Take a Clinic

I’ll actually be giving a clinic at the Carolina Cup with Jimmy Terrell when this gets posted, but that’s not the reason I’m suggesting you take a clinic.  I simply think that if you’re really serious about becoming the best you can be in this sport it’s worth hearing what people who’ve achieved a lot have to say and learning from them.

When I was a young C1 paddler I used to hang on every word the older National Team paddlers had to say about training, technique and racing.  When I became a National Team member myself I used to like to talk to the competitors from other countries and share ideas about everything to do with training for paddling.  I’d pick up little things that I could try in my own training, some of which I’d find really useful, and some which I never tried again because they didn’t seem to add anything.  The point is I was willing to learn, and over the course of my career this helped me get better.  Many of the things I learned back then are things I’ve been able to apply to stand up paddling and I still use today as both an athlete and a coach.

When I worked for Toronto’s bid for the 2008 Olympics I had the opportunity to rub shoulders with a lot of former and current Olympic athletes from a variety of sports.  I had way more time to actually talk to them about training and competing than I did when I was in the Olympic village and met them there.  I found that even though our sports could be incredibly different the experience we shared as athletes while training and competing was remarkably similar.  I learned things from these athletes, especially about the mental side of training and racing that I found useful, and with athletes in events with a similar energy system profile to mine I learned useful things about training.

I’m fortunate that my sprint canoe background helped me become competitive in SUP pretty much from day one, at least on the flats if not in the ocean.  But I’ve had a lot of help from, and asked a lot of questions of, paddlers with far more experience than me.  They’ve helped me become better and pretty competent in the ocean.

I haven’t done a Kalama Kamp, but I’d love to.  I’ve had the privilege to teach a clinic with Dave and Jimmy.  In that circumstance, even though I’m teaching the clinic, I’m essentially taking it as well as I’m listening carefully to everything Dave says.  As much as I’ve spent most of a lifetime with a paddle in my hand, his has been spent on the ocean.  I can’t think of a better learning opportunity considering where I am at now as a paddler than to hang with him for a week.  If I can find a time when work isn’t busy and he’s offering a camp, I’m definitely in.

At the Carolina Cup this year there are lots of clinics and if I weren’t teaching one myself at the same time I think I’d be signing up for a couple of them.  I’d love to hear what Annabel Anderson has to say.  Here’s an athlete that excelled in other sports unrelated to paddling and surfing before starting SUP.  In a very short time she became not only the fastest woman in the world but frequently paddled with, and even beat, some of the top guys in races.  I figure her background and mine are at least a little related in that they weren’t on the ocean.  I’m sure she’s picked up a ton of tricks in becoming such a strong ocean athlete that I’d find useful as I continue to improve on the ocean myself.  Annabel is doing her clinic with Johnny Puakea who is a very successful ocean paddling coach.  I’d really be interested in his perspective on SUP as well. 

Travis Grant and Jamie Mitchell are also giving clinics at Carolina.  I’ve sat in on a clinic Jamie has done with Jimmy and it was well worth it.  I’ve also taught one with him and Jimmy.  Though I’ve had the opportunity to actually train with Jamie, which is the best way to learn from him, the clinic experiences were really useful for learning as well.  And though I’ve raced Travis in both outrigger and SUP and talked paddling with him, I haven’t had the opportunity to hear what he has to say in a clinic.  I know it would be useful to me.

This week’s Tip of the Week is to take a clinic.  Hopefully by this point I’ve convinced you to do that sometime, but let me take it one step further.  Take as many as you can, with as many different instructors as you can.  Don’t make the mistake of always signing up for one with your favorite paddler, be it me or anyone else.  Get as many different perspectives as you can, and then figure out how they apply to you.  All of the paddlers I’ve mentioned here are incredibly well spoken, articulate and passionate about paddling.  They’re personable and can tell a good story.  You’ll not only learn, you’ll be entertained while you’re learning.  They’re motivating and inspiring.  I guarantee if you take a good clinic you’ll be a better paddler and enjoy your own paddling more because of it.

Some Tips for the Key West Paddleboard Classic

The Key West Paddleboard Classic is a great race in an amazingly fun location.  If you’ve been to Key West you’ll know what I mean.  If you haven’t been to Key West then trust me, you’ve got to go.  The race is a challenge, but it’s a fun challenge.  There is always a strong field, the water is warm and because you’re paddling around the island the conditions change every 20 minutes or so which keeps it interesting.  It’s a 12-mile race which is on the long side, particularly if you’ve done the Carolina Cup the week before, but Key West’s 12 miles are psychologically and physically a lot easier than Carolina’s 13.  That said, it has its challenges.  It’s hot and humid, it can get really windy, and if the wind is blowing the right way it can get really rough.  

 

Tip 1 – Inspect the course before the race and STAY RIGHT

This tip is pretty much a rule for me.  In general, if you’ve got the time to inspect a race course before racing you absolutely should.  If you don’t have time to inspect the entire course then inspect the trickier parts of it.  Fortunately, unlike Carolina there aren’t things like shore break, inlets and sections with lots of sandbars that you have to worry about at Key West.  For me the big reason to inspect the course at Key West is to get familiar with the sight lines in order to pick the most direct course around the island when racing.  Last year I got lost when I was leading heading into the harbor.  Having not done the race before and only arriving the day before I had no time to check out the course.  Although I studied the map and paid attention at the racers meeting, having never done the course before and chasing some fun bumps, I got way off course and only realized that when a friendly motor boat sped over, asked if I was in the race, and told me where I had to go. 

 

So if you’re like I was last year and aren’t able to inspect the course beforehand, here are a few things to be aware of:

Water start off Higg’s Beach

This is pretty straightforward, however if it is a south wind like last year it will be choppy.  Last year there were some great bumps to ride as we headed east towards the harbor. 

Turn north into the harbor

As I recall it’s a little rocky as you make to the turn into the harbor, but if you don’t get super close to the shore here you’ll be fine.  I figure I was about 10 feet from the shore and was a little concerned that I was too close once I had chosen that line, but it turned out to be okay.  If you’re conservative you may want to be a little farther out.  If you’re bolder you can try the line I chose but I wouldn’t get any closer.  I just don’t think the risk is worth the reward.  As we got into the harbor last year the south wind was at our backs kicking up great, fast moving bumps two to three feet high.  If the wind is the same this year there’ll be some fun here.   Last year I stayed in the middle and caught bump after bump.  Unfortunately I got farther and farther away from the right turn you have to make into the channel that goes under Fleming Key Bridge and into the gulf.  If you’ve got bumps to ride here, catch as many as you can but stay close to the right shore so you can tuck into the channel quickly when you reach it.  I figure I had to do an extra half-mile or so at this point last year.  If the wind is coming from the north or the east you’ll want to hug the right shore anyway to avoid the wind so you’ll be in good shape when you reach the channel.  You should be aware that “hugging the right shore” might actually mean tucking up against a giant cruise ship, but you get the idea.

Gulf of Mexico

This is the north side of the island.  The channel you traverse to enter the gulf is only about 500m long and last year it was the flattest, most sheltered part of the course.  I don’t recall any tide in the channel last year, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be tide there this year.  Use your GPS and check your speed here.  Even if you don’t see any signs of current on the surface of the water, you should be able to tell from your speed pretty quickly whether or not there is a current.  If there is and it’s with you then stay in the middle.  If it’s against you hug the right shore which is a concrete wall.

Once you’re in the gulf it is going to get choppy simply because it’s more open.  A south wind won’t be challenging, just small wind chop.  A north wind could be much choppier and an east wind will be a headwind.  Either way, this part of the race is a slog.  When you exit the channel you kind of have to turn left a bit and head towards the left side of the island you’ll see ahead of you.  You can get pretty close to the island without it getting too shallow, which you’ll want to do in a south wind to get shelter. 

Rounding the island you’ll want to aim for Cow Key Channel, which you can’t see for the longest time.  This is always a confusing part of the race for me.  I’ve done this section three times now – once in the Classic and twice in a smaller race the Lazy Dogs host in late January – and I always want to go further left than I should.  The confusing thing is that there are boats moored there that make it look like a channel, but you want to stay a little more right.

As you get closer you’ll start to see Cow Key Channel and eventually a bridge you want to go under.  There are some condo like buildings on the right bank at the start of the channel.  This area was really tidal last year with strong currents against us.  In that scenario you’ll want to hug the shore except that this is the one area on the course that is full of sandbars.  If you are going to inspect any section of the course I suggest this be it.  The great thing is you can just drop your board in at the Lazy Dog Paddle shack that is right at the bridge here and then easily check the area out.  I’d actually focus more on the stretch from Lazy Dog out into the ocean, as that is where most of the sandbars are.  Know how close you can get to the shore as you turn the corner at the Key West airport without getting grounded out or hitting your paddle on the bottom.

Back into the ocean

As you round the bend to the right by the airport you’ll be coming back into open water.  Last year this area was crazy, as the wind had picked up during the time we were on the backside of the island and the waves had built.  The bounce backs off the break wall here were insane. 

Once you’re fully into the ocean you’ll see a pier in front of you.  Aim for the end of it as the finish at Higg’s Beach is just past it.  When you round the end of the pier you’ll have about 500m of paddling left.  The finish is a beach finish so you’ll have to hit the beach, jump off your board and run through the finish. 

Tip 2 – Drink fluids

This race is hot and humid.  I drank a ton of water on the course last year and though I usually hit the beach with a fair amount of water left in my 1.5-liter pack, last year I was almost dry.  Test your hydration system before the race and test out any mixes you use before the race as well.

Tip 3 – Use a stable board, or at least have one on standby

This course could be entirely flat if there’s no wind.  If that’s the cast then a 24-inch rocket might be in order.  However, if it is windy and choppy, and in particular if the wind is from the south, you’ll want a more stable board.  Last year I borrowed a 30-inch Bark custom from Mike Metzger simply because I couldn’t get my own board down from Canada.  It turned out to be an excellent choice for the conditions.  I was super stable on it in all the slop and mess in the ocean and able to pick out lots of great rides and it didn’t seem a whole lot slower than my 27-inch Bark in the flats.  Unfortunately I saw a lot of people on narrow boards really struggling trying to get to the beach at the end of the ocean leg, and heard a lot of stories after the race from frustrated paddlers who didn’t have much fun in the ocean leg.  That’s really a shame because if it is windy and you’ve got the right board you should be having a ton of fun.

Tip 4 – Wait till Saturday night to party

I’ve travelled a lot over the years and haven’t been to many places that are quite as much fun as Key West.  I’m a pretty disciplined guy but I have to remind myself when I go there to behave the night before the race and save it for the night after.  You’ll be able to grab a great dinner after the registration the night before the race, but try to wait till Saturday night before taking full advantage of what the island has to offer.

This is a hard, challenging race that gives you a great sense of satisfaction upon completion.  It can be a lot of fun if you’re prepared and a long, frustrating slog if you’re not.  Fortunately the level of preparation required to enjoy yourself out there isn’t too extreme and I think that just about everyone should be able to have a blast.  The tips I’ve provided here will go a long way towards making your race both fun and successful if you incorporate them into your race plan.

Sadly, I’ll be coaching in Gainesville, Georgia this year at the National Team Selection Trials instead of on the starting line with you at Higg’s Beach.  I certainly love my new job, but it was a real disappointment when I realized I wasn’t going to be able to do this race this year.  So…if you’re going, have fun for me!

Some Tips for the Carolina Cup

With the Carolina Cup just over 2 weeks away I thought it would be appropriate to dedicate this week’s Tip of the Week to the 13-mile Graveyard race.  It has grown into one of the biggest and most important SUP races in the world and it’s pretty challenging.  It can be a lot of fun if you’re ready to face the challenges it throws at you.  It can also be a real grind if you’re not.  It’s a race that has a little bit of everything and there’s lots you need to get right if you are going to have a great race.  There’s also some little things you can do that can make your race better and more enjoyable.  So if you’re new to the course or a relatively inexperienced racer, here are a few tips based on what I’ve experienced in the race over the last four years.

Tip 1 – Inspect the course before the race

This seems like a no brainer.  Do golfers play an important round of golf without first inspecting the course?  Do alpine ski racers fling themselves down a mountain without first walking the course to inspect it, and then skiing sections of it before actually racing?

I cannot overstate the importance of checking out this course before racing it.  There are lots of little things you’ll pick up that will help you and there are lots of things on the course that can hurt your race if you’re unaware of them and don’t take them into account.

Unfortunately it’s hard to find the time to paddle the entire course if you don’t actually live nearby, and you probably don’t want to paddle the entire 13-mile course a day or two before the race   Occasionally the organizers of the event have a boat that can take people out on the course for a sneak peak in which you can get useful insight into what the course is going to throw at you.  There are also people with solid local knowledge you can talk to about the course.  Choose carefully whom you seek local knowledge from however.  Avoid people who are prone to exaggeration as they’re likely to get you worried about, rather than aware of, some of the tricky parts of the course.  The best thing you can do is paddle sections of the course to get to know them firsthand.  If you can become familiar with the ins and outs of a few of the trickier sections then you should be fine.  The rest of the course will kind of take care of itself.  Here are the sections I suggest you inspect:

The Masonboro (Southern) Inlet

This is the inlet on the left side of the course map.  If the race runs clockwise like it has the last 4 years (opposite the arrows on the course map), you’ll be heading towards the jetty at the Masonboro Inlet as soon as you round the buoy just off the beach.  This is a relatively straightforward and short ocean run that in the past hasn’t always lined up perfectly as a downwinder (although last year it was awesome) but there will still be some bumps to ride.  As it’s only a little more than a mile you might have time to include this in one of your inspection paddles.  It wouldn’t hurt.  The important thing to note is that the jetty sticks out a lot farther than you think and you have to work at keeping your board running left and resist the temptation to ride any significant number of bumps to the right. 

Once you’ve rounded the jetty and are inside the inlet your line is going to depend on the tides.  It looks like the tide will be incoming during this year’s race.  The tidal current in this section is pretty strong.  Figure out where you want to be in the inlet, going in both directions.  Remember the race can run either clockwise or counterclockwise depending on the wind direction, so you could be going through this section in either direction.  Play with your line and use your GPS to check your speeds and time through this section on different lines.   In general I think you’ll find it best to be in the middle if we go clockwise and hugging the north jetty if we go counterclockwise around the course. 

The Mason (Northern) Inlet

This is the inlet on the right side of the course map.  Unlike the Masonboro Inlet there is no jetty at Mason Inlet, so you will have to deal with surf where the inlet dumps into the ocean.  I highly recommend spending a session playing in this inlet to get to know the best line and to get some idea of how you want to approach the surf. 

As the tide will be incoming you’ll basically want to stay in the middle if we go counterclockwise and head to Mason Inlet first (following the arrows on the course map).  However there are lots of sandbars in this area so it’s not quite that simple.   You’ll want to know how to pick your way through them while staying in the deeper, faster moving water.  If we go south first, through the Masonboro Inlet and the Intracoastal Waterway before reaching Mason Inlet, you’ll want to find a line close to shore to avoid the incoming tidal current as much as possible.  But again, you’ll have to consider the sandbars.  There is no way to pick a good line through this section without scouting the area first.  If you end up following someone in the race then you can follow their line, but in doing so you are leaving your race in the hands of someone else.  You’ll have to decide if that is something you are comfortable with if you choose not to inspect this area before race day. 

As far as the surf aspect of Mason Inlet is concerned, you need to decide whether you are going to deal with it straight on or whether you want to hug the south shore, cut the corner, and minimize the distance you have to travel.   Over the last 4 years I’ve tried both approaches, but always heading into the ocean as opposed to into the inlet.  I think the safer bet is a straight approach, but with some time spent playing around in this area you may figure out a shorter route that you feel comfortable with.  One thing to consider: if the race runs counterclockwise and enters Mason Inlet first we will be doing it closer to low tide, which is at 8:10 a.m., than if the race runs clockwise.  There may not be a lot of water in the inlet if we go north first and it may not be possible to cut the corner.  The only way to tell for sure is to scout the area under similar tide conditions. 

Lee’s Cut (the chicane along the north side of Harbor Island)

This is the little chicane in the middle of the course map.  As it is part of the Intracoastal Waterway it is all flat water.  I suggest you spend some time checking this area out, as there are shallow patches and sandbars.  You’ll want to pick a line that provides you with a combination of deep water and the shortest possible distance travelled.  Then you’ll want to consider the tidal currents.  As it’s an incoming tide they should be running opposite the arrows on the course map.   So if we end up going counterclockwise (following the arrows) you’ll want to be near the shore as much as you can.  If we go clockwise (against the arrows) you should be able to just sail along through the middle.

Tip 2 – Use a GPS

In addition to your board, paddle and hydration pack, a GPS is essential if you are serious about this race.  You need to have it mounted on your board where you can see it, in such a way that it won’t get ripped off in the surf. 

In 2012 we raced clockwise with an incoming tide and a fairly strong north wind, which meant the trip through the Intracoastal was tide with us into a strong headwind.  At the time I was one of the few racers using a GPS.   I entered the jetty trailing a pack made up of Jimmy Terrell and about 10 other racers who in turn were trailing Danny Ching, Chase Kosterlitz, Matt Becker, and Nick Leason.  When we rounded the corner by the Coast Guard station and headed north on the Intracoastal toward the Blockade Runner, everyone in front of me hugged the shore to get out of the wind.  I tried that, checked my speed, and then moved into the middle of the channel and checked my speed.  By a significant margin the middle was where you wanted to be that day.  The tide was booming and I caught up to the front of the draft pack ahead of me really quickly.  Jimmy and I were then able to blow apart the draft train and chased down the leaders who continued to hug the shore.  I constantly checked my GPS and was able to keep us in the fastest water in the channel.  Before we turned into Mason Inlet we caught Matt and Nick and could see Danny and Chase a few hundred yards in front.  I’m pretty certain we covered the flats section of the course faster then everyone else, and that is entirely attributable to the fact I could see my GPS and take advantage of the feedback it provided. 

Tip 3 – Hydrate regularly

I learned this lesson doing the Molokai solo outrigger race one year.  I didn’t start hydrating soon enough and was dehydrated before I knew it.  From that lesson I’ve made it a habit to drink every 10 minutes, whether I feel like I need it or not, in every race of 90 minutes duration or longer.  Even in shorter races if it is really hot and humid I’ll take water.  I don’t drink a lot – it’s really just a sip every 10 minutes – but it is enough to keep me hydrated, particularly if I am fully hydrated before the race starts. 

Test your hydration system before the race.  I could probably do this race without water if I absolutely had to as I’ve always come in under 2 ½ hours.  But if you’re on the course longer you probably won’t be able to so you don’t want your system to malfunction.  I just use water for a race of this duration, but if you are going to use a mix make sure you test that out beforehand as well.  You don’t want any surprises on race day and don’t want to leave anything to chance. 

The good thing is it generally isn’t really hot at the Carolina Cup, so you won’t be losing fluid like you will if you do Key West the following weekend.

As far as in-race nutrition goes, I don’t use any gels for a race like this but I do put something solid in the pocket of my board shorts before the race to eat if I need it.  A couple of years ago it was an energy bar.  Last year it was little energy candies.  I never used them, but they were there just in case.

Tip 4 – Draft

I think by now the notion that drafting is somehow dishonorable has been proven wrong.  It is a perfectly fair and effective tactic to use in racing. 

In this race you can’t expect to draft on the ocean, as it’s really unlikely to be that flat.  However more than half the course is on flat water, so drafting plays a prominent part as can be seen in the photo below from last year’s race. 

Regardless of which direction we race there are ocean legs of significant length before the flat-water sections.  This makes it difficult to make plans about drafting before the race.  There is a very good chance the person you’ve planned to draft with will be either ahead of you or behind you by the time you hit the flats.  You need to be prepared to hook up with whomever you can as soon as the opportunity arises once you hit the flats.  Initially the draft train will probably be pretty long.  You need to be aggressive and alert, especially if you are farther back in the train, to ensure you don’t lose the draft.  Over the length of the flats section paddlers are going to drop off and you’ll probably find yourself with a smaller group of paddlers.  I strongly suggest talking to them during the race and agreeing on some type of way to share the leads.  You’ll cover the flats section faster this way if you do.  There is enough ocean paddling left after the flats to prevent someone from drafting you and passing you at the finish.  Everyone in the group is going to have a significant amount of work to do on their own once you hit the ocean.  If you’re mature about it as a group, everyone can get a little breather in the flats and have more left in the ocean.  You’ll also go a few minutes faster over the length of the course just by sharing leads.

There is obviously a lot more to completing this race than the four tips I’ve offered here.  It’s a long, hard race and it tests the fitness and toughness of all paddlers, even the top ones.  These tips won’t do much for you if you haven’t trained properly.  However if you’ve done your homework and are well prepared physically and mentally then these three tips should help you perform to the maximum of your ability.  See you in a couple of weeks.  It’s going to be fun!! 

Develop a Pre-Race Plan

One of the most important things you can have with you when you arrive at a race is a plan on exactly what you're going to do and when you are going to do it in the time leading up to your race.  Whether it is in SUP or sprint canoe-kayak, I've seen too many people arrive at the race venue and spend their time unfocused, distracted and hesitant.  At best they lose track of time and aren't properly prepared when they step on their board or into their boat.  At worst, they spend their time watching other athletes who are focussed and on a mission instead of focussing on doing their own thing, and are totally psyched out by race time.

I never really needed to be told about a pre-race plan.  From the time I started paddling I always wanted to win so badly that I was extremely focussed and knew exactly what I wanted to do and when I wanted to do it.  My pre-race plans were actually developed in training sessions.  I used to mentally prepare for training sessions, taking them so seriously I was unintentionally simulating race conditions.  I was probably no fun for my family or friends to be around much of the time because I was so focussed on the upcoming workout or race.

Only when I made the National Team and was exposed to sport psychologists did I realize that things I was doing intuitively were actually things that high achievers are taught to do.  The fact of the matter is, whether you're an athlete, a performing artist, or someone making a presentation in business you've got to have a plan not only for how you are going to execute your performance, but every minute leading up to it as well.  I'd go so far to suggest that without a plan for the time leading up to your performance there's not much use in having a plan for the performance itself.  Your performance can be so highly compromised without a good pre-performance plan that it's hardly worth having a plan for the performance in the first place.

The National Team sports psychologists and my coaches helped me craft pre-race plans that were optimal for me, and looking back on my career I can tell you that my best races were generally when my pre-race plans worked best and I was the most "in the zone" (sorry about the cliche) when it was time to race.  I'd suggest that your pre-race plan actually start the day before your race.  Essentially you're developing a script that you can follow for the 24 hours or so before your event so that you can just go on autopilot and not be distracted by any trivialities as you approach the start of your event.  Here are some things I suggest you consider:

Evening before you race

-    know where you're going to stay; know how far it is from the race venue and how long
     it'll  take to get there in the morning

-    know what time registration is, how to get there and how long you're going to stay
-    know what, where and what time you're going to eat
-    If you're having s shower before bed know what time and for how long
-    know what time you're going to go to bed
-    take care of any technical or equipment issues in the evening so you go to bed knowing
     that everything is properly in place
-    prepare your hydration kit and put it in the fridge so it'll be nice and cold in the morning;
     take care of any race nutrition you're going to need (gels, mixes, etc.) as well

 

Morning of your race

-    know what time you're going to get up

-    recheck all of your equipment to put your mind at ease

-    if you're having a morning shower know when exactly, and for how long
-    know what you're going to eat for breakfast and when and where you're going to go
-    know when you need to leave for the race venue, who is going with you and how long it
     will take (leave generous time for parking and other things that might come up)
-   know approximately when you'll need to go to the washroom (experienced racers should
     be pretty good at this)
-    know what your warm up routine will be, when you'll start it, when you'll finish it
     and when you want to go to the start line, whether it's on the beach or water
-    know what time the pre-race racer's meeting is and make sure you attend

Having a plan is going to keep you on track and focussed and keep you from looking at your competition and perhaps psyching yourself out.  I always feel I perform best when I feel like I'm on a mission, and your mission starts when you roll out of bed.  The sense of purpose I feel following my plan as the race gets closer is the same type of focussed frame of mind I want for the race itself.

A word of caution, however.  Don't be so attached to your plan that you unravel mentally should your carefully thought out plan develop snags for whatever reason.  It's hard to predict what's going to happen race morning, especially if you're a relatively inexperienced racer.  One of the most important characteristics of top performers is flexibility to adjust to unforeseen events that disrupt plans and throw a curve at you at the last moment.  If you can calmly and confidently readjust the timeline of your plan, or perhaps comfortably drop an element of it or add something to it, then you are going to do really well.  Remember you plan is supposed to be a routine that helps you, not a script that you are bound to. 

In addition to having a solid pre-race plan that you feel comfortable with you should make an effort to know everything about the race course before your race.  Don't leave this till the last minute.  I'll mention more about this is a future Tip but in general you should try to paddle the course a week or two before if you can, or the day before if you can't get there any earlier.  Study the tide charts and know the weather forecast for race day.  Both can be factors in determining which line you are going to take.  I usually seek out someone with some local knowledge I can trust to paddle the course with or at least get a good debrief of the race course from.  And of course it is imperative that you attend the pre-race racers meeting and listen carefully.

It takes some time to figure out what works.  Try different plans at different races and then reflect on them after as part of your overall reflection on your race.  Learn what works and what doesn't, what helps keep you calm and focussed and what doesn't.  With a little experience you'll begin to recognize certain things you do before the race that are huge contributors to having a successful race.  Over time you'll be able to refine your plan and feel like a real pro on race morning.  I guarantee you'll see that reflected in strong race results.