So, for awhile, Ive wanted to do a LONGGGG race. EJ of JBS Paddles and I had talked about doing the Catalina Challenge. We figured a team of 2, 20 miles each.
After some longer paddles, we thought that maybe we didnt want to do 20 miles apiece. Maybe we wanted 3 teammates. So we enlisted the help of Chris Koener of Capo Beach to help us get it done.
The original plan was for us to each shape a 14’ standup longdistance board and paddle the better one. We dragged our feet and in the meantime, talked to Bill at Stewart Surfboards. He was super into the project and wanted to take a go at it…
Go for it Bill…
So the board… wow. It was crazy, something out of a future film. 15’ x 32" x 8". I dont know alot about the dimensions, nor would I post them if I did, but I do know theres an inch of foam under the feet in the footwells, equipped with self bailing scuppers, an inch and a half of foam throught the bridge deck and the hulls are 8" thick. If you want shaping info, talk to Bill. All I know is a chainsaw was involved. Glassing info, talk to Bill. All I know is it came in under 30 pounds, which I was STOKED on.
It had a fin on the back of each hull and went shit-your-pants quick. In retrospect, it was built for paddling 40 miles in rough, downwind, downswell conditions. As you will see, the Lake Pacific didnt really give it to us. It could have been pulled in all around, but it still went good. Its all experiments at this point. It caught every littel wake or wave thrown its way, I cant imagine good downwind conditions…
I also managed to talk my buddy, pirate Cap’n Dan Smutty into running escort for us.
This is his boat S.V. Vamanos, on the hook at Casino Point in Avalon, Catalina… we were stoked would be the understatement of the century.
So fast forward abit, we’ve all been training, paddling 4-5 days a week, racing on the weekends. EJ cruises down to San Diego and helps Cap’n Dan bring the Vamanos up to Dana Point on friday to pick everyone up and cruise over to Catalina. Saturday morning we load up and motor over. Got over to Avalon about 130, and proceeded to head into town to check it out.
Ive been to Catalina, but it was always diving offshore and Ive never actually been on the island… Its like OZ, except instead of midgets, it has golfcarts everywhere. Even the towtrucks are…
After checking in, scooping up the 65 dollar tshirts, there was a race meeting to cover logistics and the such in the middle of town at 500. I managed to steal EJ’s fuzzy slippers out of his bag and rolled them for the remainder of the evening, he was never the wiser… I think thats why I look miscievious
right to left Cris Stewart, Dan Smutts, Allan Cheateaux, Bill Stewart, Ernie Johnson, and Chris Koener in the blue hat. I dont know who the guy is looking at the camera, but he’s freaking me out.
After the race, we headed to some seafood joint on the boardwalk. Bill Stewart picked up the bill, which was awesome of him. I know I was grinding like there was no tomorrow.
Saturday night saw some light walking around, and crashing out early. oh, and it also saw some rope swinging and boat jumping in the harbor. Usually, you dont swim in harbors, Avalon in pristine. So we jump…
Race start was at 900 for paddleboards, 1000 for women, 1030 for men (all kine paddlecraft). After crusing around for abit looking for the start, Chris snaked up
to the line and the horn blew 30 seconds later.
Everyone on the boat watching the start, big ups to Bill for bringing the bullhorn
We had 4 teams in our division, everyone on a different board design. Its crazy where this is at right now, and where it could head…
The pack stayed close for the first mile or 2, the Kyle and Jim started pulling away. We settled into 2nd and the boys from Malibu into 3rd. Brad was bringing up the rear as the only guy man enough to do it solo… what a badass.
Allan, pulling away
Ej killing it. The guy kept a 5 nautical mile over ground pace for the whole race…
Chris enjoying “Lake Pacific”
All the changes where done from the dinghy being towed behind. Paddle up to whoever is in the boat, guy comes in from behind, you jump in the boat. Bill was manning dinghy switching operations. Everyone stayed dry, and I was ok with that.
Then just standup and paddle away from the boat.
Another sick shot of EJ
We did a change right outside the red turn bouy at the mouth of Dana Harbor. Ej took the board in, we jumped on our boards to paddle across the finish too.
Chris on his 14’ infinity
the boys all together, pulling in.
Rounding the corner to baby beach was cool. Tons of people cheering you on. The finish was anti-climatic.Just tell tem your number and they say good job.
The leader got the standup division record in 6 hour 52 minutes. Good job to Kyle and Jimmy. We took 2nd and 3rd fastest course time at 7 hours 23 minutes.
The after paddle party was hosted by Hennessy’s. They either have the best beer known to man, or I just really wanted one when I got there. I ate a plate of chicken, cheeseburgers, pasta salad, ceasar salad and potatos. Then I went to El torito and fucked up another plate.
2nd place, and damn happy about it.
Big thanks have to go to all the ladies for batboying for us on the boat. The back/neck rubs, forced feeding and watering down was all time
Bill Stewart for making a very interesting board and picking up dinner
Dan Smutts for just being an all around bitchin’ guy, and letting us trash his boat.
The Pacific Ocean for not handing us our asses, I know you are more than capable of doin it.