Robe Race Winners...
Printed From: ProfessorPaddle.com
Category: General
Forum Name: Whitewater Forum
Forum Discription: Open Discussion Forum. Whitewater related subjects only
URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11984
Printed Date: 21 Sep 2025 at 10:40pm
Topic: Robe Race Winners...
Posted By: WA-Boater
Subject: Robe Race Winners...
Date Posted: 07 May 2012 at 8:14am
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Scott W and Ben H won the Robe Race with a screamin fast time yesterday. They beat Lane and I by a solid 30 seconds with Rob and Andrew coming in 3rd. Ben is the first repeat Robe winner. Great level and awesome weather. Thanks again Todd. Darren ------------- |
Replies:
Posted By: James
Date Posted: 07 May 2012 at 9:51am
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Right on Guys! Awesome to hear the race went off without a hitch. Darren, you can't win em all and I was betting on you. Now that Fish is en-robed I am sure we will never hear the end of it... did you check the stop watches?  |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 07 May 2012 at 12:20pm
Yeah!!!! Ben and Fish, congratulations!! You didn't look quite as scorching fast out of the gate at T2 compared to Darren and Lane, but then again, as was pointed out, the race isn't won in that first drop is it? There's, like, 20+ more rapids, a healthy dose of mixed class III and flatwater, a gnarly ass portage, and plenty of gnomes to spar with in the half hour or so that ensues over the 5mi stretch. Scott, I know you've been hungry for it and I'm glad you got to pair up with a very accomplished paddler who could allow you to leverage your potential. Ben, I know that since you were disrobed, you've been on a quest to get it back. I'm glad that you likewise had a match. It didn't take as many years as one might have thought. 2 robe wins out of 4 consequetive races is pretty damn good considering who your competition is. Way to go. As for Darren, well, I guess you do occassionally end up settling for second best, but damn you are one consistantly tough dude to try to keep off the podium. I was blown away by both you and Lane's speeds outta the gate, and how flawless your technique was to boot. But this race isn't just about the creme of the crop: HUGE PROPS to Kiwi Mike for dealing with the hand that the Robe Gnomes dealt him. And Joe, I hope your late night of drinkin the night before didn't retard your ability to help your partner. But not taking the Robe race at least moderately serious is flirting with Gnome Status for sure. Just look at my time last year (I held my partner back). That poor burn Mike just got has a huge, gaping, ironic smile under its nose now. Anyone got a boat he can hook up while he's in the states? 
Mike, I'm just glad you're made of sturdy stuff, because I would not want to have to swim below Last Sunshine nor would I wish that fate on anyone. Did Lief really confiscate the Gnome? Dude!!! Send that back with Kiwi Mike. That gnome has performed its service. Let him retire from Robe Canyon and venture abroad. Wasn't that the point? Plenty more where that came from. I'd be willing to recruit and procure a new one. There's a few gnomes I am on a first name basis with so I'll ask around. (I'll get ya another gnome for next year's DFL Trophe- just send that thing with Mike. He earned it. Ain't no shame. sh*t happens and none of us are exempt. Just sayin. What an awesome event and a fabulous sunny warm day for it!! Huge thanks to Todd Gilman for concieving of and organizing this very pure and unique test of every quality an avid paddler possesses! No hype, no prizes, no sponsors- just avid paddlers who want to smash through their personal bounderies, the competition only there as a structure and standard for each individual to strive and push past those limits where the average paddler would be content to not explore. I feel honored just to be there. I raced with my partner, and I raced against myself. I suffered personal defeats, and tasted minor triumphs intermittantly throughout the day, but most importantly, I got to experience the physiological transcendence that such an athletic endeavor inherently requires, yet silmultaneously provides. |
Posted By: huckin harms
Date Posted: 07 May 2012 at 1:24pm
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Right on Ben and Scott. Congrats and way to lay it down! ------------- |
Posted By: Jed Hawkes
Date Posted: 07 May 2012 at 1:31pm
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Yeah, boys, Looks like all those robe laps paid off Fish. ------------- The line will become apparent 978-273-7723 |
Posted By: toddg
Date Posted: 07 May 2012 at 8:46pm
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thanks for the kind words D & JP. as i've said before though, the robe race is all about that river that we're lucky to have in our back yard, the community of people that turns out on race day, & a huge reliance on a couple volunteers to run the clocks & record the times. all i do is tell people what to do & when to do it .. which is a lot easier when i'm not actually racing. a monkey can do that.
i'm thankful that this thing has taken on enough of a life of its own that, 1., i can be out of the country for the month leading up to go-time, leave it in the hands of a couple pals & it still goes off flawlessly, & 2., that 5 yrs into it, it's able to flourish even without the participation of much of the original crew that helped originate it. i had some reservations going into this year, especially since i haven't even kayaked in a year & since i knew i had a big trip conflicting with the timing. But yesterday reaffirmed that i fu*kin' love that river & that race .. even if all i'm doing is saying "3, 2, 1, go!". as always, huge congrats to the winners .. so stoked for ben & scott! and it needs to be said too that for most of us, there's definitely a head game involved in committing to the countdown & the 30+ minutes of hammering with only one other bro looking out for you.. every single one of the racers deserves a ton of respect & congratulations for even being there. that's all .. good night & thanks again! |
Posted By: toddg
Date Posted: 08 May 2012 at 8:33pm
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forgot to post the times ..
1. Ben Hawthorne / Scott Waidelich: 27:43 2. Darren Albright / Lane Jacobs: 28:13 3. Rob McKibbon / Andrew McEwan: 30:39 4. Fred Norquist / Isaac Levinson: 31:14 5. Jon Prentice / Christian Knight: 33:25 6. Nick Hinds / Alex Podolak: 34:08 7. Eric Parker / Brendan Wells / Griff: 34:34 8. Leif Embertson / Jon Dufay: 40:34 (broken boat) 9. Mike Nash / Joe: DNF (broken boat / hike-out) |