Super Hero Stand Up Paddleboarding with the San Francisco Giants
What do Superman, The Phillie Fanatic, Lou Seal, and The Melk Man all have in common? Stand up Paddleboarding of course. No seriously. It’s been a fun year so far in Marin but it has left us little time to keep you in the loop on the San Francisco Giants Stand Up Paddleboard Racing. Time to fix that.
First up a quick recap on the foundation for all the action. In cooperation with the San Francisco Giants Entertainment Division the 101 Surf Sports team has developed a program to entertain San Francisco Giants fans as well as promote stand up paddle boarding (SUP). The 2012 Season saw us setting up for 22 dates of Stand up paddle racing in the cove with the action being simultaneously broadcast inside the ballpark on the Jumbotron in between innings. Building on both current events and a nightly SF Giant theme the paddlers are outfitted in costumes as they perform a quick all out a 60 second sprint SUP race. The course includes a fan favorite 180 degree buoy turn at the races midpoint. Why the fan favorite? Send 3 paddlers hurtling down the line at full speed to a shrinking target while obscuring their vision and impairing their paddling in ridiculous costumes with 40k fans cheering them on. Carnage!!!
Building on our successful 2011 season prior this year saw the regular addition of Official San Francisco Giants Mascot Lou Seal in on the action. As you can see from Lou’s costume paddling a SUP board is no easy task. With hips that act like a main sail and a head that acts like a spinnaker it’s quite a feat of athleticism by Lou Seal as he conquers McCovey Cove’s howling winds. Yes that's a floating Panda head below.
The year started out with the requisite winds a howling and it was Lou Seal posting the first victory. As the season moved on the line-up was deep and talented with The Beard, Baby Giraffe, Timmy, The Phillie Fanatic, The Melk Man, Orange Man. The Hulk, The Panda, Superman, Batman and of course Lou Seal. Carnival Man even made and appearance although all photos have mysteriously disappeared. Check out the form on the Hulk though - Nice Stroke!
Thanks to Jean Rathle, D’Arcy Doyle, Kevin Seid, Steve Bodner, Gabe Brown, Jonno Tunney, Joe Hanania, Emily Wells, Sophia Revelli, for all their help in making the event happen. Special thanks to Joe Legasz and the San Francisco Giants for their vision and support.
One more thank you to Liquid Shredder Stand Up Paddling for helping out on the boards. With out the bomb proof construction of the Shredder many an epoxy board would have succumbed to the McCovey Cove board grinding sea wall.
We have more dates on the calendar for 2013 so come on down to At&t Park and chear on your favorite. We are working up a lot more video and a full feature story but for now you’ll have to settle for some Panda POV Video!
Paddle On! - Photo Gallery from Superhero Night Click Here. Check out 101 on the Jumbotron - Nice!
Monday June 25th 7:15pm (Dodgers)
Saturday July 14th 6:05 pm (Houston)
Monday July 23rd 7:15 pm (San Diego)
Friday July 27th 7:15 pm (Dodgers)
Tuesday July 31st 7:15 pm (Law Enforcement Night - NY Mets)
Tuesday August 14th 7:15 pm (Washington)
Thursday August 23rd 7:15 pm (Atlanta)
Sunday August 26th 1:05 pm (Sandoval Bobblehead Night - Atlanta)
Wednesday September 5th 7:15 pm (Arizona)
Sunday September 9th 1:05 pm (Dodgers)
Wednesday September 19th 7:15 pm (Polynesian Heritage Night - Colorado)
Sunday September 23rd 1:05pm (Oktoberfest - San Diego)