Saturday, May 24, 2014

Local SUP Racing

There have been a couple of fun SUP races locally in the Charlotte/Lake Norman area.  May 10th was the Stand Up For The Catawba SUP race put on by My Aloha Paddlesports on Lake Norman.   May 22 was the Battle Royale SUP race at the US National Whitewater Center.

I was stoked that the Stand Up For The Catawba race attracted some very talented paddlers both locally and from out of town.  There were 6 mile, 3 mile, and kids races....something for everyone.  Port City Club hosted the event and there were a bunch of sponsors displaying.  Great event for the area and I'm sure next year's event will be even bigger.

Some related links to check out:

A great post race write-up by Julia Nicholls from Morehead City, NC



Tons of great photos here thanks to DashboardsandSaddlebags.com

Pics taken by my lovely bride....

racers meeting

6 Mile Elite Division start

3 mile Recreational Division start

My daughter McIntyre coming in for a strong finish


Our friend Dawn finishing strong

Santa made an appearance

Dawn & McIntyre

Finishing the 6 mile race, that's me in black shirt & green shorts trying to chase down 2nd place finisher Justin Schaay


Top 3 in Men's Elite 6 mile race (14' boards) - Corey Taylor (1st), Justin Schaay (2nd), and I (3rd)

Kids race getting ready to begin

Kids Race Start


My sons doing the stare down at the finish - they aren't competitive...ha ha!

Awesome trophies for all the 1st place finishers

There was a great post race celebration complete with BBQ & Hula Girls - my son had to get in on the act

Corey (right) and I

Top 3 Womens Elite 6 mile (12'6" boards) - Julia Nicholls (3rd), April Zilg (1st), and Karen Wilson (2nd)

Top 3 Womens Recreational 3 mile 12'6" board winners - McIntyre got 3rd

Top 3 Mens Recreational 3 mile 12'2" & under board winners - sorry don't have the names but that's Harry at right (Santa)

Top 3 Womens Recreational 3 mile 12'2" & under board winners (Leanne in the middle - 1st)

The kids race podium winners - 8 yr old Kaden from Wilmington crushed it

Family photo


The Battle Royale SUP Race was a blast too.   Taking place on a Thursday night at the US National Whitewater Center, it was a sprint race with multiple heats....the top 2 in each heat advancing.  It was a buoy style course in the lower pond where the 2 whitewater river channels converge.   Flat water, but with moving water and current that gave us a fun challenge.  Everyone was racing on the same boards - Boardworks 10'6" inflatable SUP boards.  There was a big crowd on hand for the Thursday night River Jam (live music) overlooking the race.

I advanced in my 1st two heats to get to the final but biffed it big time in the final heat against three talented whitewater experts.  I had the lead but fell off my board in a strong current that I navigated successfully in the first two heats, but it finally got me in the final and I finished 4th overall.  My daughter did well in her heats (against the men) and won the women's final heat.  It was a very fun night and they are doing it again on July 24th....looking forward to it.
My daughter and I

the course

the heat draws












Dana, MJ, & McIntyre - Girl Power!


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