(Shot with Non-HD Go Pro Camera - Sept 2009)

I finally got back in the water yesterday around 5pm for the first time since the Cold Stroke Classic race in North Carolina earlier this month. No pictures from yesterdays late day session but if you look at the picture above, lower the temp about 25 degrees, add westsuit  rubber and booties the pics would be the same...lol. Not as brutal as the Cold Stroke conditions, but cold for Florida. Surpisingly fun session, not a soul in the water with brisk offshores. Pulled off some HUGE chucky floaters with my new 10' quad C4 Waterman Sub Vector. Felt great to drop in to a few shoulder high sets with the sun vanishing behind the dunes. The late evening light in Florida is incredible no matter what time of year.

I have been doing a bit of weight training the last couple of weeks including cardio and some "custom" cross training specially designed by my amazing wife Nancy ala her sports performance training business Connected Fitness (will be sharing more of that in the near future).

Pressure is on with the first big race of the Florida 2010 season on Feb 14 in Deerfield Beach, FL. The Deerfield Beach Founders Day Paddleboard Challenge is a 7 mile Prone Paddleboard and SUP race (Men and Women's stock and unlimited for both).

Today started cold and grey (not too motivating to get on the Unlimited BARK to train), but the sun is coming out and it is getting a little warmer. Its crunch time now for the next couple of weeks to get alot of miles under the BARK to be ready for the race. We used to have a nice break from November through March in the race season, but with limited weekends available in a calendar year combined with the explosive growth of SUP racing in the US, event coordinators have decided to add "cold weather" to the list of challenges for the Right Coast ocean/flat water racer. Cant' wait to put my wesuit away for the year...

See you in the Water!