Name: Jay Butki
Hometown: Westchester, CA (hometown of Malibu Mike Doyle)

Age: 46
Years Paddling: 26+

Weekly Mileage:
Varies zero to superhero

Preferred board length to paddle:
10’6” Bennett Lifeguard spec to 19’ Bark Stand Up

Favorite Paddle route:
Venice Avenue 23 Jetty to Santa Monica Bell buoy to the G or SS sail marker spar buoys off Marina del Rey & back to Ave 23

Favorite race:
A toss up, it’s between the awe-some vibe of the Jay race and the ah-crap it’s 28 miles not 18 downriver vibe of the Hennessey’s Colorado River race.

I Started Paddling Because:
It was a necessity. I was a rookie Lifeguard in Santa Cruz in the early 80’s and the winter waters were too cold for swimming workouts

Best Paddling Experience to Date:
Paddling the Golden Gate and negotiating the currents at the mouth of San Francisco Bay

Favorite Thing About Paddling:
The saltwater rinse, and the glide

Thing I Hate Most About Paddling:
The mildew-mobile smell from the never quite dry wetsuits, boardies, towels and rashies in the back of my ride.

What I Tell Myself to Motivate on Days I Just Don't Want to Paddle:
I quote Benjamin Franklin “I guess I don't so much mind being old, as I mind being fat and old.”

Best "Oh Crap" Moment While In Middle of Ocean:
I was part of the aquatic safety team escorting the 50 mile 2 day kayak leg of the 1998 Eco Challenge Adventure race. I was offshore miles of Moroccan cliffs when I found myself in a “Should I stay or should I go” moment. Unpredictable weather, strong winds and large pounding surf necessitate strong ocean-going paddling skills. Unfortunately not every team had the necessary skills. I was alone on a PWC and while on a patrol towards the back markers in the race. I finally located the last place team, a pair of kayakers from Zimbabwe that had rolled their boat and it was rapidly sinking. The two men were at least 4-5 miles behind the next team, looking to the horizon I could barely make out one of the rescue helicopters perhaps 5 miles ahead. Winds were in excess of 35 knots, open ocean swells were 15-18 foot plus, my radio batteries had died, and my PWC was running on fumes, to top it off the pair were poor swimmers, 3 miles offshore of the cliffs and we had seen Orcas a few days prior.  After a dozen failed attempts to float their boat and de-water it in heavy seas and high winds we resolved ourselves to the inevitable. The kayak was going to sink. I tried to pick up both men but the mass and weight of the three of us in the rough seas rolled the small 2 stroke PWC, and after getting it re-started we knew that dragging them in the water behind the PWC (my tiny rented PWC didn’t have a sled) was not an option as we never make it the 15 miles to the next harbor. We agreed that I should go for help- I put the weaker of them in my PFD so he was now wearing two PFD’s and wrapped and clipped my Lifeguard rescue tube on the other tying the two together, and giving the skinny guy my extra wetsuit squid lid. With a last look over my shoulder wondering if  was making the best choice, I drove off with the goal of flagging down the lone helicopter I could see on the horizon. The ski chugged up the backs of the swells, and I had to back off the throttle as the PWC surfed down the swell faces and over and over again would find myself buried past my elbows when the PWC hit the bottom of the wave trough. The winds were blowing the exhaust and unburned fuel back on me like a constant shower. I was finally able catch the second to last place team to attract the attention of the rescue helicopter (which I later learned was searching for me) and signaled them to follow me back towards the pair. The pair was hoisted into the helicopter but the kayak was never seen again, and I was able to do a hot fuel, get a new radio battery and head out to make more rescues…due to the inclement conditions less than half of the 216 paddlers in 108 kayaks were able to complete the kayak course, the Moroccan Navy boats left the race and returned to safe port leaving the 10 LA County Lifeguards on 4 PWCs to handle all the water safety. Good times!

iPods While Paddling: Godsend or Good Grief?
Good Grief-Can’t work out with a P.A.D. (personal autism device). I need to hear the sounds of nature, the shouts of fellow paddlers, as well as the noise from the boat that might mow me down…

There's a Head High Swell on a Glassy Day. What do you do? (surf or paddle):
SURF

Paddling Season (which month to which month):
Year round

Bright and early, or nightcap?
My beaten and battered old bones ache at dawn-I’m a post breakfast and coffee Mid morning guy

Downwind paddle or wait for down winds (glassy):
Downwind runs, I love picking up the railroads