The 2011 Carolina Cup Stand Up Paddleboard Event will include four different Stand-Up Paddleboard races and courses, swap meet, movie premier, post-race lunch, BBQ and awards banquet, equipment demos, SUP workshops with pro paddlers Chuck Patterson and Karen Wrenn and fundraiser to benefit the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue Hospital, the Cape Fear Chapter of Surfers Healing, and the Wrightsville Beach Paddle Club.

Wrightsville Beach, N.C. (March 27, 2011) — The Wrightsville Beach Paddle Club (www.wbpaddleclub.com) announces the details of the Carolina Cup Stand Up Paddleboard Event in Wrightsville Beach, NC from April 29th to May 1^st.

Hundreds of paddlers and their families and friends will be traveling to Wrightsville Beach, NC from all over North America and from as far as Hawaii for the 1^st Annual Carolina Cup.

“Paddlers are coming from all over to explore and compete within this exploding new sport,” says John Beausang, WB Paddle Club member. “From the top pros in the world, to friends we’ve met along to way and many first-time paddlers, they’re coming to have fun and enjoy this unique mid-Atlantic coastal celebration. It’s an amazing paddle community. We can’t wait to have everyone together for this annual SUP celebration.”

Four Races—a race for every experience level

This inaugural event includes four standup paddleboard races on four different courses to accommodate all ages and experience levels. On Saturday, April 31, the three main events will start and finish at the Bridge Tender Restaurant and Marina. Course maps are located at the event website, http://www.wbpaddleclub.com/

“The four races and four different courses mean there is a perfect race for any paddler,” says WB Paddle Club President, William Pope. “Our goal is to create a fun event packed with information, instruction, competition and camaraderie. We expect this will be a weekend to remember and one that people will mark on their calendars every year.”

The Harbor Island Race is the 3.4-mile recreational race around Harbor Island. This is the perfect distance for the new paddler who wants to enter their first race. Paddlers can use any size board and the course should take between 45 and 90 minutes to complete.

The Money Island Race is an Open 6-mile inland waterway race aimed at the aspiring competitor or advanced recreational paddler. It will also be perfect for those paddlers who haven’t yet mastered the skills necessary to race in ocean conditions.

The Graveyard Race, named after the Graveyard of the Atlantic, is a 12.5-mile elite race paddle around the island of Wrightsville Beach. This unique format has attracted top professional and amateur paddlers from across North America. Professional paddlers include SUP professionals, Byron Kurt, big wave surfer Chuck Patterson, three-time world longboard champion, Colin McPhillips, Battle of the Paddle and Molokia Channel winner Candice Apppleby, local pros, Chris Hill and Chris Curry, and many others.

The Turtle Race—a Kids paddle race to introduce kids to the joys of paddling—will occur on Sunday, May 1. This is a fun race where everyone wins. “It’s our way of investing in the future of the sport,” says Mark Schmidt, WB Paddle Club Treasurer. “With the warm weather approaching, stand up paddleboarding (SUP) is a great way to get kids outside, exercising and enjoying and appreciating nature—away from the television.”

The race includes a presentation by the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, board demos from top paddleboard  and paddle manufacturers.

World Paddle Association Mid-Atlantic Points Series and will count as National Points Race

The 2011 WPA U.S. Race Series will be made up of seven regions in the United States with 6 races in each region that will be ranked and counted toward the regional championship in each division and used as qualifying process for a season ending WPA Championship. The Carolina Cup is part of the World Paddle Association (WPA) National and Mid-Atlantic Region (Region 6). Points count for both regional standings and for paddlers who travel from other regions.

Paddle with the Pros—instruction from two of the best paddlers in the world

The Carolina Cup includes one-on-one instruction from professional paddlers, Karen Wrenn and Chuck Patterson in two workshops. The first, the Racers clinic on Friday, April 30, provides important strategies, tips and technique instruction to help racers get the most out of their effort on Saturday. The second clinic is more focused on beginner paddle technique. This is an excellent opportunity for new paddlers to create good habits that they can build upon throughout the season. “The thing that can make the most difference, the fastest,” says sponsor, Meg Chun of Kialoa paddles, “is technique. Fitness takes time. But with technique, a few hours of proper instruction can make immediate differences in a racers performance.” Space is limited. Information and registration are available at www.wbpaddleclub.com.

Race Headquarters at the Homewood Suites

The Carolina Cup Race Headquarters are located at the Homewood Suites, 6732 Swan Mill Rd., Wilmington, NC 28405. Participants will receive a preferred rate on accommodations. The Homewood Suites will be the epicenter of activity and include registration and check-in, pre-race breakfast, post-race swap meet, BBQ and awards ceremony and the movie premier. (http://homewoodsuites.hilton.com/en/hw/groups/personalized/I/ILMMTHW-CUC-20110425/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG)

“The NEW Homewood Suites Wilmington/Mayfaire is proud to serve as the official host hotel and tournament HQ for the Carolina Cup,” says Jason Smith, Homewood Suites General Manager. “The hotel is excited about the opportunity to be part of such a dynamic and progressive event and very optimistic about the future of the sport in our region” 

Event Schedule:

Friday, April 29, 2011

4:30—Racer Workshop—Paddle with the pros @ WB Paddle

4pm - 9pm—Racer Check-in and late registration, Board Check (drop off your board), Pre-Race Sponsor Tents and Hors d’oeuvres, and Board Prep from OnIt Pro @ Homewood Suites

6pm—Volunteer Meeting including Chase Boat Captains, etc. @ Homewood Suites

Saturday April 30th

6am – 7:30am—Breakfast @ Homewood Suites          

7:00—Volunteer Check in @ Bridge Tender Marina /Fish House

7:30 am—Racer Check-In Begins @ Bridge Tender Marina /Fish House

8:15—Volunteer Meeting

8:30—Racer Meeting

9:00 am—Race Begins @ Bridge Tender Marina/Fish House

12:30-2 pm—Post-race Lunch @ Fish House $10 menu—included in racer registration

3-6—Swap Meet and Sponsor Tents, beer and beverages by the pool at the Homewood Suites

6-10 pm—Banquet and Awards BBQ Dinner and celebration $10 per person at the Homewood Suites

Sunday, May 1st

9 am—Beginner Workshop Paddle with the Pros @ WB Paddle Club

9 am-3—Board Demos @ WB Paddle Club from Surftech, Boardworks, Starboard, Yolo, Hobie

9:30 am—Free Kid’s Race and NC Aquarium @ WB Paddle Club          

Top SUP Industry and local businesses to attend

Event sponsors include: Allison Fins, Ben Smith DDS, Boardworks SUP, Brax Fundraising, Bridge Tender Restaurant and Marina, Caldwell Banker, CB Surf Shop, Clontz Newkirk Real Estate Group, Distressed Mullet, DryCase, Fish House Restaurant, Homewood Suites, Hobie, Howard Building Supply, Highland Spring HIHO, J America, John Deere, KayakSportCanada, Kialoa Paddles, Land Rover Cape Fear, Martin & Jones, OnIt Pro, Planet Logo, Planet Sun, Quickblade Paddles, Schmidt Development, Starboard, Surf City Surf Shop, Sito Chiropractic, Surftech, Surf Salt, Victory, Werner Paddles, and Yolo Board.