Pre-race breakfast tips?

I am new to racing and am unable to figure out a basic rule-of-thumb for eating prior to a race. (if that exists) Any tips on what to charge my fuel cells with in the last hours before a race, be it one of 5 or 20 mile lengths? Thanks!

this article is written for a triathlon focus but I would say it would work for surfski to.

beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=176

and to add to it.... just go out and experiment. with different foods.

I haven't done many surfski races but before any other event I eat oatmeal a few hours before ( low GI carbs) then closer to the time I chow down some bananas ( a higher GI),my unprofessional aim is to have those carbs then digested and the energy ready for race time.

Rule of thumb is to eat 2 hours before but it's sometimes a bit tricky, especially with an early start. For example the Cape Point Challenge starts at about 05h30 which theoretically means eating (oatmeal porridge in my case) at about 03h15. Not so great trying to force down food at that time.

You wouldn't go too far wrong with a big glass of Sustagen mixed in water.

Tried a product called Futurelife this Dusi for the first time on recommendation from other paddlers had great sustained energy on all three days.

Number 1 race rule , don't experiment with new products/diets on the morning of your big race , try them out beforehand to make sure there are no adverse reactions .