Downwind Camp: 2024 I AM SPEED (Copy)

Downwind Camp: 2024 I AM SPEED (Copy)

I started dancing when I was 4 years old. After months of classes, we would be taught a routine that we would then perform in a recital. This would become a regular recurrence in my life from then on.  As I got older, I started doing competitions.  My dance studio would have extra rehearsals on the weekends to prepare besides our regular classes during the week: tap, ballet (usually 3 hours a week), hip hop, tumbling, turns class, and countless jazz classes.  When I was picked to perform on Star Search, we would rehearse before school and after our regular dance classes.  I remember in jr. high school, I would wear a t-shirt that said “Don’t ask, I have rehearsal”.  So much preparation, but then when I or WE would step on stage, there was never any doubt we would perform well.  In fact, we were expected and known to be showstopping.

This is the life of a dancer or really any performer.  You live in a constant state of preparation for that next great job. So, when I decided to retire from performing, I also stopped having to be prepared, and that was a really strange transition. Then, I discovered SUP and the racing community.  Something new to learn and train for, something to prepare for.  Moving to California and training with Performance Paddling gave me a new community and group of people to train with (like my dance studio) and learn from.  People that push you and you want to impress out on the water. So after last year’s epic Downwind camp and spending this past year working on my surfing, plus adding an extra day of training on the water, I couldn’t wait to go back to Avila Beach for this year's Downwind camp. 

Dress Rehearsal: In the theater, a dress rehearsal gives the actors a chance to say their lines and hit their marks one last time before opening night. It's called a dress rehearsal because performers wear their full costume and makeup, dressed just as they will be during the performance.

Dress rehearsals bring all the show's technical, creative, and personnel aspects together and are typically the final rehearsal before a performance. Technical Rehearsal (also known as tech run or just tech) - This typically refers to the first time the show is rehearsed in the venue.

Day 1: Wednesday 

This year, I decided I wanted to drive up a day early and be fully prepared; there’s that word again for our first paddle.  I left just as the sun was starting to light the sky in order to get past LA traffic.  I also planned my first stop near Calabasas so I could teach some clients and have breakfast.  Then I was back on the road and soon driving up the coast.  I had an easy drive all the way to the campgrounds and just happened to pull in right behind Terri Plunket and Ed Knight.  We all checked in and set up our campsites.  Anthony was already all setup and out for a paddle. The wind was blowing the right way, so I was looking forward to hearing how the conditions were.  Soon, more and more people arrived. This year, we had two additions to our crew: Morgan Hoestery and Kyle Barnes, as well as Lindsay & Bo Weidner, Dave Boehne, Dennis Gibson (who set up his own Air bnb campsite, EPIC), Juerg Geser, Aaron Atkins & Sean Arnold (who would arrive the next morning), Tony Frocier, Jason Meffe and… 

Never last but really is his own paragraph, Vincent Shay! This man is a force of LIFE.  He is a native of Avila Beach and passionate is an understatement.  He and his wife own the Mermaid Market, and you can purchase Vincent’s incredible photos of whales and other local marine life.  Soon, he will open a shop for both his photography and tours.  Truth, Vincent is incredibly humble, so the more I get to know him or google him, the more in awe I am of him. That can be said for this whole group!

After a fun evening of banter around the campfire, thanks to Terri, we all slowly made our way to our tents to dream of wind and good bumps for the next day.  

Opening Night: the evening when something (such as a play or concert) is performed in front of an audience for the first time

Day 1: Thursday

When I was performing, opening night was one of the most adrenaline pumping, heart racing, exciting nights to perform.  Even as I type this, my heart starts to race, and I can feel that rush when you first hear the audience taking their seats.  The five-minute call to places. Trying to breathe while the fog machine goes off.  Taking your place onstage or in the wings. Then boom! All the years of training and weeks of rehearsing kick in, and before I know it, we are bowing, and the curtain is coming down.

  That is exactly how I would describe our first day of camp: opening night.

I woke up early with little flutters in my belly.  I still had to teach two clients, which was a nice distraction and kept my mind busy.  However, when I was done, it was game on.  We all prepared the things we’d need for our paddle, like our hydration packs, dry clothes for after the paddle, and snacks. Around 10 am, Aarron and Sean arrived with the trailer that would haul all of our boards, and we loaded up.  Like last year, the butterflies were in full effect.  

After we loaded all the boards and paddles, we headed over to our meeting grounds for our first official meeting. Just like last year, Anthony gave us bright orange shirts and hats.  We could already feel the wind starting to shift, and the boats in the bay were starting to turn in the direction we wanted.  So, after all the introductions and safety guidelines, we headed back to our campsites for final preparations.

 As for any dance competition, performance, or show, I or the cast always had to warm up first.  In most shows, I would prep my hair and makeup, pre-set my costumes for quick changes, and then warm up.  In some shows, like when I worked for Disney, warming up was your own responsibility.  In other shows, for example, “Work That Skirt,” which had a lot of partnering work and acrobatics, I would lead a group warm-up. This not only prevented injuries but got a cast of 18 dancers to come together in order to perform as one for an hour and a half. On an opening night, when the adrenaline is pumping, this is an even more important process.  After warming up, we’d return backstage for any final touch-ups, get into whatever opening costume…

“5 minutes to places” would be called over the loudspeaker.  Then, the final curtain call. My heart would be pumping, but also, all the years of training would kick in, and the fun would begin!

As we drive up to the beach, we all see Vince, high on the stoke, ready to lead the way.  After we unload the boards, paddles, and any other essential items needed, Aaron drives to the ending point, where he will leave the van for pickup.  We all leave (pre-set) dry clothes and anything else we might need at the end of the session.   While he is doing that, Lindsay leads us through yoga to warm us up for the coming paddle, preventing injuries and keeping everyone prepared for three days of consecutive 7-mile paddles. This also, consciously and unconsciously, for some, starts to prepare us to think and work as a team.

 Then, we were led through some breathing exercises by Morgan. She is an incredible addition this year, not only for her downwind knowledge but also for her breathing expertise.  Morgan is a coach for the Watergroms, a program that teaches kids and adults water safety and breathing techniques.  There is so much I could copy and paste about Morgan and her career, but then I’d never finish writing about this experience. I DO KNOW that we all were extremely lucky to get to add this knowledge to our paddling.  For me personally, after 16 years of teaching pilates and practicing nasal breathing, hearing her information was beyond gratifying.  It has only solidified everything I have been taught, plus it inspires me to continue to learn more and deepen my practice. 

Soon, Aaron returns, which is like our 5-minute call to places, and we are ready to start our first downwind camp of 2024. Butterflies and smiles are in full effect.  We paddle over to the jetty, where there is a beach we can pull over at and get a look at the ocean to check the conditions.  We are all super excited to be met with the wind on our faces and white caps starting to break out past the jetty. That's exactly what we wanted to see,  just like when we’d sneak a look out at the audience to see a full house!   We quickly get back on our boards and start to paddle to the end of the jetty.  We barely have to paddle since the wind is pushing us exactly where we want to go.  I made sure to warm up my step back and brace as we were going along because we were going to need to do this a lot for this paddle. The plan is to paddle ten minutes headwind to get out to the good wind line and then….

ATTACK!!!!!! 

And ATTACK WE DID!

This was the most epic downwind run I have done yet.  The wind was just perfect and never stopped the whole way.  The swell wasn’t overwhelming but just right.  I was finding bumps and linking then left and right.  I never stopped smiling, and lots of wahoos could be heard.  Plus, the skill level we had as a unit, never getting too far away from one another, staying in what was almost a formation.  It was truly like a rehearsed show.  All of us in our ”costumes”  bright orange hats and shirts. The ocean being our music and keeping us in rhythm.  Anthony, our Principal; Vincent, Dave, Morgan, the soloists, and the rest of us: the corps de ballet.  

Like a killer opening night, it all happens too fast.  After weeks of anticipation for this camp, we were met with the most incredible conditions.  We all were on an all-time stoke and ready for more.  We headed back to camp to dry off, and then we’d meet for a debriefing. Day one was exactly what we had all hoped for!

PS: Some paddlers who shall not be named also enjoyed an opening night party and margaritas with a little debauchery to go with it. 

Day 2:  Show 2

When I was performing, I always found show 2, the show after opening night, was one of the hardest performances in any run.  The build-up and excitement of opening night have come and gone in the blink of an eye, but you are expected to have that same level of energy night after night or show after show.  That’s when your mental health really matters.  If I came into show 2 with a bad attitude, it would never go well.  I think, luckily for me, years in a competitive dance studio prepared me mentally to be ready to perform. I also love the stage, so once I'm backstage, putting on my MAC, fishnets, and heels, I am able to tap into the excitement of being in front of an audience, and the adrenaline begins to pump.

This is exactly how I’d explain the second day of camp.  From the moment I woke up, my energy was different. The weather was not as cloudy or wet as the day before.  Even a little warmer, making me wonder what that meant for the wind.  As everyone woke up and started to move around the campgrounds, there was an anticipation of what the winds would do.  Would they show up like they did the day before?  Luckily, we started the morning with some yoga again taught by Lindsay.  The perfect way to get the cobwebs off the muscles from the day before and get the mind ready for the day ahead. 

Then we headed over to the Mermaid Market, run by Vincent and his wife.  Like last year, Anthony had us meet together to go over all sorts of notes and information. We discuss anything from conditions on the water and equipment to how to read the wind or the current.  We discussed anything that could make our next experience even better.  After the meeting, we left to prepare for the run.  So far, the wind wasn’t picking up very much, so we were all a little anxious.  This is when being with a group of badasses and overachievers is so invaluable.  

As we loaded up the van, the energy was mixed.  The wind was blowing but definitely not as hard as the day before.  However, the paddle the day before was one of the best ever, so it was no doubt going to be hard to top.  Some of us were a little disappointed, but others, knowing how one person can affect another, were still stoked to be on the water and ready to pump each other up.  Lindsay led us through another great warm-up.  Morgan had us sprint the beach to work on recovery breathing.  Aaron arrived, signaling time to paddle to the jetty for one last look at the ocean.  Still not as much wind, but there was a good swell and definitely some bumps to be found. 

In fact, Terri described it best, “ it was like we had turned down the radio.”  In other words, it was the perfect condition to really work on the skills needed for downwinding.  We all were able to work on the individual details we had gone over earlier in our meeting. The end of this paddle was probably one of the highlights.  Just the perfect small-size wave to carry us right onto the beach.  So even though it wasn’t a perfect 10, we all were pleasantly surprised and had a great time. 

EXTRA HIGHLIGHT: Later, during our debriefing, we were spoiled with homemade empanadas made by Kalley. Another great part of being with good people… good food.

Day 3: 

Closing Night/Close: The final performance of a production.

In my experience, when a show closes, especially a long-running show or maybe a show with a cast I really enjoyed, it can be so exciting and sad all at the same time.  Knowing that a new show is just around the corner and starting something new is exciting.  Maybe, finally, some vacation time.  Yet, saying goodbye to people you have worked with for months, maybe years, or knowing the next day you don’t have work can also be very sad and scary.  But the show must go on…

Our last day of camp went very smoothly.  We had a great yoga class with Lindsay to get started.  Headed over to Mermaid Market for more delicious ham and cheese croissants.  More notes and information with Anthony.  Then, back to camp to prep.  Again, the wind wasn’t as great as the first two days, but the energy was back. Knowing it was our last run for this time here in Avila is bittersweet, but it was time to ATTACK!

Attack we did.  

This run was more of a grind.  The wind was pretty light, but still plenty of little bumps to find.  When we got to the end, we again were pleased to find some nice sets coming in. A few took advantage of the opportunity and stayed out to surf a few waves.  I myself chose to get out, and while everyone dried off, I sat on the bench overlooking the bluff and took in the magic of the past three days.  We loaded up the van and trailer and headed back to the campgrounds.  Sadly, we all unloaded our boards from the trailer one last time and headed back to our sites to get ready for the “wrap party.” 

Wrap party: a party for the actors and other people involved in making a movie or TV show to celebrate the end of filming  

Gratitude to Ed for not only hosting our wrap party but also for making his famous margaritas.  For those of us lucky enough to have had them, well, then, you know just how good they are.  Last year Anthony took the time to say something about each paddler as well as present us with a gift. This year, Anthony and Vincent upped the gifts.  This year, each of us was asked to say something about our experiences during camp.  When we did, we were then allowed to enter the condo, where we got to choose a print of our liking of one of Vincent’s incredible photographs. Last year's gift was a magnificent print of a whale breaching.  Avila is known for its whale sightings, but my other favorite animal I see all over the kelp here is the otter.  So, I chose a print of an otter nurturing her baby otter.  Vincent is absolutely a special human being and can remember the story in all his photographs. It made each gift that much more special. 

Day 4: The NO show blues

There is no Webster dictionary definition. This is what I named the day after one of my shows closed.  I would always be a little depressed that I didn’t have to get in costume the next day.  I would find myself feeling out of sorts trying to find a new daily routine. In some cases, I would literally pack up my things and move to another state for the next job. For 16 nonconsecutive years, I performed in a show titled Broadway Bares, always on Father’s Day.  It was a two-week rehearsal process, but many of us started preparing mid-winter.  Then, in one night, a dress rehearsal, two shows, and boom! You wake up the next morning with glitter everywhere and nowhere to be…. DE-presssing!!!

Sunday morning, as I begrudgingly packed up my campsite, I was in full pout mode.  I did not want to leave, but real life was calling. Literally, since I broke my phone on the first paddle, I was going to have to stop on my way home to get a new phone.  Luckily, I had Jesse, who had driven out to meet me Thursday evening, to follow on my way back.  I did not want to leave.  As we drove back south along the PCH, I again replayed the past four days over in my mind. 

When I decided not to perform anymore as a profession, I found myself questioning who I was as a person.  I had always been known as a dancer.  In high school, a fellow student called me a “dancing phenomenon.”  If I wasn’t a dancer then who am I? The first time a friend took me paddling, I was hooked.  I wanted to do it all the time.  Then, I wanted to learn how to paddle properly, which led me to the racing community.  Who knew that in a short few years, I’d be downwinding with a group of incredible people?  That I would be speaking this new language on and off the water.  Learning about the wind and watching kelp to see what way the current is going.  Waiting for the wind to arrive in order to surf down the coast! I’m still dancing, just on a bigger and wetter stage. 

















































My story with ELDOA: What is it, and why is it good for you?

My story with ELDOA: What is it, and why is it good for you?

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