[Paddlewise] San Juan Challenge (was (un)feathered in the surf)

	This month I will enter the two day San Juan Challenge  Each day the

	recreational classes start an hour before the Men Completive
division .  I 
	try to make it to the half way point before Greg Barton passes me.
He covers 
	in an hour what it takes me  two hours to paddle. Must be the -----
paddle.

I am also going to be in the San Juan challenge (assuming a nagging
over-training injury don't cause me to pull out at the last minute).   I
hope you and any other Paddlewisers will introduce yourselves to me.  I'll
be easy to spot.  I'm a fat bearded fellow with a blue, kevlar Seda Glider
named Zorba (I removed all the Seda stickers so all you see is the boat's
name).  I'll also stand out 'cause I have the only Unfeathered wing paddles
in the world!

I love the San Juan Challenge. It attracts the best distance racers in the
pacific northwest.  What's even better, is they give the non-surf ski crowd
a one hour head start on the Greg Bartons of the world.  Because of this, I
can say that I beat Greg Barton on day one of the San Juan Challenge --- as
long as you don't worry about the fact that I had a one hour head start!

But seriously, I urge those of you who don't race to try it some time.  I
can't emphasize how valuable it is to watch a true master like Greg Barton
in action.  He has a smooth, slow stroke that just whips him along at speeds
I can only dream of (5:28 at the 1998 SJC). He makes it look so easy.  What
surprises me is how well Shane Baker (the second fastest man on the course
in 1998) does with a very different, higher cadence stroke. While Greg looks
like he's out on an afternoon joy ride, Shane looks like he's paddling for
all he's worth.  But Shane's stoke works very well.  His time of 5:51 last
year is impressive no matter how you look at it, but when you add in the
fact that Shane is one of the older people on the course, its even more
impressive.  

Shane is an inspiration to an aging speed freak like me.  If Shane can blow
away the competition at his age, there is hope for me yet.

--Tim 

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Tomckayak_at_aol.com [SMTP:Tomckayak_at_aol.com]
> Sent:	Monday, May 03, 1999 9:49 PM
> To:	foxhill_at_shore.intercom.net; paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Subject:	Re: [Paddlewise] (un)Feathered paddles in surf
> 
> In a message dated 5/3/99 6:51:50 PM EST, foxhill_at_shore.intercom.net
> writes:
> 
> << im wrote
>  
>  > 
>  I use an unfeathered paddle.  I have never met another unfeathered
> paddler
>  who races.  If there are any of you out there, I'd love to hear from you.
>  
>  I suffer considerable teasing about my choice of an unfeathered paddle
>  
>  <snip>
>  ------------ >>
> Feathered paddlers seem to have a need to justify their choice. I could 
> happily paddle for the next ten year and never talk feathered/unfeathered.
> 
> 
> This month I will enter the two day San Juan Challenge  Each day the 
> recreational classes start an hour before the Men Completive division .  I
> 
> try to make it to the half way point before Greg Barton passes me. He
> covers 
> in an hour what it takes me  two hours to paddle. Must be the -----
> paddle.
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