Whole Foods Paddleboarding Race For The Feast Race Report

Near ideal conditions greeted the 74 paddlers, ages 8 to 70, who signed up this past Saturday October 6th for fun, food, and paddling at the 4th installment of the Whole Foods Paddle Feast. With Prone Paddleboards, Kayaks, Outrigger Canoes, and Stand Up Paddleboards of all sizes and shapes it was a celebration of paddling diversity!

With typical late October weather basking the paddlers in warm sunshine the group gathered for some racing action, but first it was eating time – round 1. With race sponsors Whole Foods setting the table it was bottomless coffee and overflowing trays of bagels & shmears accompanied by brimming goody bags full of healthy treats for all the racers. Hint Water made the scene making sure all the competitors were well hydrated without all that nasty sugar with as much complimentary water as one could drink. If you were looking for a new paddle it was a great day to race.

Werner Paddles' Taylor Robertson offered up free Grand Prix Racing Paddles for demo's to any racer wanting to try them. Then after a quick skippers meeting the fleet left the dock ready to charge. With two courses and two starts it was sure to be an exciting kick off to the day. First to go were the Long Course racers who were chomping at the bit to tackle our 6 mile long course out and around the Marin Islands. After a brief restart, due to some over eagerness, the Long Course paddlers burst off the line and flew by the front of the 101 Surf Sports shop dock at full pace. 2 minutes later the short course fleet was sent down line to tackle the 2.2 miles of water out to piling 7 and back.

Jean Rathle led the fleet off the line paddling the new Exocet 14ft race board, but as they made their way down the canal, it was the OC1 of Morris Chen artfully weaving his way to the front. Chen then put a horizon job on the pursuing fleet. After leaving the mouth of the canal a steady 8-10mph breeze met the paddlers; head on. It's quite the unusual wind direction for around here and it made a right hand rounding of the islands the way to go. Ask anyone who went left – ouch. After paying a bit of dues to round the island, it was nothing but a sleigh ride home with some nice bumps to glide on and fresh winds right on the back. Rathle held on to win the 14ft class with Scott Estrada doing likewise for the stock boards. Cathy Niemcewicz showed kayaks can have some legs when you paddle them hard putting up a 1hr 24 minute 50 second time on the 6 mile course. Cathy Huang won a Women's Stock Board class that saw Janet Walp in second, and Marissa Wertheimer in third.

The long course fleet was stoked to be paddling with our 2012 USA Olympic Windsurfing Representative, Farah Hall, fresh back from the London Games. This was Farah's first ever SUP race and we were excited to get her hooked up on SUP. Farah paddled a 12ft Surfboard on the long course and we are sure she'll be back for more! Paddling along side (technically in front of) Farah was 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist in the Finn Class, John Bertrand. Adding to the stacked deck was Poland's Max Wojcik. Max is the 2012 Windsurfing Raceboard World Champion and did his homeland proud winning the Open/Surfboard class on the day! (pictured at left l-r is Max Wojcik, Farah Hall, two time Windsurfing World Champion Cort Larned, and John Bertrand). For more on Farah's 2012 experience at the games head on over to her blog. Click Here to read Farah Hall's Blog.

The Rathle clan came ready for business and it was junior racer Shane Rathle, Jean's son that led the short course pack off the line. Shane however was not in for an easy paddle with top Women's Fleet paddlers Leigh Claxton and Connie Altman pressing him at every turn. After turning at the halfway mark both Claxton and Altman made their move taking first and second respectively with Rathle taking 3rd overall and 1st place for the juniors to go with it. I have to mention Hannah Stonefield & Madeleine King who both turned in stellar performances in their first ever SUP races taking the final podium spots for the ladies in the Women's and Master's divisions respectively.

King added a first place in the Women's Open/Surfboard Class to her titles on the day. For the juniors it was Haakon Hoyer Nielson taking second and Owen Stevenson in third behind the more seasoned Rathle. June Grant was in fine form as well, and was dominating the 'paddling with dog division'. Ok she was the only one with a dog. However, paddle with a dog in a race, take second place in Women's Open Class, turn in a 42:15 time, and you get a definite mention in the race report! Also in fine form was 8 year old Jake Gomez; the youngest competitor ever to complete the short course – Nice work Jake!

The Men's Open Class (Surfboards & Boards 12' and under) was taken down by Chris Procopio who put up a 38:30 time in doing so. Second and third featured a tough fought battle between Steve Olson and Mike Joaquin. Olson took home second by a scant 16 second gap over Joaquin after 40 minutes of paddling. Keep Training Mike!!

As racing wrapped up the racers retired to the picnic area where a bountiful spread of Whole Foods breakfast burritos, fruit salad, and more was ready for consumption. Unfortunately that was the same time the computer decided it was time for a melt- down. With all the scoring stuck on the hard drive the awards ceremony had to go on hold. All racers placing in the top 3 as noted below we have a trophy awaiting you here at the shop so come on by whenever you are ready.

We could not be any happier to have seen so many first time paddlers taking to race course. Only better was seeing such a strong contingent of younger paddlers racing right alongside them. Thanks to Race Sponsor Whole Foods San Rafael for showing just how to do hospitality and health while having a great time. Special thanks to all the volunteers who helped make running the event possible and stay tuned for our next race. Course Maps and Results are below. Thanks again for paddling and see you next time.

Long Course (6 Miles)

 Short Course (2.2 Miles)

Check out this GPS replay from Jean Rathle

Long Course (6 Miles)

Short Course (2.2 Mile)