The first SUP and paddleboard race of the California Downwind Race Series, the 9 mile Santa Barbara Cold Current, went off with a nice following seabreeze yesterday…
Here’s a few quick snapshots until I have time to go through all of the images and put up a proper post…
Pre-race board lineup…
Robert Gilcrest conducting the “skipper’s meeting” at the Goleta Beach starting point …
Stock class men’s winner…Ernie (EJ) Johnson…representing race sponsors Starboard, Honolua, and StandUp Paddle Sports…
The Starboard Tiki spirit was present…
The welcoming finish line…Leadbetter Beach…
Ocean wind and swell conditions generated some nice bumps and runners to ride downwind…
We couldn’t have timed the sea breeze any better…the race started at 2:00 P.M. and the breeze ramped up all during the finish…then backed down for the post race activities…
Conditions on the beach…
Thomas Gallagher (1st place men’s unlimited…1st place overall) just smoked down the coast averaging 6.7 mph…getting a max speed of 9.7 mph…sustained for 30 seconds…
I asked him what he was listening to…he grinned, and said “Limp Bizkit”…;-)
I dunno…the judges are gonna have to rule on future incidents of auditory stimulation…and, complaints of “unfair advantage”…and, the like…but, these days gone can mean some many thangs…just need to know what kind of gone we’re talkin’ ’bout here…;-)
Tom won the open class at the 1st Battle of the Paddle…we’re stoked that this world class paddler has set the benchmark at this inaugural Santa Barbara Cold Current paddleboard race…
Lots of aloha present at this event…
Tami Starczak on the Starboard 12’6″ “The New” race board getting a nice wave glide into 1st place women’s stock class (3rd women’s overall) at the finish line…she also finished the 2009 Battle of the Paddle on a nice wave (click on link)…sweet surfing style!!!
Adam Kirkcaldie and Ashley Parducci…
Adam took 2nd place men’s stock class behind EJ…
Ashley cowgirled up and entered the race at the last second…she said that she had lots left in the tank after paddling the 9 miles…the longest she has ever standup paddled…good job, Ashleigh!
We’ll see you at the Sugarland show tonight…;-)
Competitors enjoying some great food and beverages…well deserved apres accoutrement after 9 miles in the saddle…
John Kerman, winner of the 12’6″ Starboard Pin raffle…he was stoked because this is a perfect board to complement his Starboard 9’8″ Fish…proceeds of the raffle went to Friendship Paddle…
