The 2019 surfski race season is fast approaching and I am excited to introduce Austin’s Blog Series where he will share his thoughts, experience and commentary centered around each event on the calendar. Our intent is to provide first hand insight and perspective as Austin trains and prepares for each event, plans his race, executes and reflects on his performance. We expect to learn what it takes (the good, bad and sometimes ugly), to compete at an elite level in the greatest races around the world. Personally, I have enormous respect for the grit and dedication that it takes to reach this level of performance, and specific respect for Austin for his leadership and dedication to growing the sport of surfski here in the US. Enjoy.
Race day came with a torrential morning downpour. Though everything cleared up well in time for the start of the long course, the race organizers decided to remove the ocean section of the course and reroute the race completely in the protected flatwater, just in case.
The NAC Classic falls almost perfectly 5 weeks after my first session of 2019. I chose to compete in this race for three reasons. First, it is a flatter race and due to the colder weather in San Fran and avoiding rougher conditions for my shoulder, I have been focusing my early season on flatwater technique, efficiency, and aerobic base.
The 2019 season has begun in earnest. This January has been one of the lightest volume training months of my surfski career, but it has also been marked by quality, sustainability and self-improvement. Coming off an injury in 2018, I spent much of December resting and rehabbing my injured shoulder.