Battle of the Paddle

So, we finished the race! And because of a few holdups on our end, that's excitement for us. Here's the scoop:

I did the 4 mile open race on a surfboard, and was happy to come in 4th overall in the womens' division. However, I was just happy to have finished the race! I was super stoked to have had 3 lessons the day before, but 5 hours of paddling in the sun the day before a race probably isn't the smartest training one could do, and I was considering not entering at all. But I was glad I did.

I'm the third person in this photo

Finishing the race

Here's me with my friend Beccy, who happens to also be an instructor for our fitness class (SUP-FIT.com). She came in 1st in the women's stock (race board) race!

Nate's race was the Big Race of the day, with racing boards and "the best of the best" paddlers. It was 5.5 miles in and out of surf in a crazy M shape, and between each of the 3 laps the paddlers were to run through a shoot on the beach before reentering the water.

There were SO many paddlers in this race, too! Check out the video to get a glimpse of how many people there were.

Nate came in smiling his first lap. Then I waited and waited for him to come in on his second lap. He didn't come in. And then the finishers began to come in, and Nate still hadn't come in from his 2nd lap! Where was he?!? Finally, he came in; his board had snapped in half shortly after beginning his 2nd lap! He was deetermined to stay on course, so for the next mile he paddled a wonky board that, with the added water weight, weighed 100lbs!!

When he got in, he ran to find another board, ran through the shoot, then back again for the 3rd lap while all the paddlers finished their race. Nate was out there all alone determined to finish.

I told the girls to watch their daddy -- he'll come in strong anyway. And if you check out the video of his finish, he came in really strong -- and still smiling! He inspires me. He charged harder and longer than any paddler out there, and came in looking more alive than any of the finishers.

Can you hear Kezia cheering her heart out for her daddy?

Somehow in the midst of all that was going on, Grandma the baby whisperer was able to soothe two 2yr olds to sleep. She's amazing like that. (Elysse is on the right; Juliana is a girl that has been staying with us for a few days while her parents vacation)

Kezia and Ivy played and swam the whole day long. They have so much fun together and their fear of the ocean diminishes more and more each time we go.