5.45am training start. Beautiful but ominous sunrise ahead of a storm.
I am currently training harder than I have ever trained before – multiple workouts a day, lots of cardio, full body exercises with kettle bells and as much time on the water as possible. I’ve trained hard before of course – trained hard for rugby, trained hard for competitive Judo, and of course trained hard to overcome significant physical injuries. What makes this training so different, and perhaps more intense, is that it’s driven by fear.
6.20am. Training alone in 15knt winds and chop, watching the storm build.
At the end of June this year I will be flying with a couple of friends to Mauritius, a little tropical island in the Indian Ocean somewhere near Africa. Once a year they hold a paddling race there – a 28km ocean race for surf skis – a race than I am attempting to enter. A race that is included as an official event on the Surfski World Series calendar. A race for professional, if not very serious, ski paddlers.
Of course I’ve taken part in lots of races – the 18km Lifestart Kayak for Kids, the 11km Bridge to Beach, a few 10km Summer Series races, and of course the 111km Haweksbury Canoe Classic. But I’ve never taken on a race that is truly at sea, a race that has had 20 foot surf breaks to get out and back in through, or a race that is entirely professional ski paddlers. In fact, I’ve never really paddled a surf ski – a pencil thin super-tippy boat for fit slim-hipped athletes.
7.30am. The skies open with a deluge, but at least it flattens out the water!
So with less than 6 months to go, and the help of a few people and local businesses, I’ve started to train. The crew at Slipstream Surf and Stellar Kayaks kindly organised the delivery of a loan Stellar SR surf ski to help me kick off my surf ski experience. Nat from SydneySurfski.com and Malcolm from Carbonology Australia lent me a number of wing paddles to experiment with. Ben from Benefit Active built out my training programs and worked with me on nutritional structures to support my goals. All that is left is…. to actually train!
8.30am. Despite the rain, TFP beginners play with different surf skis. And swim a lot!
So with the footage of the Island Shamaal fresh in my mind, my training has begun. The goals are simple – lose 20kgs, build up lots of core strength, learn to stay on a surf ski on the ocean and get fit enough to race in Mauritius. And of course don’t die whilst I’m out there, the fear of which is giving me all the motivation I need to train my guts out! Cheers, FP
The journey to Mauritius is being documented on our new site, Mauritius Paddlers. You can also follow us on Twitter (@PaddleOrDrown) and Facebook (Facebook.com/MauritusPaddlers).
Bin job man. 20kg!! Good on yah buddy, train hard!! Proud of yah.
Cheers Lee. Have already dropped over 10kg since I started training a month ago. 🙂
After paddling with you on the weekend, I realised, I don’t know you anymore, man! What happened to the old Sean Smith I used to know and love?
Who was that 10kg lighter guy who politely declined a buttered hot cross bun not once, but twice? Where did that ‘muffin top’ go that used to bulge out like lateral stabilisers from the kayak seat when I looked at you from behind? Who was that guy with the sleek surf ski and wing paddle who burned off away from me down the creek on Saturday, no matter how hard I pushed my fairly quick Tahe Wind?
Please, reassure me this is just a phase, that after the fear and adrenaline of the Mauritius Classic is over, we can sit back with a sausage and a beer and talk about who will be slower and slacker than who in next year’s classic?
Meanwhile, keep up the effort, you’re making impressively tangible progress.
There was no sausage or even bacon and egg roll that day . I think we all practised self rescue that day and yes it was in the confines of the breakwater . I have never fallen in soo much but now I know I can get back in there than that I loved the day and thank Malcom from Carbonogy for giving a seaman nuffy like me a go on the Zest . For those that don’t know I work for V8 supercars and this day was much like a V8 practise session ..go out test come back in change tyres..paddles….refuel…coffee I mean and go round and round and round on the circuit .
Some days don’t start the greatest but turn out brilliant and this was one of those …
Mogo
Careful, lad. Better not skip out on too many pints and sausages or yer mates be calling you the “Lean, Mean Paddler”. Seriously, you rock, FP! Go for it!
Well done Sean on the training and the weight loss
Had my first crack on a ski recently, first impression it will never happen.
Still wrapped paddling the OC1 but keen to get it happening on the ski
Keep it up, good to know you’re on track for Mauritius
Rgds Tony
Maaate. Maaaaate. Looks like FP will not be FP any more. Way to go buddy !
Are you including open ocean paddling in your training ?
No matter how I look on the outside, I’ll always be a Fat Paddler on the inside. 😉
And yes, will have to incorporate ocean paddling in the training. Not quite ready for that yet, but I’ll have to get amongst it soon.