"DNS"

The Return to the Pier will be my first DNF (Did Not Finish) next to my name on a race results list.  So sad... it should really say DNS (Did Not Start).  I was forewarned by a few experienced SUPers about how gnarly the conditions were going to be but I was determined not to be swayed.  I had already made the decision to register, took the day off and was already in Hermosa Beach.  I had to give it a try.

This photo I took on the pier after laying my board on the sand and
running to the car and back for the camera.
 It actually had calmed down a bit.  

The swells were big, choppy, unpredictable and just random.  The surf seemed to be coming from all directions.  I decided to skip the pre-race meeting at 5:30pm so I could have more time to get out past the surf.  I knew I'd need it.  The race start time was 6pm.  I attempted three times and was not successful.  I was so close on the third attempt, only having to pass the last swell heading into the impact zone.  I really thought I had it but in an instant, a wall of water was in front of me about to break.  I did my best to paddle hard and leaned forward as much as I could to try and break through.  I even held on to the sides of my board hoping we'd be together on the other side as the wave started to form.  Needless to say, my board flew straight up out of my arms (have pretty bruises on the inside of my arms to prove it).  At that point, my determination and motivation was dwindling.  Before I knew it, the horn blew and I was still on the sand.  I wasn't the only one.  There were quite a number of both prone and SUP paddlers left on the beach.

Here's my SUP friend, Paul finishing the race.  Check out the boat
to give you an idea on how big the swells were.

Coco, who won first place in the Women's SUP division, approached me after the race.  She basically told me not to be let down by it because it happened to her last year.  (And she was one of the ones that forewarned me about the conditions before the race!)  Coco has inspired me since the the time I watched my first SUP race, the Chainsaw Massacre.  Thanks for the pep talk girl...  but it was still frustrating and heart-breaking not to be out there.

Post-race party at Hennessey's- the reason we race... for the celebration!!
Then there was an after-party at Gene's new surf shop...  fun day.

You're Cordially Invited...

If you're in town and need something to do this afternoon, please come and support our fundraising event.  My daughter and I have been fundraising for HOKISA, (HOme for Kids In South Africa) an orphanage located outside of Cape Town, for the past 4 years.  All of these children are affected with HIV/AIDS. 

Today we are screening a South African movie called Themba- A Boy Called Hope.  It is a story about a typical SA boy and the hardships he must endure to reach his dream of becoming a soccer player.  I promise that the movie will be worth your while.  It has received many awards abroad and at a New York International Film Festival.  The story is written by the co-founder for HOKISA.   (http://www.thembathemovie.com/)

Please join us at the RUTH CHAPMAN PERFORMING ART CENTER, located at Eastlake High School.  Short presentation starts at 5:30pm, movie starts promptly at 6:00pm.  It's only a $10 donation and ALL of your donations will go to HOKISA. 

My daughter and I will be heading to South Africa next month to visit the children of HOKISA and then go on a surf journey through the East Cape, West Cape and Wild Coast.

Thanks for the support!

2 Seconds of Fame

Don't blink or you might miss me!  This video is from supconnect.com taken at the Moonlight Beach Race.  They show me finishing the race at about 45 seconds into the video. 

First in the Series

I decided this morning to compete in the entire Hennessey's Series.  So what does this mean?






First, I had to take tomorrow off from work because the first in the series is the Return to the Pier race in Hermosa Beach.  It's a late afternoon race so I'm curious to see how the conditions will be... windy and choppy?  Also, I'm not familiar with the surf in Hermosa Beach so I hope it's not too difficult to get inside.  


The second race in the series is the Hobie Waterman's Challenge next weekend.  I've already sent in registration for the 6-mile "pro" race.  This race involves cash prizes... woo hoo!  And that means there will be some hungry competitors... hungry to win!


The third race is the South Bay Dozen in Torrance.  I lived in LA for about 5 years and I can't even remember going to Torrance Beach.  There is a beach there?  I always thought it was just Redondo Beach.  This will be my last race before I head out to South Africa for our visit to an orphanage my daughter and I fundraise for and a surf trip.


When we return from SA, I'll have plenty of time to train for the Hennessey's World Championships in Hermosa Beach.  This will mark my ONE year anniversary with SUP racing!  

He's the Man

Gerry Lopez... the title says it all.  He makes big wave surfing look so effortless.  I can't wait to run into him again at the Battle of the Paddle in Dana Point this year!  

I Did It!

Loving this moment.

What an overwhelming sense of accomplishment I felt as I passed through that finish line.  I had to sit for a while in the water to take it all in.  Plus, I was just too exhausted and had to take a breather!  I DID IT!  Friends asked me at the Moonlight Beach Race if I'd do the Loop and I responded, "Yeah, right.  I can barely do 6 miles!"  And honestly, I didn't think I would do it.  It wasn't a question I considered.  Soon after the Moonlight Race I decided to DO the Coronado Loop.  Not to win it because we all know that wasn't going to happen.  (Only ONE SUP division with men and women!  And stock vs 14' and up?You need to change that Dan.)  I wanted to...  I needed to complete this race for ME.  My perspective on racing was going downhill.  I needed to gain back the feeling of accomplishment from just being in a race and have some FUN.  No matter how tired I was, it was FUN walking on that beach after the LONG 12 miles because everyone there knew how tough it was.  My goal-- to finish.  All positive thoughts is what I kept telling myself during and after my race.  I was going to keep to my word from my last post.  I wasn't going to let my mind be the downfall of this race. 

I was the last one in the water but no worries... I'm in it.

My morning was a little unusual at this race.  I started wheezing... or hyperventilating.  Whatever, it was just weird.  Was I more nervous than I thought.  I thought my head was clear and ready to rock and roll.  Of course, seeing people like Brandi Baksic unloading her "guns" taking her shirt off was a bit intimidating. I had to remind myself, "You're not racing them.  You're here to just finish the race."  But as a competitor at heart, it's tough not to win, even when you're trailing in the back. 

I'm smiling?  That's what I'm talking about!

All in all, I have to toot my own horn and say "You Go Leez!"

Thank God It's Friday!

What a busy week for me!  It's Friday and I have one thing on my mind... The Coronado Loop.  Here I am hard at work today... or not.

Check out the details in this photo to figure out what I was working on.

Carb-loading: Just finished an all wheat bagel with a little bit of
Better n'Peanut Better (from Trader Joes, only 2grams fat) and
trying out the Chocolate Shot Gel I'll be carrying on Sunday.
I love the nifty tail on this tear-open top so I don't have to worry
about polluting the ocean when I open it.

Updates: My job requires a ton of research and data analysis.
Here you see me reading the news about the BoP Hawaii
from last week.  I need to keep on top of what's going on in the SUP world :)

More Carb-loading: I also finished oatmeal with chocolate protein powder.
YUMMY!  Did I mention I'm an "oinkie"?  I need to make sure I have
enough stored and reserved energy to last me 12-miles!!

A Meal Made for a Champion

Filet Mignon, brown rice and sweet potatoes.

Unbelievable as it seems, this is my dinner tonight.  You're probably wondering if I'll even finish it all.  Yep, I'll finish it easily.  I've been an "oinker" since I started training.  I'm eating a meal every couple of hours (they don't all look like this one), mostly consisting of proteins and greens.  I've piled on the brown rice and sweet potatoes because I need to start carb-loading for the race on Sunday.

Three months ago you wouldn't have seen red meat on my plate.  I was strictly a chicken and fish kind of girl... mainly fish.  I started to add lean meats to my diet to have a variety in the meals we were eating.  I cook all of our meals most of the time.  When before my training it was vice-versa.  My kid and I were always eating out and when I cooked, it was more like warming up food in the oven.

We've both seen a difference in our bodies.  We're definitely leaner.  I've always been an athlete who thought ate pretty healthy.  But on this healthier diet, I'm feeling stronger and more energenic.  Strength + Energy = A completed 12-mile race on Sunday!

Seriously Ready to Rock and Roll

I should be nervous about this 12-mile race. Shouldn't I? I'm actually looking forward to it AND accomplishing it.  I'm going in with an open mind and no expectation except to finish the race.  Hopefully going in with this mindset will do me some good.  Besides, I have other concerns aside from coming in first place.  I'm worried about muscle cramps, dehydration and mental fatigue.

I'm preparing for this race like I'd do for any short trip.  I'll be traveling on the water for at least a couple of hours so I had to think about what necessities I'll need.

Here's my list of things to take:

1. Raceboard, Fin and Paddle (duh, but should I use my leash this time??);
2. NY Cap (I've worn it on all my races);
3. Camelbak full of gaterade and salt (hoping it will prevent muscle cramping);
4. Shot blocks and gels  (for the boost of energy I'll need to complete the race);



I'm sure I'll need these around mile 7 and after.
Otherwise, I won't have enough energy to finish!

5.  Music (I love this birthday gift!  I'm hoping the music will distract me from time and pain!).



I usually don't listen to tunes while I'm racing but
I've reconsidered for this one.  I'm hoping the music will
help keep my mind off of the length of time I'm really out on the water.

If you experienced racers have any other suggestions of something I left out, please feel free to comment.  Thanks!!

Not So Bad

I finally took a look at the race results from Moonlight Beach.  I was afraid to see my time because as you read the other day, I didn't do so well... or so I thought.

Even after my "catastrophic" fall, I made 4th place.  I was only a minute behind the 3rd place female and I was 21 out of 45 racers in my division.  Not so bad.  Hmmm... I wonder what would have been the outcome if I didn't let my head get the best of me and give in?  I'll never know.  All that I know is that I'm over feeling sorry for myself and want to have FUN and feel a sense of ACCOMPLISHMENT.

Therefore, I'm going to JUST DO IT and enter the Coronado Loop, 12-miler this Sunday.  Okay, maybe my race board could have hit my head as well when I fell in the water but I really need to do this for ME.  I know it will be a tough race and it will definitely test my mental strength more than anything.  But once I finish this race, and I will finish it (painfully), the sense of accomplishment that rushes over me when I cross that finish line will be so overwhelming that I'll remember it when I race the shorter 6-milers.  And my hope is that it will serve as a reminder of what I am capable of accomplishing.  Basically, a swift kick in the ass to get me back on track!

Post-Race Thoughts

So hopefully there are a few of you that DO sincerely care about what I've learned from this last race.  Actually, they're lessons learned from a culmination of all the races.  Unfortunately, I waited until this previous one to do some deep reflection.

What I've learned:

• I need to have FUN!  I wasn't having fun anymore because I was placing a ton of pressure on myself by creating high expectations.  It made me lose focus on why I started this sport and racing in the first place.  And who wants to do anything that's not fun?   
• I need to maintain a positive feeling of accomplishment!  I should be satisfied that I have the COURAGE to be racing.  The reality is that I've only been SUPing for less than 10 months and I've accomplished so much already.  It shouldn't matter if I finish first or last, I should at least be happy for finishing a race.  
• I need to stop making excuses!  JUST DO IT!  This really is my mantra.  But sometimes when times are tough, it's easy to lose FOCUS and GIVE UP.  (Did I say that?  I'm a fighter and don't usually give in that easily.)  I'll need to start working on my mental strength, along with my physical strength, in order to keep me centered during a race.
• Lastly, a good friend reminded me today that I need to identify my successes as well.  From now on, after each race I'm going to focus on something positive I did during the race.  Thinking about the mistakes that happened can ruin the rest of the day for me.  At a later time I can reflect on what I can work on to improve so as not to place a damper on the rest of my race day. Therefore, only CELEBRATIONS will take place on all race days!  (I'll do my best to keep my negative thoughts about the race aside for that moment.)

Live and Learn

Recall my last post... "Ready to Rock and Roll".  Well, yesterday at the Moonlight Beach Paddle Race the swells were rockin' and they sent me rollin'.  I went into the race fairly confident because it was a short race and I figured it would be a quick and easy race.  First off, many of us were happy that they moved from a beach start to a water start.  (Although I'm proud of how I handled getting out and coming in through the surf on my raceboard this day.)  And second, the conditions didn't look too bad while we all eagerly waited for the start, but surfers you know how quickly that can change.

Checking out the conditions pre-race.  Notice the dark, gloomy sky.

I swear... as soon as we get out there it seemed that the wind and swells picked up.  Of course, the Gods wanted to make it a little more challenging for me (is what I thought to myself).  Anyway, I wasn't going to let that get me down.  A little wind.. bring it!  Oh, and don't forget the kelp beds.  Remember those suckers from my last race, the 7-mile Seaside Slide?  Uh, when I fell in and got entangled in them?!  No big.  I wasn't gonna let that get in my head.  I was still confident coming around the first buoy.  Then, we had two choices: cut straight through the kelp beds to the next buoy or make a wide half-moon to avoid most of them.  I thought follow the big boys "straight through" and pull through hard over the kelp beds so you don't get stuck.  That technique worked for some distance until... yup, fell in.  No big deal.  All I had to do was jump back on my board and if I did that right away then not a whole loss in time.  But see.. that happens in the ideal world.  In the "Liza World" it has to be a bit more challenging.  So add that my surfboard flew around 4-5 feet away from me (no leash) and was still moving away with the tide, a right leg cramp and get this.. not one but both feet had cramped toes (the paralyzing kind).  Gosh, I'm sounding so overly dramatic.  Unfortunately, that's what happened.  So, I swam after my board, jumped on and had to knee-paddle until the cramping went away.  After a while, still cramped I thought, "F@#! this", stood up, took a couple strokes and then.. yup, fell in.  Ugh, knee-paddled to the second buoy when I was finally able to stand up and go.  At this point, I hate to say it but it got in my head.  I GOT IN MY HEAD.

I had to re-evaluate myself and my INTENT for racing.  REFLECTION is important.  Tune in to the next post when I tell you what I've learned from this.

Ready to Rock and Roll

It's the night before the Moonlight Paddle Race and I've just gone over my pre-race checklist:

• Registered for the race                                                     Check
• Conditioned enough days to handle the distance             Check
• Checked out the weather and surf conditions                  Check
• Prepped race board with the proper fin                           Check
• Set aside paddle and leash                                               Check
• Carb-loaded and ready to explode!                                 Check
• Hearty carb-filled breakfast ready for the morn              Check
• Snacks, water and gatorade packed                                Check
• Alarm set for 5AM                                                         Check
• Turn in early for a complete nights rest  --G'nite             Check

Amped Up for Moonlight Beach

This Saturday is the Moonlight Beach Paddle Race.  The last race I competed in about a month ago was the Seaside Slide, which started at Cardiff and we circled a buoy off of Moonlight Beach.  All I remember are those damn kelp beds!  I'm hoping not to fall in this time.  I have a new fin that tracks well so I'm hoping to do better.

I've decided to do the shorter 3-mile race.  My confidence coming into this race is better because it's a shorter race and I've really been working hard to prepare the last couple of weeks since I've been back to San Diego from my travels.  I know 2 weeks doesn't sound like sufficient time to train but I think for the short distance, I've prepared enough to finish strong (or at least I'm hoping).  My only concern is the beach start and finish.  It's tough going through the surf on a light raceboard.  Because of this I was tempted to race my Alii surfboard but I figure if I was able to get out there during Seaside Slide in big surf, I should be okay.  I'm sure my Boga and I will get out just fine (that's what I keep telling myself). 

I'll post how it all went after the race on Saturday!

Through My Daughter's Eyes II

Happy Mother's Day!

         Today I will once again write about how my mother has continued to grow and succeed in her new hobby, passion, OBSESSION, or whatever you want to call it... In the estimated ten months my mom has been doing the sport, she has achieved so much. Although she is always complaining how she didn't do "good" in a race, she knows she is getting one step closer to her goals.
         As you may have noticed, I underlined, bolded, and capitalized the word, "OBSESSION". The reason is 95% of the things we talk about are about or have to do with STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING! She has accepted this growing sport into her everyday life. She constantly talks about her new Boga board, how she's been improving her time, her races, her training, her new SUP friends, and all the things she wants to accomplish in this sport. And, let me tell you, it's so AWESOME! I've never seen her so pumped and ready to do anything in her life. Her hobby was traveling and, now, it's traveling to go paddle boarding! She's talking about going back to Hawaii (where she first found out about SUP and haven't been there since), SUPing on the Danube River in Austria, and challenging the surf at Jeffrey's bay in South Africa (not really; too scary, for now!). Well, it doesn't matter where we go, ma's going to try her hardest to find a place to board. Love your enthusiasm, mama!
                   ~Your baby, your daughter, your inspiration
                                

Preparing for a Summer SUP Journey

This is one of my birthday presents, a King Protea.  It's a giant, beautiful flower that's indigenous to South Africa and is their National Flower.  I'll be seeing many more of these in June as I prepare to travel abroad again to Cape Town.  My daughter and I plan on traveling up and down both the Western and Eastern Capes for three weeks.  Hopefully, with SUP boards in tow.  I've traveled to SA a couple of times already but I know I'll be looking at SA as if I've never been there before.  I say this because now that I'm SUPing, I'll take notice of all the places available to flat-water paddle and surf.  Yes, I plan on visiting the infamous Jeffrey's Bay, which I did on my last trip.  But this time I'll really appreciate the surf and the beauty of it all.  I can't say that I'll attempt to surf it because for one, it will be winter there and probably cold and two, I've seen pictures of those perfect barreling, over-head waves which I'm definitely not ready to jump into.  But I can admire the beautiful waves and mind surf them until I'm more experienced and ready to enjoy them for all its glory.  This mean that I'll have to head back to SA again in the next couple of years.  A trip to SA isn't a spontaneous trip.  It takes some major planning.  You may not know but it takes 2, almost 3 days to travel to SA.  It's a long, tiring journey but well worth it.  I don't know what it is but the colors seem more brighter, like everything is in technicolor.  Everywhere you look there is the beauty of nature that you can't help but enjoy, even if you're not typically a nature-loving person.

I've been doing some research on the internet about places to SUP but I'm wondering if any of you out there have experienced SUPing South Africa first-hand.  I'd love to hear from you and any suggestions on where to visit.

Lastly, I've learned a few important things to remember from this last recent trip:

Buy a good, sturdy luggage.  Most of the time they are just
thrown around, especially on international flights when they
are tossed from one flight to another at least 3 different times.

Make sure you use the proper converter before you
plug in your expensive Chi flat iron, or any other US made items.

SUP Board required. Most importantly, make sure you bring one
of these items or at least find a good place to rent one.

Flowers for Flowers

It's pretty enough to stay out of the water... But that's not gonna happen! Check out my beautiful new race fin decorated with flowers for me, Ms. Flowers:) It's a custom Eric Terrien race fin. I tested it out yesterday fighting the brutal winds and it's definitely a keeper! It's amazing how well my board tracked with this new fin. I felt like I was on an entirely different board- all good of course. Now I just need to get my new paddle cut and I'm ready to train with my own gear. I've been fortunate to have great friends that loaned me their boards, fins and paddles to race while I was transitioning into the race scene. I can really bear down and be more consistent using the same gear and if you missed my previous post about my raceboard, my bright red Boga rocks! You need to check out my sponsor's site www.bogaboards.com if you haven't already.

So pretty!

Sorry About the Delay... Just Getting Back Into the Swing of Things

Spending my birthday in Prague was fab-u-lous!  Prague is considered one the most beautiful cities in the world, known as the "Paris of the East".  The River Danube separates the Castle District and the Lower Town.  Many individuals rent out kayaks and paddle boats to check out the scenery from the water's edge.  I couldn't believe that there were no SUPs in sight!  Someone's got to get out there and jump on an SUP rental business.

You can check out a huge part of the city by water.  Imagine SUPing under this bridge.
I was thinking that the entire time we were there.

  

This is the Charles Bridge that connects the Old Town and the Lower Town. 
It is decorated with many baroque statues.

This is the Crucifix, the oldest statue, glowing at night.

So you can't necessarily see e-ver-y-thing from an SUP board but it would probably be faster getting from one side of town to the other because the streets are so congested with people.  I may have to consider traveling with a blow-up SUP for emergencies.