THE PRESSURE IS STACKING!!!!!

Thank you all for your votes. It is getting down to the wire, we only have a few more weeks left!!! Dave "The Wave" Johnston leads the charge(As if he wouldn't), but there are some tough competitors coming onto the field. Kate Smith has recieved 2 more votes than the rest of the men's field.

Here is how it's stacking up so far:
1. Dave Johnston
2. Rusty Sage
3. Jeff Burlingham
4. Vince Shay
5. Demany Smith
6. Fletcher Burton
7. Jono Stevens
8. Kate Smith

It is all so nerve racking, WHO WILL BE CROWNED THIS YEAR. THE CHOICE IS YOURS!!!

Remember votes can be sent to norcalsurfkayak@yahoo.com .

This Nor-Cal Classic will be another great event. The registration link is
------------>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks

Well It's Back. The NOR CAL CLASSIC: COMMANDER OF CALIFORNIA IS BACK!!!!!

October 6th and 7th 2007 marks the 2nd annual Nor Cal Classic: Commander of California. Last year was a successful event, even though the waves were small. This year I have prayed to the wave gods and sacrificed a swim out of my kayak to get waves(you all can thank me later).

There will be the standard categories; HP, IC, Waveski open. But there will also be a junior open class as well, so all of you little ones come out and surf!

This years Commnader event will have a different format, paddlers will get to vote for their top 8 surf kayakers on the west coast. These kayakers will then compete against each other in the craft of their choice to see who is the true COMMANDER OF CALIFORNIA.

Please send your votes to norcalsurfkayak.yahoo.com, top 8 people that you would like to see go head to head. Man or Woman.

More to come soon

Sign ups have started today through active.com, there is a link to it on your right.>>>>>>>>>

More Pics:
This in front of "sweet reef"

F---king Love this wave!!!!

Ericera from the South.

Well I haven't really had time to post.

It has really been a busy time since Portugal. But I really wish that I was back there. Shots like this one to the left are the reason why.

Ericera, Oh ERICERA where have you been all of my life. I believe in order for me to be happy I have to have three things. A woman that loves me, plentiful surf around me and great food to feed the machine. When I was Ericera life became complete.

4 amazing point breaks, reef breaks all over and your beach break here and there. Count that with not that many people on the waves and you have Ericera. Don't get me wrong there are guys there and the ones I saw rip hard, but you have to understand California as well. Sometimes you are surfing with everyone and their pets, if you know what I mean.

The wave that I surfed right there was the perfect reef/point. Line up at the rock and start gunning for the right, because this thing throws. The shoulder is steep and moves fast, but not so fast that you can't think of the moves as you go, your mind starts to let loose and everything that you never believed you could do you start to try. FREESTYLE, in it's true definition.

It was so good that we had to spend 4 hours there eat, go back out for another 2.5 hours, wake up the next morning at dawn and go again, each time getting better and better. The messed up thing is this was the 5th break that we investigated, it had the least people (1) and compared to the other points. We are moving soon( I just have to convince Kate!!!)

We rented this room in downtown Ericera for 30 euro a night, a steal for where it was and the rooms are good sized. He even has storage for your boats The owners name was Gus and he used to live in the states so it is good to talk to him about the US and Portugal. Gus also owns a restaurant Peira Dura, which is right next to his rentals. Peira Dura is a great steakhouse with big flat screen TV's to watch all of the soccer games. If you are ever in Ericera, go visit and stay. It is right downtown and across from the Billabong store which makes it easy to find because it is the only Billabong only store in town.

Well I can't tell you everything aboutt this place or else I will have to fight all of you off when I get there.

TWO WEST COAST TEAM MEMBERS BRING HOME WORLD CUP TROPHIES.

Superstars Dave Johnston(Santa Cruz) and Kate Smith(Sacramento) bring home crowns at the World Cup Finals in Peniche, Portugal.
After beating the top 24 men in the world, Dave Johnston puts the cherry on top of the greatest 2 months any surf kayaker could want. Johnston was named US National champion in September, Commander of California in early October and World Cup champion last night. Johnston, bested current world champion Johnny Bingham(Northern Ireland) in a tough 2 man heat.
The winning streak continues for Kate Smith(Sacramento). Smith puts another win under her belt, being crowned World Cup champion last night in a championship round against new comer Tamsin Green(England).

Full results and pictures soon.

WCF Results from Day 2!!!

Heat 1: Juniors
1. Chris Hobson
2. Ibon Agirrezabala
3. Galen Licht
4. Philip Watson

Heat 2
1. David Spellar
2. Sam Davenport
3. Xabi Olano
4. Adrian Petru

Heat 3: Men's
1. James Hawker
2. Darren Bason
3. Johnny Bingham
4. Ashley Hunter

Heat 4
1. Galen Licht
2. Oscar Martinez
3. David Spellar
4. Stuart Mcglinchy

Heat 5
1. Edu Extebarria
2. Dessie Mcglinchy
3. Marc Holland
4. Phil Watson

Heat 6
1. Steve Bowens
2. Chris Harvey
3. Paul Mckay
4. Txema Carreto

Heat 7
1. Dan Green
2. Rusty Sage
3. Demany Smith
4. Robert McKay

Heat 8
1. Dave Johnson
2. Wayne Timmons
3. Marc Tiexdor
4. Peter Blakensop

Heat 9: Women
1. Kate Smith
2. Teresa Rogerson
3. Elaine Alexander
4. Erica Chrisholm

Heat 10
1. Tasmin Green
2. Roberta Bosari
3. Ailsa Mcdougall
4. Chloe Hamilton

Pictures are online at www.foto-reportagem.com

The rest of the rounds are tournament style with one 3 man heat and after that 2 man heats.

Peace.

Results From Days 1 of WCF!!!

The first two days of the WCF are over and it has been some stiff competition. Conditions were all over the place with some heats having good waves, some bad, and some none. Here is how it panned out from day 1.

Heat 1 : Women
1. Tasmin Green
2. Elaine Alexander
3. Tresa Rogerson
4. Chloe Hamilton


Heat 2
1. Kate Smith
2. Roberta Bosari
3. Ailsa McDoughall
4. Erica Chrisholm

Heat 3 : Men
1. Rusty Sage
2. Steve Bowens
3. James Hawker
4. Stuart Mcglinchy


Heat 4
1. Dave Johnson
2. Marc Holland
3. Dan Green
4. Ashley Hunter

Heat 5
1. Johnny Bingham
2. Oscar Martinez
3. Paul McKay
4. Peter Blakensop

Heat 6
1. Galen Licht
2. Darren Bason
3. Edu Extebbera
4. Robert McKay

Heat 7
1. Dessie Mcglinchy
2. Wayne Timmons
3. David Spellar
4. Txema Carretto

Heat 8
1. Chris Harvey
2. Demany Smith
3. Marc Tiexdor
4. Phil Watson

Heat 9: Junior
1. David Spellar
2. Chris Hobson
3. Adrian Petru
4. Ibon Agrezzibala


Heat 10
1. Galen Licht
2. Sam Davenport
3. Xabi Orlano
4. Phillip Watson


Photos can be viewed on www.foto-reportagem.com

Check em'

Peace

Portugal, We Are Here.

SFO at around 12:00 pm on a wendsday is pretty slow moving, actually the slowest I have seen SFO. This proved to work out perfect for us. We were able to park right out front in the unloading section and check in. It would have been impossible to park Big Red in the parking garage so it proved to be our lucky day. Ususally they do not let you park your vehichle, you have ot keep it moving, but there where no parking police so great. It seems as if the national security policy is working.....
LAX-Heathrow-Lisbon. 14 hours later we are here, lost a day, don't really know where I left it, but I believe that I may be able to find it on my way back. The airport went well, customs lasted about 3 minutes and then we got our luggage. Two suitcases full of clothes, One suitcase full of power tools for hair, and a camera. WTF no boats or paddles, now what was proving to be the fastest trip trough an airport became one of the longest. 1.75 hours waiting to see the baggage claim customer service. Luckily, she found where they were, it seemed as if those damned Brits held on to them, so they will be here tomorrow, which isn't so bad because we are spending a couple of days in Lisbon anyway.
Lisbon, what a city! Picture San Francisco, except built in the 1400's, before cars, this city was built before America was even founded by the europeans. The city rocks. It is built on 7 big hills with cobblestone streets and super small cars. The buildings are close together, your neighbor across the street might as well come over for dinner because he/she is so close. Restaurants and cafe's everywhere. People eat dinner at around 10:30 at night and the food is to die for. Downtown Lisbon is a fashon mecca, with Burberry, DK and all of the other top end brands that I can't afford everywhere. People have style and it is cool to see.
Our hotel is a trip. It was an old diplomats mansion converted to hotel, dead center in downtown. Salmon colored, just like our house in Sacto. The elevator can fit about 4 portugese people or two americans with no bags. The people at the front desk are incredibly nice and they speak a bit of english, actually a lot of people in Lisbon speak english, so they helped us around quite a bit.
I will post some pictures soon, the internet I have right here is not that strong so stay tuned.

Peace.

Nor-Cal Classic Full Standings.

Here are the full Standings for the Nor-Cal Classic. These points will go towards overall points for the WSKA team trial selection.

Mens HP

1. Dave Johnston
2. Sean Morley
3. Rusty Sage
4. Jono Stevens
5. Vince Shay
6. Dick Wold
7. Byron Olsen
8. Chris Russ
9. Matt Hudgens
10. Buck Johnson
11. Kevin Tinney
12. Jeff Burlingham
13. Kris Soderman
14. Eric Sadler
15. Eric Conner
16. Erik Miller
17. Jared Noceti
18. Josha stark
19. Galen Licht
20. Jeff Hille
21. Matt Radis
22. John Bonaventure
23. Shawn Hartje
24. Greg Didriksen
25. Desmond Harrington
26. Ian Buckley
27. Demany smith
28. Taylor Robertson
29. Jason Kozun
30. Devon Pearse
31. Dan Crandall
32. Andy Hill
33. Matthew Fitney
34. William Campbell

Women's HP

1. Kate Smith
2. Gina Trojani
3. Diane Gaydos

Men's IC

1. Demany Smith
2. Dave Johnston
3. Jono Stevens
4. Dan Crandall
5. Eric Sadler
6. Kevin Tinney
7. Erik Miller
8. Matt Hudgens
9. Buck Johnsen
10. Wayne Waddington
11. Mark Pastik
12. Jared Noceti

Wave Ski Open

1. Sean Morley
2. Vince Shay
3. Fletcher Burton
4. Chriss Russ
5. Alexander Stubbs
6. Devon Pearse
7. Mark Pastik
8. Kate Smith
9. James Lohr
10. Gina Trojani

Good job to every one!