This weekend was the US SUrfski Champs in SanFrancisco. Nix and I have been having a blast here in California and the race was just another wonderful experience.

We've been staying in Carter Jonson's houseboat in the Sausalito area. He's doing some crazy race in the Amazon but generously offered his place to all the stray Saffas. Me, Nix, Steve Woods, Hank the Spank stayed here, as well as Texas Tommy, one of Carter's extreme distance paddling cronies.

Over the 3 days we did a clinic on the Friday before the race, then we did the singles race on Saturday and then the doubles race and relay race on the Sunday. It was great fun especially with all the effort that the organisers had put in. They were uber dedicated to making the race a succes and made sure that the course was well designed and clear to everyone; there was ample facilites near the start/finish; we were extremely well catered for (incl brekkie brunch and coffee every morning and a superb lunch afterwards plus snacks all day long).

The paddlers here in the States are completely amped on surfski and it showed all weekend long. You can't get these guys and gals down; they are passionate about it. With all their energy going into surfski the sport is sure to keep growing.

The racing was tough and fun all at once. THere are some great race reports and photos on www.surfski.info. Go and check it out.

We are cruisig the California coast over the next 2 days before heading to Chicago in Wednesday.

Later skaters