30 Years of Madness and Mayhem – The History of the Tsunami Rangers Sea Kayak Race

Editor’s Note: The Tsunami race wasn’t always held in May but over the years as the race got kicked out of venue after venue the first weekend in May became the annual date for the raucous event, and the standing venue became Michael Powers’ house at Miramar Beach in Half Moon Bay. Recently, Adm. Kuk has been going through the archives, and this year our May posts represent his work. To celebrate the race we’re running four (4!) race articles, three written by Cdr. Eric Soares and one by TR John Lull. Each Monday in May we’ll post an article describing the early races, illustrated by photos taken by a gallery of photographers. This is the first installment, covering the 1988 race. Enjoy!

The Golden Gate Kayak Meet – August 1988
by Eric Soares  

I dreamed it. I dreamed that Alex Oppedyk would finally win the Golden Gate Kayak Race, eight miles of grueling exposed coastline. Two years ago, the year that big Steve Sinclair cinched first, Alex placed third, a split second behind Greg Gilhome. Last year, the incomparable John Weed inched Alex out of a first place trophy. This year, Alex, John and Steve would face each other again. Only this year, Alex would prove his mettle.

 The Surf Zone Slalom 

Rodeo Beach at the Marin Headlands was the site once again for this year’s bronco busting Golden Gate Kayak Meet, sponsored by the Tsunami Rangers on June 12, 1988. The first event was a surf zone slalom, actually more of a sprint, to see who could get in, through, and out of  the surf the fastest. At the sound of a horn, seven kayakers burst through the first wave and  headed toward Michael Powers, a human buoy filming the event from his T-slalom. Steve Sinclair in his yumyum yellow Odyssea rounded the buoy first, followed by Eric Soares and Jim Kakuk in Tsunami X-1s. Nancy Dagle led Tom (Bak Bok) Monaghan and the Nagle brothers around the mark and everyone sped back to shore, pursued by two seven-foot rogue waves. Sinclair, Kakuk, and Soares lucked out and beat the waves to shore. The rest of the group got stomped, including the buoy. The meet got off to a good start.

The next scheduled event was the surf zone relay, in which teams of three kayakers storm up and down the beach in a frenzy. Last year the Tsunami Rangers won, so they mustered up a team consisting of Kakuk, Soares and Dave Nagle. Steve Sinclair’s Force Ten team were out sick this year, so he was searching for some brace souls to race with. Everyone chickened out with excuses like, “I be saving myself for the eight-mile race.” What fidelity. What valor. We cancelled the relay. Boo.

 The Beeg Race  

Everyone was lined up on the beach, waiting for the big wave set that would trigger the start  horn. HONNKK! They were off, with Jon Hale and Creig Hoyt in the Tofino (doubles) and Alex Oppedyk in his Arluk sharing the lead. Four boats failed to make it through the five-foot  dumpers. One man was hit on the head and dislocated his shoulder. He dropped out of the race. The other three valiantly shot through the breakers and followed the leaders through the channel and around Point Bonita toward the Golden Gate.

Alex surfed all the way to the bridge, turned upwind and fought the current, the 20-knot wind, and the waves all the way back to Rodeo Beach. John Weed was at his side, racing Alex with head down and arms pumping steadily. Alex gradually surged ahead, paddled to the beach, and ran across the finish line with his kayak in tow. Alex had won… by four minutes! Alex Oppedyk was the undisputed champion of the Golden Gate Race. The dream came true.

Racers received lots of prizes from Colorado Kayak Supply, California Canoe and Kayak, Sea Trek, and Monterey Bay Kayaks. Steve Sinclair, winner of the Surf Zone Slalom, was awarded a camouflage WAVE WARRIOR helmet. Jon Hale and Creig Hoyt, winner of the doubles category in the Golden Gate Race, each got Stohlquist dry suit tops. Alex Oppedyk won $300 worth of kayak videography from Michael Powers’ Studio. Everyone agreed it was another great Golden Gate Kayak Meet.

1988 GOLDEN GATE KAYAK MEET RESULTS

Surf Zone Slalom (Sprint) Winning time = 1:14  

1. Steve Sinclair – Odyssea Ski  
2. Jim Kakuk – Tsunami X-1  
3. Eric Soares – Tsunami X-1  
4. Tom Monaghan – Perception Dancer  
5. Nancy Dagle – Custom Slalom  
6. Dave Nagle – Tsunami X-1  
7. John Nagle – Scupper

Team Surf Zone Relay (cancelled – not enough teams – cowards!!)  

Golden Gate Race (8 miles – singles) Winning time = 1:20:10  

1. Alex Oppedyk – Arluk 1 
2. John Weed – Arluk Phantom  
3. Doug Conner – Arluk 2  
4. Steve Sinclair – Odyssea Ski  
5. Jim Michaels – Arluk 2  
6. Eric Soares – Tsunami X-1  
7. Val Licon – Arluk 2  
8. Glen Glichrist – Tsunami X-1  
9. John Dixon – Odyssea Ski
10. Steve Wisbaum – Sea Runner
11. John Jeppeson – Odyssea Ski

DNF – Brian Vaughan – Arluk 3

  Golden Gate Race (doubles) 

1. John Hayle/Creig Hoyt – Arluk Tofino  
2. Jim Hartman/James Arnold – Seascape  
3. Dave Nagle/John Nagle – Arluk Tofino

We hope you enjoyed this window into the early days of the Tsunami Ranger sea kayak race. Were you there? Were you square? Tell us about it! Thanks for reading, and see you next week for Part Two of the History of  the Tsunami Rangers Sea Kayak Race!   

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us