One of the isle team ambassadors and Lake Havasu fire Captain, Rich Williams, told us about a race that was happening the first weekend of April. This was the first annual and had attracted 4 separate classes of paddlers from all over California, Nevada, and Arizona dubbed another Another Damn Race .

 

 

 

Havasu is about a 5 hour drive from San Diego so we loaded up the company van with our event gear, some of the new flat water models and the 12’6” racer and headed east. We headed out early Thursday evening to avoid traffic and driving in the dessert heat. This way we had all day Friday to acclimate for the race Saturday morning. We stayed right at the site of the race hosted by the Nautical Hotel. This was a huge help having the start, finish, and after party right outside the door to our room.

 

 

 

As convenient as it was it also held its downside on Friday night as we were trying to rest up for the race and the rest of the rooms surrounding us were filled with spring breakers and fraternity weekenders. But, with some ear plugs and determination to win the race the crew was able to go down early.

 

 

 

We couldn’t have asked for better weather the day of the race. The temperature hovered around 80 degrees all day and the wind never seemed to turn on. The start was a standing water start from the cove at the resort. The course went out of Thompson bay and around the island to crazy horse camp ground on the west end of the London Bridge channel where the turn was made at an anchored house boat then back to the Nautical. It was a grueling 9 miles but no wind and beautiful conditions on the lake made it seem to go by fast.

 

 

 

The Isle crew finished 1st 2nd and 3rd in the 12’6” class battling each other the whole race. Once back on land the racers were rewarded with some delicious locally brewed beer and a Hawaiian style lunch. This race is highly recommended for next year by the whole crew.

 

 

 

 

See Ya in the water!