Big Currents At Charity Paddle Race For Rivers for Change

We have had many issues thrown at us in trying to get races off in the past decade and have always tried to live up to our motto “Rain or shine we are on the starting line”. Well Mother Nature had a new one up her sleeve today throwing a Tsunami our way! (Pictured at top the Rivers for Change Paddle Barge Race / Trash Pick-up team.)

The crew running the race was admittedly a bit ‘deer in the headlights’ on this one so it was off to NOAA to read up on what to expect. NOAA was forecasting an 8:10 am arrival after a Volcano in Tonga let loose and they were almost spot on. Just about 8:15 the water began to surge in. Our location faces south and we are far enough way from the bridge so really all we get is something like a King Tide on Steroids. No wave at all but definitely a way stronger than normal current surge measuring almost 2-3 knots. The Tsunami had largely subsided as our start time was well after the peak but there was definitely some funky water out there. What surges in must surge out so many of the racers reported paddling against the current both ways! We actually saw some pretty fast times were turned in. First to finish was the Double Epic Surfski of Kenny Howell and Doug Hall. Not far behind was first to finish in the single surfski division with Zach Alva behind the paddle.

If you are not familiar with Rivers for Change they are a nonprofit made up of passionate river enthusiasts dedicated to changing the way people think about and interact with water. Through adventure, conservation and education, we work to connect individuals and communities to rivers and promote source to sea literacy. We could not be more proud to help this group advance their cause. Click the Rivers for Change Logo at right to learn more. 

The long course ran our normal 6 mile round the Marin Islands course while the short course was on the 2 mile Piling 7 and back route.

We had two paddle of the day awards. First up was River town Racer Lily Cruz. Just as the race was getting set up to start the Tsunami surge came in with a vengeance just as Lilly was getting in her boat the boat was tipped from under her with the and swamping it. The assembled race support team sprung in to action pulling the boat, dumping the water, and getting Lilly back in just as the starting gun went off. Lily was not deterred by the set back and took off down the course putting the hammer down to close the gap with the already running fleet. It was an exercise to make lemonade from the lemons and Lily did just that laying down a third place podium finish! Nice Work Lilly.

Paddle of the day number 2 goes to Jeff Blake who laid down a new course record on the short course on the 10’2 SUP. Stellar effort Jeff.

Our trash hero of the Day was Amy Byers. When we saw the assembled pile of trash she had accumulated we channeled our inner Roy Scheider – Your Gonna Need A Bigger Boat. Thanks to Amy and everyone else who helped pick up our neighborhood. Thanks to everyone we not only picked up the canal we raised $3000 bucks for Rivers for Change. The video below is the photo fihish between Ariel Bryant and Jonas Moore.

Thanks as well to everyone who paddled with a special nod of gratitude to Safety Boat operator Cort Larned. That boat was the only reason some the assembled parents, and your trusty race director were not totally freaking out.

PHOTO GALLERY

The results. Long Course times correct for boats as is.Offsets for SUP long course  subtract 1 minute. Short Course boats 10 minutes and SUP 11 minutes.