Treasure Island Classic
2012 Treasure Island Classic
This year's race even more fun. We raced during Hurricane Sandy which was heading up the eastern seaboard. The waves on the gulf side of the island were really kicked up with 3-4 foot breakers in John's Pass. The race organizer decided on race day to offer 2 options to paddlers. Instead of circumnavigating the island as in previous years, we were offered 2 courses. One would take the usual route around the island and the other would race back and forth between bridges in the intercoastal side. The participation was far less this year. Kyle Reid, the record holder, split his surfski in half the day before on the east coast so he was absent. Many paddlers decided it was still too rough. Some test paddled the course and packed it up. Only a handful of paddlers attempted the courses. Rob and Karen paddled the outside course and the rest of us paddled the intercoastal route. I figured that would be the safest route due to no chase boats or police boat escorts. It was a great race. I felt extremely stable compared to the year before. Last year I paddled an Epic without a wing paddle. Bad error as this caused instability. This year, I used a Fenn 3 paddle and never felt unstable at any point in the race. Overall it was a very good race for everyone. The organizer changed the inside race course twice without telling everyone so I lost some time taking the older route but quickly realized and joined the pack. Definitely one of the better places to race in Florida. I took 2nd place in Mens Master this year.
2011 Treasure Island Classic
Treasure Island Florida USA http://clearwatercanoeclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Treasure-Classic-20111.jpg I took a month off moving my house... Never take that much time off! Ugggh. I got back to it paddling against an incoming tide. I felt like I was dragging my purse around big time. For the record, I don't really carry a purse... Just an expression. At one point attempting a sprint, I told my training partner that I got my purse caught on a marker. Horrible first training but got back into the water the second day and was very strong but tended to use bad form. I need to get this all straight before the race, back to my good form. (Monday before the race) I rode several good waves and paddled the swells off Madeira Beach. I think I am prepared now for swells vs chop. (Wednesday) Wind 16-25 mph small craft advisory lets paddle. Training in these conditions, I will really be ready for whatever is thrown at me on race day. (Race day) Wow the weather is perfect. The clouds have totally gone and it is very sunny with only 10mph winds. Perfectly smooth for racing. (After race) Wow this was a great race. We raced south down the beach to Blind Pass and into the intercoastal. The water was so smooth. I gained alot of time passing people and some drafting off me. There were 2 washing machine wave areas which gave a little challenge. We traveled under several bridges and out into John's Pass. This pass was deep and had the most washing machine type waves. We traveled under the Treasure Island Bridge and around the tip of the island. That is where I caught a small wave with great pull that must have carried me 1000 feet. I finished strong. I kept a good pace and felt good about it. I guess I was more ready than I thought. My diet was definitely correct and hydration was right on. I don't carry water on my boat so it was really important that I had enough in me. Reid, an Olympian and strong paddler, took 1st place with a new island record at 56 minutes in his Stellar. I took 4th in the Mens Masters Division at 1:23:20. This was one of the best race courses and the buffet afterward was worth all the hard work. I definitely suggest this race. It is the best race course locally. Also for those with outriggers or SUPs, this was a huge race with world competitors. I am definitely going again next year. See you there in 2012! 
This year's race even more fun. We raced during Hurricane Sandy which was heading up the eastern seaboard. The waves on the gulf side of the island were really kicked up with 3-4 foot breakers in John's Pass. The race organizer decided on race day to offer 2 options to paddlers. Instead of circumnavigating the island as in previous years, we were offered 2 courses. One would take the usual route around the island and the other would race back and forth between bridges in the intercoastal side. The participation was far less this year. Kyle Reid, the record holder, split his surfski in half the day before on the east coast so he was absent. Many paddlers decided it was still too rough. Some test paddled the course and packed it up. Only a handful of paddlers attempted the courses. Rob and Karen paddled the outside course and the rest of us paddled the intercoastal route. I figured that would be the safest route due to no chase boats or police boat escorts. It was a great race. I felt extremely stable compared to the year before. Last year I paddled an Epic without a wing paddle. Bad error as this caused instability. This year, I used a Fenn 3 paddle and never felt unstable at any point in the race. Overall it was a very good race for everyone. The organizer changed the inside race course twice without telling everyone so I lost some time taking the older route but quickly realized and joined the pack. Definitely one of the better places to race in Florida. I took 2nd place in Mens Master this year.
2011 Treasure Island Classic
Treasure Island Florida USA http://clearwatercanoeclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Treasure-Classic-20111.jpg I took a month off moving my house... Never take that much time off! Ugggh. I got back to it paddling against an incoming tide. I felt like I was dragging my purse around big time. For the record, I don't really carry a purse... Just an expression. At one point attempting a sprint, I told my training partner that I got my purse caught on a marker. Horrible first training but got back into the water the second day and was very strong but tended to use bad form. I need to get this all straight before the race, back to my good form. (Monday before the race) I rode several good waves and paddled the swells off Madeira Beach. I think I am prepared now for swells vs chop. (Wednesday) Wind 16-25 mph small craft advisory lets paddle. Training in these conditions, I will really be ready for whatever is thrown at me on race day. (Race day) Wow the weather is perfect. The clouds have totally gone and it is very sunny with only 10mph winds. Perfectly smooth for racing. (After race) Wow this was a great race. We raced south down the beach to Blind Pass and into the intercoastal. The water was so smooth. I gained alot of time passing people and some drafting off me. There were 2 washing machine wave areas which gave a little challenge. We traveled under several bridges and out into John's Pass. This pass was deep and had the most washing machine type waves. We traveled under the Treasure Island Bridge and around the tip of the island. That is where I caught a small wave with great pull that must have carried me 1000 feet. I finished strong. I kept a good pace and felt good about it. I guess I was more ready than I thought. My diet was definitely correct and hydration was right on. I don't carry water on my boat so it was really important that I had enough in me. Reid, an Olympian and strong paddler, took 1st place with a new island record at 56 minutes in his Stellar. I took 4th in the Mens Masters Division at 1:23:20. This was one of the best race courses and the buffet afterward was worth all the hard work. I definitely suggest this race. It is the best race course locally. Also for those with outriggers or SUPs, this was a huge race with world competitors. I am definitely going again next year. See you there in 2012!
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