Do all things with love.

-Og Mandino

Wind (check); Storm Surf (check); Broken leash (check); Paddle to the lip (check); Board to the chest (check); Scrapes & bruises (check & check)

Here’s how it all went down….

Heat#1
Paddled out for my first heat and before the horn event went off, a wave broke over me in the “channel” and my leash broke. Lucky for me, the photographer managed to catch it before it go too far and I got a replacement leash and made it back through the craziness in time… I caught as many waves as I could, some were good, others weren’t so good and as usual, I had some epic falls but still managed to win my heat and make it through to semis so I was stoked.

Semis
The conditions were even worse than earlier, waves were breaking everywhere, there was nowhere safe to stand and some people weren’t even making it out to the lineup through the breaking waves..again, I managed to make it out quickly (thank you Battle of the Paddle training) and AGAIN a wave broke directly on me and my leash broke again. Ok, it didn’t really break this time, it just didn’t stay attached to my ankle, some might call it operator error … this time, there wasn’t a photographer anywhere nearby so I had to swim/body surf with paddle in hand ALL the way 300yrds back to shore. By some miracle my board didn’t actually land on the rocks, so that was good. Back out to the lineup in time for the heat start .. some more waves, some more falls and scraped by in 2nd place to the finals… Yay.

Finals
As you can imagine, at this point in the day, all hell had broken lose. The winds were blowing like crazy side/on shore, the surf was building and the tide was bottoming out, which meant a nice, sharp, shallow reef. I managed to catch some waves, fall some more, get dragged over the reef, hit myself in the face with my paddle and take my board to the chest but I made it out alive, which at that point, I was pretty happy with. I finished in 3rd place which I was stoked with. I walked (limped) away having learned a lot and I’m looking forward to working on the things I need to do to get better! I guess that means I’ll have to surf more…

Congrats to everyone who braved the conditions,  stoked to see so many young ripper girls & boys out there!!  Thanks to Tristan and crew of Standup World Tour for putting on the event & my sponsors!

“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” – Confucius

Afternoon Surf Hipster bottoms & Sliding halter top

Happy New Year!!

Sunday morning I went for a paddle in the outrigger canoe and when we jumped in the water we could hear the whales singing. It really is one of the most amazing things ever.. I love it. After awhile, the whales got really close to us and we could hear them singing through the hull of the canoe. We just saw there, above water and listened to the symphony below. It was beautiful. The waves rolled through in the morning, the water was an amazing color blue, the whales kept on singing and the wind stayed mellow all day – it was the perfect start to 2012.

I got a package a few days ago from San Lorenzo Bikinis and it was full of the cutest shirts, hats, stickers and bikinis!! Ladies, if you haven’t heard of them already, make sure to check them out. I know I’m known for my 2XU compression tights and tops but underneath that is always a pair of my favorite San Lorenzo bikini. They are great for paddling, surfing or just hanging out at the beach. I wear them daily at work and have put them to the test in all sorts of conditions. They are super cute, comfortable and really flattering. Love that they are cheeky and super functional at the same time! The hipster bottoms are my favorite but I also really like the garter belt and booty short styles. You can buy them online or at a store if you live in Hawaii! If you are in Kona, make sure to check them out at Waimea Surf Classics!

It’s mellowing out at work which means it is back to training for me… it’s been a fun few weeks – great to see all my friends over the holidays but looking forward to getting back to my regular routine!

Happy Paddling!

Jenny

Pavones & surf dogs

Surfing in Costa Rica - San Lorenzo garder belt bottoms & sliding halter top

We are a few days away from Christmas and if you’re anything like me, you’re probably not done picking out gifts for family & friends (once a procrastinator, always a procrastinator!). So, here are a few ideas for someone in your life who loves the water, standup paddling, surfing or just being active! Yes, in case you are wondering, this is also the perfect opportunity to plug my AMAZING sponsors

Naish 10’10 – great all around board, perfect for cruising around & fun on small waves. The channels on the bottom keep you going in a straight line and you can even add tie downs on the nose and throw a cooler under there! If you’re wanting a race board, check out the 14′ Javelin or the 8’5 Hokua for high-performance surfing!

2XU Elite Compression Tights and/or Race Socks – If you haven’t already noticed, I love my compression gear and I don’t travel anywhere without it! When I’m at home after a long, hard workout, I put on my compression socks and wear them around the house.. next day, my legs feel great! 2XU is the leader in compression, there is no other way to go!

Oakley Confront Sunglasses – They’re Oakley… need I say more?

Watermans Applied Science gift pack – 55 lotion & 55 face stick – this stuff STAYS ON even in the harshest conditions, so if you want to stay protected from the sun, this is the way to go!

Futures Fins Jaime Mitchell SUP Race Fin – my favorite SUP fin… but for standard surfing, I love the TechFlex RTM F4

Garmin 310XT – this is THE watch for training & racing.. everything from heartrate to GPS and custom workouts!

Pure Paddles – Custom wooden blade – this is one of the most beautiful gifts you can give someone. Not only are Odie’s designs beautiful but they are light, flexible & move really well through the water.

San Lorenzo Bikinis – for the girl in your life who loves spending time on the water.. these bikinis are amazing! They stay on in the surf, look cute & most of all, are super comfortable! I practically live in mine…even at the races – under all that compression is a favorite pair of San Lorenzo!

And if all else fails, you can never go wrong by showing up with a case of Kona Brewing Co…

Wishing you a WONDERFUL holiday season!!

Love,
Jenny

Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness 
and just be happy.

                                                         -Guillaume Apollinaire

To learn more about plastic pollution and it’s impact on our health, marine animals & environment, go to Plastic Pollution Coalition.

Klean Kanteen 64oz  - This bottle is the perfect way to stay on top of your hydration.. and if 64oz is too big, you can always go with one of their 40oz or 27oz alternatives!

Lunch Skins Sandwich & Snack bags - say goodbye to disposable plastic snack bags and hello to these cute alternatives!

Klean Kanteen Pint Cup - a great alternative to plastic cups!

To-Go Ware 2-tier Stainless Steel Food Carrier  - Ditch the yucky (toxic) plastic and get a set of these for your food!

To-Go Ware RePEat Utensil Set - Bamboo flatware & chopsticks in a carrier made out of recycled plastic bottles!

Envirosax After Dark Pouch Set - 5 beautifully designed reusable bags, all in one easy to carry (or leave in your car!) pouch

SmartCycled Recycled PET Produce Bags – Here’s a way to avoid using those pesky plastic produce bags!

Klean Kanteen Insulated  - Great for hot & cold food drinks

Stainless Steel Drinking Straws - Stop using disposable plastic straws and get a set of these!

Super excited to be an ambassador for Oakley Women and be a part of their Perform Beautifully collection! Looking forward to the upcoming year and the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing brand! Oakley has long been recognized as the leader in eyewear with their extensive line of high-performance products. Perform Beautifully is about inspiring women to push themselves, to empower them to be active, while still being beautiful. Oakley supports, encourages and inspires all women to perform beautifully. Their products promote an active lifestyle for those of us who are determined, stylish and know how to have fun. Find out more and check out their awesome products at Oakley’s women site!

These are a few of my favorite Oakley products for on the water & off!

Fringe in Grape Juice

Obligation in Havana

Polarized Flax Jacket

“I really don’t know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it’s because in addition to the fact that the sea changes, and the light changes, and ships change, it’s because we all came from the sea. And it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, our sweat, and in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it, we are going back from whence we came.”

–Pres. John F. Kennedy, Australian Ambassador’s Dinner for the America’s Cup Crews, September 14, 1962, Newport, R.I.

Woke up early Thursday morning for the 4th Annual (TRI)ptophan Turkey Day Triathlon! Started off with a 1/3 mile swim, followed by a 16-mile bike and finished with a 2-mile run. Lots of people showed up for this free event put on by Kym & Kris from Kiser Motorcycles. We had to deal with the traffic lights & stop signs which made for an interesting bike ride but I was fortunate to make it through most of the major intersections without having to stop!

All in all, it was the perfect way to start Thanksgiving day.. and a great excuse to indulge in Kristin’s delicious Chocolate Pot de Creme and Apple Crumble Pie!

Grateful for family, friends, health and the ability to do what I love every day.

Before...

After!