Island Paddlers: May 2013

Living on the most eastern of the San Juan archipelago islands, Fidalgo island, the variety of trip & training paddle routes from here are endless. While strong currents do exist in nearly every channel surrounding our island shores, learning how to use these currents to travel in the back eddies, the mid-channel-river-like 'green tongue', along with harnessing the strength of the winds (with kayak sails), is what paddling the San Juans is all about to us... Efficiency. Speed. Using what Nature offers to help us achieve our paddling (distance travelling & racing speed) goals. Which sometimes mandates a combination of styles & skills from river and sea kayaking mixed in with occasional surfing and sailing. Adreline rushes. Personal Speed Records. Risk-taking. Innovation. ~Paddle the Islands and let Nature Inspire.~

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Iron Horse Relay 2013

Iron Horse Relay Highlights 2012 from Island Paddlers on Vimeo.

With spring racing season in full swing and a full summer calendar to look forward to of race weekend getaways, the one we always look forward to the most is almost like our multisport grande finale race of the summer, the Iron Horse Relay.

What started out years ago as Seattle's 100 miles in one day, Mountains to Sound race has evolved in recent years to North Bend's excuse to host an adventure festival with the Iron Horse Relay race leg changing hand off zone and finish line smack dab in the middle of downtown as the ultimate spectator friendly relay race ever!

Nostalgically .3 years ago Jim & I had been training together to do Mountains to Sound and Island Quest adventure races when I hurt my back on a big, ultra paddle training in 2009 and had to have 2 spinal surgeries in a month that basically crippled me for a year....and now after many extra 'peaks & valleys in my training, I'm finally going to be DOING IT!! :)