After winning last years "Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle"; going into this years event was pretty stressful, knowing I had to work extra hard to defend my title with a huge target on my back.
I felt I had a duty to my sponsors, fans and myself to do the best and that's what we as athletes live for.
This years event was a 2 day "ultra marathon paddle fest", starting with a 4 mile open race, followed by the 5 mile Elite surf slalom super cross in windy head high surf and on the second day we paddled a 10 mile coastal run in 15-20 mile onshore bumpy conditions, kids race and ending with a 4 person team surf relay paddle.
I have to say that this years Elite Surf slalom super cross race was the best action packed crossover race I have ever paddled in the sport of SUP.
We couldn't have asked for better conditions; with head high surf breaking through the whole length of the course and a dropping tide which made it really challenging on the way out and rounding the inside buoys.The start was super chaotic with about 85 men and 25 women side by side, slamming boards and paddles at every turn and set waves plowing anything in it's path back to the beach.
As we rounded every inside buoy on our way back out; we had to fight through the crowd of paddlers and loose floating boards etc., punching through 100 yards of white water to make our way back up to the outside buoy.There were times where you would time it perfect and paddle through small surf on the way out and then hook up on a good set wave on the way in or just the opposite, where you got plowed going out and paddled without a wave in sight on the way in, only to have the guys behind you catch up with a lucky wave in. Every lap, the order changed dramatically and you just had to minimize the mistakes and put your head down and grind it out.
I can remember on my first lap, where about 10 of us caught a set wave in and as we got to the inside buoy everybody turned at the same time and boards went flying. I luckily got to my board before another wave hit and as I was paddling back out through the mayhem, a guy lost his board and the wave was pushing it sideways right in my path and I just slammed my nose through the board, deflecting it to the side and as I looked back, all I could see was white surfboard foam floating in the water. I was pretty lucky that my Hobie board was still in one piece, but there were many stories of broken fin boxes, boards and bruised shins.
This was a true test of endurance, determination, surf skill and "luck" and above all the most fun ever paddling with the best in the world.......
A big Congratulations to Jamie mitchell and Shakira Westdorp for winning the Battle of the Paddle and to Slater Trout, nipping at their heals and Team Hobie and all the locals for holding it down in our home town....It was truly awesome to see all the other young athletes pushing the sport like Riggs Napolean, Connor Baxter and Zane Switzer.
I really want to thank Sparky, Gerry Lopez, Barrett Tester of Rainbow sandals, all the industry sponsors and fans showing their support and everyone who worked so hard in making this event a huge success.
I also want to thank my sponsors: Hobie, Ocean Minded, Kialoa, H2O Audio, Dakine, Rainbow fins, O'neill, Watermans sunscrean, On It, Monster Paint, Indo Boards and my family for all of your support.
My overall standings:
5th place - Mens Elite race
4th place - 10 mile race
4th place - Team Hobie surf Relay
Thanks so much,
Chuck Patterson
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October 11, 2009
190.50.180.174