Hours after welcoming Jazlyn into the world last spring, we bought a kayak erg. At the moment of the arrival of our newest child, I think we realized, we were going to busy! And, boy we were right! Every second of my day and night are accounted for. So, walking down to the garage and [...]

The highlight of my races these days is paddling across the finish line to the sight of my family cheering me on. They are easy to pick out, find the tallest person, note the cute-as-a-button baby girl strapped to his chest, and the tow-headed boy at his side yelling, ‘Go Mama Go!’ Then, I ask [...]

There’s something extra special when a paddling event combines with a fundraising effort. It’s the magic in and on the water. The humility — and charity — in the face of nature, that most experienced paddlers feel. The singular reason that defines both why most paddlers paddle, and also why they would choose to leverage [...]

After having my forward stroke fine-tuned by Greg Barton himself on Friday, on Saturday morning Brandon and I raced the Sound Rowers Lake Samish Salmon Roe. We had decided to race the 5.5 miles together, in a tandem Stellar surfski. (Thank you Drew and Stellar Kayaks for the boat!) With over 150 racers, and almost every type [...]

The first time I did the Oceanman was in 2009. It is one of the races that keep you laughing and humbled while you race. Swim, paddle, run, SUP doesn’t capture the personality of this multi sport race. Those are the physical elements. But, half way through and in between events, race director Gary Parsons keeps [...]

Sunshine, warm winds, warm water, waves, world class paddling, good friends, a killer cabin on the river with a hot tub, an endless supply of rocks for Hayden to throw into the river, and a throw in a 23-mile downwind relay race! I could safely say Stevenson, Washington and the Columbia River Gorge have collectively become [...]

What started out as a favor for a friend became a phenomenon. Meet John Barron, owner of Barron Heating and the man behind the awesome team that dominated the 2011 Ski to Sea and became overall winner of the race. His sponsoring a Ski to Sea team started as favor for his friend Dan Bass [...]

We just returned from a weekend of racing and camping out on the Columbia River at the 2011 Gorge Outrigger Races, in Stevenson, WA. That place ALWAYS delivers, even through rain and relative lack of windy conditions. Just this year, Bellingham welcomed its own outrigger club, BBOP, and new OC-6, and this was the club’s first experience racing [...]

The Ski to Sea Podcast, as most of you know, has broadened its reach to cater not only to Top Guns and racers, but also to anyone who has a story worth sharing about the Ski to Sea. I had the pleasure of interviewing a man that has a unique and special relationship with the Ski [...]

Have you ever heard of “The Holly Brooks Special Recipe”?  No?  Well, it’s because this is the first time anyone will ever hear it!  Listen in as Holly Brooks, Olympian and 2011 Women’s XC Ski Top Gun, tell us how she got to where she is right now — From being an average, middle-of-the-pack racer [...]

A lot of people were anticipating the ‘ceremonial ringing of the bell’ at Marine Park at the end of the Kayak Leg on race day but to the dismay of both racers and race fans, only a few were able to experience that.  The reason behind this?  The Kayak Leg was CANCELLED late afternoon leaving [...]

If you’re hanging on the edge of your seats dying to find out what happened to Zsolt in the 2007 World Surfski Championships in Molokai, Hawaii – Wait no more!  Here is the second installment of my interview with him. If you haven’t heard the first part of the interview, click on this link before [...]