The Next Generation

This past weekend was spent in Wrightsville Beach with family and friends for the 2nd Annual Intracoastal SUP Cup, put on by Coastal Urge.



This race was special. My 11 year old daughter paddled with me in the race. She has been stand up paddling since last summer and I've had her out paddling with me on the lake 2-3 times a week in the last 6 weeks getting ready for this race. I eventually worked her up to comfortably paddling 3.5 miles, with some outings in the wind. Little did I know how crucial this wind training would be. I felt she was ready, so we entered the Recreational 12'6" and under race class together. My plan was to paddle alongside her throughout the race. My goal for her was to finish the race no matter how long it took...and to have fun.

All week long, the various forecasts called for SW wind in the 5-15mph range. If the wind forecast had been any more than that, I wouldn't have put her in the race. It's tough enough for adults to paddle in the wind, let alone an 11 year old. I didn't want her first SUP event/race experience to be a bad one. I was a bit worried the morning of the race as the wind kicked up a notch definitely between 10-15mph. The wind was a bit too much at the start of the race, directly in our face, and she wasn't very happy with me for the first 1.5 miles. But I kept pumping her up, the wind started to let up a little bit allowing some relief, and she could see we were making real progress.

She is one tough cookie to have paddled straight into that wind for over 1.5 miles straight without stopping. Once we rounded the halfway mark to head back, we paddled against some strong current in the inlet, then it was all downhill from there once we got back in the intracoastal waterway for the run back to the finish. But wouldn't you know it...the wind backed off on our downwind run. She was all smiles paddling back to the finish and got a big cheering ovation from the crowd. Papa was proud. We finished the race in just under 2 hours and we weren't even last place (ha ha...we were 3rd to last counting 1 DNF). She won a very nice North Face travel bag for her efforts.

Here are the results.

It turns out that the course was 4 miles long (Elite Class was 7 miles and had an open ocean leg). It was a tough race by every participants' standards and I think she's a better person for it. She showed courage throughout the race, now has new confidence, and got to experience something most kids her age will never have an opportunity to do. She was the youngest competitor in the race (and there was a 12 year old boy who also raced). She says she had a great time and wants to race again. I'm hoping future races have a kids' specific class/course.

Congratulations also to Matt Cesmat, one of our own local Lake Norman SUP crew, who finished on the podium - 2nd place in the Men's 12'6" and under Recreational Class...and won a brand spanking new Kialoa paddle. Way to go Matt and way to represent the lake guys!

A big thanks to Coastal Urge and all the sponsors for putting on another great SUP race event...and one the whole family can enjoy.



Some words of encouragement before the race



Preparing to go out



Starting Line



The windy start



Mark on his new secret weapon - check out that displacement hull nose slicing through the water



Rob pushing it to the finish



The finish



Father/Daughter



The Family



Competitors Mark, Rob, McIntyre, and Mac



Playing with her brothers after the race...I guess she had some more energy left in the tank



McIntyre with the Elite Women's Champ and Naish/Kialoa pro paddler, Karen Wrenn


We had a great time the rest of the weekend, enjoying the beach and hanging out with family and friends. It was great to see everyone - old faces and new. Matt, Travis, and I went out for a paddle in the ocean Sunday morning. We launched from Masonboro Inlet and paddled north towards our hotel, catching small shorebreak waves along the way...good fun.


Matt



Travis



Mac