Santa Monica Pier 360
" It was the hardest physical thing I've ever done"
by LynAnne Escatel
( New Member from California)
This past weekend I participated in the Santa Monica Pier 360 Race. This is a two day festival celebrating decades of surf, paddleboard and lifeguard history. I entered the 5 mile distance race and the technical sprint race. I’ve been racing for about three years and wanted to push myself to do something new. This would be the first time I entered a technical race. Que the butterflies.
In the long distance race it started out gorgeous and warm. The sun arrived and it was a low tide with very little surf. This course was a triangle shape and we had to make two loops. The first loop around was nice and smooth. During the second loop I suddenly felt the wind arrive. As I felt the wind get stronger I knew that when I turned the buoy it would be a hard paddle. I looked to see how far anyone was behind me. I purposely slowed my stroke down just enough to slow my breathing down and prepare for the harder paddle. When I turned I was right. The wind was in my face. I paddled hard for a while and then again slowed it down to find a rhythm.
I started to hear another paddler so I paddled a little quicker. I repeated this a few times. After the second buoy, top of the triangle, it got even harder because now I was fighting side chop and the start of white caps. After the last buoy it got a little easier knowing the end was near, but I still had to make it all the way into the beach and run up to the finish line. I grew up in the desert and 18 years in NYC. I only started to surf this past year so any beach finish makes me both excited and nervous. As I came into the beach I remembered to look behind me and was able to catch a nice little bump to ride all the way in. Then the long run up the beach to the finish line. I absolutely do not like to run, blah!
For the technical race we had two heats. The average of the two would determine our placement. The course was M shaped, so we had to go in and out of the surf twice. A total of 4 times. Here is what I remember:
IT WAS THE HARDEST PHYSICAL THING I HAVE EVER DONE!
The first heat my adrenaline was so high that the details are very fuzzy. I do know as I came in for the ending I was exhausted and suddenly heard everyone yelling for me to paddle hard. I knew immediately I was late and I ate it on a wave as I was coming in. At this point in my surf experience I'm great at falling and getting back up. I got back on my board and took the last few strokes I needed to get in and finish the race. Did I mention the long run up the beach, ugh! The best was all the other ladies waiting to pour cold water on my head and encourage me to get ready to do it again.
The second heat I was exhausted so I took my time and had a much cleaner race. I was actually doing better than I thought but just as I got to the last turn, pop, I fell off my board. I have no idea if I bumped the buoy or just lost my balance but I was in the water before I knew it. I even lost my paddle. I collected myself back onto the board and took a deep breath. I knew this would be my last chance for a clean finish. I took some nice easy breathes and a few paddles later I felt my board starting to glide. I caught a great wave and I was able to ride it into the beach. One final run up to the finish line! Whew, I did it. I kind of wanted to die of exhaustion, but overall I was proud that I pushed myself to do something new. I woke up the
next morning feeling every day of my 44.6 years, but also like a rockstar. I pushed myself to do something so uncomfortable and with some incredible paddlers. Women I have been watching and I think are bad asses. I can’t wait to do it again.
