The race attracted participants from all over the Pacific Northwest, including Bob Purdy and Stefan Idzan from the Okanagan, and a surprisingly strong contingent of paddlers from Washington, including unlimited class winner Beau Whitehead and 14′ class winner Kimo Jandoc from Bellingham. 24 paddlers tackled the 13.5km long course, and 9 paddled the short 6.5km course, for a total of 33 participants.

During the opening racers’ meeting, Bob Purdy from Paddle for the Planet announced his initiative for petitioning Transport Canada to change their rules to consider a standard surf-style board leash as a suitable substitute safety device in place of the current PFD requirement. Be sure to visit paddlefortheplanet.ca/pfd to help the cause!

The weather was looking a bit sketchy earlier on, but things gradually improved throughout the morning and by race time the rain and wind had calmed down to provide some pretty pleasant, in fact pretty much ideal racing conditions… Cloud cover kept things cool, temps were comfortable, and the tides and winds were basically a non-issue.

Beau Whitehead came in at 1:23:43 for the fastest time on the long course on his unlimited board, with Kimo Jandoc coming in at 1:28:52 to win the 14′ class. Mike Hammer won the Men’s 12’6 class at 1:41:11, and Elizabeth Schalka won the Women’s 12’6 class with a time of 1:45:08. Congratulations to everyone!

Once the short and long distance races were completed a BBQ lunch was provided, then a fun kids’ race was run right in front of the boathouse. 4 kids participated, and all looked like they had an awesome time!

Next up was the team sprint relay race on the same course that was used for the kiddos. Three teams of four battled it out over the short course, and Team Deep Cove came out with a narrow win. Lots of fun and drama with this event and very spectator friendly.. EVERY SUP event needs a sprint relay!

Overall, the event was exceptionally well planned and executed and I sincerely hope that Mike and his team continue their efforts in the coming years… Had the morning’s weather cooperated a bit more, I’m certain we would have likely seen at least double the attendance. I heard mention that there were actually quite a few pre-registrants that didn’t bother showing up (likely due to the expected weather), and all I can say is they should be kicking themselves not only for wasting their registration fee, but more notably because they missed out on a great day!

Many thanks go out to Deep Cove Kayak and Mike Darbyshire in particular who planned all the details, right down to the hand-shaped wooden trophies which he built with Kelvin Humenny. Also, big thanks to race sponsors Starboard, Icebreaker, North Shore Credit Union, and Q Energy.

Here are the official results, and be sure to check out the photo gallery at the end of the post!

Long Course Results

Short Course Results

Photo Gallery

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Here are the details in case ya missed em…

Deep Cove Kayak presents the first annual Board the Fjord SUP race, coming Sunday September 18th, 2011 to Deep Cove in North Vancouver.

Date: Sunday September 18th, 2011

Races:   Competitive Course: Approx 13.5km.  Categories: Mens and Womens:  12’6, 14′ and Unlimited Class
Recreational Course: Approx: 6.5km – Categories: Mens and Womens:   12’6″ and <12′ Surfboard Class
Kids Race: <1km (TBA)
4 Person Coed Sprint Relay – Surfboard Class only (boards will be provided)

Cost:     $35 for all races if you register before September 7th (BBQ and Relay included)

$45.00 if you register after September 7th (BBQ and Relay Included)

Kids Race is Free!

Board Rentals: $30 to rent a board for the race. Relay Race boards will be provided

Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak Centre and Starboard will be providing board rentals, for a full list of available boards please call 604-929-2268

Registration: Visit http://www.deepcovekayak.com/boardthefjord to download the registration form.

Board Sales: Race Board and Cruiser Board discounts for Board the Fjord participants. Call Deep Cove Outdoors for more information. 604-987-8028

Tentative Schedule:

8:30am: Check-in Starts

9:30am: Pre-race meeting

10:00am: Competetive and Recreational Races Start

12:00pm: BBQ Lunch

1:00pm: Kids Race

2:00pm: 4 Person Coed Sprint Relay

3:00pm: Awards

Race Map

Long Course: Approx 13.5km | Short Course: Approx 6.5km

Should be a great time, check the details here:

Date: Sunday September 18th, 2011

Races:   Competitive Course: Approx 13.5km.  Categories: Mens and Womens:  12’6, 14′ and Unlimited Class
Recreational Course: Approx: 6.5km – Categories: Mens and Womens:   12’6″ and <12′ Surfboard Class
Kids Race: <1km (TBA)
4 Person Coed Sprint Relay – Surfboard Class only (boards will be provided)

Cost:     $35 for all races if you register before September 7th (BBQ and Relay included)

$45.00 if you register after September 7th (BBQ and Relay Included)

Kids Race is Free!

Board Rentals: $30 to rent a board for the race. Relay Race boards will be provided

Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak Centre and Starboard will be providing board rentals, for a full list of available boards please call 604-929-2268

Registration: Visit http://www.deepcovekayak.com/boardthefjord to download the registration form.

Board Sales: Race Board and Cruiser Board discounts for Board the Fjord participants. Call Deep Cove Outdoors for more information. 604-987-8028

Tentative Schedule:

8:30am: Check-in Starts

9:30am: Pre-race meeting

10:00am: Competetive and Recreational Races Start

12:00pm: BBQ Lunch

1:00pm: Kids Race

2:00pm: 4 Person Coed Sprint Relay

3:00pm: Awards

Race Map

Long Course: Approx 13.5km | Short Course: Approx 6.5km

Event includes free SUP demos and BBQ provided by North Shore Ski and Board.

Directions to Strathcona Park: Head East on Mount Seymour Parkway, turn left on Deep Cove Road, then right on Strathcona Road which is just past The Raven.

Click here for map.

10 SUPers for a fairly long 8 km short course. and about 30 kayak-ish boats surf skis etc. This was one of the longer “long” courses at about 10 km. People are starting to load up the miles to build for Round Bowen Race 32 km June 26. We pushed the date back this year to allow for more training time, so hopefully there is more participation. This year there will be a sea kayak and outrigger canoe relay race. I believe one leg is about 14 km and the other about 18.

At The Raven, there was much discussion about drafting practices. It is said that you can save up to 5% effort by riding either the side wave or stern wave of a competitor’s kayak. Many people are worried that drafting will offend the draftee, but its part of the game. It just depends on how you do it. I admit that my tactics can be some what annoying as I tend to encroach into other’s space. Jim N. was riding my side wash last night and kept putting his bow into the area where my paddle was working. I am sure he has a few scratches to prove it. Daryl is always polite, figuring that he is just barely hanging on and doesn’t want to offend his host. However he never hesitates to offer tactical suggestions as to where he thinks you should be taking him. For stern wash riders, I heard the term ‘tail-tapper” in reference to somebody who is continually bumping the stern of your boat with their bow. Martin R was the culprit in this story, and I know I am guilty as charge.

Warren Bruce was the “strong man” man of the night. With a pack of cling-ons hanging around him. After drafting most of the first half, I got out in front and was feeling frisky. I took a couple of strong pulls, but managed to shake only “paddle tapper” Jim N. Then it was all Warren, pretty much from Twin Island back to Deep Cove. With Daryl R, Rob Hansen and myself riding on his back.

In the SUP division, Lina was The Strong Man, beating a growing field of 10 SUPers. No Tail tappers there. Many sporting the faster race boards. Except for Tim Quarles of course. C’mon Tim step up to the game!!

Check out Viv’s photos for this week’s Awesome photos. If you are interested in purchasing an image Viv charges $5/shot Vivsphotography@telus.net

Here are the SUP racer results:

Place Bib  Name                        Distance         Category         Time      Difference
  5   36   Lina Augaitis               short            SUP W12'6        42:17.5   +5:29.0
  6   25   Mike Darbyshire             short            SUP M12' 6       42:19.0   +5:30.5
  7   138  Shawn Campbell              short            SUP M14          43:02.5   +6:14.0
  10  18   Mike Clarke                 short            SUP M12' 6       46:16.1   +9:27.6
  11  78   Fred Feuermann              short            SUP M14          47:33.9   +10:45.4
  12  4    Tim Quarles                 short            SUP M SURF <12'  47:40.5   +10:52.0
  13  144  Mark Robson                 short            SUP M12' 6       48:08.4   +11:19.9
  14  95   Jenn Dillinger              short            SUP W12'6        48:10.0   +11:21.5
  16  62   Lee Horton                  short            SUP M12' 6       49:14.0   +12:25.5
  19  127  Jack Mackillop              short            SUP M12' 6       53:03.8   +16:15.3
  20  143  Dirk Warmush                short            SUP M SURF <12'  58:02.4   +21:13.9

While the Battle of the Paddle Hawaii was taking place over the weekend a few devoted SUP’ers were having their own battle in Deep Cove.  The Battle of the Paddle may have the edge when it comes to participant numbers (over 450) but we had a good turnout for our Tour de Indian Arm which featured SUP as a race class for the second year.

We had 12 SUP’s participating in our 10.5km short course which wound its way throughout Indian Arm. With racers in each board class we had a good field of racers and some great competition throughout the race. We had the usual suspects from the Tuesday Night Races including Kelvin Hummeny, Lina Augaitis, Jen Dillinger and Tim Quarles, accompanied by some of our newer additions like Lee Horton and Fred Feuremann. It was also nice to see the USA represented by Bellingham’s Dale Plant.

Given that this is primarily a kayak race it was great to see the 12 SUP’ers lined up among the crowd at the start line.  At the sound of the starting horn the race began with a flurry paddle strokes and some pretty good chop kicked up by the departing kayakers. Kelvin got off to an early lead on his handcrafted cedar race board followed by myself on a 14’ Starboard Ace and Dale Plant on 14’ custom race board made down in Bellingham.  Lina was not far behind us on her 12’ Starboard New which gave the three of us good motivation to keep our pace up.

Race day was cloudy and very calm which made for excellent race conditions. The course was entertaining and kept everyone in pretty close proximity.  Our ‘downwind’ section of the race felt a little more like a ‘headwind’ section but the winds were definitely manageable. With a little bit of current pushing us around there were a couple of sections that had me paddling a lot of left handed strokes but again nothing that we couldn’t manage.

Dale and I eventually caught up to Kelvin and we paddled together for last half of the race around Boulder Island and Grey Rocks Island.  We rounded the corner into Deep Cove for the home stretch and a conveniently timed boat wake gave me a slight edge over Dale who was on a much less stable board. Kelvin picked up the pace and we sprinted for the finish. Giving it all I could, I wasn’t able to catch him and happily settled for second overall in a time of 1 hour and 13 minutes.  Dale, a mere 5 seconds behind took  3^rd place.  Lina finished 1 minute behind us to take first women and first 12’6 overall.  Rounding out the pack was Deep Cove’s very own Gaz Rathbone who completed the 10.5km course on a 12’ Starboard Big Easy in a very respectable time of 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Overall it was a very successful race both for the kayakers and SUP’s which gives me great confidence looking forward to our ‘Board the Fjord” SUP race coming up in September.  With a little more advertising and word of mouth I think it’s safe to say we will be getting a great turnout for our marquee SUP event.  Thanks to all the racers that came out and I’ll see you all on the water!

If you missed last weekend’s race don’t fret, there are still 17 more races in our Tuesday Night Race Series down in Deep Cove.  Also coming up is the Kalamalka Classic in Vernon which I know is going to be a big event for SUP in BC.  If you are new to SUP racing and want to give it a try, come check out our SUP Race Clinics which run every Tuesday night before the race.

Check out www.deepcovekayak.com for more information and for full race results.

But not this year. The extended gloomy winter weather kept the water calm and kept the power-boaters at home searching for cheap flights to Hawaii. Though there was no wind swell, which would have been fun, the conditions couldn’t have been better for our good sized group of SUP-ers to see how fast they could paddle on flat water and keep it going for over an hour. The small crew of regulars was there as well as a few new faces, and some new boards, both of which are always good to see. The first leg of the course was fairly calm once the flurry of surf-ski wakes dissipated into the distance, but rounding the Cates turn some large boat swell made it interesting to stay on course. The current seemed strong as I headed across the arm, paddling about 90% on the left side and looking forward to the next turn so I could switch sides. But that didn’t help, it ended up being just as bad the whole way, 20 or so strokes on the left, 2 on the right and so it continued. Luckily Mike was right on my tail and he reminded me that we had to go around grey rocks on the way back or I would have gone the wrong way, obliviously following two mis-guided kayakers straight back to the Cove. Everyone finished in a respectable amount of time considering it was the furthest some had ever paddled before, and everyone I saw coming in was still paddling strong. The few in the lead were red-lining (well, I was at least) in a very close sprint to the dock that made it apparent that youth might soon be more of an advantage than waterline.

Most fellow Sup racers kept drifting around in the water after crossing the finish line, cheering other paddlers in, trading and trying new boards, or discussing the finer points of displacement vs planing. Even after such a long paddle it’s hard to get off your board, it’s just too fun, that’s why we’re all so stoked about this new sport and a good part of the reason I race, to be part of something in it’s beginning, where all of the people involved seem to have the excitement of a kid with their first bike.

Shortly after the beers and burgers started, our window of “okay” weather ended and the rain began… again, ending another fun event on our beautiful fjord in the coast mountains. Thank you to all the great people that made it happen, and thanks for including SUP!

Here are the official results from Deep Cove Kayak:

Stand Up Paddling Event for you and Man’s (or Women’s) Best Friend, Your Dog

Stand Up Paddle boarding is the fastest growing water sport in North America.  It’s so easy that most people can do it, despite the pre-conception that the boards are very tippy.   Basically you are paddling a large surfboard with a long paddle.  It has grown in popularity in California, and Hawaii and the enthusiasm is working its way north to Vancouver.  It’s a relaxing way to get out on the water.  You can see into the water better than in a kayak providing a different perspective for viewing sea critters.  For those who like exercise it can be a great core workout.

June 5, 2011 enjoy ½ price Stand Up Paddle Board Rentals if you bring a four-legged friend on the water with you.

Where: Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak Centre, 2156 Banbury Road, North Vancouver

When: All day Sunday June 5, 2011  9 AM – 7 PM

Skill level: You should be competent on a Stand Up Paddle Board

Rental Rates: $30 for 2 hours minus 50%

Contact: 604-929-2268

Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak Centre has a large fleet of Stand Up Paddle boards for rent.  We offer lessons ranging from Introductory  to “SUP Fit” (Fitness on a Stand Up Board.)  We conduct weekly fun races.

For more information, check out DeepCoveKayak.com!

Check in starts at 6:00PM, race starts at 7:00PM sharp.

Click here for all the details!