Summer 2013 SUP Race Season Wrap Up

I had an amazing race season this summer. Finishing with 7 1st place wins, and on the podium at 12 races this summer.  It was: Fun, a long line up of races, learning to be a competitor, competing, paddling hard, determination, surfing, new friends, training, and challenges.
Thanks to everyone who pushes this sport, especially NSP SUP, NSP Cocomat 14',  NSP Dale Chapman Ocean Race Elite 14' brushed carbon race board. Global Surf Industries @ Ed G. On It Pro Surf Products, Roar beverages, Warren Pieces, Huntington SUP, Kostal Paddle, Main Beach Surf and Sport, Paddle Fit, Red Vault Productions.

3rd place at Main Beach's Paddle Race for Ocean Rescue.

  On Saturday October 12th, I headed out to Montauk for race #4 of Main Beach's Hampton's 2013 SUP Race Series, final race of the season.  This was an epic 6.2 mile downwinder, with 25 knot winds, and a 3'-4' swell. Even with the tide going out, the conditions were gnarly. I think I fell off my board at least 10 times. I learned a lot about reading swells and catching bumps. The downwind glides were fun, fast, and steep! I finished 3rd, with a time of 1:07:39. Stoked!

Tie for 1st at Paddle for the Bays: Race Cape Cod!

On September 21, we headed up to Cotuit, Massachusetts, in Cape Cod for a 10 mile SUP race. The elite 10 mile race course was 2 laps around an island in Cotuit Bay.  Patrick Broemmel, and I battled it out, pushing each other, side by side for the entire 10 mile race. I finished with a time of 1:59:56. Patrick is a great friend, amazing paddler, and a talented innovative board shaper, check out his company: http://www.banhpho.com

Surf Training on the new 14' NSP Dale Chapman Brushed Carbon Race Board

New Ambassadorships and ROAR Beverage product sponsorship

2013 Accomplishments

                              

           2013 Accomplishments 
                     & Highlights    

1st Place and overall Main Beach Surf & Sport Paddle for Pink Sag Harbor, NY 6 mile Elite Course Race WPA Regional Championships

1st Place  Paddle Battle Long Island, NY 5 mile Elite Course Race

1st Place  100 Mile Paddle NYC 1 mile Sprint Elite Course Race

1st Place  Flynn’s Fire Island, NY  Elite Sprint Course Race

1st Place  Uncle Richie Farrell Race Breezy Point, NY 6 Mile Elite Course Race

1st  Place  Surfrider CT Summer’s End SUP Classic Noank, CT 6 mile Elite Course Race

1st Place (Tied) Paddle for the Bays Race Cape Cod 10 Mile Elite Race Course

2nd Place  Main Beach Surf & Sport Paddle for the Bay’s Sag Harbor, NY 6 mile Elite Course Race

2nd Place  Main beach Surf & Sport Paddle for Humanity Ocean Beach, Wainscott, NY 6 mile Elite Surf Course Race

3rd Place  Atlantic Paddle Boarding Association Paddle Challenge Salisbury Beach, Mass.  Elite Surf Course Race

3rd Place  Stand Up For The Lake, Burlington, VT 6 mile Elite Course Race

3rd Place  The Endless SUP Race, Bradley Beach, NJ 6 Mile Elite Surf Course Race

Summer's End SUP Classic 1st Place!

 On Saturday Sept. 7th, I took the 7am Orient Point Ferry across the sound to compete in the 3rd annual Surfrider, CT Summer's End SUP Classic. The conditions were typical for late summer New England; 20+ mile wind gusts, and changing water conditions. The course layout had 3 different buoy turns, a loop around a small island, up-wind and side-wind tracks, and a long down-wind stretch through Long Island Sound. I finished the 6 mile race first! With a time of 1:05:35. Stoked!

Awesome Race Up the Coast

On Saturday August 31st,  I was up in Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts for the Atlantic Paddle Board Association's Paddle Challenge. Ed from Global Surf  Ind./ NSP hooked me up with the new 12'6" Dale Chapman brushed carbon race board. The board was awesome in the  battle of the paddle style surf race course. I finished 3rd, and went home with a $200 check. Great race and competition.

Linking Bumps and Winning in Rockaway Beach, NY!

I took 1st place at the Uncle Richie Farrell finding a cure for epilepsy and seizures benefit race in Breezy Point, NY. The conditions were choppy, but I was able to link together some long glides headed towards the 2nd buoy. This was my 5th, 1st place finish in the past 6 weeks!

3rd Place at Stand Up for the Lake!

Amazing race on beautiful Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont. The lake was super choppy and the swells were bouncing off the shear rock cliffs . Lake Champlain is huge and over 300' deep in some spots. It's an epic place to paddle, with awesome views of the Green and Adirondack mountain's.  I placed 3rd in the 6 mile race, my time was 1:8:46. Can't wait to paddle up there again next year!

Big Win at Main Beach's Paddle for Pink National Qualifying Race

Awesome race in Sag Harbor at Main Beach Surf and Sport Paddle for Pink WPA National Qualifying 6 Mile race. I placed 1st with a time of 53:16. The conditions were ideal with light winds and minimal tidal currents. My pace average was 8:53/mile.  The highlight of the day was receiving my trophy from Laird Hamilton, and chatting with Laird and Gabby Reece!

check out the video: http://vimeo.com/77627651

Fire Island Sprint Race

On August 10th, my good friend J.M. Kostallas, and I took first place in a sprint relay race on the Great South Bay. The race was held at Flynn's in Ocean Bay Park on Fire Island. We won a trip to Puerto Rico, and a 11'6" stand up paddle board!

The Endless SUP Race

On August 1st, I competed in an awesome 6 mile open ocean race in New Jersey, that provided us with 20-25 mph winds. The wind was on our backs going up the coast, but coming back to the last buoy, and the finish line there were 2'-4' wind swells.  I placed 5th overall, and 4th in the 14' division. It was tough, and I learned a lot about racing in adverse wind conditions. I completed the 6 mile race in 1:26:40.

On the water

2012 Top Accolades

2 for 2 Paddle Battle Long Island Race and 1 Mile Sprint NYC Race

 Saturday July 20th,  Two 1st place finishes! 1st place in the 1st annual Paddle Battle Long Island. I finished the 5 mile race in 55:36. The race was a 2 lap buoyed course around Colonels Island and back.
Sunday, I raced in a 1 mile sprint race that started at the finish line of 100 Mile Paddle NYC race. I placed 1st in the elite race with a time of 12:46. I give a lot of respect to all of the paddlers who finished the two day paddle down the hudson. Next year, I hope to have a team together for the 100 miler.

Local support and Paddle fit

                                                   

Paddle for Humanity Ocean beach Wainscott Long Island

June 16th, Main beach surf & sport Paddle for humanity.  I placed 3rd overall, and 2nd in my division, with a time of 1:18:03. This was an awesome 7 mile open ocean downwind race from Wainscott, heading east to Main beach.

                                                        Red Vault Productions video from the race

Soundsurfer Waterman's Challenge Westport, CT

June 1st, Soundsurfer waterman's challenge. 10 Mile race. Finished in 2:02:56. I finished 8th overall, and 5th in my division. This was a world paddle association championship qualifying event.  Very tough race and the temps were in the 90's!

Paddle for the bays, Sag harbor

 May 18th, first race of the 2013 Main Beach Surf & Sport hampton's Stand up paddle race series. I finished 4th overall and 2nd in my division.  This was a 6 mile multiple lap triangular race course.

Red Vault Productions video from the race