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Sun Nov 22 10:37:17 PST 2009
and=20
getting wisked passed security. (Karin and I were among the last 4 =
peopole=20
to catch the plane.) The flight to Tahiti was fun with skaters from around =
the=20
country. Us East Coast Skaters stuck together as I hung with Josh and =
Allie=20
from Philly. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>Upon arriving in Tahiti (at night) we had to wait =
around the=20
airport for 2 hours to get hotels stuff striaghtened out. You see you =
are=20
assigned a "place to stay" when you get there - so you have no idea =
exactly=20
where you are staying. Wanting to be close to people we knew - I pushed to =
move=20
from my assigned place to the the place Josh and Allie were staying. They =
were=20
at a "House by the beach." Sounds great, doesn't it. Turns out that =
to=20
make that happen someone had to move out of that house and that turned out =
to be=20
Jubran and Diane.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1> In any case, Jubran now owes me big time. Reason =
is that=20
the house by the bay was a "new house" with no furnature, no carpeting,&nbs=
p;or=20
no hot water. All we had a 1" foam pad (with a slight stink to it) to =
sleep on=20
and 2 sheets. The beach was a rocky one and had a open stream/drainage =
river=20
just to the side of the house. We had a few mangey mutts roving the =
premise=20
along with about 4-5 roosters clucking around the place. (Tahiti =
shoudl=20
have the rooster as it's Country sysmbol - they are everywhere) The =
sister=20
house affiliated with the place (where the host family lived) was a shack =
for=20
all intensive purposes. Messy, cement floor, the type of thing you see on =
UNICEF=20
Ads. Josh called the place the "West Virgina or Tahiti". =
Needless to=20
say, my fist night of my honeymoon I was muttingering "you've got to be =
kidding=20
me" However, we were so tired from 16 hours of travel that we promptly =
feel=20
asleep on our tiny foam pad. (I shoudl note here that Jubran stayed at=20
a swanky little vista with hot water and a great beach. If I only =
knew . .=20
.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>However - what we were lacking for in accomodation we =
got back=20
in heart. We stayed with a Fisherman and his family. They served us as if =
we=20
were the Royal Family. At 12:30 am when we got in - the mother got us =
and=20
fixed us a great dinner. B-Fast was crossants, baguettes, and jam. =
They=20
showed an amazing hospitality that could only come from a great sence of =
family=20
pride. When we had the option to change where we stayed - we =
didn't=20
becuse they were truely hospitable people. Kudos goes to Jarrod and =
Rick=20
from New York, who was staying with us. Jarrod spoke good French and =
allowed for=20
some great conversations about native Tahitian lifestyle. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>This arraingement was "Way beyond" what we=20
expected.</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>The day after arriving we decided to to the tour =
sponsored=20
Hike. This was a hike from one side of Tahiti Iti (the Small Island of=20
tahiti" to the other side.) Chris had avertised this hike =
was=20
open to all abilities and could be done in 4 hours but we would go a =
bit=20
slower - take our time - and do it in 7 hours. With Barry =
Hartman and=20
Eddie Matsger in tow we tromped off into the Tahiti rain forest. We =
stopped at=20
remarkable waterhing holes, went swimming, gawked at the tall spires of=20
mountains. The beauty was awesome. As we kept hiking we keep =
folloing=20
a river up and up. And Up . . .And up. The fish in the =
fiver=20
were orange, blue, and green. And we keep going up. The last =
up was=20
at about 45% grade for about =BD mile. (we had ropes to help us=20
up) </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>Now - Chris was "told" the hike could take 7 =
hours by=20
the guides, but the guides didn't anticipate a group of us going this =
slowly,=20
and stopping so much. We started at 10:00 ish and expected to be done=20
around 5. However - 5 came and went and we were still =
heading up=20
the mountains (later to find it was about a 3,800 ft elevation gain) =
with=20
little to no food, poor footwear, and a dimishing sense of strength. We =
peaked -=20
spent about 10 min. at top (nothing to see with the trees) and =
started=20
an long trip down a very steep path. Some of the old skaters =
with us=20
started falling and we got slower and slower - untill the sun set. Let me =
tell=20
you - it is pure blackness at night in a Tahiti Rainforest Jungle. Guided =
but=20
the guides - we walked hand on sholder and crawling at time over weet =
slippery=20
rocks through the dark river. We had only 3 cigarette lighters, =
one=20
flashlight, and a Headlamp to illumiate the forest for 27 bumbling people. =
We=20
inched our way along the trail yelling "Tripper" if there was a =
root=20
that others shoudl know about, or "Step over" - if there was a fallen =
tree=20
that needed to be crossed. After about 3 hours of inching through =
the=20
forest literally we ran into a search party looking for us. A flare =
went up=20
and we all continued to hike for anouther 1.5 hour to get to the other =
side of=20
the island. (however this time with the help of 2 dudes. One with a =
motorcycle=20
helmet and a flood ligh on top of it, and the other guy carring 2 car =
batteries=20
to power the damn thing. It lit up the forest like a search light. =
Awesome)=20
Before the rescue we all delt with the real possibility of spending the =
night in=20
the forest. Many of those in flip flops had bloody feet, we had a number =
of=20
ankle twists, everyone was brused in once place or another, we were =
truly=20
exhausted and utterly wet from crossing the rivers so many times. But like =
true=20
skaters everyone stayed positive and everyone helped the "skater in tow" - =
it=20
was all for one and one for all. It was a defining experience for the =
trip,=20
and for the next 3 days "The HIKE" was what very skater =
talked=20
about. Again "The HIKE" - Way beyond what ANYONE=20
expected.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>Finally - the race. It was on Monday the 11th at =
9 am.=20
The temps were well into the eightys and was close to 90 on some =
streaches.=20
The course had been changed 3 times in 3 days to accomodate some serio=
us=20
gatorback. We essentally went out from the Start line on the North side =
of=20
Tahiti Iti for 1.5 miles turn around skate back to the start line - =
Do a=20
180 go all the way to the end of the road - do a 180 and go all the =
way=20
back to the Start line - do a 180 and do that larger loop once more. The =
finish=20
was was up this side street about 100 yards from the road=20
itself. There real obstical was the extreemly rough pavement at =
the=20
start line. It lasted about 1 mile but because of the looped nature of =
the=20
course you had to go over this 1 mile streach 6 times. it=20
was really bad and the race time reflected the 180's, the =
rough=20
pavement, and the Heat.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>There were about 50-60 people at the start line. I was =
told it=20
was the largest race they have hosted. It is possibly due to the fact that =
the=20
race was on Tahiti Iti for the 1st time instead of Moorea. Tahiti has a =
much=20
higher population.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>The start was chotic, there were a lot of tahitian =
kids that=20
got right up front and got in the way of many of the speedskaters. A =
couple kids=20
fell and it made for some irritated skaters, especially since we started =
in the=20
rough pavement. I found Jubran sneeking up the left side of the road =
and=20
quickly got behind him. We used out Streetskating skills to our =
advantage -=20
weaving in and out of kids. By the =BD mile mark the pace lines =
started=20
to form. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>Jubran and I worked together and gathered a nice =
paceline of 8=20
-9 people - we lost a few added a few but essentailly we kept a very good =
pace=20
for the race itself. There were rolling hills - slight inclilines =
where we,=20
the draft line, coudl get a good head of steam. I was very impressed =
how we=20
cycled the lead of the line, everyone stayed pretty fresh through the =
first few=20
180 turns.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1> As we were muddling in the middle the Main =
pack had=20
mist the first major turn-around. The only person to catch it was Josh out =
of=20
Philly and I was suprised to see him about 100 yards ahead of =
Eddie M.=20
and the Soloman Speed Team on the first lap. However - Eddie and =
the=20
soloman boys got back in it and went to work on winning the=20
race. The Soloman guys apparently were teaming up against =
Eddie=20
right up untill the end. But like the skating God he is - Eddie was =
able to=20
get past them and win the Tahiti marathon with a time of 1:21. As you =
can=20
see from the time, it was a slow race up front. I think the Bad =
pavement,=20
the 5 180 turns, and the heat all had a factor in that. It probably =
didn't=20
help that Eddie was on the Hike 2 days prior, and was a tad bit spend on =
race=20
morning. (as all the hikers were)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>My draftline stayed together for till about 2 =
miles left.=20
The 7 person line broke apart. and boiled down to a 3 person line =
ahead and=20
a 2 person line a few seconds back. I was in the 2 person line (with =
Jarrod=20
from Empire) We worked back in forth untill this Tahitian Teenager came up =
on us=20
just at the finish. We had a 3 person sprint with the Tahitian Teen =
beating me=20
by 3 inches, and Jarrod was 1 second back.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>I finished with a time of 1:30:52. I was very =
impressed becuse=20
I was only 9 minutes back from Eddie and I won my age division. Way beyond =
what=20
I'd hoped for at the start of th race.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>Jubran finished a few minutes later, and Diane fought =
through=20
the strain the hike put on her and finished strong despite having =
some=20
pretty bloody feet. One thing you can say aboput WAR is we don't QUIT!=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>All in all it was a great experience. I enjoyed =
the rest=20
of my honeymoon on the secuded Island of Huanine (near Bora Bora) and =
Since=20
i was with my wife - the reast of my vaction is really none of =
your=20
business . . .</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>Jubran & Daine - It was great hanging with=20
you two. I recommend the Tahiti experience for everyone - =
However -=20
Talk with others before you go so that you are prepared adequately, =
(clothing,=20
food, accomodations, etc.) and don't get suprised by thing that are Way=20
Beyond your expectations - good and bad. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>Skatewolf/Marshall Brown</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>"For the strength of the Wolf is the pack, and =
the=20
strength of the pack is the=20
Wolf" &nbs=
p; </FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>
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