Paddle Grand Prix 2010
The sport of SUP is exploding, and for good reason. It’s a COOL, easy way to get out on the water, it’s a killer workout (or relaxing, whatever you want, really), and it’s accessible to anyone with a hearty sense of adventure.
And yesterday at Boulevard Park we had a chance to gather a few dozen of them together and throw down on a 1.5-mile oval track right out front for everyone to see!
The event was the first ever Paddle Grand Prix SUP race, and together with a handful of truly world-class sponsors and volunteers, and a good showing of spectators young and old alike, we hereby declare the first PGP a grand success!
Honestly, going into an event like this it’s a total toss-up what kind of turn-out there’ll be, what the weather will do, what little fires will pop up and need putting out, and what lessons there are to be learned to grow it and make it better the next year.
All in all, we couldn’t be happier with the way things went down. The racers who showed up and threw down all raved about the event, the course layout, the shwag and the awards.
Oh, and the food! Yeah, we WAY over-bought food – but in a way that meant everyone ate their fill and we ended up filling our freezer with slabs of king salmon and rosemary sourdough rolls to feast on this winter!
We were stoked to have a good number of the event sponsors go out of their way to attend the race and shower compliments and cool gear on every racer and volunteer there.
We were also stoked and blessed to have Michael Lampi come up and photograph the event. His entire 850-photo album is uploaded here: http://snorlax.lampi.us/images/StandUp%20ThrowDown%202010/index.html
We’ll look back on this year and say, “Remember that first year when it was all rootsy and only the most hardcore paddlers were out on the water!?!”
We ultimately want to grow the event and invite paddlers of every discipline. But for this first, inaugural year, it was 21 passionate, adventurous souls throwing down against each other and the challenge of a brand new sport.
We raise our paddles to everyone involved!!! Thanks for the day of Throw Down, and we’ll see you at Paddle Grand Prix 2011!!!
You can see race results @ http://paddlegrandprix.com/2010-race-results-and-photos
See you on the water!
Heather, Brandon and Hayden