Name: Bob Willis
Age: 46
Years Paddling: 5

Name: Francziska Steagall
Age: 44
Years Paddling: 5
 
Weekly Mileage-Bob:
Winter 5-10, Summer 20+
Weekly Mileage-Francziska:
Winter 12-20, Summer 30+

Preferred board length to paddle-Bob:
18’ 6”
Preferred board length to paddle-Francziska:
18’ 6” (The Dark Side!)

Favorite Paddle route-Bob:
Mother’s Beach to SM Pier & back.
Favorite Paddle route-Francziska:
Mother’s Beach to SM Pier & back.

Favorite race-Bob:
Malibu to Marina, because it’s local and I would be foolish not to do it plus it’s great to see everybody’s boards.
Favorite race-Francziska:
Catalina Classic- never done it, but I am on the timing team.  I have much respect for everyone who’s completed this event.

I Started Paddling Because-Bob:
My wife made me do it.
I Started Paddling Because-Francziska:
I wanted to be more intimate with the water and get a terrific workout.

Best Paddling Experience to Date-Bob:
We launched at Rats, saw the Black Pearl come out of King Harbor and sail off towards PV.  We paddled out towards R-10 and saw the Black Pearl anchored out by R-10 in the fog, well it was fog machines making the illusion of fog, but it still looked like fog.  We saw lots of pirates passing us, heading to the Black Pearl packed onto inflatables, but the one that was solo in the real nice inflatable that waved to us, had to be Johnny Depp. That was a one of a kind paddle, great conditions, neat experience.
Best Paddling Experience to Date-Francziska:
Being surrounded by about a hundred dolphins.

Favorite Thing About Paddling-Bob:
Experiencing moments like the closing minutes of the CBS Sunday Morning News.  Those intimate encounters with nature that money just can’t buy. 
Favorite Thing About Paddling-Francziska: 
Being surrounded by dolphin on the left, on the right, underneath me, smelling their fishy breath.  Having them swim up to me from afar.  Seeing them come up smiling with a fish in their mouth. Seeing the rainbow when they spout with the sun just so.  Having them hang out with me for miles and miles, paddling side by side, switching sides taking turns taking the lead.  Seeing the older dolphin with mature marking and the baby dolphin with their tiny dorsal fins.  Having them make the miles dissolve into effortless motivation.

Thing I Hate Most About Paddling-Bob:
The weather turning on you and getting cold.
Thing I Hate Most About Paddling-Francziska:
Not seeing dolphins.

What I Tell Myself to Motivate on Days I Just Don't Want to Paddle-Bob:
F*** it, don’t go.
What I Tell Myself to Motivate on Days I Just Don't Want to Paddle-Francziska:
Do you want to see dolphins?

Best "Oh Crap" Moment While In Middle of Ocean-Bob:
Someone told me it’s great to surf the little waves just north of MDR North jetty on your paddleboard. One day while doing this I got stung by a stingray on my right ankle and was unable to find any first aid or lifeguard assistance and had to paddle 2 miles back to Mother’s Beach in excruciating pain.  I later got the flesh-eating bacteria as a result of this.  I’m okay now though, but that was a major “Oh, crap!” moment. As Steve Erwin would like to, and I can attest, don’t mess with stingrays of any size!
Best "Oh Crap" Moment While In Middle of Ocean-Francziska:
Paddling out the entrance channel of MDR and hearing then seeing that SOB Tortuga coming up so fast behind us with a huge bow wake, heading right towards us, with no where for us to go- jetty on the right and no time to cross his bow.  And this was during a low tide so the sand bar was just a foot below the surface dropping sharply on our left making for the perfect storm, if you will, and then hearing the captain laugh and tell his crew and guests “watch them with this wake” as he passed us two feet to spare.  His wake threw me onto my knees on the sand (now skinned by this) holding my board in my arms to protect the rudder from breaking from hitting the sand and then I see my husband had gotten rolled.

iPods While Paddling: Godsend or Good Grief?-Bob
No iPods.
iPods While Paddling: Godsend or Good Grief? -Francziska
Good grief…I need to hear the water, hear the dolphin and sea lions breathing, hear the fish jump, hear the splashing water and hear approaching boats!

There's a Head High Swell on a Glassy Day. What do you do? (surf or paddle): -Bob
Paddle.
There's a Head High Swell on a Glassy Day. What do you do? (surf or paddle): -Francziska
Paddle, paddle, paddle! (Out of MDR!)

Paddling Season (which month to which month): -Bob
All year long. January to December.  Some of the hottest days have been in November.
Paddling Season (which month to which month): -Francziska
All months, just not when it’s been raining and the water is full of bacteria or if it’s really, really cold and windy.

Bright and early, or nightcap? -Bob
Bright and Early.
Bright and early, or nightcap? -Francziska
Bright and Early!  Sometimes, even before sunrise.  Unless it’s cold, then we can wait for the sun to warm things up.

Downwind paddle or wait for down winds (glassy): -Bob
Love the glass. 
Downwind paddle or wait for down winds (glassy): -Francziska
Down winds for sure!  Glassy is the best!