Name: Jay Miller
Age: 41

Years Paddling: 25 (started with sprint lifeguard races in the 80’s)  Started distance races in 1998.
Weekly Mileage: 30-50 (during the season)

Preferred board length to paddle:
18’

Favorite Paddle route:
16th street Hermosa to R-10 via PV cove with the Donkeys.

Favorite race:
Hennesseys US Championship (raffle and beer)

I Started Paddling Because:
I wasn’t coordinated enough to surf ski or row a dory.

Best Paddling Experience to Date:
2008 Catalina Classic. Threw it all out there…and was happy with the result.

Favorite Thing About Paddling:Friendship, brotherhood, challenge…raffles…Scott Lincoln (all day paddle fest)!....And beating Jay Russell.

Thing I Hate Most About Paddling:
Not being able to do all the fun races.  I really need to get back to Molokai and redeem myself.  

What I Tell Myself to Motivate on Days I Just Don't Want to Paddle:
Yelling kids and the Wiggles…if I stay at home.  Pretty easy decision.

Best "Oh Crap" Moment While In Middle of Ocean:
Rock 2 Rock 2004.  I shared an escort boat with Mark Shulein and Scott Lincoln.  It wasn’t my boat so I was the bastard paddler.  I was in the shipping lane with no escort near.  Big ship approaching…no way to really gauge how close it was, but it was f’ing close.  I put my head down and sprinted for about 10 minutes…listening to Tool and Pennywise thinking about how brutal my death would be.  Thinking this was it…I was going to get mauled by a freighter.  As soon as I realized the bow wake was behind me I sat up on my board and had a major “let down”.  I was almost crying.  I looked behind me and saw a 300’ freighter (not too sure how big those things are) pass about 20 yards away.  The best part was the pack chasing me was on the other side…waiting for the ship to pass.

iPods While Paddling: Godsend or Good Grief?
See last answer.

There's a Head High Swell on a Glassy Day. What do you do? (surf or paddle):
Always want to surf, but during the paddle season I somehow end up paddling.  That is why I suck!

Paddling Season (which month to which month):
March to August.

Bright and early, or nightcap?
Bright and Early!  Sometimes before sunrise.  Ipods are necessary then…If I am going to be eaten by a shark I want to be listening to music.

Downwind paddle or wait for down winds (glassy):
Glassy.  I am intrigued by the wind, but I don’t welcome it.