Sunday, April 3, 2011

Seaside Slide Photos: Thanks Alexis Rovira Photography

My good friend and surf photographer Alexis Rovira made it down to the race this weekend and was making the best of the overcast skies. Here's a bunch of shots from the race and the official results. Check 'em out:

This shot gives you a good idea of what it was like that morning. First of all, the air was cold, the water was cold and I was cold. I took the first opportunity to suck it up and paddle out before everybody else got into the surf- I really didn't want to be in the middle of a wall of tumbling unlimited boards being pushed to shore by the surf. I was the guinea pig and I knew that all eyes were going to be on me- luckily, I've got some experience with timing sets and I popped out the back unscathed. Lucky me. Photo: Alexis Rovira
I can only imagine how crazy this race would've been if it was a beach start. I think there would have been a lot of distance between the racers and there would've been a few broken boards. The surf looked to be a solid four feet but by the end of the day, six foot sets were rolling through closing out the channel between Seaside Reef and George's. Photo: Alexis Rovira
Kiwi's the MAN... check the results of races over the past years and you'll see that Kiwi is usually in the top ten overall and in his age group he's almost always on the podium. There are paddlers with board sponsors, clothing sponsors, paddle sponsors, fin sponsors, glossy pics in the mags- people who get their fees paid and all the free board lotion they can handle who can't come close to touching this guy on the water. What's his secret? How about a sixty hour work-week laying tile and busting ass. Make's you think, huh? Just watch, homeboy will go on quietly winning- that's his style. Photo: Alexis Rovira
Yes, that little piece of wood made me very happy. I earned that thing. I put in the honest hard work: dropped twenty pounds, logged my weekly miles, invested in proper gear, spent a fortune in gasoline running from race to race and paid enough in entry fees to practically buy a new board. That little piece of wood is priceless. It's all worth it when you feel good on the water, finish strong and beat some solid racers (and some young punks)... so I guess I deserve that beer I'm clutching in the other hand, right?
Official Overall Results
Official Results for SUP Divisions

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi John,
Great to see that big grin across your face. You are looking good man!

In The Water said...

John... I'm ready for a race! I get back on the 23rd so fill me in on the next one brotha!

John Ashley said...

D. Ambrose? What's up my brother? Hope you're out and paddling too- has it been almost a year since we SCORED DogPatch? Thanks for the positive note- I am feeling GOOD.

John Ashley said...

Manny- it's on! I'll email you the sites with all the races. There's one this weekend that would have been perfect for you. We'll do one soon!

Jeff Wallis said...

Congrats on your top 4 finish! And you got wood to show for it lol! Good job there skinny......

John Ashley said...

I always get wood.

mark said...

nice job, im in the same boat. ive spent enough on gas and entry fees to buy another board too. haha, those trophies no matter what size are fantastic when you get them. i like finishing ahead of the youngsters also.