Length of the Lake report by Gareth Tudor-Jones
Posted by Gary C on October 12, 2009
A few surf ski paddlers took part in the “Length of the Lake” race which takes place on the Okanagan Lake from Vernon to Penticton.
The race is a mixed event from outrigger OC1, 2 and 6, to single ski, double ski. Paddlers can paddle solo or in a team. Teams can be done in an alternate skip or one paddler per leg. There are five legs. Total distance 100km.
From a surf ski perspective there were two solo single entrants viz Derek Cook, and Keith Major. There was a double surf ski team of Rievers / Larry and their team buddies of (sorry can’t remember their names – maybe Mike/Rick !!??). There was a singles team of two paddlers from Nelson ….names ??Actually the reason this report is late was so that I could catch up with the names of the paddlers on the results – but the results are quite inconclusive. Any way then there was the singles team of five paddlers of who were myself, Matt Nuttall, Bill Harford, Jerome Truran and Neville Mayton.
A total 25 teams started the race. Due to the strong headwinds that blew for most of the course only 12 teams finished! This race is typically a down wind event and the forecast the night before was supposed to be a down winder ….but it wasn’t to be.
Leading from the start was the doubles team of Larry and Rievers. They paddled leg 1,3,and 5. They were followed my the mixed bag of outriggers and our first paddler of the leg who was Bill. Following Bill was Matt who had a great paddle and caught up a few places. After the second leg the doubles team were still ahead. I then paddled the third leg from Bear creek to Peachland. From my perspective things looked quite daunting. As you stand on the bank and wait for your team paddlers to arrive you look out and see the route ahead…a full on head wind with 2 to 3 foot chop….and 24km to go! All I was really concerned about were the solo paddlers of Derek and Keith.
Anyway after much of the grind and passing a few more boats I passed over to Jerome who paddled the fourth leg. He started at a blistering pace into the headwind and after about half an hour after turning at Squally point found himself in a nice comfortable tailwind position. He caught up another position. Our last and final leg was paddled by Neville who also took off like a lightning bolt and managed to maintain our position to the end.
So the first boat in was the doubles team of Larry/Rievers and X/X. Our team was second, and was then followed up by 10 other teams that managed to finish. All in all a great race. It was nice to paddle in a warm clean lake with some awesome surroundings. The team format made it interesting and I could only imagine how much more interesting it would have been if we were able to round up another singles surf ski team or two.
Anyway, I’m leaving the best for last. To me the most inspiring performance of all the paddlers was Derek Cook from Nanaimo. His mission was to paddle the entire race solo in his single ski. I remember waking up on race day and thinking this is going to be a tough one for Derek and Keith. As the day progressed it got more and more windy. I was waiting my turn at the start of the third leg. Derek was ahead of out team. I went down and helped him with his boat while he got refreshments. In speaking to him I was amazed at his determination. Everything was against him. The wind was stiff and it had been a solid grind so far. Up ahead like I said before it looked bleak. Yet he was going for it with a die hard attitude. I haven’t seen this kind mental strength in a long time. Anyway he took off and about ten minutes later I was on my way. I caught up to Derek just before the bridge and he was still steady making good progress and still determined. It was rough out there. We had a quick chat and I wished him luck knowing deep down in theses conditions his cause was futile…..but you never know. It so happened that he made it to the end of the third leg (65km) but was told by race officials to retire because of time restrictions. A brave and valiant effort – had conditions been favourable there was no doubt in my mind that he would have completed the race.
Another thought on the race after taking part in it was just how well Jeff and Katia had done last year in this race. Not only did they complete the entire race – they were the overall winners too – and like I say one only really appreciates their effort when you see for yourself what it is all about.”
On a different note: just a heads up that the Bridges Outy race takes place next weekend on the 18th at 1pm. Get down to Victoria this is a fun race of about 10 to 12km. We start in the Gorge and head out the harbour where it could be interesting and then head back in to the Gorge. See you buggers there!
