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REEF MADNESS VI: the World’s #1 Sea Kayaking Race

“If this race were in New Zealand or Australia, there would be 100 competitors and over a thousand spectators,” said Kenny Howell, this year’s winner of Reef Madness VI Extreme Sea Kayaking Race, the 26th race held at Miramar Beach in Half Moon Bay, California on May Day.  As it was, 13 kayaks, including three doubles, took off through easy three-foot surf and headed for Pillar Point.  The rudder broke off one boat at the start, and one kayaker had to turn back because of shoulder issues, but all the rest, including two strong women, finished with ease—which is a first!

REEF MADNESS VI: Power to the Paddle!

Usually, the sea conditions are much worse, so it was a blessing to race under sunny skies in balmy conditions.  Two days before the race, wind gusted to 30 knots, and the seas were big and confused.  The day before the race, the surf at Miramar was coming in at five feet and the wind blew at a steady 20 knots.

Young Michael and Old Michael hoist the flags the day before the Reef Madness VI race
Young Michael and Old Michael hoist the flags the day before the Reef Madness VI race

Young Michael and Old Michael worked like busy sea elves to get the flags and the flotsam shipshape for the race.  They did a great job and once again the phalanx of pirate flags flew proudly in front of Old Michael’s and his wife Nani’s Viking abode, headquarters of the Tsunami Rangers kayaking tribe.

Old Glory flies high at the Reef Madness VI Extreme Sea Kayaking Race

Mighty Matt Krizan gave the safety talk this year, and he stressed that boaters would be on their own but must assist anyone in distress.  He said that even though conditions at the point would not be as bad as past races (no 12-foot breakers onto rocks), boats could still be damaged and it was okay to chicken out.  My favorite line:  “Destruction is the better part of valor.”

Mighty Matt Krizan delivers the “safety talk” before the race

As the start horn blasted, my race partner Jim Kakuk and I were first in the water, and led the pack for a good ten seconds.  We were quickly overtaken by Scott Becklund and Steve King, who ended up getting second place in the race.  Somehow they did this after capsizing twice—once in the slot at Pillar Point and once at the turnaround surfing beach at Ross’ Cove.  As soon as we saw we weren’t going to win, Jim and I, being gentlemen, let folks pass us.  We enjoyed the view along the way, paid attention while paddling through Mavericks, just in case a big one snuck in, and chatted the entire way.

Kenny Howell heads toward shore in first place
Kenny Howell crosses the finish line, the winner of the Reef Madness VI race

Kenny Howell, paddling an Epic V-10 Sport, came in first with a time of 57:37.  He was followed by Becklund and King in a Tsunami X-2.  Third place was grabbed by Bill Vonnegut, last year’s co-winner.  Bob Stender and Michael Powers got fourth place, and famous author (see the latest SEA KAYAKER magazine) Gregg Berman nabbed fifth.  The rest of us came in when we did.

2nd place finishers Scott Becklund (left) and Steve King confer with their coach, Maya King

After the race, we all enjoyed a fabulous feast and listened to magnificent music by New Bop and the headliner band—the South City Blues Band.  Sultry Singer Susan sang with both bands, and a swinging time was had by all.  I did the talking at the microphone this year, as Ed Anderson, the very capable MC of Reef Madness, was busy doing Dragnet in Los Angeles.  Ed is a cop, and duty called.

Young Michael receives the Service Award for flying the colors on race day

Every racer received a survival certificate, and a few were handed prizes, ranging from a genuine Yuban cigar to blow-up photos of a male model carrying a kayak that Michael foisted on some of the finishers.  However, the grand prize was truly worth it.  Kenny received a GoPro HD SurfHero video camera for getting first place.  He was very happy.

Okay, this year’s race was not the #1 sea kayaking race in the world, it was not even the biggest open coast race, but it ranked among the best.  Personally, I’m glad we did not have 100 competitors and over a thousand spectators.  After all, this is not a big wave surf contest, for Pete’s sake.  It’s just people messin’ about in boats.  And there ain’t nothin’ better than that.

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  1. Fat Paddler says

    The Bridge to Beach event in Sydney from a few weeks ago had a couple of hundred paddlers fighting massive ocean swell all in the name of competition and fun, although admittedly our helmets and costumes were no-where near as good as those from the Reef Madness. No bands either, although we did manage to find Belgium beer! Perhaps next year we need to send a team of Aussie paddlers complete with Bundy Rum and didgeridoos and show you how a REAL nation of convicts and pirates does it – yarrrrr!

    http://fatpaddler.com/2011/04/race-report-bridge-to-beach-2011/

  2. Kenny Howell says

    Holy Reefer Madness, this was a fun day! Eric, I fogot to mention at the awards ceremony that it was the #1 BEST POST-RACE PARTY ever!!! I was having so much fun, people were asking what drugs I had taken. Precious few kayaking competitions have any audience participation whatsoever. This one has plenty. Women, wine, blues, and ocean kayaking. Way to get down! Thanks for keeping it going. It’s a life-affirming celebration, if that’s not over-reaching.

    Hey Fat Paddler – even you would have been impressed with the dugout canoe loaded with ice cold beer – all you could drink (I drank a boat load).
    With love, -Kenny

  3. John Lull says

    One of these days, I guess I’ll do the race again, but I’ve been having too much fun playing my sax in South City Blues Band. We always have a great time and really enjoy watching the dancers while we play. Micheal & Nani have the perfect location, great acoustics out there on the deck, and the whole thing is festive. Maybe next year we’ll get a bigger turnout, like in the old days!

    Where have all the kayak racers gone? At least I have an excuse, having to provide the music…

    Thanks to Ed (in absentia) and all who help put on Reef Madness.

  4. Eric Soares says

    Thanks for the nice sentiments, Kenny and John. I agree wholeheartedly. I must say the South City Blues Band sounded the best they ever have, and I can’t see how that’s possible. Kudos!

    FP, I really enjoyed reading your write-up of the Aussie race, but I did not see any “massive ocean swell” photos. Everyone should hop over to his website and check out the video at the end. After you see it, you’ll forever “look on the bright side of life.”

    • Fat Paddler says

      Yes, well Eric, unlike the Tsunami Ranger motto of “I aint scared of nothing”, I’m actually quite scared of 2-3 metre (7′ to 11′) ocean waves. In fact, to coin a phrase, I was way too SHIT-SCARED to pull out my camera! But then, us Team Fat Paddlers are but mere mortals. Needless to say it was the most scared I’ve been paddling, which made the beer at the end taste SO much better! 😉

  5. Eric Soares says

    FP, I admit I don’t like to race in 3-meter waves either, especially if they’re breaking on rocks and there’s a howling 30-knot wind accompanying them.

    We didn’t have Belgian beer at our party (I really like it), but had to settle for clean-tasting Mexican lager (Corona) and German beer (Spaten Optimator), which is one of my personal favorites. I think you would’ve liked the feast which consisted of pork loin roast, baked ham, baked Hubbard squash with apples & wild rice, cucumber vinaigrette salad, a leafy green spring salad, roasted miniature white potatoes, Mexican rice, hummus and pita bread, watermelon slices, assorted fruit, and Michael Powers’ famous “Miramar Potato Salad”, which is to die for. Then there was the dessert tray, and local red and white wines to suit anyone’s palate.

    Because the feast is pot luck, you never know what the food selection will be. It has always been great. One year we had freshly caught barbecued salmon with mango chutney, coupled with a mixed lettuce salad and a scoop of jasmine rice. That would catch your interest! Another year someone brought a barrel of freshly cooked king crab. As you can see, we live pretty high on the hog around here. You would love it and are hereby officially invited to next year’s race (oh yeah, it’s free!). It should be happening at the same place about the same time.

  6. Fat Paddler says

    My goodness, I’m drooling into my keyboard. Invite noted, please resend closer to the date, if I can get there at that time I’d love to come. 🙂

  8. Tess says

    Brilliant combination Eric – a little healthy competition, genuine camaraderie, great venue, entertainment and costumes. I would enter just for the post-race festivities.
    Might have to get some race tips from Nancy…
    Tess

  9. Nancy Soares says

    I also thought this was one of the best parties. I missed the race as I was doing a martial arts workout at my old dojo that morning but I arrived just as the party got started. I always love dancing to the South City Blues Band. I think one of the reasons it was so good this year was that with fewer people the party seemed more intimate, less manic and intense. I actually got to have conversations with people. And after all, all the important people were there:) I also think Dream Machines, the local car/plane/miscellaneous machines show, which normally is NOT held on the same day as the race but was this year, contributed to the no-shows. Everyone knows traffic is horrendous during Dream Machines, so I bet a lot of people stayed away for that reason. Next year it’ll probably be business as usual for the race, but that’s good too.

    • John Lull says

      Hey Nancy, we love it when you dance! The more dancers, the better. I don’t think people really know how much more enjoyable it is for the band when at least some of the audience is up there dancing. It becomes a group participation thing at that point.

      And I should have mentioned earlier that we are VERY appreciative of the tips. It’s the dancers and the tips that make it doable for us. And the other guys in the band (who aren’t Tsunami Rangers) are then eager to play. I can’t ask them to work for nothing. Of course I’d do this party for free out of the generosity of my heart; that’s the kinda guy I am! 🙂

  10. Fat Paddler says

    Bloody hell! I just bought a book last night here in Sydney about sea kayaking safety and rescue. By John Lull. Surely not the same one??

    • John Lull says

      Bloody right, Fat Paddler. And thanks for buying the book. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Wait, let me rephrase that. Hope you enjoy reading it even more than that…

      I had to start playing music for a living when I found out writing a kayaking book wouldn’t pay the bills. This just shows how high my priority is for making the big bucks.

  11. Eric Soares says

    Yes, FP, that “Sea Kayaking Safety & Rescue” book is by the multitalented John Lull, sax player extraordinaire. His hero is Charlie “Bird” Parker, and it shows in his playing. John’s a pretty good kayaker, too!

    Tess, we’d love to have you and Gnarly Dog join up with Team Fat Paddler and make a pilgrimage to Miramar for the race next year. Nancy will not only give you some race tips, but will show you some great dance moves as well.