Viva La France! - October 2008 11/04/2008
 After training non-stop for the World Title, I needed a break! So what did I do? Travelled halfway around the world to meet up with another Quiksilver/Roxy tandem team, LOL.  I'm already a huge fan of Paris, but experiencing the city with F+A was so much fun! And without Chuck there, I needed Fred to act as a double for the lift pictures. :) Day 1 was spent sightseeing and lunching in Montmartre, checking out the Moulin Rouge, strolling along the Seine River, and then visiting the Eiffel Tower after sunset just in time to see it sparkle on the hour!  We spent the morning of Day 2 at the Musee D'Orsay and then had to hustle over to meet the crew from Extreme Sports Channel for a last minute interview. I didn't know it, but Aurelie had sent out a press release that the new ISA Tandem World Champion (me!) was visiting Paris and Europe's version of Fuel TV responded. I was a little nervous doing my first media interview solo since I'm used to having Chuck with me, but having Fred there to do the translation made it fun. Impromptu lifts in front of a nearby fountain for some extra footage had some funny moments, too. Switching partners always takes some getting use to!  Later we took a walk along the Champs-Elysees and stopped in at the Quiksilver/Roxy store so F+A could pick up some things. Then Fred decided that it was the perfect opportunity to teach me how to tandem skateboard. So I ran alongside and jumped on with him for a whizzing ride down La plus belle avenue du monde ("The most beautiful avenue in the world"). We got some curious looks, but heads really turned when we decided to try it again through the underground metro station. Luckily I quickly learned to turn and stop with him so that we didn't go flying down the stairs in the station!  Day 3 started with a whirlwind tour of the Musee du Louvre and then a quick bite in a neighborhood cafe before loading up the boards and heading out to Normandy for a surf session. Unfortunately when we got to Etretat, it was completely flat (as a crepe!). But the glassy conditions made it perfect for doing some SUP below the cliffs and under the famous sea arches painted by artists like Claude Monet. Watching the sunset from the water through the arches was absolutely breathtaking. Oh, did I mention that it was only 12 degrees Celsius? Brrr!  In Etretat, we were luckily able to stay with a local family that F+A knew. The home-cooked dinner and lunch the next day were fabulous, and champagne poured freely at both meals. Apparently in Normandy they don't believe in drinking water, LOL. No complaints here! The family was lovely and equally as charming was the home and property they owned, which was built in the 1860's and used by the Count to entertain his hunting parties. It was like taking a step back in time and living in history. And the view down to the ocean from the top floor was gorgeous!  Day 4 took us from Etretat down a picturesque road past chateaux and more cliffs to Le Havre so Aurelie could visit her grandmother and Fred could pick up some paddles from a local surf shop. The city was almost completely destroyed during the Battle of Normandy during World War II, but was quickly rebuilt utilizing mostly concrete after the war. The result is a very different urban look and feel than many other French cities and towns that I've been to, but interesting in its own right. One last tandem skateboarding session down the streets at sunset brought this memorable trip to a close. C'est fini! Fun in the Sun! - October 8, 2008 11/04/2008
With the pressure of competition gone for now, we paddled out for a fun-filled early morning session. A big mahalo to Rob Santanello from Sunset Waikiki Photography for the pictures! Tandem...gotta love it!   | Inside Tandem
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