|
Fire and Ice at the Cold Stroke Classic Stand Up Paddle Race |
|
|
|
|
By: Mark Colino
|
|
Friday, 29 January 2010 |
It all started with a call and an email from Jeoffrey Nathans at Coastal Urge in Wilmington, North Carolina inviting me to bring some Starboard demo boards to his January 9th “Cold Stroke Classic”. The Cold Stroke is a 3.5 mile recreational stand up paddle race and a 7 mile “Elite” pro race on the Intracoastal Waterway, with a cash purse for men and women. What a great way to start the New Year! Head south (I am from New Jersey), get warm, meet new people, go for a fast paddle. Chuck Patterson was giving a clinic the day before and hosting a dinner and video presentation at night. Well… 7 hours into the 10 hour drive my van blew a transmission, caught on fire, and left my friend Navroze and I stranded on a cold dark highway in the middle of the night. We eventually got towed, rented a truck, transferred all the gear, and made our way the last 3 hours to the coast while the good folks at Colony auto repair began work on my van.
The rest of the weekend went well. We met Chuck at the paddling clinic and the pre-race dinner and many of the other top racers from all over the country as well. A short video, a fire dancer and a few beers rounded out the night. Race day was cold (28 degrees at 8am), clear and sunny, so the event lived up to its name. The amount of racers and spectators was a testimony to the sports popularity. The Dockside Restaurant parking area was filled with tents and products from event sponsors and served as the launch site for the race. By noon it warmed up to a balmy 38 degrees as the pros and amateurs hit the water together for a “regatta” style start. The pros started 5 minutes ahead of the recreational paddlers to avoid getting tangled up with them. The race was a loop around a natural island. The “Elite” did it twice, the “Recreational” division, once. The scenery was beautiful and encouraging crowds could be found all along the course on bridges and docks. Of course, some people won, but no one who participated lost. Jeoffrey and Catherine Nathans and their staff were great hosts and did an awesome job! I look forward to going back for their May 15th race (minus the auto drama).
My Starboard teammates Ernie Johnson and Dan Gavere finished 2nd and 5th in the Elite men’s and Brandy Baksic won the women’s “Elite”, with Nikki Gregg and Andie Johnson finishing 3rd &4th.
Byron Kurt won the men’s Elite, Tommy Lloy won the 12’6 recreational, Haywood Newkirk won the “unlimited” (and coolest name), the 12’6” recreational women winner was Katie Moore and the “unlimited” women winner was Jacky Fischer.
As for myself, well, let’s just say I am inspired to train harder for the next race.
Mark Colino is the East Coast Starboard rep and owner of No Flat Earth surf shop in New Jersey.
 |
Event Reports 
