New Adventures.

It’s hard to believe that April has come and gone.  We spent the past 8 months planning and dreaming about standup paddling across the Hawaiian Islands, and now that it is over, it is time to set sights on what is next.

I learned throughout this experience that racing is not necessarily my favorite thing.  I like to be a part of the community and I like going to the events, but what I really like is being out on the ocean.  I love the fact that each time on the water is different, and how each paddle is a learning experience.  Above everything else though, I appreciate the challenges that the ocean has to offer.

As part of my ongoing effort to learn the ocean and to find new ways to challenge myself, I am going to switch gears for a bit and learn to prone paddle.  I tried to get into paddleboarding a few years ago with my friend Jess.  We quickly learned that it isn’t as easy as it looks, and that if all else fails, a Jolly Rancher will get you through any hard times (something I tested and confirmed in the Kauai channel).  When Jess went home to Australia and I switched to standup paddling, our two prone paddleboards sat neglected on the racks.

yikes.

Now that our one adventure is finished, it’s time to start the next one.  I have had my new BARK paddleboard now for about an hour, and it has already been an experience.  Getting the board from the shipping place to Wet Feet where I unpacked it was not the easiest thing I have ever done.  The shipping guys helped me strap the board to my truck (which I had doubts about, but I went with it), and on the way to work today I was pointed and laughed at by an engine full of firefighters, a group of surfers, and looked at in horror by anyone who had the misfortune of having to drive behind me.

Anyway, I am looking forward to this next thing. If any of you prone paddling people have any tips for me, please don’t hesitate to let me know, I have a feeling I will need all the help I can get =).

ps. Jess, get back here. I need a training buddy.