Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Orange Bowl Paddle Championships

ORANGE BOWL PADDLE CHAMPIONSHIP 2012


The Orange Bowl Paddle Championship powered by Jimmy Lewis is a charity- driven event with a focus on children and community. All funds raised by the event went to Big Brother Big Sisters of Greater Miami to fund mentorship activities in the area.
On Sunday, January 15th over 200 paddlers participated in the second annual Orange Bowl Paddle Championship in Miami, Florida. Racers from all over the world converged in the warm temperatures of Southern Florida to put their paddling skills to test. A mid 70’s sunny day but a little wind challenged the paddlers on their return loop. The course winded its way through downtown Miami, Biscayne Bay and the Miami River, the OBPC is the only major urban race in the US.  The event offered three types of events-elite 7 miler, recreational 3 miler, and a sprint race with a buoy turn.
In the Elite division with a prize of $5,000 for first place; female was Candice Appleby and male Danny Ching, both are worldly known paddlers.  Ron Gossard from WHAT SUP blazed through the waters with a 7th place Elite finish among professional paddlers and Olympic athletes.  Dawn Ehman placed 10th in the Female Elite race.  

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

2012 Surf Expo in Orlando, Florida


WINTER 2012 SURF EXPO ORLANDO
Last week was the 37th annual Surf Expo in Orlando, Florida. Vendors from all over the world come to display their latest products for 2012 in the Surf Industry. You see everything from surfboards and skateboards to clothing and sun tan lotion. This year the SUP(Stand Up Paddle board) displays were there in masses like never before.  A pool was set up to show how the boards really worked when in the water.  You saw everything from Yoga moves on the boards to turning moves.  
2012 proves to be an exciting year for the SUP industry as every company is getting more in tune with the products they are using to create the boards for speed and durability.  There was an amazing number of different style of boards-entry level, cruising, racing, high performance surf, inflatable, and fishing SUPS along with the various paddles and accessories to go along with them.  
WHAT SUP stand up paddle of Ocean city, MD (www.whatsupoc.com) hopes to see their customers trying out all the various equipment to see what they find fits their needs and they can use to have the most FUN on the water.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

2012 East Coast Stand Up Paddle (SUP) Race schedule


Date 2012
Race
Craft
Location
Website / Contact
1/15
Orange Bowl Paddle Championships**
SUPs
Miami, FL
1/21
Gene Bergman 10 miler
Paddleboards, SUPs, surfskis, dories
Ft Lauderdale, FL
2/18
Sykes Creek Paddling Challenge
All human-powered craft
Merritt Island, FL
3/4-3/5
Florida West Coast Champs
Paddleboards, SUPs, surfskis, outriggers
Clearwater, FL
4/7
Florida State Paddle Board Championship * 
Paddleboards, SUPs
Cocoa Beach, FL
4/14-4/15
9th Annual Shark Bite Challenge
Paddleboards, SUPs, surfskis, outriggers
Dunedin, FL
4/14
Tampa Bay Race (Tampa to St. Pete)
SUPs
Tampa Bay, FL
4/21
Kommona paddle
Paddleboards, SUPs, surfskis, OC-1s, 2s and 6s, sea kayaks, dories
Miami, FL
4/21
2nd Annual James River Paddle Challenge
All human-powered craft, three similar craft make a class
Jamestown Is, VA
4/22
Bodhi’s Revenge 
SUP Obstacle Open Ocean
Folly Beach, SC
4/27-4/29
Carolina Cup
SUPs
Wrightsville Bch, NC
5/10-5/12
15th Annual Key West Classic *
Paddleboards, SUPs, surfskis, outriggers, dories, kayaks, dragon boats
Key West, FL
5/18-5/20
Gulf Coast SUP Championships 
SUPs
Madeira Beach FL
5/28
SUP Splash Race Chattachoochee River
SUPs
Atlanta, GA
6/2
"Paddle for Humanity" Deerfield beach
Paddleboards, SUPs, surfskis, OC-1s, dories
Deerfield Beach, FL
6/3
Surf Swap Challenge
SUPs
 Ocean City, MD
6/9
Surfguys SUP Race
SUPs
Melbourne Beach
6/9
2nd Annual Panacea Paddle
SUPs
Carolina Beach, NC
6/16-6/17
The Space Coast Paddle Blast
Paddleboards, SUPs
Cocoa Beach, FL
6/23
3rd Annual Onslow Bay Challenge
Paddleboards, SUPs, surfskis, OC-1s, 2s and 6s, sea kayaks, dories
Topsail, NC
6/23
SUP Splash Race Lake Lanier
SUPs
Gainesville, GA
6/30
Pink Paddle (Breast Cancer Awareness)
Paddleboards, SUPs
Ponce Inlet, FL
7/7
East Coast Paddle Board and SUP Champs *
Paddleboards, SUPs, surfskis, outriggers
Ponce Inlet, FL
7/7
Shem Creek Shootout
SUPs, surfskis, OC-1s
Mt Pleasant, SC
7/14
St Pete Splash
SUPs, surfskis, OC-1s
St Pete Beach, FL
7/28
Annapolis SUP Race
SUPs
Annapolis, MD
8/4-8/6
USLA Lifeguard National Championships
USLA specific
Cape May, NJ
8/17
"Paddle for Humanity" Washington
Paddleboards, SUPs, surfskis, OC-1s, dories
Washington, DC
8/18
SUP Splash Race Savannah
SUPs
Savannah, GA
8/25
Battle on the Bay
SUPs
 Ocean City, MD

9/8
SUP Splash Race Blue Ridge
SUPs
Blue Ridge,GA
10/5-10/7
Clash at the Passes
Paddleboards, SUPs, surfskis, OC-1s, sea kayaks, dories
Palm Island Fl
10/6
Sandbridge Hei Hei
SUP Surf/Slalom Open Ocean Race
Virginia Beach, VA
10/6
SUP Splash Race RiverRocks
SUPs
Chattanooga TN
10/20
Golden Isle Paddleboard Classic
SUPs
St. Simons Is, GA
10/27
Causeway to Causeway Challenge
Paddleboards, SUPs, surfskis, OC-1s, 2s and 6s, sea kayaks, dories
Cocoa Beach, FL
11/3-11/4
Calusa Classic
Paddleboards, SUPs, surfskis, outriggers, kayaks
Lee County, FL
11/4
3rd Annual Golden Nugget
SUP 5K and 10K – Shem Creek and Charleston Harbor
Mt Pleasant, SC
11/10
Pacifico Paddle Challenge
SUPs
St Pete Beach, FL
11/17
Surf 2 Sound Challenge
SUPs
Wrightsville Bch, NC