Paddle News

Perfect Conditions for the 34th Catalina Classic Paddleboard Championship

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 1 September, 2009 : - - Manhattan Beach -- With near record conditions, paddlers from France, Australia, Hawaii challenged Southern California’s best for the title in the world’s most historic paddleboard race.  “Conditions were the best I’ve ever seen” said former race director, Buddy Bohn; and the paddlers confirmed that by challenging the records that have stood since 1999. 

Leading from the start, Long Beach’s Tyler Anderson set the pace in oil-slick like glassy water.  Anderson led a tight pack across one of the busiest channels in the world and never looked back.  Once safely inside the Santa Monica bay, he maintained his 6 minute lead over 7 time finisher and 2 time champion Ryan Addison of Malibu. 

The stock board race wasn’t so easy for LA County Lifeguard, Tito Bourget of Venice.  As huge smoke plumes grew over the LA Basin, the water boiled for a spot on the perpetual trophy in the stock class.  Like Anderson, Bourget led a tight group of 5 stock paddlers by mere seconds throughout the race. 

But the rabid pace never let up once inside the bay, with second place finisher, Shane Scoggins of Goleta, CA, never giving up any distance to Bourget.  When it was all said and done, Bourget recorded a time of 5:55:48, just 17 seconds off the record time set ten years earlier in similar conditions.  Both champions left the awards banquet with new Bark 10’ guns, a testament to the roots of the race, staying fit for winter surf. 

2007 Women’s champ, Rebecca Gilman of Calabasas, unseated Australia’s Jo Ambrosi from the women’s crown with a time of 6 hours and 31 minutes, not far from the women’s record.  In all 97 paddlers completed the 32 mile race from Two Harbors on Catalina Island to the Manhattan Beach Pier, one of the largest fields on record.  “We’ve come a long way since 1955 when 4 paddlers finished the grueling race,” said Race Director, Kyle Daniels, “and it’s still growing.”

The 34th Catalina Classic Paddleboard Championship was made possible by the generous support of Honolua Surf Co., Vertra Elemental Protection, Body Glove, Bark Paddleboards and Da Kine.  The Classic also salutes this year’s paddlers who have taken on the additional challenge of raising money for several non-profit organizations including Ocean of Hope, Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation, Team Duke, and the ALS Association. Last year, paddlers generated over $100k to support important causes like these.

The Catalina Classic Paddleboard Association, Inc. is dedicated to preserving the Catalina Classic 32 mile paddleboard race for the watermen and women who carry on the race tradition each August. The race was founded in 1955 by Los Angeles County Lifeguard Bob Hogan. After a twenty-one year hiatus the Catalina Classic was resurrected in 1982 by Lifeguards Gibby Gibson and Buddy Bohn. The Catalina Classic is the oldest and most celebrated endurance paddleboard race in the world.

For more information please contact Kyle Daniels at paddleboarder@msn.com. 

www.catalinaclassicpaddleboardrace.com

What's your take on this?
Post your thoughts: SV Forum

New Survey: Map Surfing’s future 

More USA/Cen Amer. surfing news available here
Check the latest West Coast Surf Reports and Forecasts

New! B2B News ASBE-Surf   |  Receive News-Alerts

Kyle Daniels

Paddle - Surfersvillage