I Gotta Tell You About Philippe!

So I gotta tell you about Philippe! This guy totally blew my mind. He was a member of the BOSS masters team (athletes over the age of 40), and his team came in 3rd place overall. Those are some fast guys, I don't care how old they are!

Philippe Boccara is a six-time olympian kayaker. He competed for France, and later for the US in kayaking, starting in 1980, and going all the way until the year 2000. Yes you read that right: SIX-TIME OLYMPIAN!! Honestly, when I heard that, it didn't quite make sense; you might as well say he's from planet Krypton. However, when you lay eyes on Philippe, it all makes sense: he is approximately eight feet tall, and his shoulders are so wide, and his hands are so big, he doesn't even use a paddle -- he just windmill's his arms through the water at like 20 knots! I never saw Philippe without a giant smile on his face. Philippe strikes me as the kind of guy who could prove himself handy in a wide variety of situations. "Uh-oh I'm trapped under a boulder -- Philippe, could you move that for me?" or perhaps "Uh-oh, I'm in a bar-fight against six other guys -- quickly Philippe, make fists with your hands and spin 'round like a top. I shall duck!"

Here he is, smiling kayaker god that he is:

Note: the man Philippe is standing next to is not short. In fact he's above average height. 

While Philippe is obviously a kayaking wonder, he's also clearly a little spacey. First off there was a rumor swirling around Ski to Sea that Philippe once slept through one of his olympic events. This has yet to be confirmed, but if it did happen, I'm sure the French didn't mind too much: "ah c'est la vie Philippe -- I 'ope at least you 'ad a nice snooze!"

Second, according to numerous sources, Philippe was engaged in conversation when his team's mountain biker finished his leg. Someone came running down to alert him: "Philippe, it's time to paddle!" Off he went, kayak in hand. He still got his boat to the water in time, but barely. 

Third, Philipe nearly missed the final buoy. We were all sitting on the beach, waiting for him arrive. Instead of heading straight for the buoy some 300 meters off the shore, Philippe emerges following the coastline tightly. People yell and point, and eventually Philippe realizes his error. He has to double back, certainly costing him the "top gun" award for the fastest kayaker (he lost it by a mere 18 seconds -- the results are skewed). 

"PHILIPPE -- THE BUOY!!! THERE'S ANOTHER BUOY!!!!"

Lastly, after exiting his kayak, Philippe comes charging up the hill with his trademark grin: 

He flies through the finishing chute, awarding high-fives to spectators along the way, and runs straight past the bell. Once again, the crowd alerts Philippe to his error, and once again, Philippe has plenty of time to double back and ring the bell, thus officially stopping the clock for his team. 

"Philippe, you must ring the bell!"

Philippe Boccara is a man who will loom large in my memories from hence forth.  Thank you Philippe -- spacey or not, you are a god among men. Keep paddling!

Ski To Sea

Krogg begin ski to sea early in morning. Krogg walk downstairs feeling very sleepy at this early early hour, only to find wonderful teammate already pour cup of coffee for Krogg! Gosh that great way to start race day. Then Krogg drive to parking lot where we wait for runner to tag Krogg. Let Krogg explain: Ski to Sea is relay race. First, cross country skier start. Then him tag uphill/downhill skier. Then him tag runner. Then finally him tag Krogg. Here is view of mountains near parking lot: 

Here is view of runner finish line. Krogg warm up nearby. Thank goodness for no rain!

First runner to finish is for Barron Heating. Him come and tag Adrian. Adrian take off very fast, and Krogg hope that BOSS runner not far behind. Finally Spencer (BOSS runner) come in and tag Krogg, and Krogg start! This time trial very very long. Krogg all by himself all day, and only caught sight of Adrian once or twice. At finish, Krogg tag BOSS canoeists, and then collapse on grass. Big ouch. Then Krogg drive from canoe start to finishline, and listen to AM radio live coverage of race! Krogg's canoeists retake lead! Yippy! At finish line, Krogg amazed with how many people there are! Here is bluff overlooking water. People all looking for first Kayaker.   

Here fast Kayaks: 

Here two spectators: 

BOSS WIN RACE!!! Here after party. This very good BBQ, thanks to BOSS Construction. 

This teammate Steve Fisher. Steve, who's the BOSS? 

Steve race mountain bike leg of relay. Him go very fast (like lightning!), and this make Steve very hungry (like hippo!). Here steve attack hamburger with gusto: 

This Max Taam. Him do uphill/downhill race. Max have big smile because team win (and because fruit salad at BBQ contain mango, and Max Taam LOOOOOOVES mango!): 

This Ivan. Ivan do nordic skiing leg. Ivan very fast skier, plus Ivan hail from both Russia and Canada, so Ivan pretty cool caveman. 

Team win!

This BOSS construction team, with sponsors and everybody. Sponsors very happy with race outcome. Racers happy too. 

Krogg go fastest time of day! 

GOOOOO BOSS!!!

Who's the BOSS????

Who's the BOSS? I'm now the BOSS (or at least part of the BOSS). That's right, the BOSS Construction Ski-to-Sea team is going to do some serious damage this weekend. Do any of you realize how friggin' good my ski-to-sea team is? I didn't think so. Let's just put it this way:

Steve Fisher just put aerobars on his mountain bike. He is going to crush.

Ivan Babikov just got back from Vancouver. Where he competed. In the Olympics. I'm not saying there couldn't be a faster skier out there on Sunday, but since there are only four to choose from, it's not likely.

Spencer Walsh is busy polishing his new Whidby Island Marathon Overall Winner trophy.

Max Taam can climb to the top of a mountain in the snow, and then ski down that mountain, in about the same amount of time it takes you to squeeze into ski boots.

Eric Moll knows what he's doing here: he was the fastest kayaker at Ski-to-Sea in 2009.

When Bill Torongo and Steven Corlew paddle a canoe, they have to use the paddle equivalent of a 56-tooth chain ring.

And me. I have to make sure I pull my own weight on this team -- but it's a good thing I'm heavy: 45-mile downhill time trial? I can do downhill.

Last but not least, our fearless leader Tony Velasco. Tony is kind of like a mafia don: he can "make things happen," in a hurry if necessary. Never cross Tony.

Check out the team's website. Also -- all you other Ski-to-Sea teams -- you can consider this official "shit talk."