New: Southeast Point Series

Hi guys,

I've recently discovered the new Southeast Region Paddlesport Championship Series.  As a response to the paddling series happening in the Northeast (www.nesurfski.net) a couple of the best race organizers, John and Rick, have put together a point series for all of those water lovers and crazy paddlers living in the southern states.  If you're in the area, come checkout some of the up coming races.  I've been to 2 so far and both have been great events with awesome people.  Great job to everybody at the Charleston Patriot Challenge and the River City Challenge.  Special thanks to EpicKayaks for everything they do in support of these races!

http://www.paddlebender.net/id17.html

Each Stroke, Each Wave

In sprint, winners are those who miss the fewest strokes.  Each stroke must be perfectly positioned, strongly executed, and quickly exited to move onto the subsequent stroke. As a racer gets tired, he might blow a stroke or find himself using less than perfect technique.  In such a small race as a sprint, each stroke matters.

In comparison: on the ocean, in a down-winder, we say that the person who wins is the person who misses the fewest waves.  We know that each small swell heading with us is something to gain lift and speed from.  The best of the best ocean paddlers can pick up each bump, ride it to the next, and jump over to the new front face.  In longer races, we do well by keeping our speed as fast as possible through picking up the force of each swell.  In such competitive fields as some of the top races like Molokai, each wave matters.