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.
The boards, paddles, fins, leashes, pfds and Team sweatshirts were packed and we were off to the airport Thursday before the weekend competition. We knew we had seats but getting the kid's oversized race boards on the airplane was a big concern for me so we were at the Alaska Airlines ticket counter 3 hours before our flight to check in. Alaska Airlines? Yep, this time around we knew we needed to get to our destination and there was no room for getting bumped from a flight flying standby on Delta. Ashley was meeting us at the Portland airport with an SUV to carry the boards if and when we made it.
Alaska Airlines was great! When we walked into the PV airport an Alaska Airlines host of some sort approached us and guided us through everything. We really didn't need it but with two boards to lug around he was very helpful. Before we left the ticket counter our boards had been taken by this gentleman, baggage tags applied and handed off to the baggage crew. In less than 10 minutes, without so much as a second glance at these 13' surfboard bags we had boarding passes in hand and were off to the security line hoping that we would be seeing our luggage in Los Angeles later in one piece.
Alex catching a nap on our second flight.
After doing the customs/immigration dance in LAX we had to recheck our bags on to our domestic flight from LAX and after a three hour uneventful layover we were off to Portland. Ashley was waiting for us as scheduled outside the airport and we strapped the boards to the roof of the rental SUV and we were off to Hood where the race would be held. By this time it was close to midnight Sayulita time, even later for Ashley, so we were eager to get the long day behind us and get to our hotel in Hood Oregon.
Ashley and Trace walk along the river in Hood.
Our hotel was right on the river and only about a 10 minute walk to the event site. The Columbia River is massive and is surround by steep mountains on each side. Stunningly beautiful and a wind corridor. After some breakfast, needed coffee and a quick walk to take a look around we decided to get the kids on the river for their first real "downwinder" experience. With the wind behind you and the current coming toward you, a very unique set of conditions presents itself to the racers so it takes some practice but it is supposed to be a thrilling ride.
I was quite nervous about letting them run the river themselves but I knew they would have to race alone the next day anyway so it was time to just let them go and use their skills and training for this kind of race. They were together, had floatation devices, boards and there were lots of other racers in the water training as well so they were not exactly alone. Plus, I had seen both of them conquer much more demanding conditions here in Sayulita then they would see on the river.
The town of Hood as seen from Washington State.
We got them to the State Park where the race would begin 8 miles upstream from town. After settling some nerves and battling some ripping windy conditions that made carrying their large boards a challenge, they paddled out into the river and were quickly moving downstream at a surprisingly fast pace and gone! Videos can be enlarged to full screen.
Seeing just how fast the kids were moving downstream Ashley and I also had to move along to get back to town and find a spot to see them come in to what would be the finish line the next day at the Waterfront Park. Trace arrived first and was absolutely beaming when he told us about his experience on the river and how many waves he caught along the way and how long he rode them. Alex took a while longer to get to the Waterfront Park and it appeared by her body language and how wet she was that her trip down the river had been a bit less successful but as she paddled closer to shore was smiling just as much as her brother. This is what we came for. Epic conditions, new experiences, stories to tell and smiles.
Post day one training run.
The next day was the race so after the training run we picked up the kid's race registration packets and went to an early dinner so we could be in bed early and recover a bit more from the previous day's travel. It was so great to have good craft beer in a brew pub eating pizza wearing a sweatshirt and jeans rather than sweating in our house in Mexico.
Saturday morning we slept in a bit but the pre-race meeting was scheduled mid morning so we all walked over from the hotel for that. We found out that Trace, by Oregon law, needed to be wearing a life jacket and not just a pfd waist belt. We try so hard to be prepared for these race and hate it when important information like this is not relayed so we can be ready. The same thing happened in 2017 at the Pacific Paddle Games when it was announced all the kids needed helmets to compete...as we were standing on the starting line! We like to have information. Luckily we were able to rent one for Trace for two days right there at the park though he was not too happy about it.
After getting the race breakdown from the organizers we arrived a little while later up at the start where we were the previous day. The Men and Women Pro divisions had already left and the kids would start at the same time as the men's open and women's open races. This posed a real challenge in Trace's race since the shoreline was small and fitting over a hundred men with race boards along the river bank would pose some problems. It was clear that the the paddlers farther down stream where Trace was would be at a disadvantage at the start. Most of the other youth boys were already in position in the much more desirable location upstream where they would get a clear chance to get into the current with little or no traffic.
After some brief organization and cold minutes in the water the horn blew and Trace was off. As predicted the upstream paddlers were already 50/60 meters ahead and taking advantage of the current by the time Trace was even able to get some space to paddle and get into the race. Lesson learned on that one.
Alex was next and though the women's field was smaller the same advantage of being in the right upstream location was true. So she also started downstream at a bit of a disadvantage to begin the race. Alex was clearly nervous and almost forgot to even put her leash on before the beginning of her race.
The horn for Alex' race went off and just as quickly as her brother she was off paddling into the wind and current. Ashley and I went up to the parking area and were off to drive to an overlook on the way back to Hood to try and pick out the kids on the river. We made it to the overlook and the little orange and pink race jerseys of the racers were scattered all over. The view really made you appreciate just how big the scenery was as the racers looked like little specs floating along the river.
It's hard to believe but there are at least 2 dozen racers in this photo.
After we were able to spot both kids as they went by we headed to town to wait for them to arrive. Having started first, Trace came paddling into the finish line looking strong and just as energized as he did the previous day. With his hair up in a ponytail and thinking his name was pronounced as "Tracie", the announcer mistook Trace for a girl and declared him the first woman overall to finish in the Womens Open class. You can hear the announcer on the video. So hilarious to hear and Trace had a good sense of humor about it but the story gets better.
Alex arrived at the finish line shortly after. The announcer, seeing that Trace and Alex had the same last name and thinking that they were "sisters", was asking for some clarification about the "Ostrowski sisters" which made Ashley and I just crack up and Trace continue to cringe. Again, you can hear the announcer on the video.
Everyone finished with smiles and we hung out and waited to see the professional racers come in after their second run and who would be declared champion that day. We got some lunch, looked around at some of the vendor booths and awaited the posted results of the race. That is when things briefly went sour. Trace's time was totally missing from the posted results. He name was not to be found anywhere. We assumed he placed 2nd or 3rd in his division since he was sure he made up the distance and passed the racers who had an advantage at the start of the race. All timing was done manually and racers were logged in at the finish line. This is much different from any of the other races we have been to where timing chips were worn. We are not really sure why such a big race runs this way but we were able to convince the timers table just where Trace finished in the race. We had video as well. Problem averted but this caused some other problems. The young racer who thought he finished 3rd did not know the results were updated once Trace was correctly placed back into the results so when the top three kids were announced he came running up confused as to why he was not included in the top 3. He didn't know what had happened after the results being edited. Kind of an uncomfortable moment, especially for Trace, and one that might have been avoided had the race had timing chips. So, after a few moments of uncertainty the race organizers figured out a solution and everyone was stoked!
Alex improved immensely from her practice run. She was in a division that unfortunately did not have a lot of participation and competition for her but she was pretty happy about the way the first day of racing went for her as she stood on top of the podium that afternoon. Looking at her time, she actually finished finished 4th overall for women on 12.6 race boards. She was pretty proud of that.
A very successful day for the kids at their first downwind Gorge race. As usual, Alex and Trace took on the challenge and made the best of it so we celebrated that night by finding another brewery and ate well preparing for the next day of racing. The course race for the kids would be in the morning and would be the very first race to run so we had to be ready for another long day.
Back in March it was announced that the SUP race the kids looked forward to each October would not run this year. The Pacific Paddle Games(PPG) was a chance for our SUP Team's Elite paddlers to go north and test their skills against kids from all over the world. It was special for many reasons. The Elite Team came together early in the season and trained hard to be ready for the two races that would run over the fall weekend. The race provided focus and energy to a group of kids who hardly ever got to paddle against kids who are not already part of the SUP program here in Sayulita. The last two years the kids have made relationships, though distant, with other youth paddlers from the west coast to the east coast US and it is always fun to see those friendships rekindled at each race. Many of the kids recognize each other and keep in touch via social media like Instagram. Lastly, it is just fun to travel with the Team and support each other in all the age groups and classes the Team would compete in. A great bonding session. The parents have a great time too!
After the PPG cancellation and the Carolina Cup completed back in April we were looking at a period of time where there would be no north of the border races for the foreseeable future. It may, in fact, be a year, year and a half or possibly even longer until the kids competed again on the world stage against their SUP peers. Living here we just do not get to race anywhere near the amount some of their SUP friends do in programs up north unless we travel. A calendar year or more is just a long, long time to train without a goal to focus on and push towards for anyone.
One of the big three races in the USA is The Gorge Paddle Challenge in Hood River Oregon. The other two races, The PPG and The Carolina Cup, the kids have already competed at. This year the "Gorge" will be sponsored by the brand of board the kids race on, SIC Maui, and be held the 17th-18th of this month. We saw this as the last chance for a long while to go to a race plus we get to see a part of the country we have yet to see, the Columbia River Gorge.
Problem was the $1000s of dollars required to travel with lodging, food, airfare and race fees etc was just not available after spending part of the summer traveling around Mexico. To solve this the kids volunteered their savings account balances to pay for the costs needed to get there and back. Of course we would pay the amount back over the following months but the cash available would prevent us having to put things on credit cards or digging into house funds to head north to the race. Traveling to international races is not cheap!! Creative financing for sure!
Photo from The SIC Paddle Challenge FB page.
The "Gorge" race is famous for being a "downwinder". This means the racers will be aided by a tailwind but they also have to navigate challenging currents and water conditions. The Columbia River Gorge is a world class location for all things "wind" so the event will be a new challenge for the kids since experiencing the epic conditions at the race really cannot be duplicated near us. This gives a big advantage to racers who train there. Several pros are already at the race a week early to develop some strategy and understanding of the conditions they will see come race day.
Photo from the SIC Gorge Paddle Challenge FB page. Hood River Waterfront Park.
The kids will finish up training in the first half of this week with their offseason trainer/coach, Ryan Helm, and then we will be off. Ashley will fly in from Atlanta to meet us and have a rental SUV ready to accommodate the kid's race boards and drive to Hood River where all the race activities will be held at the waterfront park. Our hotel is just a 10 minutes walk from the event! Fingers crossed that we make our connections in LAX and Alaska Airlines (yes we bought tickets) will allow the oversized baggage on the plane. Should be a super fun event. We just wish other team members were making the trip with us. This one is going to be up to us to represent the Sayulita JR SUP Team.
Stoked this Father’s Day weekend to watch our kids and all the young racers on the Sayulita JR.SUP Team finish up their season at the Summer SUP Classic. A picture perfect morning in Sayulita to put an exclamation point on the season. Since October we have traveled from Mexico to the west and east coasts of the US to race this year representing Sayulita. It has been an awesome experience for our family and we have met some great SUP people along the way. Super proud of our kids and the success of our team from small town Mexico 🇲🇽! Looking forward to the future!
