Finally!

I had the opportunity last week to participate in the SEA Paddle NYC 2012 thanks to Life Dot Sport! It was a beautiful sunny morning at the crack of 8:00am and the paddlers were off to an amazing start on the Hudson. It was quite a view, seeing SUPers paddling along the beautiful NYC skyline. I felt like I was in the city amidst nature! or the other way around?!

Our Life Dot Sport sailboat followed and cheered the paddlers on just passed the U.S.S Interepid. We had to turn around and meet them on the East River so we could make the transition of assisting and handing out water and power bars to the paddlers who were soon to be nearing the finish line in a couple hours.

After a smooth sailboat ride around southern Manhattan our engine stopped! But that didn't stop me from cheering on the paddlers going by! Keeping the morale of the paddlers was my objective and that I did! Our Life Dot Sport captain and sailboat owner and team worked fervently to keep the ship moving and eventually we were back in business.

Immediately after, I jumped ship onto a dinghy boat with the sailboat owner and off we were to catch up with the paddlers to hand off bottled water and power bars, well er, Snickers bars - they satisfy you! It was a bumpy ride but nonetheless exciting to see the paddlers focused and persevering the waves of the East River - carefully avoiding any fall unless our dinghy ran into them. Whoops! *Note for next year 

It was impressive to watch the paddlers make their way to the finish - all for a good cause! Most were in good spirits, others were barely hanging on because of dehydration and fatigue. We towed 2 paddlers and helped them to the finish. I cheered and encouraged best as I could and to get a "smile" or a "shaka" in return was enough to keep momentum. I thought to myself, "I wanna do this next year!" (the 4 mile part of the race that is :)

After sailing and tossing water bottles to as many paddlers as we could, we made our way to the finish line and there was a warm welcome for all paddlers. Loud cheers and groups of onlookers, tourists, friends and family alike were standing by yelling and cheering on the brave paddlers.

The after party continued to celebrate the event at the Beekman Beer Garden/Dos Equis party at Southstreet Seaport. Life Dot Sport hit the interview platform where I finally met the lovely Darian Boyle and we instantly clicked with high energy. I made a few new friends in the sport of surfing and surf media, Jeff Salmon (Elmwood Road Productions) and David Cicero (www.theSurfersView.com). I also met paddling participants like David Chokachi (actor from Bay Watch/Surfer Rider Foundation) and winner of the Women's division Anabel? from New Zealand. And of course I met the super cool and kind, Rich Lee (Executive Director of SEA Paddle NYC).

The "dress in all white" party continued into the night with great food, auction prizes and inspiring speeches. The SEA Paddle NYC cake topped off the night with a sweet sense of surf/paddling pride.

I'm looking forward to 2013!!!