Nationals on the Skagit.

Rich and I placed 2nd Overall in C-2 at Wildwater Nationals, 2nd in the sprints, and 1st in the Classic. The Classic was our best performance yet. 9.96% off the Men's Kayak winning time. This is the fastest C-2 percentage at a Nationals in at least 10 years.

On Saturday, we had an "eddie out" in the first of two runs in the Sprints. On Sunday in the Classic, we won the class by 27 seconds in a 13 minute race. It was not enough to overcome the percentage deficit from the sprint.

The Popp brothers had fast (12% off the M K-1), consistent sprint runs. We were truly impressed by these runs. We are also very happy to see some youth in the class. The guys are very solid in the big whitewater of the Skagit.

Local Exposure

The Bellingham Herald gave us some great coverage.

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/07/29/1548161/bellingham-duo-look-to-defend.html

Last few days before Skagit Nationals

Rich and I are tapering for the races this weekend. We paddled last Saturday with the river at almost 7000 cfs, and again today at 6300. We are getting a little bounced around, but mostly staying on our lines. Our practice times are a little slower that Tom Wier's, but not much. Paddler's from Georgia, Pennsylvania, California and West Virgina have arrived. It is starting to feel like a National Championship!

High Water Skagit Runs

Today, Tom Wier, Greg Dutton, Rich and I ran the Skagit "S" Bends, the site of the 2010 Wildwater Nationals course at very high water. It was about 8,500 cfs. The probable flow in 3 weeks for Nationals should be about 3000. The run was fast, wild, pushy and fun! The wave trains on the first two drops had high peaks with many diagonal curlers coming off them. We did a few redirects when the boat was on the crest. It was good to get on the course when it was most challenging. This builds confidence for our future runs at normal (2700-4000) water levels. Only three more weeks. We will do some class II work outs on the Nooksack, and some 1000 meter work outs in the next few days.

June 1000m Time Trial

Rich and I pulled a 5 minute 20 second 1000 meter time trial today. It is within 8 seconds or 2.6 % of our personal best which was set last year. The boat felt smooth and fast. We are feeling fairly healthy. I have a few issues with my left knee, but other than that, all looks well going into the last 5 weeks to Nationals.

Mike

June 9th: Two 1000m time trials. First 5m43s, second 5m30s. PB: 5m12s. Seven and a half weeks until Nationals. Time and room to improve, hone, get faster and smoother.

June 18th: Run down the North Fork of Nooksack Canyon in the end hole C-2. Great fun, good workout.

June 20th: Three 1000 meter time trials in wind and waves.
First 5m 50s
Second 5m 50s
Last 5 min 47s

We will try to get a low wind trial this week before Rich leaves town to see where we are at in the speed department.

Parenting and Paddling

I thought that parenting and wildwater paddling wouldn't be that hard a juggling act. Well, it isn't. That is, if your priorities are clear. Rich and I are sitting out the NW Wildwater championship at Salmon la Sac this weekend. Both my 2 and 1/2 year old and 7 month old children are sick. I was really looking forward to the races, seeing old friends and playing music around the campfire. When it came time to decide not to go to the race, it was surprisingly easy. Rich totally supported the decision too. It is nice when you and your C-2 partner can agree on the same routes down rapids and life. Thanks again Rich.

Mike

Sights on Nationals

With a little bit of warmth in the air, Rich and I have got some decent flatwater workouts in. Last month, Rich had been down on the Salt River for a kayak/camping trip and I nursed my sciatic back. I am about 80% on the back mobility, and Rich is in great form from living out of a kayak for a few weeks.

We had to put the families first this year, so the World Championships in Sort, Spain are out. Rich's daughter graduates from high school the same day as his son graduates from college. This is also the same day as the World Championships. I am also needed at home to chase my 2 1/2 year old son, Noah and spoil my 6 month old daughter, Camille.

With the international scene out of mind, the National Championships on the Skagit are our focus, to paddle, and to organize. We are truly stoked to help put the race on, and to paddle in it!

Mike

C boat Paddling Machine

We have been using a paddling machine this winter that Mike built for inside workouts. This paddling machine is for resistance training of the same muscle groups you would use in paddling a slalom or wildwater C-1 or C-2. It differs from most paddling machines in several ways. The first way it differs is that you move, not a flywheel. You have to drive the “boat’. You have to overcome inertia every stroke. It is a good tool for working on starts, sprints or reaccelerating the boat. Another way that it differs from paddling machine is it is quite high resistance. When set at the higher level, a set of 50 x 3 is a tough workout. We like the idea that the weight you are lifting (your body) is building the muscles that directly transfer to making the boat, on the water, go faster.