Caroline Brosius I Ginni Callahan I Robert Clegg I Joe Glickman I Abel Hastings I Ben Lawry I Joe Shaw I Eric Stiller
Ian Gray I Zsolt Szadovszki
Know the race - before you race
There is something to be said for familiarity of the environment that you are racing in. This is certainly true for surf-ski paddling, where experience in the surf conditions that you are preparing to race in can significantly play to your advantage. With the dynamic nature of the ocean, it is impossible to replicate the exact racing conditions that you will be training in, but you can certainly get close.
Understand the conditions
When preparing for a race event, always research the varying conditions that you can expect to encounter on the race course and train to ensure that you are competent and confident in them. With the Mayor's Cup, there is an almost certainty that you are going to experience tidal currents, boat wash and wind chop. These combined can easily create surf measuring 4ft.
The best way to grow comfortable in these conditions is to train in a similar environment. Unlike massive offshore downwind conditions - that can only be found along certain coastlines - it is quite possible to experience wind chop and cross-waves in a flat water environment by making full use of windy days. When the wind is blowing on flat water, it creates wind chop - a series of small surface swells. To make best use of these conditions, prepare a circuit that runs both parallel and at right angles to the wind direction. Where possible, try to find a bank that you can paddle alongside where a rebound wave is created. Here you are likely to experience interference (waves meeting at right angles) creating irregular series of bumps on the water - typical of Manhattan Bay conditions.
Mind-map the course
Especially for longer distance races (which I consider 10 miles+) it can be helpful to break the race course up into a series of smaller distances (approx. 5miles) earmarked by landmarks on route. By doing this, it is possible to equate the mileage in the new environment to distances that you are familiar training in. This will serve to assist by knowing what is physically required of you to cover the segmented race course. A useful tool that I often use when navigating down rivers is to print and laminate a milestone marker with the varying mileage between landmark points that I will tape to the deck of the boat for easy reference.
Play the conditions to your advantage
Be sure before any race to fully understand the hidden gems along the race course and just the same, be sure to avoid any hindrances. These may come in the form of tides, currents, wind, boat wash, rebound waves, shallow banks etc.
The prevailing race day conditions to can seriously advantage or disadvantage you against the paddler next to you. For instance, an eddy current could be propelling a paddler 50 yards to your left and at the same time pushing you back. Keep a close eye on your GPS to ensure that you are making most use of the current flow. Likewise, it's a good idea to explore the landscape below the water's surface. Shallow banks can serve to slow the tail current and increase resistance. Rule of thumb is to always hug a side wall and make most use of any rebounding waves that'll propel you. Accelerate with boat wash and remain protected from head winds as much as possible.
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