California Surfing (8/18/01)


Jenny, Bill and I made our way to Oceanside in Bill's very stylish red Volvo. He likes salsa music but as I always say, that's another story, and another type of webpage. The car trunk also included a swimbag for John J., who had elected to ride his bike the 99 miles (that's a statistic taken directly off his odometer) to the swim. Yawn.

At the race course, we chatted about the conditions with Carolyn and Chris Yontez. I took a picture of handsome man Jerry S. at his first oceanswim of the season (he's been doing triathlons instead!). We shared the news that Craig H. has been demoted from announcing the View Oceanrace series. He's moving on to the Goodwill Games where he will be heard narrating the swim and ocean events, and Heidie and Diane G-G are competing. Congrats to all three! We napped, cheered the dory races, watched the World Bodysurfing Championships (I gave some advice - see below), and wondered when John might arrive on his trusty steed.

John did arrive 15 minutes before the race no worse for wear. Wow. The race was a triangular course. We crazy swimmers were off into a bit of chop and warm temperatures. As usual, I listened to Bill's sage wave advice to look up frequently on the way out as the waves were breaking quite far out. Thank goodness or I would have really been nailed a few times.

Chris was the first of the SCAQer troop, splashing his way to 3rd overall. Eric E. was 7th, and later competed in beach flags, representing SCAQ very well in the latter event I might add. Marc W. blazed home in 9th, with Jerry just behind at 10th, with Parks at 11th, and Jenny at 12th. The other Masters teams were quite annoyed but what can we say but we are great! Pat was the next SCAQer to finish in a very strong 15th, with John J. and Bill just behind. Jenny's friend Todd Menzel, who has finished 8th at almost every race this summer finished, you've got it, 8th yet again! I know, I know, I really should figure out the probabilities. Auggie and Peggy were also in attendance with Auggie nailing another first place in his agegroup.

I, as usual, was close to the last of our SCAQer crew to stroke on home. However, I caught another wave. Wow. Me, me, me! The four World Bodysurfing Championship judges on the pier held up "8", "9", "10" and "9" and yes, those scores were out of possible 10's. John J. and Bill cheered wildly from the beach as I tubed on in. Well, John cheered and Bill was yelling something - I think it was either "Surf Queen!" or "Wipeout!" I wasn't sure which. But anyway, catch that wave I did and road it almost all the way in to the beckoning shore to be met by friendly SCAQers, all of whom were almost dry by that time.

Our sedate drive home included John's bike on the roof (and John inside the car you'll be relieved to know) and a delightful interlude at Alerta's, a five star Mexican restaurant. John and Jenny alertly alerted us to Alerta's. Well, John's pun went something like that. And then we made our merry way home to the Westside. With many thanks to Bill for driving, and congrats to all, we turned our focus to this coming weekend's races: Corona Del Mar and two races up in Pismo/Avila.

Only one more weekend until the bravest SCAQers make their way to Hawaii's shores. Three teams are entered: Bluebuzz (led by Jenny Cook, with Kathy Mann, Jenny Buys, Peter Egan and two other no doubt handsome men in speedos); Half-Baked Clams (led by Marc Willick, I think Eric E., Pam L. and other fast folks are on this team); and Reiko and the Cabinboys (led by Pat Dixon, with Bill, Parks, Mac and again, two other no doubt handsome men). I've probably gotten the membership of every team wrong but I hope in the aggregate I got the participation correct. I am happy to report that the Cabinboys settled on the Hawaii print for their Dawn Heckman suits, having rejected the Marilyn Monroe print in the name of good taste. I don't know why, that's never stopped them before. In any event, I, and I know you do too, hope many pictures are taken. Good luck to all! Hope to see you in the blue Pacific next weekend if not before Oceanswimming Buddies!