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Vanier Park race report
Reivers Dustin
03/05/16 #18736
Wind storm at my house last night had me worried they might cancel. But this morning the sun broke free and it was fantastic. Those pudgy little water-cabs were running around, lots of folks walking, running and biking the trails. Eagles nest right overhead. Seals poking around in the harbor. Oh yeah, racing too. Impressive Outrigger showing. OC-6's ignored the race and were out tearing up English Bay on their own. Rules: must wear PFD, no drafting out of class. Two stage start to keep OC-2s and Surfski's out of the OC-1 mix. I only saw five or six 'skis anyway. No way to avoid wakes at some of the turns and maybe at the finish. But mostly everyone kept their nose clean. Silly rule. No way to enforce this except for racers arguing with each other.
Shane Martin managed to squeak out another big win. Peter M kept him honest as second 'ski. Bob Putnam showed up and took third 'ski. I got fourth (good for one Canadian Beer!). Alan and Beau smoked OC-2 division. But not without effort. There were some strong dogs let loose. Not sure how Mike H., Lance and any other B'hampsters did. OC-1's had a wolf-pack thing going on with all their drafting. There's a long-ish leg from the Channel turn back to Siwash Rock where outgoing and incoming paddlers are right next to each other. Lots of yelling and screaming type camaraderie. Pretty cool.
Skimming past all the sky-scrapers in West Van and the touring runners was great. Very scenic venue.
I'm goina crack open that beer now.
rd
