Whole Foods Market Cinco de Mayo Paddle Race Blows Up - Literally

The Whole Foods Market Cinco de Mayo paddle race was simply en fuego! (all photos courtesy Captain Ron Steinau)

With over 100 competitors registered a fearsome forecast kept many off the course. With grey skies and 20knot winds buffeting the course it was only the heartiest of paddlers who took up the challenge. 76 paddlers took off from the starting line with mucho acelear and impressively 71 of them made it back to the starting line despite the rough weather doing its best to stop them.

The crowd was muy motivated to paddle hard. With Whole Foods Market Burritos waiting at the finish line only to be washed down by Bistro Ginolina (901 B Street) Margaritas it was time to grind!

The racing action was unfortunately challenged by a timing error that occurred mid fleet so it is with our sincerest apologies we messed up the race results for a few of the finishers. We promise it wasn't excessive margaritas but are very appreciative for everyone's understanding and 'watch redundancy' will be a feature of our next event. We do believe we have the order of finish correct below but sometimes may be a bit off. Do let us know any corrections the need to be made. First up some reparations

Correct winner overall Long course Surfski – Pete Rudnick in a sub one hour performance

Correct winner men's 12'6' long course – Keith Coleman

Correct winner men's 14' Short course – Marty Gates

Correct 3rd place mens 14' Long Course - Ronnie Ayres

Paddle of the day has to go to second place winner Cate Craig (pictured above) in her first ever race as she charged the course prone and did it in under one hour and took second place - nice work Cate!

Thrill of the day was the mano y mano finish between Mitch Cohen and Bryan Thomas. With the lead changing on every stroke it was a 500 yard dash to the line that was pure heart. Cohen got the best of Thomas by the tightest margin of finish we have ever seen.(pictured below Cohen at left and Thomas at right - with one mile to go - battle is on!)

And don't forget all our upcoming paddle opportunities;

• Paddle race at a Giants game in front of 40k screaming fans. You'll be on the jumbotron! Call Cort Larned at 415-524-8472 to get on the team.

• Get on TV while paddling – This Friday May 17th at Treasure Island you can be part of the new Bay Bridge celebration opening announcement press conference. Call Cort Larned at 415-524-8472 to be part of the action.

o Mark Labor Day Monday September 2nd on your calendar for a 7 mile paddle race to celebrate the new bridge

• Battle of the Bay is this August 17th and 18th – Do not miss this one!

• Thursday Social/Workout Paddles – no charge every Thursday at 7:30am right at the shop. Just show up all summer long.

We were stoked to see so many new faces and first time racers. We hope you'll all tell your friends just how much fun SUP racing is!

Thanks as always to the tremendous support of Whole Foods Market. Remember to support the businesses that support our sport and that means shopping at Whole Foods Market. When you are at Whole Foods Market and your contemplating your hydration needs make it a Hint Water! No sugar and tasty water makes the perfect chaser to that Clif Bar you just ate. Thanks Clif bar! Special thanks has to go to volunteers Arline Thomas, Liz Larned, and Emily Wells. Also we are extremely lucky to have the support of the San Rafael Police Department and the SRPD Boat skippered by Mark Heedon. Thanks as always to uber-sup photographer Ron Steinau. Check out a full photo gallery CLICK HERE.

Race Results (please notify us for any placement errors). If you had to leave early we are holding your loot at the shop. See Jean Rathles GPS Tracks at the bottom of the results. (Note times include starting sequences)