初日の土曜14kmのディスタンスレースにお父さんも日本代表枠を目指して出場しました。スペインでは僕が使わなかった空きボードを使ってたまたまオープン部門に空きがあって出場したお父さんでしたが、今回は僕と同じエリートクラス。お互いライバルとして真剣勝負でした。コロナになってから自分のことは我慢してずっと僕のサポートに徹してくれていたお父さんにとって3年ぶりの公式戦でしたが、スペイン遠征の時に疲労でギックリ腰をしてしまい、動けないままに予選会に挑むこの二週間の姿を見て僕は相当気合が入りました。そして今年の選考会は「東伊豆チャレンジ -Ocean Paddling」という別のサーフスキーのイベントと共同開催でした。なんとその主催者の井藤さんは昔サーフスキーでお父さんとモロカイ海峡で競い合っていた方だと聞いてとても驚きました。僕は国内で外洋レースを実現できる人はお父さん以外には正直いないと思っていたのですが、井藤さんの経歴を聞いて納得しました。本当に強い想いを胸に秘めた方でないと沢山のリスクを背負う外洋レースを主催することはできません。そんな凄い人がレースを運営するのだから絶対に面白いことになると、スペインの帰路からずっとワクワクしていました。

当日風速は15メートルを越え、波高3メートル級と、僕たちが沖縄で練習する時でも相当な覚悟が必要なハードなコンディションでした。僕は小2の頃からお父さんと一緒に沖縄の荒れた外洋に出てきて、簡単に文章にできないくらいの感動と恐怖を経験してきたのでレース中ずっとワクワクが止まりませんでした。結果は二位を大きく離してフィニッシュ。お父さんは残り一枚の切符をギリギリ逃し残念ながら三位、親子揃って日の丸を背負うことはできませんでした。でもお父さんの表情に代表権を逃した悔しさはなく、懐かしいサーフスキーの仲間たちと嬉しそうにダウンウインドの話をしていて晴れ晴れしていました。僕もお父さんたちのように30年以上も一緒に海を楽しめる仲間を増やしていきたいと思いました。レースを振り返るとナビゲーションに反省点が残りました。僕の進路や波間の無駄な動作をレース中ずっと後ろから見ていたお父さんがしっかりと分析してくれて、ゴール後に沢山指摘を受けました。つい２週間前のスペインもそうでしたが、目標物が無い海をちゃんとナビゲーションできるようになるには10年以上はかかるよ、と言われました。下田の外洋は初ということもありますが海外ではそれが当たり前なので言い訳はできません、今後も練習あるのみです。

On Saturday, the first day, my father also participated in the 14km distance race aiming for the Japanese national team. In Spain last month, he raced in the open division (SUP enthusiast division) using my spare board that I didn't use, but this time it was the same elite class as me, and it was a serious competition as rivals. It was the first official match in three years for my father, who had been patient with himself and devoted himself to supporting me. Even though my father had a stiff back in the Span race, I was very motivated to see him challenge this qualifier race for the last two weeks. This year's competition was co-hosted with another surf ski event called "Higashi Izu Challenge -Ocean Paddling”. I was very surprised to hear that the organizer, Mr. Ito, used to compete with my father in the Molokai crossing race.(my father used to be surfski paddler) To be honest, I thought that there was no one other than my father who could make deep open paddling race in Japan, but after hearing Mr. Ito's career, I was convinced. Unless you have a strong desire in your heart, you can't host an open ocean downwind race that carries a lot of risks. Since the race was run by such an amazing person, I was excited all the way back from Spain, knowing that it would definitely be fun time. The wind speed exceeded 15m on the day, and the waves were in the 3m class. Ever since I was in second grade(8years old), I have been out on the rough seas of Okinawa with my father, and have experienced emotions and fears that cannot be easily put into words. I couldn't stop getting goosebumps before and the during the race, the excitement never stopped. As a result, I finished far ahead of second place. My father barely missed one ticket left, and unfortunately, we were not able to carry the Japanese flag together, but father's face showed no regrets about missing Japan team, and he was happily talking about rough ocean with his surf ski friends. I wanted to make many friends who can enjoy the ocean together for more than 30 years like my fathers. Looking back my race, there was some mistakes for my navigation. My father had been watching me from behind throughout the race, analyzed my course and movements in the rough swells, and he pointed out a lot of things after the race. I was told that it would take more than 10 years to be able to navigate the ocean without any landmarks. It's my first time in Shimoda, but I can't make excuses. I will just keep practicing.

しかし、表彰式前に審判から1分ペナルティ加算で順位を二位に下げられてしまいました。審判が見せてくれた田口選手が書いたプロテスト用紙には「荒木選手から背後からわざとボードをぶつけられ転倒させられた。」と書かれてありビックリしました。そしてとても悔しいです。僕はわざと人にぶつけて勝負に勝つ気は一切ありませんし、そんなことに頼らなくても十分に勝負できますと反論しました。つい先月スペイン「World Sup Festival」でも長、短距離ともパフォーマンスの差は証明していますし、今回もスタートやブイ回航で転倒し、田口選手が十分にボードを乗りこなせていない様子がyoutube動画で分かると思います。転倒の原因は接触だけではなく、田口選手自身にもあるのではないかと僕は感じています。もちろん故意に衝突したというプロテストは認められず、接触したことだけに対するペナルティ1分が課せられました。今、世界のSUP界は様々な団体があって統一のルールがありません。SUPレースを経験している方ならば誰もが分かると思いますが競泳や陸上のようにセパレートレーンでない限りレース中にボードが接触してしまうことは仕方のない現状があります。ボードが進む時に引き波ができるのですがそれに乗る「ドラフティング」という高度な技術があります。今は前の選手が絶対有利のルールになっていますが、例えば今回のように前の選手が大きく蛇行すれば、後続の選手は尚更ぶつかり易くなります。ドラフティングする側に「前の人のボードを接触させてはいけない」というルールがあるのであれば、ドラフティングされる側にも「必要以上の蛇行運転はしてはいけない。」というルールがあることが公平だと思います。もしくは（これまで沢山練習を積んできたので難しい位置でのドラフティングが得意技の一つなのですが）ドラフティングは一切禁止というルールにするのも一つでしょう。でも以前トライアスロンの自転車のように統制がとれず逆に運営側を苦しませると思います。

The next day, Sunday, there were two events: technical (5-6km) and sprint (2-300m). Last year, I skipped the sprint because the three events were too much for my small body, but this year my physique has grown a little bit, so I decided to participate in all events to challenge Connor Baxter, the all time sprint world champion. This year the waves weren't as strong as last year, but the surf conditions were interesting with knee-waist size. I didn't rent the board and took the time to transport it from Okinawa. The beach start, surfing, and turn practice showed results, and the technical finished at the top. (leaving a bit of room for the final sprint) The beach start, surfing, and turns were all successful, and I finished the technical race at the top. (leaving a bit of room for the final sprint) However, after the final sprint event, just before the awards ceremony, the referee added a 1-minute penalty on my technical result, and dropped me to 2nd place. I was surprised to see that the protest form that the referee showed me said, "The board was purposely hit from behind and I was knocked over.” I countered that I had no intention of winning by hitting people on purpose, and that I could win without relying on such things. Just last month, I was able to prove that at the World Sup Festival, the world's largest SUP race in Spain. the youtube video clearly shows how he fell at the start and around the buoy turns, and was not able to fully ride the board. I feel that the cause of the fall is not only the contact, but also myself. Of course, the protest that it was intentional was not accepted, and only a 1minute penalty for bumping was imposed. (Obviously, if you hit someone intentionally, you will be disqualified.) As we can see by video, he fell from board many times during the race. I think the cause of the fall was something other than the contact. The SUP world is now mixed with various associations and there is no unified rule. As everyone knows, it is unavoidable that the board touches during the race unless it is a separate lane like swimming or track and field. There is technique called "drafting" to ride on someone’s wake. Under the current rules, the person who is paddling in the lead, has an absolute advantage. If the leading paddler makes a big twist and do meandering driving, it goes without saying that the paddlers behind are even more likely to hit or touch each other. If the drafting side has a rule that "Don't hit the board of the person in front of you", the drafted side also has a rule that "Do not meander more than necessary." I think this is fair. Or, since I've practiced a lot so far, drafting has become one of my specialties, but one way would be to make a rule that drafting is completely prohibited. I think that it will only make the management side suffer because there is no control like the old triathlon bicycle drafting regulation rule.

そして今回それ以上に残念な出来事がありました。ゴール直後に2位でフィニッシュした田口選手は大勢の観客の前で、大声で叫び文句を言いながら僕に手を出してきました。これはルールや規則とは別次元の問題だと思います。国の代表を決めるとても大事なレースで日本人としての謙虚な姿勢や礼儀は勝敗と同じくらい大切なことで、主催のNSA（日本サーフィン連盟）のホームページにもそう書かれています。今はNSAからの正式なチーム発表を待っている状態ですが日本代表は「結果さえ残せば良い、速ければ良い。」という訳ではないと思います。そして今後世界に羽ばたこうと夢見る沢山のキッズパドラーがそんな暴挙行動を真似ることがあっては絶対にいけないと思います。僕にはSUPがとても楽しくて頑張っている小学生の妹やキッズ仲間が日本にも海外にもたくさんいます。未来ある妹たちにこんな想いをさせないために、言い難いこと、書き難いことも、僕はあえて今回の事実をしっかりと記録に残したいと思います。
And this time there was an even more disappointing action.
 Right after technical finish, Rai Taguchi, who finished in 2nd place, shouted at me and pushed me away, in front of all the audience.
 I think this is a problem on a different level than rules and regulations. A very important race that decides the representative of the country, as a Japanese person, a humble attitude and courtesy are as important as victory or defeat. It is also written on the website of the sponsoring NSA (Japan Surfing Association).
 We are currently waiting for the official team announcement from the NSA, but I don't think the Japanese national team is saying, "It's good as long as the results are good, as long as it's fast." It is absolutely unacceptable that many kid paddlers who dream of becoming world-class in the future should not imitate such behavior of athletes. I have a lot of elementary school younger sisters and kids friends both in Japan and overseas who are doing their best because SUP is so much fun. In order not to make my younger sisters who have a future feel like this, I would like to dare to record the facts, even if it is difficult to say or write.

今回はディスタンス、テクニカル、スプリントと全て先頭でフィニッシュしましたが、結果は2種目制覇。一つは準優勝と、色んな感情に揺さぶられて良かったと思います。初日はダウンウインドで課題も得ました。何よりお父さんの同世代で頑張っている大先輩のパドラーたちに出会えたこと、お父さんと一緒に表彰台に立てたことが感動でした。そしてやはり国内外全てのレースに共通して言えることは、いつも練習しているそのままの状態でレースに出ることが大切だということを改めて感じています。いつも愛用しているボード、フィン、パドル、リーシュ。その全て揃えることができて初めてレースに100%で挑めるからです。４Mを越す大きなボードをフェリーに積み込んだり、レンタカーで何時間も運搬してくれる。海外でも何本もボードを買って綺麗に保管する計画を立ててくれる。僕が競技に集中できるそんな環境を整えてくれるお父さん。スペインで腰を痛め、時差ボケ、運転、そして代表選考レースにも出て疲れ果てているはずなのに、それでもいつも通りのコーチングやマッサージをしてくれて本当にありがとう。遠征のたびに留守番になってしまう二人の妹の練習をサポートしてくれるお母さんに改めて感謝です。そして多額の遠征費はスポンサーの皆さん、後援会の皆さんの暖かいご協力のお陰です。ボードの修理や運搬サポートをしていただいたTACK CANOE WORKSの大村君、畠山さん、わざわざ遠くから足を運んでいただいたカメラマンの琢磨さん、水谷さんありがとうございました。（チームメイトのリンも13歳で大人を相手に大活躍でした）

This time, I finished first in distance, technical, and sprint. However, I think it was really good that I was shaken by various emotions as the result was not the victory of the three events. On the first day, I learned again in the downwind. I am very happy that I was able to meet great senior paddlers who are doing their best in the same generation as my father, and that I was able to stand on the podium with my father for the first time in a long time. I learnt that it is very important to race in the same state as you have always practiced. My favorite board, fins and paddle. Only with all of these things can you challenge the race with 100%. My father transported many 4M boards by ferry from Okinawa, and drive rental car for hours. Even overseas, he makes a plan to buy a number of boards and store them safely. Thank you to my father who worked hard to create an environment where I could concentrate on the race. (coaching and massage as usual, even though you must be exhausted from jet lag, driving, and competing in the national selection race with me..) I am so grateful to my mother for supporting my two younger sisters in their practice every time we go away. Thank you so much for the generous cooperation of our sponsors and supporters' association, we were able to cover a large amount of travel expenses. Thank you for Mr. Omura and Mr. Hatakeyama of TACK CANOE WORKS who repaired the board and supported transportation, Mr. Takuma and Ms. Mizutani, photographers who traveled all the way to visit.(teammate Rin was also very active at the age of 13)