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Since the destruction and recovery of US 17, the crew of Oracle Racing have found themselves a little out of sync with the usual program. The wing parts have been collected, assembled an measured by an official Americas Cup Judge Official. The hull itself have been taken apart and inspected, the entire racing crew pitching in on the process. But things have slowed down and the usual rigorous workouts on board the boat have ceased.
To keep in shape and in tune, some of the crew have taken to SUP for morning work outs at the base at Pier 80. Yet the morning work out doesn't have quite enough punch for a select few, in that mix, Shannon Falcone and Jimmy Spithill.
This week they have been visited by a friend and professional SUP paddle boarder Chase Kosterlitz of Watermonkeyshop.com and Fanatic SUP Fanatic SUP. Chase, is centered out of St. Pete Beach Florida, and met Shannon during the Hi Ho in the BVI's last year and was introduced to Jimmy during a Paddle Board contest in South Lake Tahoe earlier this year.
An extra curricular to help burn up that excess energy was the ticket this Tuesday as the Bay Area was basking in record setting temps for November, 80 degrees in the City Bay the Bay. A down winder from the Golden Gate to Gas House Cove was proposed by Jimmy, and without much pleading. Shannon and Chase were on it.
One caveat, two of the high tech Puma, Laird Hamilton designed course racing boards the guys usually use had been implemented into a side project, the Spirit of 17 , a late entry into this weekends Red Bull Flutag at McCovey Cove this weekend. Shannon will pilot the craft to its ultimate demise on Saturday, and it just happens the Jimmy will be working the judges booth. Sounds like an inside job!
Fortunately, Chase carries a nice stash of Fanatic gear with him and has provide the team with 8 new Fanantic SUP course boards, so the workouts could continue. A mellow jaunt to the gate was in the program, but the guys rounded the corner into the golden, fading daylight and commence on a burn run, headed off towards Mile Rock. Had the impending sunset and following darkness not interfered, the guy just might have done it.
Chase has won some impressive contests and is keenly aware of the talent which thrives in the Pro SUP Course Racing circuit and acknowledges that Jimmy and Shannon could easily insert themselves into the top bracket if they were not otherwise occupied. "They really possess that competitive drive" Chase explains " There is now quit.
In that vein, as the trio headed back toward the Gate and ultimately Gas House Cove, a spontaneous wager was announced, the last one back, buys diner. With the building ebb, the guys had their work cut out for them, but with the gorgeous balmy weather, the race was on! It took another 1/2 hour of steady work with Jimmy and Chase slowly pulling away towards the end, yet Shannon employed the double secret tow option for the last couple hundred yards and surfed to victory in style at 15 knots!!*
* (the victory was denied later by a kangaroo court at a local Marina eatery)