Immersion Research 2010

Aloha Gang,

Howzit Y’all, Kainoa reporting back on beautiful Oahu. Well, it’s nice to be home from a two week travel extravaganza. I recently finished 4th overall and 1st. in my division at the Hennessey race in San Francisco. This race was incredible as it was a 6 mile long race around the famed Alcatraz Island. What a spectacle to paddle so close to the island. One of the really cool aspects of the race is that all the participants were in jerseys that had black and white stripes that looked like prison wear. This was insane as it must of looked really classic. As a young kid I’ve watched many documentaries pertaining to Alcatraz and the fact that it was assumed to be inescapable due to the currents surrounding the island. This was all the knowledge I had to prep me for the race. I could have done my research as I usually do with GPS and weather sites like NOAA, but I opted not to just to the race more interesting. Sure enough, the race was a blast! The boats and other crafts in the busy bay create moderately turbulent waters. This is a result of the boats wake hitting the shore line or the jetties and causing this reverb effect. This worked to my advantage at times of the race as I applied my down wind knowledge to catching these little “Bumps”(a term use in down wind racing, meaning open ocean swell created by the wind) which would carry me for about 5-10yrds at a time. As I headed towards Alcatraz I decided to take a very close line, and this brought me to about 10 feet from the island the whole way around. It was Killer to see Alcatraz this close it’s a monstrosity!! Now, paddling away from the island and heading for the finish line was a whole other story. The famous current finally showed itself on the way into shore. As there where a few people in front of me I was able to determine which direction the current was going and adjust my course. This paid off in the end as I was neck and neck with another competitor(Dan Gavere) and in choosing the right line due to the current seemed to have meant everything as I pulled away and put a 10 second gap on him by the finish. The guys at Hennessey put on a really great race and lots of prize money and great food and I look forward to next years event.
Following the Hennnessey event I traveled down to San Diego, bound for Dana Point and the Battle Of The Paddle race. This was “the most insane race” I’d ever done!!(Bar none) Sparky and Jerry Lopez surely out did themselves with this years event. I can’t wait for next year and my strategy this coming 2010 will be to train the whole year around. I can’t even begin to summarize this past Battle Of The Paddle because no matter what I try to get across it just won’t due the event justice, so go to http://vimeo.com/soulsurfmedia, or http:vimeo.com/6899550 to get a peak at the carnage that was displayed.
As for me the country(north shore Oahu) has been firing lately and early in the season so hopefully this is an indication for a super sick winter. I’ll be in touch and will have great stories to tell coming soon. Malama Pono(take care) for now and Aloha.

P.S.
Thanks to Werner Paddles and all my sponsors for the support and for believing in me.

Malama
Kainoa Beaupre