Surfboards, Dog Sleds and Toyota’s Rule

February 26, 2016

When the Super Bowl hoopla ends, the media coverage landscape expands, and all the other cool things in sports finally receive more publicity. The three I want to mention are the Yukon Quest Dog Sled race in Alaska, the Titans of Mavericks Surfing Contest, and the Daytona 500. All of these epic events are arguably the marquee ones in their sport. The Yukon Quest is the 1000-mile dog sled race from Fairbanks to Whitehorse in Yukon Territory. The Titans of Mavericks is the most intense big wave competition in Half Moon Bay, California. Lastly, the Daytona 500, which every racing fan loves more than any other road race.

Mavericks surf contest is a world-famous and long-running spectacle. The epic waves that are enormous 30 to 50-foot-high behemoths full of spirit and unpredictability are only ridden by a select few. Almost every surfer has a wipeout in the competition, and depending on how bad your spill sometimes determines how well you will do. Nic Lamb, an American from Northern California, outlasted 23 competitors and a big wipeout to capture the $120,000 purse.

If you don't know much about Mavericks and are interested in surfing or like watching like most of us, you can find plenty of documentaries and YouTube clips to get the feel of the event. The contest has grown beyond cult status to a must-see for surf fans, and curious lookee loos. The 24 contestants were given 48 hours to arrive from all around the world. Last year there wasn't an event because the waves never got to the size that warrants the competition. This year they were consistently coming in at 35 to 40 feet all day.

The next on my list is the Yukon Quest held in Alaska and the Yukon Territory, which finished on February 15th. This race is the granddaddy of all sled dog races, separating the well-prepared and trained from the lesser. The competition is a 1000 mile journey through all kinds of conditions of weather and terrain. Yukon Quest is an actual test of the capacity of humans and canines and a tribute to the strength of the ancient bond that unites them. Of course, the Quest is not the most compelling of spectator events but more of a scene to be part of as the towns of the north embrace their competitors and the beloved sport as their own.

This year's winner was Hugh Neff, an Alaskan musher who crossed the finish line 9 days after the start. The 48-year old musher won once before in 2012. He remarkably led the majority of the race. This time around, the contestants had to withstand blizzards, equipment failures, and sick dogs in this grueling race. The winner's take was $35,000 out of a pool of $115,000. It doesn't seem like a lot compared to other sports, but then again, only a few and notable can endure such an event. The history of this race is a good read, so check it out. Plenty of information is on the internet.

Last but not least is the Daytona 500. First, we had the man versus wave in Mavericks. Second, we have man and dog against the elements of the Yukon and now man and machine to persevere against other men and machines. The Daytona 500 took place on February 21st, and the winner was Denny Hamlin, one of the closest finishes ever captured on video. It looks like he won by less than 1 foot, coming in at top speed, certainly the narrowest in Daytona history.     Hamlin beat out Martin Truex, driving Toyota's, which was part of their domination in this year's event. The victory was also a first for Joe Gibbs Racing whose been competing here for 23 years.

What makes the Daytona 500 the Super Bowl of auto racing? It's the fact that it is always held in February and the first official NASCAR race of the season. Daytona gets the most extensive viewership of any other race, including the Indy 500. It is very prestigious to win since its inception in 1959. Daytona International Speedway is sacred ground in racing, and Richard Petty owns the most victories (7), and Chevrolet has the most wins with 23.

As you can notice, these are not mainstream sports with the slight exception of the Daytona 500, but it too doesn't receive the full recognition as the other 4 and 5. There is something cool to follow for all sports fans; even if they are hard to find on the television, you can always find them online. These events usually occur in that small window of media absence when the NFL is not ruling the airwaves. Next year, check-in with one of these events, and you will find it a breath of fresh air from the typical offerings..