Battle of the Paddle

[clayfeeter]

Sam, what a GREAT description of the BoP hectic/challenging conditions, can we use some of your lines in our coverage of the event for Standup Journal?... and congrats for your win, Sam!!

When we heard last Wed. that Sparky was going to cap the entries at SEVEN HUNDRED RACERS we freaked.... amazing!

To answer somebody else's question about photos, our Glenn Dubock clicked off some 28,000 images on Day #1 and is back today...

.... and we did get these late last night from Duke Brouwer of Surftech (Jamie Mitchell's sponsor) who is stoked out of his gorde that Jamie finally got off his stomach from all those prone victories and kicked some ass standup racing.

This photo shows some of the water movement Sam mentions the racers had to deal with!
           And congrats to Slater, and as always to Chuck for breathing down everybody's necks and always being around -- or at -- the top... and to Shakira Westdorp (who is known as the "Jamie Mitchell of women's prone paddling" now an instant global sup threat from Oz -- we show her ripping an Ozzy wave in our Photo Annual) and Candice... and the Geezers!!  ... and the Young Guns, the future.                    

What an event!!  
                                     -Clay, Steve & Glenn, Team Standup Journal
                                      www.standupjournal.com

PHOTOS: DUKE BROUWER/SURFTECH
Photo #2 is Slater Trout and Jamie

Photo #3 REALLY tells the tale Sam is describing, swell, a little current a LOTTA traffic...

[sanch10]

Sam congrats on your finish. You are correct on your assessment of the elite race. After I finished it I realized I am a good (not great) paddler and OK surfer and a mediocre Waterman. The good news is I have a year to train on some new things aside from just grinding 6-10 miles in the morning and weekends. Big props to all competitors in all divisions another great Rainbow/Lopez event.

Sancho

[Admin]

Whooaaa!  Congrats to everyone.

Special congrats to the boy wonder.  Part of Slater's account has him out at the very front early on, then an unexpected fall where he has to get after his board, just like that...in like 25th place.  Then soon after, he gets and clears a wave, lots of the others get tangled and then caught in the wash.  Back in the clean water and he's back at 3rd. 

This sounds like it was such a wild event.  Incredible win for Jaime Mitchell.   

Back on Maui, uncle Wes is claiming Slater's victory for himself  based on the training schedule and workout regimen that he has had the boy on all year. 

If someone gets the whole list of results please post it up.  Us long distance viewers would love to see it!

[Tom]

I had a lot of fun, met a bunch of Zoners, and did pretty poor on my racing. I borrowed a race board from Tim Stamps (thanks again) but it was way to tippy for me, I could go real fast, but fell 100 times. I really enjoyed the elite's venue and would really like to see more races in that format.
So, what's your opinion:
1) Is that a good venue?
2) What would be a good board design for that format? (I think something like Paddle Surf Hawaii's 12' gun would be a good choice)

[skyfish]

Congrats to our Friend From Puerto Rico ,Adrian Garcia, who placed 16th ,not bad for his first race...will see more of him to come! Next race...
La Vuelta a San Juan...Puerto rico
Hopefully some of you zoners will get together and visit our island.

[Chan]

The results have been posted.  Congrats to everyone! 

http://www.rainbowsandals.com/battleofthepaddle/Results1.asp

[Admin]

Congrats to our Friend From Puerto Rico ,Adrian Garcia, who placed 16th ,not bad for his first race...

That is pretty incredible when you look at some of the names that were out there.  

[Admin]

Wow!

Pretty incredible what the future holds.  The kids are really right in there with the very best.  In the Open class, Zane Sweitzer was 4th, only 11 seconds from the 2nd place finisher and only two minutes off of Mark Raaphorst's time.  Anyone who has paddled with Mark knows how incredible that is.  Way to go Zane!

Also, Riggs Napolean at 50 minutes!  Yes.  That is a triumph.

[SUPsonic]

To all member of the SUP comunity on Maui.
Slater Trout returns Monday evening to Maui and a bunch of us are going to welcome him home at the airport
Give him the welcome home he deserves for his incredible accomplishment.
If you want to join us. Drop me a line at frank@supsonic.com
His flight arrives Monday evening around 7-7:30pm
I will post the exact time when i get the info from his Parents.
Come down and welcome home the future of standup paddling.

[Admin]

Some partial results called in from today's distance race from Papa Trout:

Danny Ching took it, Chuck Patterson 4th, Aaron Napoleon 6th

Slater Won 18 and under and Finished 15th overall.

[pehea oe?]

Congrat's to Slater on his great race at the Battle........

......mean while back on Maui....uncle Wes should have known that someday Admin was going to find a way to get back at him... this time in print. Why?.... All because I called him to ask how he did in the Naish Race a couple of months ago on Maui ....after 15 minutes of uncontrollable laughter with tears ....I was able to breate again ....the best part...all at his expense.....now that was funny!.... I will forever remember that phone call brah ..way to go "Smuck"!

Oh yeah R....I would like to offer a training tip for your next race.....take more pictures....that way at least your your index finger will be in shape!............aloha a hui hou

[Admin]

Oh yeah R....I would like to offer a training tip for your next race.....take more pictures....that way at least your your index finger will be in shape!............aloha a hui hou

Holy crap, 3 months of counseling and I was finally able to control the tears...now you slap me back to square one.   

[Tom]

The distance and relay results are now posted on the Rainbow site and it looks like PonoBill walked away with the 60+ unlimited race.

Babcock, Bill   Portland, OR   M      1   82   02:30:00   

http://www.rainbowsandals.com/battleofthepaddle/Results1.asp

EJ also got a 1st and 22nd over all on his 12'6"
Johnson, Ernie   CA   M   46   1   22   01:54:36   

[Shawn Michael]

It is pretty cool to be able to walk around with the best of the best in your sport...I kept kicking myself for not bringing a camera....Seemed like all the big names were there.  Met several zoners...Sam you sure can run for a big guy!

Spent a bunch of $ and had a great time.  There was no place to park!  How much bigger can this event get? 

[TitoRincon]

Great job Adrian Garcia! Congrats! Now I know why I coudn't keep up with you while trainning. You are Fast!!!!! See ya back in the Island bro.