In true Hennessey Paddleboarding fashion, the San Francisco International race this past weekend was an event to remember... the escape from Alcatraz.
Thanks to my sponsor Maui Jims Sunglasses who flew me in and out of San Francisco in 2 days, I was able to juggle a full work schedule and still race ... I showed up in the dark, and woke up in the morning ready to paddle around Alcatraz and Angel Island. We started off in the fog, but as we paddled the sky cleared. The back side of Angel Island was a site to behold, and the city skyline as we paddled back by Alcatraz was pretty spectacular. Just as the current started to pull at us (the race started at slack tide to minimize tidal currents), the fog lifted off the golden gate bridge and San Francisco showed her colors. It was amazing... I feel fortunate to have had the support of my sponsors and my family, lucky to have won the last race of the season (for an undefeated 2009) and glad to be back home in Hawaii with the warm water!
The pack heading past Alcatraz on the way out
Me approaching the finish
Out of jail: Mikey Cote and Eric Abbott
