September 31st 2010

Long Beach’s own Thomas Gallegher, wins the Halloween Costume Paddle Race in the first annual Maui Jim Holiday Paddle Series.

With capes and sweat flying, two men furiously dug for the finish. Tom Gallagher turned the last buoy with a board length lead over Thomas Maximus. With twenty meters to shore, the “Toms” were paddling side by side. As they approved the waters edge. Gallagher leapt first to make his run.  Too early, he sank to neck high water and struggled to wade out.  Maximus beached his board and stepped onto shore and began an easy trot with his paddle raised in victory.  At five yards from the finish line Gallagher was back in the picture and dove early for the finish line and tripped up Maximus. Both men were tangled up in the sand and Gallagher sprang up first across the finish line to take the victory. 

In the women’s division, Leah Beebe handled business by beating Kristina Zur by over a minute.  (see full results)

In the Paddle Sprint Relay, Team Focus navigated the gauntlet of traffic and grab-ass-ery to take the victory. Team Captain, Rami Zur boasted, “I am unbeatable for 250 yards” 

In the first ever Quickblade Stand Up Joust exhibition, there were three matches.  The first was Anthony Vela vs Rami Zur. Anthony was victorious in two straight jousts.  The second match featured Jim Terrell and Thomas Maximus.  They each unmounted the other and on the third try Jim got sneaky and took down the big man with a little help from his dad ridding shotgun.

November 25th 2010

Second is now first in Turkey Paddle.

Thanksgiving morning the weather turned and brought us a crystal clear 70 degree day for the the first annual Turkey Paddle.  A diverse field from all over southern California came down to enjoy a classic fall day in the LBC.

The two second place finishers from the Costume Paddle, Thomas Maximus and Kristina Zur, spent the last 24 days doing work.  They trained, they focused, and came back with new boards and picked up two new Turkey Championships.

Thomas gapped the field by 100 yards in the first mile and never looked back while Kristina worked her way through the field and finished strong to take the Turkey title. When asked about what he changed for this race, Thomas said, ”I have a 23 pound Craig Richmond designed rocket of a board and I have added chopping wood to my fitness training.”

We were truly thankful for the wonderful conditions and the classy racers. The event was also blessed by a few dolphins checking our their mammal brothers enjoying the ocean.   (see full results)

January 2nd 2011

Robert Rojas wins the Dash for Cash Paddle in the Maui Jim Holiday Paddle Series.

On a cold morning in Long Beach Prone, SUP, Unlimited, Stock, Surf, Male, and Female Paddlers got together to see who would could take the Maui Jim Dash for Cash Paddle. This was the first paddle race to combine the sexes and classes and compete for over $2,000 in cash and prizes. 

In the last qualifier of the holiday series, the Christmas Bonus, Brandi Baksic and Rob Rojas cruised to easy victories shutting it down the third lap and even trading boards for the last 400 yards.

(see full results)

In the final event of the Holiday Paddle Series, the Dash for Cash, the women started with a six minute and twenty second lead on the men in a three lap race of a one mile course with six hair pin turns. Krista Zuir , Hungarian paddle Olympian, got to rest during the morning qualifier and from the start put the hammer down and gapped the women by 150 yards as the men started in pursuit.  Anthony Vela busted out paddling prone and took the early lead while everyone clamored for his draft. It was soon apparent that Rob was in control as he broke from the pack on the second strait away and never looked back.  Though he was looking forward to the women he needed to catch.  After the first lap the time gap between the Rob and Krista looked in favor of Krista with 4:15 lead.  The second lap was more of the same Krista and Rob pulling away with Krista 2:12 seconds in the lead. On the final lap Krista a world class 500yd sprinter was in the sights of Rob. He dug down to his masochistic Mission Viejo swimming roots, and changed gears to a faster and harder cadence as Krista’s form was waning. Rob passed her with 300 yards to go for the victory. Anthony Vela paddled prone for third, Dick DaBoer came in fourth, and Ernest Johnson caught Terri Plunket the in the last 50 yards to take fifth and sixth. Our thought and best wishes go out to Brandi Baksic who could not compete in the afternoon Dash because of her mothers illness.

February 2nd 2011

!st Annual Congressional Cup SUP is added to the program

Long Beach, CA March 26th 2011, -- Bring your ascot and boardshorts because the SUP and Yachting crowds are getting together for a first class race and party at the Congressional Cup SUP. The Congressional Cup®, hosted by LBYC, is one of the oldest and most prestigious match race sailing events. But before the sailers take to the water, the SUP’ers will bust circuits around the pier in a four lap/2 mile race.  The top five men and women in the race will compete in a stock final race of two laps around the pier.  Meanwhile racers and fans can enjoy champagne and cocktails while cheering from the pier at the “Bordies and Blazers Cocktail Party”. Lunch and over 3,000 dollars in cash and prizes will be included in the post race party. It is going to get crazy, and classy for a while. As you may have heard, Long Beach knows how to have a good time. The racers will be within earshot of the pier throughout the race so everyone can get loud and cheer on their favorite SUP hero.  Check out the rogue waves that role through Long Beach in the video posted the right. We had to video with a yacht to keep up with the the high speed wave.  Safety of all competitors is our highest priority. The honorable Judge Smails, on loan from Bushwood Yacht Club, will be at the helm of his yacht overseeing water safety.

RACE SPECS:  All size boards are welcome and encouraged to race.  Boards over 12.6” will be considered unlimited and there will be a staggered start with a scientific tested handicap. Awards and Prize Money will be given to top five Men and Women.  To view race course: Con Cup Course Map

GEAR: Everyone who enters, will receive a race t-shirt, lunch and other swag tba.

PARTY: The “Bordies and Blazers Party” will be held at Fred’s Lounge at the end of the pier. Lunch Champagne and cocktails will be served. Awards and prizes will be presented at the party. Men: Bring your blue blazers and bordies.  Ladies: You know what to do!

Awards 1st-5th place Men and Women

Prize money for Men and Women 1st-3rd

1st $ 250

2nd $ 150

3rd $ 100

Long Beach, CA August 27th 2011, Saturday Night - Oct 29th - 4pm-1am

"The Second Annual Costume Paddle and Dance Party

If you like to paddle, dress up, or dance this is the fall event for you! It will be the Wildest SUP Party of the Year! Starting in the late afternoon there will be Paddling, Dancing, Drinking, Racing and much much more!

Mc Kenna's on the Bay is fancy restaurant on the water. Your entry will include the paddle race, dinner and champagne, DJ and a night that will make all of your Halloween dreams come true.

Schedule

3:00 pm Arrive get dressed and Signed up.

4:00 pm Sharp! The Costume Parade to Starting Point

4:30 pm Parade from Sup Cafe to Secret Spot

5:30 pm Quikblade Jousting Championships

6:30 pm Epic Party Food and Drinks

9:00 pm DJ and Dancing- 1am

Course:

Paddlers will launch from the docks at Mc Kenna's On The Bay at 4pm Sharp. We will have a parade paddle by as your picture is taken. Then paddlers will leisurely paddle down the bay to the SUP Cafe for an adult treat then onto a secret spot for and adult trick. The Paddlers will then complete the loop around Alamitos Bay back to Mc Kenna's dock.

After the Paddle there will be jousting until dark, then food drinks and party. We will be adding a link to the online sign up next week.

Price: $40 for Costume Party, Dinner and Drinks