Santa Cruz Paddlefest

What an awesome weekend.  There was just so much good energy being passed around Steamer Lane this weekend that it would've been difficult to not have fun and feel refreshed.  I had a blast spending time in and out of the water with friends, watching the pros compete and scoring some fun rides on well-formed Santa Cruz waves - a rare treat.

I arrived into town Thursday eve to small waves.  The intensity got dialed up a bit more by Friday morning and by the end of the day I'd had a great double session and a solid warmup after not surfing for four months.

Saturday I surfed in the early afternoon in the Cowell's Classic Intermediate sup surf contest and did well enough to win my heat.  The real high point of the day was the evening session at Indicators and Middle Peak.  Once the contest wrapped at 5:40pm, the waves were free for the riding, so that's what we did.  Mitch, Marion, Michelle and myself had an incredible progression session in 4-6ft swells with great energy from everyone in the uncrowded break.  Michelle broke in her new surf kayak, Mitch was ripping, Marion rode her biggest wave ever and I had the best wave of my life.  Pure stoke and a trip to the post-contest party ended the evening with poke plates and margaritas.  

I had a bad heat on Sunday, but still a good time on the water.  Turns out I finished 5th overall, which was better than I had expected and quite suprising.  Had i picked up any good waves during Sunday's heat, I'm sure I could've done even better.  Lots of love and fun though, so a good time nonetheless.

Santa Cruz Paddlefest delivered.  Weather was great (hot!), waves were great, buzz was great and the boys at Kayak Connection really did a great job on the 29th contest.  Nice weekend.