2nd Battle of the Paddle "Quick Edit"

[RoelvanN]

Check de video met impressie van deze happening in Californie. Luister ook naar de voice-over die het 'echte' verhaal vertelt over de eerste suppers!

Beetje Amerikaans getint rapportage/muziek maar wat een deelnemersveld. Gaan we dit volgend jaar ook meemaken op de 11 stedentocht?!

Battle of the Paddle 2009 "Quick Edit" from Soul Surf Media on Vimeo.

[RoelvanN]

Altijd leuk. De wipe outs!!

'09 BoP Elite Race Wipe Outs from Standup Paddle Magazine on Vimeo.

[RoelvanN]

Mooi verslag van Chuck Patterson, winnaar van de 1e Battle of the Paddle. Extreme sports atleet en surfer, kitesurfer, tow-in surfer en Supper. (Met dank aan Standupzone.com)

Chuck is als Man of the Year verkozen door het Stand Up Journal Magazine.




Aloha Zoners,

After winning last years "Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle"; going into this years event was pretty stressful, knowing I had to work extra hard to defend my title with a huge target on my back.
I felt I had a duty to my sponsors, fans and myself to do the best and that's what we as athletes live for.
This years event was a 2 day "ultra marathon paddle fest", starting with a 4 mile open race, followed by the 5 mile Elite surf slalom super cross in windy head high surf and on the second day we paddled a 10 mile coastal run in 15-20 mile onshore bumpy conditions, kids race and ending with a 4 person team surf relay paddle.
I have to say that this years Elite Surf slalom super cross race was the best action packed crossover race I have ever paddled in the sport of SUP.
We couldn't have asked for better conditions; with head high surf breaking through the whole length of the course and a dropping tide which made it really challenging on the way out and rounding the inside buoys.
The start was super chaotic with about 90 men and 30 women side by side, slamming boards and paddles at every turn and set waves plowing anything in it's path back to the beach.
As we rounded every inside buoy on our way back out; we had to fight through the crowd of paddlers and loose floating boards etc., punching through 100 yards of white water to make our way back up to the outside buoy.
There were times where you would time it perfect and paddle through small surf on the way out and then hook up on a good set wave on the way in or just the opposite, where you got plowed going out and paddled without a wave in sight on the way in, only to have the guys behind you catch up with a lucky wave in. Every lap, the order changed dramatically and you just had to minimize the mistakes and put your head down and grind it out.
I can remember on my first lap, where about 10 of us caught a set wave in and as we got to the inside buoy everybody turned at the same time and boards went flying. I luckily got to my board before another wave hit and as I was paddling back out through the mayhem, a guy lost his board and the wave was pushing it sideways right in my path and I just slammed my nose through the board, deflecting it to the side and as I looked back, all I could see was white surfboard foam floating in the water. I was pretty lucky that my Hobie board was still in one piece, but there were many stories of broken fin boxes, boards and bruised shins.
This was a true test of endurance, determination, surf skill and "luck" and above all the most fun ever paddling with the best in the world.......
A big Congratulations to Jamie Mitchell and Shakira Westdorp for winning the Battle of the Paddle and to Slater Trout, nipping at their heals and to all the young guns like Riggs Napolean, Connor Baxter and Zane Switzer and all the locals for holding it down in our home town....

It was also great to see a lot of the Zoners out in full force and loved to see Sam Pae, always got a big Aloha smile on his face..
I really want to thank Sparky, Gerry Lopez, Barrett Tester of Rainbow sandals, all the industry sponsors showing their support and everyone who worked so hard in making this event a huge success.
And a big Mahalo to my sponsors and family for your help and understanding when the going gets tough.

All the best and hope to see you in the water,
Chuck P

[RoelvanN]

Check ook het andere verslag van deze race. De video link is hieronder en de film staat ook bij de video sectie.
Wat een slagveld, werkelijk een Battle of the Paddle. Zie hoe bij de start al direct racers door de eerste golven van hun board worden gespoeld. En vervolgens 15 man op 1 golf naar binnen peddelen. Geinig en wat een race. Een deelnemers veld van 300 SUPpers op een baan dwars door de break met heup tot schouder hoge golven! En Uberatleet Jamie Mitchel pakt de winst. Enjoy de video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jttFGAjD-Q&feature=player_embedded#