Race recaps

by Julia Smith - SouthCentral Region 

The Sup El Camino Real is a 6.2 mile Sup Race in Bastrop, TX. I had only been paddleboarding for I did my first race. I raced the Sup El Camino 2023 for my first ever race. I won second place in 2023 on my IRocker inflatable. I said I would never do a race again on my inflatable. Linda could see my determination that I wanted to do better. October 2023 Linda offered to sell me her Naish racing board. I said yes! I brought home the new to me Naish racing board, and stared at it for many months scared to learn to paddle this board because of the fear of failing

Thanks to the encouragement of many good friends, I finally got out on the water with this board and really started to train. Let me say, growing up I was never in sports or clubs at school. I am the middle child, so I did have to fight for what I wanted growing up, which has stuck with me as an adult. I have an autoimmune disorder that is supposed to keep me from doing many things, but I have always said this autoimmune disorder is not going to keep me from doing all the things I want to do. When I decide there is something I want to do and be good at it, I put my all into it.

About seven weeks before the race I started weekly training paddle nights with Kenny Munn in New Braunfels, TX. Each week I came home sore and exhausted. Kenny pushed me each week with his encouraging words and bringing me different paddles to try so I could find a lighter paddle other than my SOL or iRocker paddle.
I have so many people in my life that have been encouraging and supporting me while I doubt myself that I would even place in the upcoming race. Saturday August 10, 2024 I showed up to Fisherman's park nervous about the race, had a panic attack, but had a few friends there to calm me down and cheer me on. I had set a goal to complete this race in one hour and twenty minutes. Once I got my Naish on the water Saturday morning I was ready. I just wanted to GO! I started the race and knew I could do it, but my legs were shaking and of course doubt filled my head.

So, after kicking the doubt out of my head and I focused on where I was and what I was doing I just paddled with all I had. I was able to keep up with one of the men that was out front of me who is an awesome paddler. At some point during the race I passed him, I was really focused and didn't realize I had passed him.

As I crossed the finish line, I heard Linda McCoy yell one hour twenty minutes! I was so excited to hear that. I was thrilled I completed the race in the time I had set for myself . Everyone finished the race and it was award time. When Linda called my name for 1st. place I couldn't believe it. Still brings me to tears thinking about it. All the women in the elite 18-49 group are very experienced race paddlers and here I am just doing my second SUP race on a racing board.

Hard work, determination and a great group of very supportive friends helped me to keep pushing myself when I was full of doubt and wanted to give up. My SUP family keeps growing!! Everyone I raced with Saturday have been very encouraging and positive. Never stop going after what you want. Never stop setting goals for yourself. Get that racing board, register for a race and get out there and do your best. Never give up on yourself. This past weekend has showed me so many things about myself that I did not know.

Thank you to everybody that believed in me when I didn't, that pushed me when I wanted to quit, and Thank you Linda for selling me one of your racing boards.

by Troy Hendricks, North Central Regional Rep

Once a year for the last 23 years, in early August, the shipping Highway of the Ohio River is shut down to commercial traffic for six hours. This is done so that over 2,000 paddlers can participate in The Ohio River Paddlefest. The paddlers downriver with stand-up paddleboards (SUP), iSUP, kayaks, canoes, ocean canoes (OCs), and surf skis paddle nine miles downriver passing under seven bridges near Cincinnati.

This event is unique! To begin the day, there is a race for almost any craft. This year 30 racers were riding a SUP!  While paddling there are at least three boats with bands that play a variety of recognizable music. This is a great way to ease a racer's mind, distract them from the monotony of nine miles, and put a smile on your face as you paddle on by. My favorite song this year was "If I Had a Million $" by the Barenaked Ladies. The festival also has shuttle buses that move passengers between the start and end of their paddle.

With so many paddlers, Friday night is used to stage the watercraft for a smooth start to the paddle in the morning. To make the process more enjoyable, the Paddlefest organizes an Exposition. Paddlers can pick up their race number and Paddlefest hat, learn about water conservation, check out some of the latest paddling gear, and swap used gear. Other exhibitors are conservation-based and educate others about improving our environment. For entertainment, the festival has a playground, food and drink trucks, and a small concert area where a bandplays for several hours during the exhibition. 

The race always starts on time at 7 am every year after a word from the wonderful race director and fellow North Central Regional Rep, Adrian Angell. The race begins heading upriver for 0.1 miles to assist in creating an even starting line. This also allows spectators to see their favorite paddler twice before the finish line. Many photographers are at the event and share their pictures online later for paddlers to see. Videos of most of the race finishers are shared on Facebook as well.

This year, the Men's 14 ft SUP category was tight. The top 9 paddlers finished only 10 minutes apart. There was literally a gut-wrenching finish for third as Randall Winer (OH) beat out Michael Weidman (KY) and Randy Rair (OH) by less than 20 seconds, then emptied his stomach on the river. Kirk Bumgarner (from TN) placed first and Alex Sandler (MI) placed second. Betsy Duke (IL) took first for the women's 14 ft SUP category followed by Rebecca Striet (WI) and, first-time racer, Elizabeth Glotfelty (OH).

At the finish line, racers received free water or a recovery drink. After stowing your craft, food trucks, and tens for beverages, ice cream, and memorabilia were available for everyone. The oak canopy offered plenty of shade and a live band was playing, which made it enjoyable to sit and recover while chatting with old and new friends. The awards happened in front of the Southern Most Point Bouy. It is fun to see the winners receive their awards. Another unique piece of this event is the constant stream of recreational paddlers coming off the Ohio River highway while racers sit and enjoy the after-race time of the Ohio River Paddlefest.

The First Annual RIVER RUMBLE!!

Flathead River, Montana ~ USA SUP NorthWest Region

by Linda McCoy- USA SUP VP and SouthCentral Regional Rep

What a great inaugural race! This was a totally grassroots effort to fill the gap left by the Windermere SUP CUP and it turned out so great! Big thanks to Jess Bouchee, Dan Miller, and Tricia Lyons for banding together and pulling off such a fun, challenging, and community focused event! I was so excited to have my Texas SUP Sista, Kiri Mevin, join me in Montana for the race! She has family in Montana and I really enjoyed introducing her to the awesome Montana SUP crew!

The race was held on Saturday, July 21 with a start time of 9:00am. We gathered at Riverside Park in Polson, Montana for the morning race. It was held on the Flathead River, just as it flows into Polson Bay and Flathead Lake. The sky was nice and clear, but the wind kicked up and gave us some challenging conditions! Mother Nature was putting some RUMBLE in the RIVER for sure! 

We had a great group of racers from all skill levels and a good mix of board types. Brooke and Ed were doing their first race! Dan was the Master of the Megaphone and gave everyone a great description of the racecourse and what to expect for the day. He made sure that everyone knew that safety was the priority and to stop and help any racer in distress. Kiri’s husband, Josh, took start line duty until Dan could take over (on the megaphone, of course).

We lined up at the pier and Josh hit the siren – we were off! The wind was blowing at our backs and the chop got into my head a little, so I didn’t have the most confident start. I had jelly fish legs - BAD! But I gave myself a stern talking to (out loud!) and I dug deep. The whole field was out in front of me. I had some work to do! A few paddlers opted to take a bit of the course on their knees due to the conditions. I was determined to stay upright even though I was struggling! Once I passed a newer paddler on an inflatable, I had my work cut out for me! I caught up to Kiri about a quarter of the way through the course and set my sights on halfway island. I was able to catch up to two amazing women paddlers from Montana just past the island. They both cheered me on in true SUP love spirit! I could see Kat Shaw's bright-pink shirt in the distance - she was almost at the finish line already! I set my sights on Tricia Lyons, who was currently in second, but she was way too far ahead to make that a possibility. Tricia, Arnold Lucero and Mike Bouchee were battling it out to the finish line with Travis Prewitt between us. I wasn’t out of the woods just yet! I could hear Jess behind me when the waves would catch her board! I tried to catch Travis, to no avail. We were paddling straight into the gusting wind ! It would have been easy to let up, but it was my 58^th birthday and I was going for the podium!

I was out in the middle of the lake pondering whether to go straight (and hope they could see my finish) or paddle the longer route closer to the pier. I stuck it out in the middle. I could hear Dan on the Megaphone calling out names – I could hear mine - and Jess’s, too - she was close! I didn't dare look behind me and risk falling. I kept my resolve and kept paddling as hard as I could. The voice in my head was going a mile a minute! Am I past the pier? Should I keep paddling? Yes! Keep paddling! Then, I heard Dan call my name for third place!! Jess was a close fourth with Sue Miks taking fifth for the women’s field! Kiri had a strong finish with sixth place. Onno and Ed had great races, too!

We weren’t all in, yet. Brooke was out on the lake battling the wind! We could see her off rounding the halfway point. She wasn’t giving up. In true SUP Ohana fashion, Kat grabbed her board and paddle and went out to support Brooke to the finish line. We all gathered on the shore to give a giant cheer as she crossed the finish line of her first race!

Dan was the MC for the awards ceremony on his trusty megaphone! As he called the placements, Tricia gave us all a Flathead Lake tote with goodies from local businesses! The awards were wonderful painted rocks – each one unique!

After the race we all gathered and enjoyed the food the organizers provided. We dug into the wonderfully delicious huckleberry pie that my sweet friend, Arnold, brought for my birthday! What a perfect way to celebrate – in a beautiful place, with beautiful friends, doing the thing I love most! Thanks again to the truly phenomenal Montana SUP family for a race I’ll never forget!

~Put THE RIVER RUMBLE on your summer plans for 2025 – this race is not to be missed! ~  

 

 

Paddleboard Passion Meets Purpose:  The Goat Boater, Megan Cynowa and the Success of Dam 2 Dam 

by Rob Cynowa

Combining a passion for paddleboarding with a commitment to making a difference, Megan Cynowa, owner of The Goat Boater, has played a crucial role in bringing a groundbreaking event to life. The Dam 2 Dam paddleboarding event, created by the 24 Foundation, has not only brought the community together but also raised an impressive $70,000 for charity. This article explores the inspiration behind the event, the challenges faced, and the impact made.

The Genesis of Dam 2 Dam

The idea for Dam 2 Dam stemmed from the 24 Foundation’s mission to inspire and engage communities to make an immediate impact on the lives of those affected by cancer.  United by the common vision of cancer navigation and survivorship for all, 24 Foundation has raised more than $27 million to date. Megan Cynowa was approached by the foundation to organize and facilitate the event. “We wanted to create an event that brought the community together and made a significant impact,” Megan shared. Paddling from one dam to another while raising funds for charity seemed like the perfect way to achieve this.

The 24 Foundation, known for its dedication to charitable causes, saw the potential in this vision and partnered with Megan Cynowa, whose extensive experience in organizing paddleboarding events made her the ideal organizer and facilitator for this ambitious project. Together, they set out to turn the dream of Dam 2 Dam into a reality.

The Journey of Planning and Execution

Turning an idea into a successful event is no small feat. The planning for Dam 2 Dam took about 1.5 years, starting with a proof of concept in 2023 to ensure the event’s feasibility and scalability. From there, they set their sights on the 2024 dates, laying the groundwork for what would become an inspiring success story.

One of the most significant challenges was ensuring the safety of all participants. Paddleboarding over long distances is demanding, so it was crucial to ensure everyone was properly trained and equipped. Navigating the logistics of the route over 25 miles and securing permits were other hurdles that required meticulous planning and coordination. Megan credits her dedicated team for their tireless efforts in overcoming these obstacles.

The Day of the Event

The event saw 38 paddleboarders participating, each raising funds for the 24 Foundation.  Paddlers met at 5 AM and the finish line to start their 45 minute bus ride journey to the starting line.  It was a controlled mad dash upon exiting the bus, lining paddlers up with their correct board, paddle, safety gear and equipment.  The temperature was 84 degrees and the humidity was off the charts.  Within twenty minutes, safety boats, police boat escorts and all the paddlers were on the water highly anticipating their 11 hour adventure to come!  The sense of camaraderie and shared purpose was palpable as participants made their way through heat and sun towards the finish line together. “It was incredibly moving to see people of all ages and backgrounds come together for a common cause,” Megan recalled.

The funds raised from this event were for patient navigation and wellness programs provided through Levine Cancer Institute, Levine Children’s Hospital, and our other Beneficiaries. These programs include integrative oncology, acupuncture, healing touch, massage therapy, nurse navigators and much more.

Looking Ahead: Scaling for the Future

Buoyed by the success of this year’s event, both Megan and the 24 Foundation are keen to make Dam 2 Dam an annual affair. There are plans to scale the event to include 200 paddleboarders, raising even more funds for the foundation.  Ideas for next year are already being discussed and brainstormed.  Scaling up requires more safety boats, improved paddler selection criteria, more Milo’s for hands free communication and additional safety training for escort boat volunteers.  We aim to capitalize on this years wins and make modifications from minor challenges encountered.

Advice for Aspiring Organizers

For other standup paddleboard companies looking to organize similar events, Megan offers some valuable advice. “Start by finding a cause that resonates with you and your community.  I have a personal relationship with cancer and the 24 Foundation does incredible work in that arena. 

Building a dedicated team for planning and logistics is crucial.  You will need more volunteers than you expect and leaning on them might be the difference between success or insanity. Starting with a small-scale proof of concept can help test the feasibility of your event.  Engaging with local businesses for support and sponsorships, and leveraging social media and local media for promotion are also key to success. Prioritize safety above all else.  You are a steward of the paddling and lake community.  What you know and take for granted, many others not familiar with the lake have no idea about.  Go the extra mile do discuss the little things as basic as they may seem and do not compromise.  Above all, staying passionate and persistent is essential. “The impact you can make is worth every effort,” Megan emphasizes.

Conclusion

Megan Cynowa’s dedication and enthusiasm, combined with the 24 Foundation’s vision, have not only made Dam 2 Dam a resounding success but also set a precedent for how passion and purpose can be combined to create meaningful change. As the event continues to grow, it promises to inspire many more to take up the paddle for a cause.

Photos by Joel Simpson of FireTower Media

Written by Gail Kotowski

The Charles Island Sup Cup did not disappoint this year! The water conditions were probably the best I have raced there in the past 10 years. The heat, however, was probably the hottest ever, for so early in the summer. The courses were shortened slightly due to the heat. The lack of side chop was replaced by salty, sweat.

This race grows every year. Originally a local race, it has expanded throughout Nee England and New York. This year the tribe tentacles drew in the Jersey boys and a Maryland crew. The Canadians returned for a second year.

The success is due to the Race Directors, Tina Pritchard the owner of Scoot and Paddle in Milford, CT and Jack Egan of Surfrider Foundation CT Chapter. Jack has initiated a Sprint series with events at 5 CT races during the season. This attracts some strong competitors as well as 1st timers .

More than the race itself, the gathering of the tribe is heartwarming.. This event is our season opener, often bringing together friends not seen since the past September. The vibe with music, food trucks, vendors and families livens up a town beach on Long Island Sound in Milford, CT. The new addition of a Board and Gear Swap offered opportunities to upgrade gear and talk shop.

By APRIL ZILG

[copied with permission from Facebook]

So happy to be getting back to the old things we love, with a new thing that we love! Race day looked and felt a lot different at @thegoatboater this weekend for obvious reasons for @mtb_sup [Corey] and I... But other things felt and looked mighty familiar. It's been a while since we've done a "local race"... in pursuing some big dreams I had, I was on the road to travel and compete a lot, but there was something missing at those "big races". When we first started paddling, we only did "local races," it was the competition at them that got me where I needed to be, it was the various race formats, conditions, and paddlers (male and female) to push myself against. I think it's the after the race that I've been missing the most, it was the hanging out and talking story about "how that last leg in the cross chop kicked my butt" or whatever it happens to be that day

it's cheering for every single paddler on the course and at the finish it's not taking any of it too seriously and just enjoying being with other people who like to get out and do hard things and push themselves. Thank you Meg & Rob [Cynowa] for putting on an epic "local race" that's just as good if not better than the "big races" We had a blast, can't wait to be back in July!!

Photo 1: Corey and I podium in the sprints despite someone wanting to wake up and play from 3-5am

Photo 2: One of the hardest podiums I ever made, the wind on the course was gnarly and my body wasn't ready to work that hard just yet!! Plus, @supc00kie [Caroline Cook of Canada] kept closing that gap as I ran out of steam!!!

Photo 3: packing for race day just got a whole lot harder

Photo 4: Blaise living his best life taking in the swanky hotel room.. "now play with me"

by Katherine Wallace, owner Flatwater Fitness in Kansas & Race Director for Power to Paddle Classic October 3-5, Springfield, MO

This past week has been an amazing week for me personally AND professionally

This is the 3rd year I have participated in the SUP Carolina Cup races at Wrightsville Beach, NC. 

Not only is this a beautiful location, but it certainly brings the FUN to SUP racing! This community is a family of whom to be proud. 

Yes, competitive. 

YET… 

Supportive

Encouraging

Inspiring

Full of…

Laughter

Smiles

Hugs

Cheers

Positivity

Openness 

Sharing

& Caring!

Life. Long. Friends!

NEVER do I hear anyone speak poorly of another paddler, and they are ALWAYS inclusive of each other.

On a personal note:

I had a great race myself! This year’s 5k was a true 5k!! (The past 2 years had been an extended race due to rerouting from a bridge under construction!) I had been training for 5 miles. How happy I was to find out it was mapped out to actually be 3.5 miles this year!! (Ok, slightly over a true 5k ‍♀️) But I was READY! I’m NOT a distance racer, so this was the perfect race for me! 

I had set goals:

~ to start at the front this year (a lot of paddle wake to face) ✅

~ stay more consistent in my pace✅

~ finish strong ✅

~ beat last year’s PR ✅

I ended up 6th in my age group!

(Out of… well, more than 6. )

There was some BA women in my age category! Hats off to them all! What an honor to race with them. It was said this was the fastest avg race times ever in this group!

As always, I’ve learned many things on this journey, and felt humbled by it all. So blessed!

Special thanks to my #ss who was my strength and support this whole week! I’m SO blessed to call her friend! ‍♀️

FFF Owner,

Katherine Wallace

Seek Adventure, Find Passion

FlatwaterFitness.com

The Sound Rowers and Paddlers La Conner race is a very well organized race that’s open to a number of human powered watercraft. They offered a 2.7 mile short course and a 7 mile long course. The race check in was at the shelter at the top of the hill in Pioneer Park, so you get a little pre race warm-up running up and down the hill. 

The race starts under the bridge over the Swinomish Slough in the town of La Conner, goes South into Skagit Bay, then West toward Goat Island, around a channel marker 1 mile West of Goat Island and back to the start in La Conner.  The Race started a little after the high tide so we had an outgoing tide for the entire race and the water was glass smooth for most of the race.  We expected to be going with the tide on the way to Goat Island and against the tide on the way back, but the direction of the flow is a little unpredictable in the Swinomish Slough and on the North side of Goat Island. We ended up going against the tide on the way out of the Slough and part of the way to Goat Island and with the tide from mile 2.5 to mile 3.5 at the turn around.  The tide was pushing pretty hard on the way to the channel marker where we turned for the 7 mile race. After I passed Goat Island, I started paddling South because I could tell the racers ahead of me were getting pushed West by the heavy current. I route took me directly to the channel marker and I gained about 100 yards on the racer ahead of me.  We paddle against a decent current after the turn marker from mile 3.5 to mile 4.5 or maybe mile 5.  Once I got back into the Swinomish Slough, I was averaging about 6.7 mph, so I probably had a current going with me that was moving at least 1 mph.

Sound Rowers always had a great chilly feed at the shelter after the race with prizes for the top three finishers in most of the catagories.

by Linda McCoy – USASUP Board Member and SouthCentral Regional Rep 

The Texas Winter One Hundred (a.k.a. The TWO) was held on February 28, 2024. Race Director, West Hansen, puts on such a great race! The 25k SUP “short course” runs from the FM 969 bridge in Utley, Texas to Fisherman’s Park in Bastrop, Texas. This race is for canoe, kayak, and SUP racers. There were 14 entrants in the SUP division for this year’s short course. No SUP’ers were brave enough to tackle the full 100K this year (there have been less than 5 brave souls in the full course over the years). 

The pre-race meeting is always great! Each participant gets a raffle ticket and West and his family always have so many great prizes! I was lucky enough to win a sweet rocking camp chair with my ticket ending in 007! 

I paddled the course the weekend before the race with some friends and the river was WAY down – at about 230 CFS. Our fins scraped bottom several times and there were a lot of ripples and rapids to navigate. In the week leading up to the race we had some heavy rains and the river peaked at 5200 CFS by that Wednesday. On race day, the river was running at 1200 CFS, so about 6 times higher than the weekend before. We asked for more water and Mother Nature DELIVERED! 

I Juliet caravanned from Austin to Bastrop with a few friends – both of whom had never paddled the course! We parked our cars at the finish line and saw that the boat ramp and surrounding area were covered in about 10 inches of mud! We took a shuttle to the bridge and started to gather our gear – as well as gather our wits about us! 

I was a nervous to see what the river would be like. It can be a bit of a dangerous course with debris, murky water, and plenty of obstacles & strainers! The racecourse is bordered by private property, so there are no support boats along the way. I made sure to have a knife on my P.F.D. in case I got into any trouble as well as a small first-aid kit, heavy duty tape, and a small towel to dry any holes in the event of an emergency board repair. 

West gave a safety meeting and went over the course verbally. There were several paddlers who had never done the course before – including Juliet and Rachele! Juliet has been paddling for years, but this was Rachele’s very FIRST SUP RACE! She was so excited! With Jennifer, there were four women in the running -the most women of any other year! 

The men’s field had a great mix of TWO “old timers” and new paddlers. Scott Seiffert, Morris Paillet, John Knippers, and Douglas Chavarria were back for another go. John, who tackled the full 100k course in 2021, was fresh off the plane – returning from the Gla Gla race in France! Newcomers included Reynald “Bong” Mercado, Mark Villanova, John Upton, Larkin Hood, and Greg Wingo! Greg is the race director for The Last Paddler Standing, which John, Scott, and Jennifer had just participated in. Greg also directs the Alabama 650. John Knippers just made history for being the first Stand Up Paddler to complete that race!

The short course race starts at noon and we all gathered on the water about 11:45. We paddled upstream, against the flow, until the countdown started. Once West called out 15 seconds we turned and lined up to GOOOOOO! The first rapids appear near the 1.5 mile mark – but they looked NOTHING like the weekend before. It was clear that this muddy river would not be the same! The rapids were washed out and there was a new island to navigate – but which way to go? I recognized some landmarks and took the left side, which was a good choice! Two of my fellow paddlers took the right and I could hear some scraping sounds coming from that side of the island. I took the first bend in the river alongside Jennifer. It’s tricky to navigate moving water when you are in close proximity to another paddler. She and I stayed pretty close to each other for the middle part of the race, trading leading spots when one of us took the better line. We could see John and Douglass ahead of us, but Morris and Bong were way out of sight!

Scott was close behind us, so I knew I couldn’t let my guard down! We made it to “The Cliffs of Insanity!” as I call them – a nod to the Princess Bride. That is roughly the halfway point – I was feeling good and my nerves were settling down. Most of the rapids that were hard to maneuver the previous weekend were not as hard to navigate because the water was so high and our fins were clearing the river bottom. There were lots of eddies, rocks, and boils to navigate, so we had to pay attention to what was in the water. Jennifer and I were still close, but she was starting to pull ahead of me. Every once in a while I could hear Scott behind me, so I had to keep up a good pace! John and Douglass were well ahead of us by now. There were a lot of fun bumps to navigate and long stretches of straight paddling. The wind would kick up every once in a while to keep things interesting. I was feeling a little trepidatious about “Wildman Rapids” coming up around the 10-mile mark. There are several big boulders that you have to watch out for and the water is flowing pretty swiftly. You definitely don’t want to get dumped! I could hear the water rushing over the rocks before I could see what we were in for. They actually were kind of fun! With the water level so high, they were pretty easy to navigate. Schwoo! 

In the next long stretch, Jennifer turned on the juice and pulled ahead of me. I was running out of steam, but I was trying to watch her paddle strokes to keep somewhat of a good pace. She picked some really good lines and was making great time! I saw the stairs for Bob Bryant Park and I knew I was about a mile out from the finish line. Jennifer was well ahead of me and out of my sight line by now. I dug a little deeper to see if I had a little bit more gas in the tank! I took a quick peek over my shoulder and Scott was on my tail! So, I found a good rhythm and just focused on my breathing and stroke technique. We had one long line of rapids to navigate and I had to take advantage of any push I could get from the water! I paddled as hard as I could. Rounding the bend, I could see the big iron pipes that stuck out from the bank and I knew the finish line was close! I could hear Scott breathing, but I didn’t dare take a peek and risk falling. I knew he was giving it his all – and SO WAS I!! The finish line sign was in sight and all our friends were cheering for us on the banks of the river! That gave me the little rush of adrenaline that I needed! Both Scott and I were giving it all we had! I could tell by way people were calling our names that Scott was too close for comfort! It was a race to the finish! 

I crossed the finish line in 2:36:45 and Scott’s time was 2:36:47!! TWO SECONDS!! What a thrill! You know the best part? Scott gave me a big ol hug at the finish line and told me how much fun he had racing with me. Of course, West was there, too, with a big smile, a big hug, and bag of “gold doubloons” (dollar coins) for my second-place finish! He also gave us our super cool TWO finishers beanies! I quickly put it over my Mermaid cap – my ears were cold! Jennifer had such a great race! She finished in 2:32 and greeted me at the finish line - we both congratulated each other on a great race!

We put our boards to the side and headed over to the GUMBO STAND!! That’s right!! WARM GUMBO, rice, and cookies  at the finish– and the biggest hug from Jeannette Wilburn Burris! Does it get any better? We sat and decompressed and chatted about the race, it was a beautiful sunny, but chilly day and we were all so happy! We heard cheers as we finished our gumbo and made a beeline to the banks to cheer on John Upton who was finishing with a time of 2:54! I was able to grab my warm socks and dry shoes just in time to cheer on Mark (3:19), Larkin (3:19:18), and Juliet (3:20) who were all paddling together across the finish line. Of course, Juliet was taking selfies! Hahaha! She had no idea she was in THIRD place! West bestowed her with her own “bag o’ gold” and her finisher beanie and she was thrilled! Rachele and Greg finished up together with 3:24 and 3:24:10, respectively. Rachele was tired, but you couldn’t tell from the giant smile on her face! She just completed her FIRST SUP RACE and what a race it was! Everyone helped each other with their gear and congratulations were given all around! Morris took the first spot with a time of 2:12, followed by Bong with 2:16, John rounded out the top 3 money winners with 2:22. Douglass had a strong finish with 2:28! 

The canoe and kayak racers – who paddled the entire 100k course – started coming in soon after we all finished! They start their race at the crack of dawn. Perfect planning so that many of us finish in a close timeframe. It’s so exciting to see them paddling so strong after 62 miles on the river! There is no other paddling community like we have here in Texas! It is so nice to be welcomed into the canoe and kayak community by so many wonderful people! 

I told Juliet and Rachele about our tradition to eat PIE at Maxine’s on Main after the TWO. I mean – it’s PIE…and it’s a TRADITION… and we just paddled 15 miles so those calories don’t count, right? The coconut cream pie really hit the spot (and so did the chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes! Shhh!!) We split it.

BIG THANKS go out to West Hansen and Barbara Hansen Edington “the dynamic TWO -O” (you’re welcome for the new nickname), and the whole TWO crew! This a such a wonderful race and I highly recommend that you put in on your race calendar for 2025! 

It’s a great way to start the year!

by Gail Kotowski

Luckily,I was in San Diego and able to make my first Hanohano race this past Jan 27.  

Renting a board was a snap from West Coast Paddle Sports, which was also a major sponsor. Jeton brought my board close to the launch and picked it up from the beach, so this Senior didn't have to hike up the undertow,created cliff. Being forewarned of the choppy start, I opted for a wider board than mine, but I ended up being upgraded to a Starboard Allstar 14 x 26! 

The pre-race communications from the Director Dan Van Dyke were frequent and informative. I was also able to order a Taliscrew Hoodie Jersey, that was delivered to my CT home. 

The day of race, administrative procedures moved quickly and efficiently with cheerful volunteers! There were many vendor tents, thankfully because last minute, I needed to replace my Camelback bladder! A hearty breakfast was available as well as a water station and a bank of PortoPotties. All the ingredients for a great event, including a gorgeous , sunny day.

I flew with my own paddle and made Uber arrangements to Mariner's Point Park in Mission's Bay. The scene at the parking lot even impressed my driver on both trips! 

The race started timely and the short course was stunning. The views of the hills packed with colorful houses, islands and Sea World greeted my eys. The water was clear and had just enough currents and bumps to keep it interesting. The rocks I was forewarned about were nothing compared to ricocheting nightmare off Newport,RI. I was in my happy place and just paddled for fun! I met my goals, didn't fall in, vomit or come in last! 

Because of my Feldenkrais training schedule, I had to leave early, so didn't get to socialize, but my eyes did notice many faces that I knew. Many industry rockstars were there, Victoria Burgess, Danny Ching and family, Jim T of Quickblade,Bodie von Allman and our own KT! Paddlers traveled from 15 states and several countries. 

This was the largest race I have ever entered! Everyone needs to try it at least once. It was worth my going to class late and having to watch a rerun on Zoom! This platinum racer gives the race a score of a 100! From the low entry fee ($30) to the mug awards, it is clear why this race has longevity. Thank you for the bottom of my ablated heart!

Photos by James Kao