Boat driver of the year?

Our boat driver today is Doug Kirkbride of Beaver Falls, N.Y., and this gentleman has quickly put himself into contention for boat driver of the year. That's a little something I keep track of to recognize the important work these guys do to enable us to cover the Elite Series.

 

This morning I forgot one key piece of equipment. My rain suit. Roommate Steve Wright was up at 4:30 this morning. I figured I didn't need to be up until 5:30. So I rolled back over and went back to sleep. Next thing I knew it's 5:55 and Steve Bowman is waking me from a dead sleep with a gruff, "Let's roll man."

 

To shorten the story, we've been in a pouring rain on the St. Lawrence River for the past hour.  That's Doug in the photo. If he looks like a wet rat it's because he loaned me his rain jacket and he took the bibs. I've only known him for 3 hours now and I've already put him into my top 5 boat drivers of the year.

 

Thanks Doug!