit! Now what? Well, I knew four things. One, these uniforms were probably going to be in use for the better part of 2 years. Longer than the one year sponsorship support. Two, our kids were two of the most dedicated kids on the Team and we would be involved for the foreseeable future. Third, I knew we were going to be printing up Team sweatshirts for the Team and our family would certainly buy 4. Well, 4 Team sweatshirts were part of the Title sponsor benefits so that fit since we would buy 4 anyway. Fourth, I knew that new uniforms and sweatshirts would give the Team a new look and image and to have our house printed on both as sponsors was a no loose situation.
Trace and Alex with their long time SUP team mates, Kolbi and Kaden.
So our house, Casa PŌNO Sayulita became the title sponsor for the Team. It was certainly NOT the plan but I am stoked we stepped up to support a very important program for us. The investment keeps the Team supported and we can get some new upgraded equipment for the Team and I have made some valuable connections in the world of SUP in the future should the Team need them.
Plus all the kids look really good! Good and loud in neon orange and the sweatshirts are selling quickly too with our name on them for as long as they last. There are always a few things I would have done differently with the printing but hey, not too bad and every sponsor is represented fairly. We pick and choose who and what to support here in Sayulita and we are stoked on this one!
After a great two days of paddling and the success of our Grom athletes the previous day, we got ourselves up and out the door after breakfast for the day's pre-race meeting for all competitors. Another beautiful Hood River day was in store for the Sunday event.
Trace is still dry after warming up.
Alex and Trace would race at the same time today racing a course that would take them around a zig zag course of buoy markers and at the same time battle the ever increasing wind that was already building stronger and earlier than it had the previous two days. We mulled around with some other SUP parents while Alex and Trace got some warm up turns in before the race hoping they wouldn't fall into the water this early in the day.
Alex after some warm up strokes.
The race would start and finish at the same beach at the town's Waterfront Park where the downwind race finished the previous day so there would not be any transporting boards and driving around this day. All the Groms(ages 12-14) and Super Groms(ages 9-11) would start at the same time but the older group would do a second lap through the course.
All the kids lined up with mostly parents and friends in attendance and they were off. Trace and Alex were quick to get up to speed and were at the front of the pack with a local boy named Bodie, who had won the Grom downwind the previous day. We met Bodie at the Pacific Paddle Games last year and is a paddler to watch for now and in the future as he quickly left the pack behind with Alex and Trace chasing.
Fighting a brutally stiff wind and having smaller, less experienced kids literally blown off the course, Alex and Trace managed the race with skill looking every bit the young, trained SUP athletes that they are. Make no mistake, it was not easy but from the beach they looked to have things under control.
Alex finished first in her division since there were no other girls in her age group. She was disappointed in that she was the only one. We tried to get her to do the Women's Open race but that ran right after this race for another chance to compete but she was a bit tired. Next year we will have more experience with this and know that if her division is lacking paddlers she will sign up for a more competitive division. This really wasn't an issue in the Pacific Paddle Games or The Carolina Cup so we learned something.
Trace finished third in his race having some problems being a lighter competitor in the windy conditions but he was pretty happy about how things went. After the kids were done we were able to watch the many Open and Pro races that would continue into the early afternoon followed by the awards.
Trace with some SUP friends he has met along the way. Bodie from Hood River on left and Rob from New York on right.
One of the things I really like about traveling for these events for the kids are the connections they have made along the way. Even though we have traveled from the west coast to the east coast USA we see several of the same youth paddlers and parents at events and have made an effort to introduce ourselves. After all, we are all going to be on the beach together so we might as well get to know each other a bit. One of Alex and Trace's favorite young paddlers is Jade Howson. She is only 17 and one of the best women paddlers on the planet and always makes time to say hi to our kids and pump them up before races. I love seeing the older JR Pro paddlers(15-17 year olds) too encouraging the up and coming Grom paddlers. Many of them were at the finish line providing hi fives to the younger kids.
Trace receiving some pre-race encouragement from Jade Howson or maybe he is trying to get her phone #.
With no timing drama this race at the medal awards, the day concluded late Sunday afternoon and we decided to hit yet another brewery for dinner and celebrate the weekend's efforts.
When we first started planning the trip Ashley made sure we had an extra day to look around. We thought we might head into Portland to tour and stay the night near the airport but we decided to stay in Hood River the extra day and head up and see Mt. Hood. Ski race training was still happening at this time of year and it would be super fun to take a chairlift up to see the view and put the kids on snow again.
Mt. Hood's is a volcano and it's last major eruption was in the 1790s. Snow skiing is available 12 months a year so it was odd to see people clomping around in ski boots in August outside the the famous Timberline Lodge. Ski teams use the year round snow field to train in the offseason and we saw lots of youth coming down off the mountain in their race gear. As the ski race kids went by our SUP kids I couldn't help wonder if Trace or Alex would have pursued competitive skiing the same way they have paddling. We will never know.
Timberline Lodge
Riding the chairlift was great! Trace rode with me and he was not really sure about the whole thing. The height, the wind, if the safety bar was really safe, how to get off, what happens if it stops/breaks, do the cables fall off the wheels etc. I really do not think he could grasp the idea that I lived on chairlifts every day, all day, all winter for a long time before he came along. It was fun being back on a lift, especially when my feet were not frozen.
We arrived at the top of the lift and got off the high speed quad with no issues and walked over to where some grooming equipment and snow machines were parked on a thick patch of snow. Ashley and I marched onto the white patch of slushy snow and it was the first time I had been on snow in 8 years. The kids followed but it was like watching a baby deer take it's first steps on ice. The kids don't really comprehend icy or slippery as much as they would have growing up with winter.
Alex was not all that interested in the snow and was more interested in making sure that she had some good video about the whole experience but Trace had other plans. He wanted to climb up and slide down the mountain like he was skiing. I think he would have been a good skier if given the chance.
The trip to Mt. Hood was a great extra day tourist activity and it rounded off our trip nicely. We headed back to town and had some fantastic sushi at a place next to the hotel. Trace could easily live at the hotel, ride his SUP on the river and eat sushi for weeks if he had the choice. Early to bed for us since we had an hour drive to get back to the airport in Portland and check in at 3:45 am for our flight back to Puerto Vallarta. Ashley dropped us off to check the baggage and she returned the rental but we met up with her on the other side of security and she headed back to Atlanta.
So that wraps up our trip to Hood River for the SIC Gorge Paddle Challenge. It was a great 5 day trip for all of us. We really like having an excuse for the kids to race and see new places at the same time and Hood River fit the bill. Good event, good weather, good food, good beer, relatively easy to get to and good scenery. Will we return? We would all like too and Ashley has already suggested a longer visit. A bit longer visit since many of the athletes arrive a week early to train on the river before the competition begins. It would be fun to see the kids train for several days and cross paths with the SUP racing crowd that shows up early just to paddle the World Class "downwind" conditions. The past year they have been making lots of connections, friendships and slowly getting more "cred" amongst competitors and suppliers and we'd like to see that continue since we like the families and competitors we have met too.
The kids have now completed the "Trifecta" of big races in the USA. The Pacific Paddle Games, The Carolina Cup and now the The Gorge Paddle Challenge. They are the three biggest races in the country and the kids have brought home medals in all three. It might be a little while before we can travel to another race. The kid's Team ramps up again next week so they will be busy with that. Other activities start as well like basketball, horse jumping and of course school. We(I) won't suggest thinking about the next race for a little while at least...probably We are super proud of our paddlers and hope they continue to prepare and keep learning what it takes to be good at what they like to do. Maybe next year we will bring some of our team along too.
A video from Total SUP of the weekend. No shots of the kids but fun to watch.
