Wakeboarding & Camping @ Apache Lake

Last weekend Doug invited several friends to enjoy his annual Wakeboarding and Camping trip at Apache Lake.  Several of the big names were there such as Matt, Pamela, Jonny, Alex, Jody, and Kim.  I also got to meet some awesome people like Travis, Dennis, Alice, Cooper, Lynette, and JP.  I had missed this previous year so I was really happy that I was able to make it this time.

I have only been wakeboarding once last year, also with Doug, Matt, and Jonny, and my first time was pretty challenging.  I spent the entire day just trying to get up on the board but struggled mightily not being able to figure out the technique.  Towards the end of that day, I think I started to get the hang of getting up but didn't last on the board for very long...just a few seconds.  I left with very sore arms that day, a result of me incorrectly trying to pull myself up.  The quote of my first attempt was me wishing, "if I only had more arm strength."

I think the experience of me being so new and uncomfortable the first time made it less exciting to want to get out there again.  This time was much more enjoyable because I had learned so much from the first time and was able to start popping up regularly and at least give myself a chance to ride the waves.  I really felt comfortable sitting in the water before being pulled up this time around.  Once I got up, steering was certainly a problem since I have no experience in boarding of any sort, but by the end of the trip, I was able to maintain some good runs of over 20 seconds before crashing in the water!  Wahoo!  For me that is great progress and the feeling of actually riding on the water makes me look forward to the next chance I can get out there.

Camping was the other part of the trip (we were there 2 days, 1 night) and we just enjoyed great weather and great times with great friends.  Doug and his sister provided everyone with a ton of food.  I honestly felt like all I did was eat when I was at the campsite lol.

Overall I had a very fun time and I'm really hoping I can make it back out on the lake with Doug and friends a couple more times this summer!  It shows how much I've improved 'cause instead of having sore forearms, I was sore in the legs and abs, an indication that I was doing the whole "getting up" part correctly.  Maybe someday I can be as good at wakeboarding and wakesurfing as Doug or Matt!

No Repeat... :(

The IBM Basketball League championships were held last Wednesday, but unforutnately I was not crowned the winner. :( The first game was pretty close the entire time, but we started making mistakes and committing turnovers in the 2nd half and were eventually done in.  Since it's a double-elimination tournament and we had not lost a game, we had to play a 2nd game to determine the champion.

The 2nd game we started out really hot, jumping out to a 24-11 lead about 13 minutes into the game.  We were really pumped and needed to stay aggressive and not let the other team back into the game.

However, Jose's team is very quick and is in great shape and I feel like their stamina was the key in outlasting us and eventually coming back in the game.  To be honest, our team just doesn't have much depth past it's top 3-4 scoring options.  Depth plays a key role when your star players need rest or are being heavily defended and that's something our team really lacked this year.

My legs started to die at the end from giving it my all and it was Jose's team that came out victorious.  Our team still had a good season as it's always an accomplishment to make the finals, but there can only be one winner in this game.  I do feel like I come out firing very early in our games and help our team get out and ahead early, but then I start to feel selfish, so I try to get others involved and then stop taking my own shots later in the game.  As a point guard, it's tough to balance your own shot and your teammate's.

Next year I have strongly considered being a captain.  I feel like it will force me to take a larger role on offense and I honestly think I could draft together a strong team.  I know almost all the players in the league and their strengths, so I think it would be a good challenge for me to see if I can put together a team and lead it to a championship.  It's a thought, but I've led softball teams to championships and we all know I can put together a good fantasy team haha!  We shall see...