Drama and excitement in the SUP 11 city tour

Yesterday disaster struck when after being 9 minutes ahead Xavi and I missed a turn and paddled 9 km extra. Today was decided that the extra time will be cut in half, which leaves us with a 21 min. penalty.
Today was a new race with new changes. We had the same racers in the lead, Erwin, Xavi and I and Bellard following. Since we had to make up time we went hard and sprinted away from Erwin just before the half way break. When Xavi and I came to Franeker we sprinted to thee finish again. A long 1.5 km sprint where Xavi took off , I caught up , Xavi almost got caught in fishing line, I got the inside curve and took over and finished just ahead of Xavi. A hard long day. Erwin came in 9 min later followed by Bellard from Spain. Jenny Kalbach came in first in the women division just ahead of her friend Karen. Two more days and this 220 km race is over. Tomorrow they call for head wind, another grueling day in Frysland.
Aloha from Holland
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The 220 km 11 city race is on

Day 1
Today was the start of 11 city tour. A five day race. We started at 9:00. A few racers from last year returned and many new competitors. The maximum length for the sup boards is 16 foot. I race on the Starboard K15, made for flatwater racing.
Like last year every body sprinted away at the start. With 45 km to go. Soon we had Xavier Mazdevall from Spain, Erwin Jansen from Holland and me at the front. After 15 minute break Xavi and I took off and battled each other for hours. In the end 1 km from the finish we were still together. We decided to sprint for the finish the last 500 meters. At that piont we were allready very tired. At the finish I could the race for me with xavi right behind finish time was 4hrs and 55min. Erwin came in 3rd 7 min later. After a good massage we have to eat a lot to make up for everything lost today. Day 2. Starts tomorrow at 9:00.

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Sup World cup Hamburg II

This event takes place in the middle of Hamburg in the habour.
We started the sprint final at 12.00. Paul from Australia, Xavier Masdevall from Spain, Eric Terrien from France, Jerry Bliss from Hawaii, John Hibert from the UK, and me. The sprint is lap of 1km around 2 bouys.
Here in Hamburg I have been using a 14' NEW Starboard, it is fast but I had to adjust my turns because with these board you can't step back. So you turn solely around your paddle.

At the start Eric took off and took the lead. I was fourth, then third , and then second at the first bouy. I thought this was going great. When I went around the bouy with someone hit me hard on the tail which threw me of my board. Before I was on my board again I was in fifth place and very angry. At the second bouy I caught up with the 4th. I gave everything until the finish but I was one board length shy of John Hibert who came in 3rd. Eric 1st and Xavi 2nd.
For the long distance 14ft race, I only had a 12'6 to my disposal. So I knew I didn't stand a change against all the 14 footers. But I tried anyway. In the mean time there were a lot of spectators lined up , a big crowd, all cheering on.
After 10 km it was Eric again in 1st, Paul in 2nd and Jerry in 3rd. I came in 10th.
In all ,a great event. But I leave with mixed feelings. In 2 days we start the 11~city tour in Holland. I will post some pictures later today.
Aloha
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Sup World Cup Hamburg

After many hours of flying, finally in the Netherlands. The next day Xavi Mazdeval , met me to go to Hamburg, Germany for the Sup world cup. more than 150 amateurs and 50 pros. On the first day we had 2 rounds of qualifying. Today we will have the final. I came though the rounds of the sprints and we have 6 in the final. To see what it's like check www.supworldcup.com . The weather is windy , rainy and rather cold. I check back later with more sup action and results. Aloha from brrr Gemany
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OLUKAI Stand Up race 2010

The RACE was on a again.
More competitors than ever and good conditions this year.
After a short but nice ceremony we all went on the water and lined up for the start.

I got a F14 from Connor Baxter the day before the race, a fast board but the conditions weren't fitting for this board and I had not enough practise on this rudder board. I fell of 5 times and couldn't get the glides. I am still disappointed about my result. But I am happy for Connor 4th and Livio 1st, their hard work paid off.

Two helicopters and and more than 200 racers

Just after the start the F14 F16 and F18 pull away from the rest of the field.

Livio came in after 53.36 minutes. First ever win for him, well earned.

Happy Livio.

Andrea got first in the women's Elite

I came in 15th in the Elite.

DAKINE

From left top right Ive, Me, Allen, Jeremy, Jack, Mark and Livio

Connor 15 yrs old, got 4 th place and did very well.

The Butterfly Effect

More than 100 women participated this year in the 4th Butterfly Effect. Organized by Tatiana Howard. An event only for women. Windsurfing, Kite Surfing but most came with their Stand Up Paddle board. This year a little more challenging than the last years because of the waves. Meeting point was Hookipa where big sets came rolling in. After a welcome greeting, releasing of the butterflies and stretching it was decided to go to Sprecks and start there.


Starboard Butterfly Girls


Start in Sprecks

Butterflies...

Meeting in Hookipa

Coming around Camp One

Dagmar passing the Helicopter

Stretching in Hookipa

Releasing the Butterflies

Laura on of the few brave ones on her wave board

Peahi (JAWS) March 30 2010

I have waited a long time for this day. Finally, march 30 was the day. A super late in the season big swell. I called my tow partner Cyrus the evening before if he was ready to go to JAWS to go windsurfing. Cyrus always is. The swell looked big enough and the wind had been super strong the last couple of days.

Cyrus and I met in the morning in Maliko, together with my long time friend, Diony his Tow partner Juan, and Jeff, HOT sails owner and photographer today. We strapped everything on the Ski and the sled and launched. The way up there was heavy, we arrived in Peahi after 30 minutes, cold stiff and red eyes from all the water we got in our faces.

We were the first. I rigged up and tried to position myself in the line up. By the time Diony got to the scene I was dialed in and had my first waves. I used a Smack 4.8 and a quad 76 which is a little big for these conditions but I know the board well and I felt good on it.

Anita Harris http://www.anitaharris.com/ and Dave Martyn took all these shot from the cliff, a big thank you to them.

One of my first waves , woooaa haaa

The speed on the wave is amazing

Diony Guadagnino

Diony in the pocket