Sunday, August 28, 2011

Windsurf Candlestick Park

After a week at HQ in Sunnyvale, I made a detour for some windsurfing with my colleague Tunc Kirli. We planned to sail at Coyote Point and I rented a wet suit from Boardsports.

After surveying the conditions, we decided to drive a short distance and sailed at Candlestick Park instead, home of the San Francisco 49ers NFL team.

The wind averaged 20 knots, quite manageable with the 5.4 m2 sail and 125 litre slalom board that Tunc brought for me. Although it was summer, the temperature was unusually chilly all week and so the wetsuit was a real saviour.

Unfortunately, I should have brought a pair of booties too as I got quite a few cuts from the rocky beach. Nevertheless, the overall sailing condition was very pleasant - constant wind, flat water and sunshine all afternoon.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Tour de Singapour

Today Lars, Mike, Morten and I attempted the TdS ("Tour de Singapour") as part of our preparation for the Absa Cape Epic 2012 in South Africa. The route included all the major mountainbike trails in Singapore, so Pulau Ubin - Tampines - Woodcutters - Butterfly - Bukit Timah - Kent Ridge. Total time 9 hours, distance 110 km and climb 840 m.


The TdS was a hard ride. We only stopped for the boat trip to and from Pulau Ibin, some mechanicals and drinks at a couple of service stations.

I left home at 7.15 am and finished at 4.30 pm, had a sumptuous lunch and followed by 90 minute sports massage ... BLISS.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Whistler Mountain Bike Adventures, Snow and A Broken Ankle

By sheer coincidence, my company organised an off-site meeting in Whistler, the same venue as our family vacation last year. But who am I to complain :-)

On the first couple of days, I joined Richie Schley's Mountain Bike Adventures to refine my downhill skills on a Kona Stinky, and so reacquainted with my favourite trails Crank It Up and A-Line.

And an adventure it was with riding (sliding!) in snow, awesome views and a broken ankle by one of the riders, faithfully captured on video.


Then I rented a Specialized Enduro from the friendly folks at Cross Country Connection and did some nice cardio climbs and technical cross country trails with Alex Relf from the Four Seasons.