The Best SUP Race EVER!

This isn't a race that I've actually attended or one that I've necessarily read about, but it would be the ideal race for me and my family. First, a bit about my perspective.... I'm definitely not an elite  racer by any stretch of the imagination, although I do have several friends that are, and I'm envious of their abilities and the hard work that they put in.  I am a competitive person by nature, but my realm is more the 3 mile rec race. I love the SUP races in our area, but for me it's more about hanging out with friends and family, other people that are passionate about SUP, and just the overall experience.

I've probably participated in around 10 races over the past couple of years and am planning on doing several more this summer. The events that I've participated in range from small/free "fun races", to full on weekend events.  Although most events are great, some of them could do a few things differently that would make them more enjoyable for people like me and my family.  The list below are some things that I feel would make for the ideal race:

• Create an online presence for your race for people to get information... a Facebook page works great for this sort of thing if you don't want the hassle or expense of setting up a website.
• Online registration is by far the easiest way to sign up for a race... look into using services such as Active.com.  If all races in the Midwest series used the same registration site, participants could get discounts for registering for several events.
• Make sure it's well known if there are series points for each race... there seems to be some confusion when it comes to rec races if there are points or not for some races.
• Packet pickup available the night before the race... nothing worse than chaos at the registration desk the morning of the race.
• Some sort of event the night before is a great idea... can be as simple as a designated meeting place at a local establishment after packet pick-up or as awesome as a meet and greet and/or race clinic with a professional SUP athlete.
• Schwag Bags... who doesn't like a well stocked bag of SUP goodies?  Be sure to include something more than stickers though...nice t-shirt or a custom water bottle are two things that come to mind
• Race directors should not have a long list of things to be responsible for... they are essentially responsible for everything and are very busy.  Others should be in charge of things like registration, setting up the course, safety, food service, etc.
• To answer the question..."No, we can not hear you"... when having the race meeting, please use some sort of microphone.  Even if the wind and waves are light, your voice just doesn't carry well in a beach environment.
• Have the Rec Race first... the wind and waves are usually lightest earlier in the day, making it much easier for those participating in the rec race that may not be as experienced as the elite crew.
• If you have a long distance or downwind race, have it in the afternoon... Most people (with the possible exception of one friend who loves paddling upwind), would much rather paddle long distances with a good afternoon wind at their back.  
• Be flexible with the course... have a few options ready to go so you can adjust based on the weather. If there is a downwinder, but the wind is the opposite direction, please change the course.
• Run the course on a jet ski or small boat... eliminate any confusion by allowing everyone to see the course run prior to racing.
• Make sure there is enough room at the start... don't cram 200 people on a 100' beach and expect there to not be issues.  Stagger the start for different divisions if necessary.
• Make sure shuttles are actually available... if there is a race from point A to point B, have plenty of shuttles available to transport the participants in a timely manner.
• Enforce the board specifications... if the rec race is for 12'2 and under, make sure it is enforced. Even though it's "just the rec race", it's awesome when you finish 4th and somebody with a 14' race board walks by with your tiny trophy and prizes... no, I'm not bitter.  :)
• Have a fun course... having a course that's more buoy turns and is in front of the spectators is more fun for those racing as well as those family/friends watching from the beach and/or pier.
• Music... make it a party-like atmosphere by pumping some beach tunes
• Make sure everyone knows what's going on... have an announcer dropping SUP knowledge and race specifics on the spectators.
• Food, must have food... lunch or dinner option is a must if the race is an event as apposed to just a show up/race/go home type deal.  Also, have food options available for friends and family that are there to support the race for a small price.
• Lots of friendly volunteers... these individuals are much appreciated, even if they don't get the praise they deserve.
• Plenty of vendors... everyone likes to see what's new and kids love things like free stickers and sunscreen.
• SUP clinics... at some point during or between races, have some short SUP clinics and give spectators a chance to try some boards.  Also, it would be awesome to have a "race clinic" put on by some of the pros or local sponsored athletes prior to the event.
• Kids races... lets get the next generation involved and have a free race for kids and give them lots of prizes!

With all of the above being said, I want to let you know that I have never had a bad time at any race I've attended and I appreciate all of the effort that the race directors, countless volunteers, and sponsors do to put on a SUP race.  If any races can take a point or two and incorporate them into their event...great.  If they don't, I'm sure I'll have a blast anyway.  As with most things, the most important thing for me is just hanging out with friends, family, and other SUP addicts and spending time on the water.   

4th Annual Shiver on the River

Once again, out friends at The Outpost are organizing the Shiver on the River!  Come celebrate the New Year by joining us for a SUP paddle on the Kalamazoo River.  We plan to start at 1:00 pm on January 1st from the Star of Saugatuck launch...716 Water St. in Saugatuck 49453.

Coffee and hot chocolate at Uncommon Grounds Cafe after the paddle.  Wear your beads, party hats, and appropriate cold weather paddle gear and let's make some noise!

For more information, check out the Shiver on the River Facebook Page.  Hope to see you there!

2013 Great Lakes SUP Classic

The 2013 Great Lakes SUP Classic…what a great event!  Let me start by saying that this is a very well organized race from beginning to end.  The Outpost did a fantastic job of making sure everything went off without a hitch.

Jim Terrell...dishing the knowledge

The GLSC festivities started on Friday evening at The Outpost with packet pickup and “SUP Talk” with industry leaders Jim Terrell (Quickblade) and Joe Bark (BARK Paddleboards).  This was a unique opportunity for paddlers of all skill level to talk with Jim and Joe about paddles and boards.  A couple groups of 25 or so were able to get insider info on paddle types, construction, fit, and paddling technique from Jim as well as everything you wanted to know about boards (type, fit, construction, R&D, storage, etc.) from Joe.  A couple of my good friends even had their BARK race boards signed by Joe…pretty cool.  On top of the great discussion, Jim Terrell was custom fitting paddles for people and The Outpost had all Quickblade paddles on sale for 20% off…yes please!

Side not on paddle fit…Jim Terrell was fitting paddles by taking you height in inches and multiplying by 1.12.  This should be a starting point and can then be slightly adjusted from there based on your specific needs (race, surf, other).  6’ tall… 72 x 1.12 = 80.64 or an 81” paddle.

Saturday morning started off on the chilly side with temps in the high 30’s.  Although the wind and waves on Lake Michigan had calmed down from the previous day (15mph and 4-6’), the water temp had dipped from the mid 60’s to the low 50’s.  When I arrived at Holland State Park, I realized that I had left my race info (number, lunch voucher) on my kitchen table (doh!), but race volunteers were quick to take care of everything for me without an issue.  The volunteers do a great job with pulling off an event of this size.

3 Mile Race Start

The course was changed this year and I must say that it was AWESOME!  Instead of a down and back style or a triangle, there were several buoy turns and all of the action was much easier to watch both from the beach as well as the pier.  The two near shore buoys in particular were a great change.  Even though the waves were small at the beach (1-1.5’), they were breaking right at the buoys where people were trying to turn.  This location made for some great action…people falling (I fell three times…brrr), traffic jams, and great buoy turns.  The tough part was on the long stretch from the farthest north buoy to the pier.  I’m not sure how it was for the elite race (9:15 start), but for the rec race (my race, 11:15 start) the wind had picked up out of the south and the waves our past the pier were probably 3-5’.  Not that this was that bad, but it was definitely enough to make you glad when you made the turn at the pier.  Elite racers had 4 laps and rec racers did 2, which was plenty for me.

Buoy Turn Carnage

The elite race was won by Larry Cain from Canada, followed by Jim Terrell and Team Outpost rider Tony Paul (Tony also took the Midwest SUP Championship Series overall title).  Joe Baker continued his winning ways by taking the 12’6 class.  On the women’s side, Mary Radtke stood atop the podium, followed by Rachel ? and Renee Miller with a strong 3^rd place finish.  An abbreviated list of winners is below, check out the GLSC Results page for a complete list.

• 6 Mile Elite – 14’ M          Larry Cain
• 6 Mile Elite – 12’6 M        Joel Baker
• 6 Mile Elite – 12’6 W        Mary Radtke
•  3 Mile Rec – 12’6 M        Jeffrey Hunter
• 3 Mile Rec – 12’6 W        Melanie Lefeve
• 3 Mile Rec – Surf M         Kevin Clark
• 3 Mile Rec – Surf W         Antje Mueller
• Kids Race                         Camden Misiewicz

Following the main races, there were the kid’s race and a relay race.  It’s great to see all of the kids out there participating…building the stoke for the future of our sport.  Although I didn’t to the relay race, from what I could see, it looked like everyone that raced had a huge smile on their face.

Before I forget, I wanted to give a shout out to Matt Balmer (6 Mile elite racer) for providing lunch for everyone from his restaurant, Everyday People Café.  It was by far the best event lunch I have ever had (great soup/chowder, bread bowls, fruit, cookies, etc.).  If you happen to be in the Douglas area, check it out.

Rich, thanking Jim and his family

The GLSC concluded with a heartfelt “thank you” from Rich Mosher (owner of The Outpost) and the awards ceremony and giveaways.  In addition to the overall winners, small prizes were also given to all age group winners and all Kids Race participants.  One thing that Rich mentioned was that 100% of all entrance fees (around $6000) went to two charities that help bring clean water to those around the world that don’t have access…what a great cause.  The event sponsors really stepped up to provide all of the prizes and race bags for everyone.  Thanks to The Outpost, Jim Terrell, Joe Bark, Everyday People Café, Rich Mosher, Jim Misiewicz, and all of the other volunteers for putting on a first class event.

In addition to everything described above, one of the highlights of the event for me was to just hang out with a bunch of friends that all have the passion for our great sport.  The Great Lakes SUP Classic was an event that you don’t want to miss next year so make sure to get it on your calendar for 2014…you won’t regret it!

SUP Events to End the Summer

It seems like summer just started, but August is almost half over already. With that being said, there is still plenty of time to get on the water and participate in some of the many events we still have left. If you haven't heard about them out, or signed up already, check out the list below for more info!

• 8/11/2013 - Newaygo Nationals SUP Marathon, Newaygo, MI
• 8/17/2013 - TC Waterman, Traverse City, MI
• 8/31/2013 - Reeds Lake SUP Race, East Grand Rapids, MI
• 9/07/2013 - Tip of the Mitt Paddle Fest, Cheboygan, MI
• 9/14/2013 - Great Lakes SUP Classic, Holland, MI

It's looking like a great way to finish up the summer...BRING IT ON!

Race Season in the 616!

Race season is just around the corner!  A few races have started registration, and from what I hear, they are starting to fill up fast.

Mt Pisgah SUP/Run Duathlon - 5/27 Holland, MI
This is an informal "race" that is free to everyone and even includes a pancake breakfast at the beach!  The event will begin at 9:00 AM on Memorial Day, May 27th, at Holland State Park.  The Duathlon will consist of a 1.5 mile paddle, 1 mile run (with steps), and a 1.5 mile paddle.  Call The Outpost of Holland with any questions and ask for Jim or Steve 616.396.5556.

Sweetwater SUP Challenge - 6/15 St. Joseph, MI
Family friendly event with demos and kid's races.  The Recreational race is 3 miles and the Elite race is 6 miles.  The Rec race is reserved for "surf" style SUPs only...all displacement/race style SUPs will be entered into the Elite race (12'6" and 14' classes).  For additional information, including registration, please see the link below:
           Sweetwater SUP Challenge

TC Waterman Challenge & Expo - 8/17 Traverse City, MI
Staged on the shores of beautiful West Grand Traverse Bay, the TC Waterman event includes a recreational 3.5 mile course as well as an 11 mile open-water "downwinder" distance race.  Whether you're racing for the WPA points, or just want to get your feet wet in the waters of SUP for the first time, the TC Waterman Challenge & Expo is the perfect way to experience the rich tradition of the Northern Michigan SUP lifestyle. For additional information, including registration, please see the link below:
          TC Waterman Challenge & Expo

What are you waiting for?!?!

Live Q&A with Danny and Candice

Tonight at the Outpost of Holland, I had the opportunity to participate in an exclusive live FCS Q&A Webcast with two of the most successful SUP athletes in the world, Danny Ching and Candice Appleby. Danny and Candice answered questions via phone, tweet, and email for over an hour on anything to do with SUP. lots of great questions dealing with fitness, nutrition, racing, surfing, and SUP lifestyle.

The Outpost did a great job hosting the event with 20 or 30 local paddlers in attendance...they even got a special shout out from Candice about how great of a store it is (check it out if you haven't). Out of all the questions asked of them from around the world, I would guess that 25% were from our group. SUP is alive and well (and growing) in the 616 for sure!

 

Abu Dhabi All Stars Invitational

The Standup World Tour is making its inaugural stop in the United Arab Emirates for the Abu Dhabi All Stars Invitational this weekend.  Some of the top paddlers in the world will go head-to-head, paddle surfing in the unique Wadi Adventure wave pool and then racing in the standard world Series Sprint Racing format.  The wave pool will allow everyone to get perfect right, left, and closeout waves that are all consistent...every 90 seconds!

Although the time difference is 8 hours for us in West Michigan, you can check out the schedule on standupworldtour.com and you can view the live webcast at the link below.

Live Broadcast - Abu Dhabi All-Stars Invitational

Surftech Shootout at the Lane

The stage is set for one of the most exciting SUP events of 2013!  The Surftech Shootout and Surf & Sand Duel Race will feature many of the world's top SUP surfers and racers.

For those of you like me, however, who are stuck in the never ending "winter" of West Michigan, you can check out the LIVE WEBCAST during half time or between March Madness games.  The Webcast will begin at 11:00 AM (EST) on Saturday and continue through Sunday to cover all the action.

For additional event information check out this article on Supconnect.

Reeds Lake SUP Race

Although not much information is available yet, it looks like the 2nd annual Reeds Lake SUP Race will be held on Saturday, August 31st.  I wasn't able to race last year but I'm planning on checking it out in 2013.  This race will be a good tune up for the Great Lakes SUP Classic that is scheduled for September 14th.  For additional information (when available), check back periodically or visit the race website at the link below.

Reeds Lake SUP Race

Stand Up World Tour - Sunset Beach Pro 2013

If you're like me and and are dreaming of warm weather, nice waves, and paddling, check out the 1st stop on the Stand Up World Tour....the Sunset Beach Pro 2013 on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Although the event was called off today due to large surf (what?) and inconsistent conditions, you can check out the live feed tomorrow afternoon (Michigan time) from the link below.
Live Feed - Sunset Beach Pro 2013 (Check back on Monday 2/11/2013)
If you need your fix today (or any other time), check out the highlights below from the first day of the contest.

2013 Race Schedule Released!

Progressive board shops and SUP enthusiasts in the Midwest joined forces to create a series of events that feature friendly competition and a host of fun activities, in an effort to foster athletic growth and broaden interest in the sport. The Midwest SUP Racing Series aims to provide a platform for serious paddlers to test their skills against their peers, while encouraging others to take their first stroke on a SUP board and see what the sport is all about.
I know from experience that these events are awesome for paddlers of all levels. Check the 2013 SUP/Beach Events list (at right) for more information on each race or follow the link below.
Midwest Stand Up Paddleboard Championship Series