Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. – YOLO Board LLC announces the results of the first 2009 YOLO Board Stand Up Paddle Series Race event on April 30th at Oyster Lake in Dune Allen Beach. The South Walton Lifeguards Black team consisting of Gary Wise, Sean Hughes, Joe Serrato and Andy Scheid took first in the Men’s Division with a winning time of 22 minutes 34 seconds. The On the Coast Magazine team of Nancy Babin, Julie Ogle, Jackie Vreuls and Debbie Hunter won the Women’s Division race with a time of 19 minutes 41 seconds. The 2009 series has become the biggest YOLO race event to date with a total of 14 four man teams and 9 four woman teams, and an unprecedented amount of spectators.
“The kick off to this year’s race series was amazing,” said Jeff Archer, co-founder of YOLO Board. “We were hoping to expand the series from last year’s event but had no idea it would take off the way it has! We are thrilled—it was a fun time for all and I can’t wait to see what unfolds as the competition continues.”
 The next race event is scheduled for Thursday, May 21st at Western Lake at the WaterColor Boathouse. The 23 teams will continue on to compete throughout the series as they vie for the champion title “2009 YOLO Board Cup Series” to be awarded after the final race in August. Race dates (weather permitting) are: May 21st, June 19th, July 23rd & August 13th.
“The South Walton weather was beautiful with a southerly sea breeze that kept temperatures comfortable and pushed all the racers downwind on their initial leg,” said race emcee Mike Sturdivant of BlueMountainSurf.com. “The return leg was upwind and helped to separate the weekend warriors from the seasoned athletes. However, fun was had by all, even the last place Men’s division finishers Team Jambone who donned leotards for the occasion!”
Local lifeguards ruled the Men’s Division of competition with the Destin Lifeguards placing second and the South Walton Lifeguards Gold team placing third. The Balance Health and the Kitty Hawk Kites teams finished second and third respectively in the Women’s Division. Competition in both divisions was close for the top three spots with all the competitors finishing times coming within a minute of each other.
The 2009 YOLO Board Stand-Up Paddle Series is made possible by the generous support of presenting sponsor Aesthetic Clinique and Dr. Weiner. Co-sponsors include: Billabong Grand Boulevard, Destin Real Estate Company, Destin Health & Fitness Club, Smoothie King, Kialoa Paddles, Wells Fargo Advisors, Copy Systems, Swantree Concierge, Amavida Coffee, VIE Magazine, and Vitamin Water. Buoy sponsors include: 30A.com, SoWal.com, BlueMountainSurf.com, SouthWaltonScene.com, GulfCoastWaterman.com, WaltonOutdoors.com, and the WaltonSun.com.
The 2009 YOLO Board Stand-Up Paddle Series is free and open to the public. For the latest up-to-date info on the race series including race locations, visit www.yoloboard.com.
About YOLO Board Founded by business partners Tom Losee and Jeff Archer in 2006, YOLO Board LLC is a locally owned hybrid-style stand-up paddle board (SUP) company based in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. Aptly named for the mantra, “You Only Live Once,” the company has quickly gained the reputation along the Emerald Coast and beyond as the custom paddleboard of choice garnering widespread attention from the media including: Garden & Gun, Standup surf & sail Journal, Florida Travel + Life, Memphis Magazine, Thicket Magazine, and Palm Beach Illustrated, to name few. The company manufactures four types of boards: the “Original YOLO,” “YOLO Express,” “YOLO Explorer” and the recently debuted “YOLO Yak,” as seen on The Weather Channel. Rentals, lessons, corporate and team building packages and a complete array of YOLO accessories are available. For more information, visit www.yoloboard.com or call 850.622.5760.
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