My new ride.

Last week was spring break for us. We went to Kona on Monday for the kids' orthodontist appointment, then stopped at Costco and Polynesian Paddling Products (P3). P3 had a bunch of oc1's in. New Storm is super-light and seamless, but noone's tried it yet. They had a white Scorpius XM for $3300 and it comes with a bag. Made in China, not Hawaii.

Tuesday during practice I saw Eric Hagiwara and borrowed his XM to try. I liked it. Previously, Kerry and I switched boats for about an hour run--he used my Maa Afi and I used his Pueo. Didn't notice difference at first but when we turned around to come back we had wind and waves pushing us and I was much faster because it was easier to get on bumps, particularly to stay on and catch small ones.

Anyway, I was looking for a similar feel and Eric's boat seemed to have it.

So Wednesday I drove over to Kona with the Highlander and got the XM. I've been using it since then and like it a lot, but still not able to catch Kerry or Tim on their Pueo's. Much more due to paddler than boats, but I do think the XM is able to get and stay on the small bumps better than the Maa Afi.

The Molokai Hoe (Oct 10, I'm finally posting now) was great. It was windy the days leading up to the race and the prediction for race day was for 18-22 mph winds. That prediction was about right and made the toughest part of the race getting in and out of the escort boat. The Kioloa was a beautiful escort boat and the crew were great. With the winds and waves, though, the boat was getting bounced around pretty good and the ladder was narrow. I fell off the ladder at least a couple of times. Once we got into the lee of Oahu the seas calmed and we got in a race with, and passed, another boat. Definitely one of the great experiences of my life. Picture from James McKeague.

The Molokai Hoe was on October 10. We got there Thursday the 7th and stayed until race day (Sunday) in a real nice house Al rented for us. Our landlords the Davis's brought us breakfast and dinner every day we were there, and they let us use their truck. We shared the house with Aka Hemmings and members of his Pure Light crew. They were all really nice and fun people.

We rigged on Thursday. It took hours because we rerigged once because there was some mixup between the short and long cords, and then had to derig and rerig the entire ama and iakos because the front and rear iakos were mixed up. That stuff's gotta be right.

The night before the race we met with the escort boat crew and Mike Spalding.

Another pic from Jane's race.

Here's a picture from the last race: Jane's race was held on 9/11/2010 and went from Anaehoomalu Bay to Keauhou (32 miles). I'm sitting in seat 5.

New boat and long distance season

Wow it's been a while. I got a new boat @ the end of June, a Maa Afi from Papu Williams of Pineula Vaa and I love it. The Huki is fine inside the breakwater and is as good there as the Maa Afi, but outside in the waves the Maa Afi is much better at going through the bumps and especially riding the bumps. The seat is lower and more forward and I think that really helps in bumpy water. Anyway, now it's October, we've done 4 long distance races (6-man canoe), and this weekend is the big one--the Molokai Hoe (October 10).

counting calories

Pulled a muscle @ lower right side rib last Saturday (3/20/10) and haven't paddled or done any exercise since Sunday. Really hurts and sleeping's difficult.

Anyway, I was 220 in June 2009 when I started paddling, and I am between 202 and 205 these days. I'm paddling 4-6X/wk, my muscles are built up and I feel fit, but my weight is still high. I have to modify my diet now if I want to lose any more weight.

One reason is Eckhart just posted something about being overweight being bad for your heart (that got me off my ass because of our John Myles experience), and second I entered a race and didn't do all that well. I'm a beginner but every extra pound makes the boat sit lower and results in more drag. I'd have to buy a new all-carbon boat (~$4000) to lose 5 boat pounds but I have at least 20 fat pounds to give. I like this fatsecret thing; it's easy to enter food and weight, and there is an app so I can enter stuff on my phone.

We'll see.