Race recaps

10th Annual B'More SUP Cup - July 12th, 2025

by Ellison Smith, Board Member representing our NorthEast Region

Paddlers from surrounding states including Virginia, Pennsylvania and Deleware came together to participate in the first SUP race in the Baltimore Inner Harbor! A historic day for Baltimore City and the paddle community. It was also a time to celebrate the waterway restoration efforts of recent years. The event has been the long-envisioned dream of B'More SUP proprietor, Jessie Benson. With two locations there, paddlers have been enjoying the city scape while engaging in a variety of fun activities. But never before in a race.

In the morning, participants gathered at West Shore Park and the races started with the Maryland Science Center serving as the backdrop. The starting line was drawn between two huge flamingos and the 5K course followered the northern harbor shoreline to Fells Point. There, a purple duck served as the turnaround in an alley, before returning along the same route. 10K racers continued to Canton, in the West Channel and crossed the Patapsco River at the Northwest Harbor. From there, the chartered course rounded Fort McHenry, to the turn directly over the I-95 tunnel. The return west on the same side skirted the south side of the harbor and back to the finish.

The day began partly cloudy before quiclky tunring sunny and humid with low winds. It was such a great joy to paddle with everyone in city waters. Especially those for whom it was their first race and to those who experienced paddling there for the first time .

I love paddling the Inner Harbor and if you ask me, it's one of the best ways to see the city.

Clear Lake Paddle Fest

by Jeremy Nicholson - NorthCentral Regional Rep

2025 clearly, paddle fest was a blast! After missing the event last year due to itlost a sponsorship, it came back this year in a great way! New sponsor and organizers made it a fun event with a new course that was challenging and exciting to watch. More of a technical race, it ended up being a five lap race course where each lap equaled a mile, and consisted of five bouy turns within that mile! There was also a 3 mile and 1 mile version as well for new or less experienced paddlers. With lots of great paddles from up in the Twin Cities area, it made for quite the show of racing! With so many different types of board companies represented (Infinity,Starboard,JP Australia), there was lots to play on afterwards with everybody swapping boards and trying out different companies shapes, sizes and widths. 

Weather was beautiful and couldn’t ask for more fun event, excited for next year, and hope it grows to be a staple event here in the Midwest!

The 2025 Gorge Paddle Challenge by a complete downwind Noobie! 

by Tricia Lyons - NorthWest Regional Rep

I arrived early in the week to pick up my downwind board that I rented from Gorge Performance. I was invited to their local Wednesday night race that did NOT disappoint both in attendees (Christian "The Polar Bear" Anderson) and windy conditions! Over 2 dozen locals and some of us out of town-ers showed up for their Wacky Wednesday race, followed by an amazing SUP community pot luck dinner.  

I was then invited by Kathleen Shaw and Dan Miller, to do a downwind run Thursday as practice before the race. WOW that was quite the experience! My first Viento run! Who better to coach me than The Sup Doctor himself? 

He informed me that was some of the biggest wind he’d seen there in over a month. I went in many times haha, but was able to get going and catch some bumps pretty quickly. SO MUCH FUN!

 

The Gorge Challenge was held over the weekend  August 16th and 17th in Hood River Oregon, one of the world’s most epic downwind locations, the Columbia Gorge. 

The race offered Wing Foiling, SUP Foiling, SUP, Prone, Surfski and Outrigger Canoe divisions. With Pro divisions in Wing Foiling and SUP downwind as well as an Open Division in all races. 

A very moving memorial paddle out in honor of the races founder Steve Gates, was held before the racing began.

 credit: Gorge Challenge FB 

 

SUP podium finishers SINGLE downwinder 

12’6 SUP Groms Girls 

1st- Teagan Mlakar

2nd - Niva Bruggeman

14’ SUP Open Female

1st - Ella Petty

2nd - Tracy Spohn

3rd - Karen Black Jenkins

14’ SUP Grom Boys

1st - Rocket Parmenter

14' SUP Pro Men

1st - James Mullen

14’ SUP Open Men

1st - Spencer Lazzar

2nd - Gregg Leion

3rd - Scott Vande Vusse

SUP podium finishers DOUBLE downwinder 

14’ SUP PRO Women

1st - Fiona Wilde

2nd - Kathleen Shaw

14’ Open Women

1st - Lindsey Virdeh

2nd - Sarah Hess

3rd - Tricia Lyons 

14’ SUP PRO MEN

1st - Christian Anderson

2nd - Bodie Von Allmen

3rd - Conner Baxter

4th - Dan Miller

14’ SUP Open Men

1st - Travis Boothe

2nd - Ahmed Fakhry

3rd - David Alber

4th - Ethan Huff 

by Ellison Smith

My first trip to the USA SUP NorthCentral Region was one of the best I've ever had anywhere! I wasn't quite set on attending until the week leading up to it. I'm subject to change as the wind blows sometimes and I blazed a trail 10.5 hours west to the Windy Cityfor the 5K, 10K technical, and sprint races.

I arrived on Friday to enjoy the sunniest and warmest of the three-day weekend at Ohio Street Beach with the resident city sun revelers. The Columbia Yacht Club, a converted former Canadian rail ferry, hosted the competition the next day.

Race day was changed from a forecasted calm Sunday to a very windy Saturday due to a conflicting event, but what else would you expect on the Illinois coast? The 10K was not your typical out and back, instead, it consisted of a roundabout around the starting pier, then transitioned into four laps around a triangle and finishing with another turnaround before the finish line. Fortunately, most of the course was somewhat protected from the 30mph gusts. The buoy furthest out in Lake Michigan proved to be the most challenging, especially the last two laps. I was very happy with a 5th place finish amongst the very friendly and fast competition. The sprint race that followed proved to be a somewhat chaotic and frantic dash. In the out and back with one close-quarters turn, somehow I escaped the fray with 2nd place showing. The club hosted us for the awards where I got to know some of the Midwest fam and engage with some familiar faces.

  

Sunday began with a downtown tour led by our newest USA SUP NorthCentral Regional Rep, Kirsten Lefeldt. Her love for paddling led her to start Chicago SUP, a paddle and racing group headquarterednear Goose Island. Being amongst the spectacular views on the North Branch Chicago River was a fantastic experience.

During the trip, I got in some quality beach time with another NorthCentral USA SUP Rep, Troy Hendricks. We also had quite the adventure in search of some deep dish  It's hard to summarize the trip in a few paragraphs but I hope the pics will tell the rest of the story.

    

 *Photos by Joe Karp

Treasure Coast Paddle Battle by Ellison Smith - USA SUP Board Member

The spring race season got its start on March 15th and 16th in Fort Pierce, FL. Victoria Burgess of Tactical Athlete Nutrition + Performance directed the event held at Jaycee Park and is part of the Southeastern Regional Race Series. The aptly named Battle began with an ocean start amongst the breakers for the 10K. 

Paddlers took a course out and then along the coastline, around Ft. Pierce Jetty and into the inlet to the Indian River Lagoon. 5K racers faced a challenge as well, with three laps in the lagoon, including several buoy turns as the wind speed increased. The fun continued on the second day with short but exciting sprints along the shore at the Park.

Jake Portwood edged out Campbell Carter in a photo finish and Stephanie Shideler took first in the 10K. Katniss Paris and Mason Kober were the 5K fastest finishers. Carter and Paris placed again in the sprints in lightning quick fashion. The race is also open to most other paddlecraft and is exciting for participants and spectators alike.  Make a visit to the Sunshine state in this beautiful destination a part of your race calendar.

Photos  Lisa Bee (FloridaGirl Lisa) and Jim Ferro

The 2024 Goat Boater Race Series is once again complete. After hosting 25 races over the years, each season continues to raise the bar and the stakes!

Goat Boater has always aimed to bring the highest-class experience.  Balancing top-level competition with a grassroots vibe and never forgetting to celebrate our local hometown heroes.

*2024 Overall Season Podium Winners*

Female: 1st: April Zilg 2nd: Caroline Cook 3rd: Nea Lee

Male: 1st: John Batson 2nd: Mike Hill 3rd: Nathan Champion

VIEW COMPLETE SEASON STANDINGS HERE

https://canadianpaddleleague.ca/club-races/2024-goat-boater-race-series/

With Professional guest appearances over the years by Michael Booth, Candice Appleby, Campbell Carter, April Zilg, Dave Boehne, Itzel Delgado, Kim Barnes, Steve Miller, Goat Boater is the place to be. 

In 2024, paddlers were awarded over $6,000 in cash prizes plus incredible gear from Infinity, Starboard & Black Project SUP.  Next year, we plan to raise the stakes even higher. 2025 promises to bring bigger prizes, faster paddling, and above all, more fun. 

Come be part of this incredible experience and 'Lose Faster!'

As anticipation for 2025 continues to build here are a few paddlers who we expect could make big waves next year at Goat Boater:

April Zilg: April dominated the 2024 season, scoring a perfect 300 points in her top 3 races. She consistently outpaced the competition and looks poised to defend her title next season. As she gets back into her full training schedule, she will again be the paddler to beat in 2025. Caroline Cook: With 284.9 points, Caroline finished strong in 2024. She’s a versatile competitor who consistently placed high in every race she entered. An understudy of Candice Appleby and A well-rounded paddler like her could challenge April and others for the top spot next season. Nea Lee: Nea, who accumulated 268.9 points, was a force all season. She was the season champion in 2023 and showed her speed again this year. Her ability to race at a high level across multiple events shows she has the stamina and skill to improve further. Expect her to be in contention for podium finishes in 2025. Bara Skoumalova: Bara closed the 2024 season with 260.6 points, and her performances were steady across the board. With a few strategic improvements, she could be a dangerous contender next season, especially if she focuses on maximizing her top finishes. Kim Barnes: Although Kim only raced twice in 2024, she earned 200 points with perfect scores in those races. If she commits to a full season in 2025, she could become a major threat to the established competitors.

John Batson: John was the top male paddler in 2024, with 293.8 points, consistently finishing near the top. His ability to perform under pressure makes him the favorite to win again next season. Mike Hill: Mike’s strong performances in 2024 earned him 271.8 points. If he can maintain his momentum and race in more events next season, he has the potential to overtake the competition. Nathan Champion: With 261.9 points in 2024, Nathan showed that he’s a consistent podium finisher. Nathan an OG of the Goat Boater race series has always found himself on the podium. If he increases his race participation and maintains his form, he could be a key challenger for the top spot in 2025. Brent Ackland: Brent’s 259.8 points across 5 races showed he’s a competitive paddler, but he may need to focus on fine-tuning his races to push further up the leaderboard next season. Rob Moran: Rob accumulated 259.2 points & proved to be a reliable competitor. He’ll be looking to sharpen his strategy in 2025 and break into the top 3.

Emerging Talent Gordon Pennebaker: Gordon finished with 251.3 points and had some standout performances in 2024. With a full season, he could make a significant leap and challenge the top contenders. Steve Miller: With 197.2 points from just two races, Steve showed that he has the potential to break into the top ranks if he races more consistently in 2025. Amanda Portwood: Amanda’s 176.4 points from two races mark her as a rising star in the female division. With more participation next season, she could be a serious contender for top 5 finishes. Corey Curtis: Corey earned 174.5 points from two races. If he can build on his experience, he could be one of the surprise paddlers to watch next season.

Paddlers Looking to Break Through Caroline Grandis & Andrea Robb: These two female paddlers had steady showings in 2024, finishing with 179.4 and 228.4 points, respectively. A more focused approach in 2025 could see them rise in the rankings. Martin Houston & Eric Carter: Both competitors had impressive point totals (173.0 and 170.6), and with more races under their belts next season, they could break into the top 10.

“The Goat Boater is your regional dealer for Starboard, Infinity & Black Project SUP. Contact Megan@GoatBoater.com to schedule a demo. All boards on sale. Not all inventory is shown online. Visit online & Schedule to come out.”

THE 5 YEAR BELT BUCKLE
Each year a beautiful, custom, handcrafted belt buckle is awarded to any racer who successfully completes their 5th consecutive Chattajack*. This is a way of thanking them for your deep level of commitment, not only to the race, but also, to the racers personal goals, fitness and love of their sport. 

*An athlete is awarded this once every 5 years. Not each additional year that they race. So, for example: if you earned one for racing from 2012-2016, and you keep coming back each year, then you'll receive another one for 2017-2021.
*To be eligible you must finish 5 consecutive Chattajacks, within the allotted time, and following all other race rules. (ie. you received an official finishing time)

Congratulations to these Chattajack Bucklers!

Bubba Sloan, Katniss Paris, Emily McNeill, Candi Hill, Paul Weich, Grace Metzgar, James Tomes, Nancy Packard, Lyn Harris, Daniel Gamsky, Morgan Williams, Bobby Quigley, Shawn Evans, Tommy Cost, Kevin McFarland, Danielle Pointon, Olivia Durrence, John Wellens, Robin Lashway, Chuck Sisunik, Seth Foshee, Troy Gossard, Gander Tawaststjerna, Melissa Beck, Angel Subdiaz, Kim Barnes, JoJo Davidson, Tony Galang, Dave Merkli, Devin Sampson, Mindy Tavares, Monica Monteon, Ben Roth, Linda McCoy, Scott Watson-Brown, Robert Norman, Susan Jordan, Neil Baker, Julieanne White, Adrian Angell, Stella Gan, Dan Michaluk

Wouldn't it be fun to have a 10 year buckle like this one?

by Travis Prewitt – NorthWest Region member

Mix spectacular red canyon walls with the Colorado River that carved them and a few dozen paddlers and you have the ingredients for the Back of Beyond Paddle race, held near Moab, Utah September 21^st and 22^nd 2024.

The ninth Back of Beyond featured the 7-mile “Postcard Alley” flatwater race on Saturday and a whitewater technical sprint on Sunday. The Postcard Alley name comes from the scenic views of canyon walls and the Fisher Towers. There are two national parks, Canyonlands and Arches a few miles away from the race. However, the geologic forces that created these parks didn’t have a map to stop at park boundaries so paddlers and spectators can skip the crowds and see similar epic views along the racecourse.

The Postcard Alley section of the Colorado River has modest current and only occasional riffles but look at the scenery too much and you will go swimming as I did. As the river winds past vertical canyon walls, there are lots of eddies and confusing currents to keep you on your toes and bracing at times. The Whitewater Showdown on Sunday took place at the well named Rocky Rapids.

The Postcard Alley race had open and elite SUP divisions for men and women as well as a kayaks. Trent Hickman, owner of Park City SUP, repeated winning the men’s elite. Heidi Miller was the top elite woman. Both also won the Rocky Rapids race on Sunday.

Like many races, Back of Beyond still suffers from “long Covid.” A couple year hiatus for the virus cut into participation that organizer and sponsor, Paddle Moab, hopes to reverse. With famous mountain biking, four-wheeling, and two national parks in the vicinity, as well as a unique race course, there is potential for Back of Beyond to become a bucket list SUP destination with broader awareness. Plans are to keep the races on the third weekend of September.

For a paddler’s eye view of this year’s Back of Beyond there is a well-done video by InflatableBoarder.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFUddjGLaQk

   

by Keith Conway

The Midwest Paddle League held its last race of the season, the Rubber Ducky Regatta. Sadly this will be the last time this event will be held. Elizabeth ran the most organized races I have been a part of. 

The conditions were amazing, bluebird skies, warm 80 degrees and glassy water. The 10k race was decided very early as Dan Novak took an early lead that he never relinquished. 2nd place was Alex Sandler who was solidly in 2nd place with no real threat to reel him in. 3rd place was a battle between Grand Masters national champ Joe Bechtold and Vladimir Vetrov that saw Vladimir come out on top. The women's race saw Julie Miller as the clear victor who has not lost a race all season. Kathy Macrae and Betsy Duke battled it out for 2nd and 3rd and Kathy came out on top in that battle.

The 5k race had its battles as well, the men's race was heated as there were 4 lead changes. Harrison Withers took the hole shot out front first, then Keith Conway over took the lead and was out front for nearly half the race when Jeff Aiken took the lead then lost the lead to the eventual winner Todd Averest. Jeff settled for 2nd followed by Tom Wernette who came out of nowhere to snag the 3rd podium spot. On the woman's side Lauren Dorsey came out of retirement to dominate the women's side followed by Jill Bloemendaal and Natalya Shoror.

12'6" Men
1. Carl Solms
2. Aaron Luogo
3. Greg Rizzolo

12'6" Women

1. Lauren Dorsey 
2. Laura Kinne
3. Cheryl Kemp

Well done everyone.

2024 National Championships results and recaps are LIVE:
DAY 1 Sprints

DAY 2 Distance

DAY 3 Tech