Everything was planned, orgainized and confirmed. All weather reports presented the opportunity I needed as it was a big one. The biggest two day paddle adventure I have done to date. Between 105-110k. 50k or thereabouts per day.

The idea was to not only circumnavigate Goat Island on Powell Lake but to go bottom to top then back again while going around the island and, saying hi to the missus and friends on a friends house on the lake.

Well, human ingenuity and forecasting failed me. As soon as I took off from the beach at the Shingle Mill I could feel the wind increasing and starting to push me along. By the time I got to Cassiar Island I was flying.

I flew all the way down the south shores of Goat Island. Past Fiddle Head Point and the west most point of Goat Island. After catching some glides that had me step way back on my fully loaded board I made my way north.

After the short distance that was crossing the east side of Goat I decided it was too early to head in so I headed up further. And further. Finally come to the islands I thought were habitable for hammocks were not. It was getting late and I had to set up and get to bed so, I slung my hammock up in the old post frame of a shack the loggers must have used when it was crappy weather. It was 5 inch diameter posts that were framed simply. The only roof or walls left were remanants o tyvek and tarp. Bits in corners that hadnt rotted away like the other 95%.

The small group of trees behind me braced me from the onslaught of wind that buffeted me till 4 am. Which concerned me greatly because I knew I had to travel in the direction of where the wind was blowing from. Upwind. Most athletes least favourite hindrance.

I slammed a little taco I made and one beer and hit the hay!

I awoke to calm winds! I hurried myself to strike the site and get it on. I knew it would be a long day! Friday was 54.37k and my calculations had me pegged at at least 50k home, but, mostly upwind, fully kitted board. I didnt drink hardly any of the beer I brought so I had some extra dead weight that was really unneeded.

The first 15k were good, actually nice. Though I was weary and apprehensive. The wind let fought me many times before. This could be 30k head on and I knew it.

Sure enough going around the top of Goat Island the wind came at me, hard. Really hard. For a paddle boarder to look at their gps and it read 1.3k then you know you are in a losing battle that will fatigue you and beat you. I did about a k of it before I saw the task ahead and that I would not have relief from the winds furry for at least 3k.

I choose to go on my knees and quicken up my stroke rate. It feels cool to paddle that fast unfortunately this time was out of need and there was no humour in the air. All bizness.

Even when I got to north side of the island the wind still hit me hard and kept my pace slower than. I put my head down and went on. Travelling slowly down the north shores of Goat Island and heading by Olsens Landing which, is where was near to where I was supposed to go. But, there was no way I would cross that water and then take a break and then start up again not knowing if the wind would die down.

I kept going. I passed the house and waved silently to no seeing friend. I sighed and plugged on. Passing the area and moving more south I got hit with constant wind in the upper twenty and low thirtys.

It was a slog to say the least. I got a bit of respite from the bays most northerly bits as I looked further for more of them before I had to head down the channel between Island and mainland. The narrowest section.

After crossing the most north west point I decided to cross the water and try to get a bit of protection from the shore of the west side as I made a break for Cassiar. It was tough going across and up through the channel. The waves and wind were testing me. My gps died at 18k and I was easly double that and then I had at least another 10k more down the main body of Powell Lake.

The wind and waves were holding me up against the ropes but I pushed on as they made my board dance in the chaotic conditions. Finally passing the shores of the west coast and making my way had me fight arguably the worst conditions. The wind stayed the same nasty intensity but the waves had more power and were a little bigger.

I fought on. I had to get home and I was withing a distant eyesight of home. Roughly 15k. I passed the widest section and tried my best to hug bays but all the deflections made that gruelling as well. I reached Cassiar Island and the hope was real. So was the wind and waves. I tried my best and pushed on. Head down and bent too it.

Finally with approximately 5k as I was getting seriously depleted I called out and said, Come on now, can I get a bit of a break please? And within a short matter of time the winds died and the waves lost their intensity. I still hugged the shore from less consistent gusts. I plugged on and happy.

I finally got to the beach at 9:40pm. I left at 7:20am so that made it 12.5hrs of paddling. The distance when I went home and calculated it as well as I could was 51k which would make the whole trip 105k. It was a total of 21 hours of paddling and roughly 16000 calories and 63000 paddle strokes. Probably a bit more with that section on my knees.

I am very proud to have made that successfully and relatively safe.

Awesome.

#sup, #standuppaddleboarding, #suptouring, @Fanaticsup, @fanaticnorthamerica, #ryderseyewear, @sotooutdoors, @thesouthsidediner, #lookpal,

I am very lucky to represent one of the biggest names in water sports companies in the world as one of their North American Ambassadors. Hence my trip to Hood River, Oregon.

Being with them for a year makes me so proud that I cant help sharing my joy.

They are Fanatic. A name you might think is completely appropriate for me. Which, I think is true.

They are one of the longest producing water sports manufacturers of Windsurf, Sup, Foil, Wing and other water sport toys/tools.

I will try my best this year to elevate them within my sphere of social postings and hope you like what you see.

I would like to thank Jason and the other members of the team that welcome me and support me.

Thank you!!

Well, it seems as though winter is slowly loosening its grip on us and we can get ready for sun time. The much needed rays will lift us to celebrate and rejoice.
The joy of summer is around the corner and the kids are already getting excited about the prospect of having yet another summer off.
Lucky buggers. hahaha.
Lets all get ready by doing our workout routines and eating right that we may take advantage of the longer days filled with frolicking and horsing around.
Get ready kids. It will be here sooner than you think.

Even though its cold and rainy now doesn’t mean you cant have fun.
Dress warm and get out there no matter what you do.
Obviously some sports take a little more thought in regards to clothing but that does not mean you cant enjoy your time in the winter months in the north.
I love the cool air and clean smells of the winter, the snow capped peaks with everything hiding under its blanket.
Dont get me wrong I love summer but lets not lock ourselves away for the winter months lamenting the disappearing mild months.
Go, have fun whatever it is.

Now first I am not going to poo-poo where I just came from, Whistler. I will just say that our recent move was one of change and the need for that.

Living in Whistler for 26 years were some of the most ridiculously fantastic times of my life that were filled with great friends and legendary experiences. All manner of sports were played and all sorts of fun were had.

Art was nourished, created and celebrated during my time there.

There can not be enough said about my time there and what I accomplished during my tenure there.

That all changed the last few years as I fell in love with paddle boarding and all its disciplines. I started learning, racing and touring. Everything would come in to place during the spring,summer and fall, but, it would disintegrate in to the slop of winter when the snow came.

I was able to paddle for some time on the local rivers and bits of unfrozen lakes that had not accepted the ravages of winters ice. My frustration grew as the drive to Squamish was not only taking its toll on our poor car, pocket book and my time.

After a few years of discussing this with my partner we decided to do the do and move. We originally looked at Sechelt but once we saw the prices we realized we could not afford it. So….

Here we are now loving our new environ and denizens all the while exploring the bounty here.

I/we cant wait to share more experiences and adventures as the journey continues. Thanks for sticking around.

I am so excited to announce my recent appointment of ambassador for Fanatic Sup. To say anything else but gratitude would be an understatement. Fanatic is a legendary company that has been around since 1981! Their boards and all their products are top notch and built in the same facilities as other top boards.

The model I am riding for the majority of my training is the Blitz, 14×25.5. I also have the Ray Air Premium for touring and some lake days. The Blitz handles all conditions favourably. From ocean mayhem to calm lake days. Upwinding, Quartering, Downwinding, Island crossings are all comfortably managed with the Blitz. With the current width on my Blitz at 25.5 it is surprisingly stable. The secondary stability is also quite comforting.

The Ray Air Premium is a fantastically lively and playful for a 13.6 inflatable touring board. Not to the point of being challenging. Looking forward to loading it up shortly for some winter sup camping.

We finally did it. 26 years in Whistler and the truck got loaded and we did some driving and ferry riding.

Coasters be us now. It is exciting to explore all the potential options. It seemed that with Whistlers waters

freezing for 5 plus months of the year I would have left previously. I did too. It took time for us to make

the move. Eventually, it all worked and I can never use the excuse, the waters frozen or, whatever. So

stoked to have this opportunity. I will take advantage of it. Stay tuned. ps it is an old photo but I love it.

That time again!

We know it and live through it every year.

No biggy! We will ride it out.

Even though this is an anomaly, it will subside.

So lets do that and put on your dry suits and get out there.

Have fun and be safe.

And take lots of pics.

Unless your under a rock for the last year and a half you are well aware of the pandemic plaguing our world. The corona virus. If you are a anti vaxxer or non believer or just not wanting to partake in the inoculation for your self. May I ask that you do something not for yourself, but, for someone around you. Someone loved, a family member, a partner, a buddy, whatever.
Please think of others. This is not about you and your ideals. Or, that you think this some kind of conspiracy promoted by our governments, please. Take your head out of the sand and do something for someone other than yourself.
Grow up! No one really wants to get a needle. No one wants to sit in line waiting for this and then feeling the side effects. No one wants any of those negatives. As well as, no one wants to see a loved one die needlessly because of your particular viewpoint.
To put it in a nutshell. Your not smart enough to argue with the people of science out there dedicated to protect us from this virus and all other viruses and ills that face us daily.
Now! Go roll up your sleeve and get er done!
Not for you. But, for your mom, your pop, uncle, neighbour, friend, lover, brother, just get it done!
Go. Do it.

Nothing can be better than to plunge oneself in the healing powers of water. I dont mean literally but in an immersive sense, or, if you do want to go in, on top, by or around the presence of water.

It has long be documented that it holds many curative abilities that we do not fully understand as yet. Many scholar and mystic will acknowledge this fact. I, myself can attest to it and the power of water and its spirituality and healing powers.

Think, the last time you went to the beach. You sat on a dock. Took a boat ride. Went swimming at a local pool. When you returned you felt rejuvenated, relaxed and maybe? even temporarily, content.

I know I do and as usual I hope you do as well.

Take the moment or two to do this and you will see what a difference it makes to your health and well being. I for one can not wait to get back on the water and immerse my self in the bounty of water. Even though it has been only a day it feels much longer.

Tomorrow cant come fast enough.

See you there.