NEW YORK, NY (July 19, 2010) – Less than thirty days remain until stand-up paddlers from around the world converge on Manhattan’s waterways for the 4^th Annual SEA Paddle NYC.  As participants continue to register and train for the 28-mile charity paddle around Manhattan, organized by Surfers’ Environmental Alliance (SEA), key figures in the surf, stand-up paddle and entertainment industries have come on board in support of SEA and the paddle’s eight autism beneficiaries.

This year, avid waterman, extreme sports extraordinaire and environmental advocate Tom Jones is not only joining industry legends for the paddle around New York, but is in the process of making history leading up to SEA Paddle NYC.  Jones is currently traveling the 2,800-mile stretch between Key West and New York City via paddle board to advocate for a plastic-free ocean.  Now along the coast of the Carolinas, he should arrive in New York just in time for a celebration paddle around Manhattan with SEA’s 200-plus participants.  If successful, Jones will break his own previous World Record for paddling 1,200 miles along California’s coast.

In addition, Israel “Izzy” Paskowitz, founder of Surfers Healing, one of SEA’s charity beneficiaries, returns for a second time to paddle alongside surf legend Joel Tudor, actor David Chokachi and Extreme Suring World Champ Garrett McNamara.  One of Hawaii’s elite big-wave chargers, McNamara has paddled, been towed and stand-up paddled into some of the largest and deadliest waves on the planet.  From the “Jaws” of Maui to the Tahitian beasts at Teahupo as well as into the tsunami-generated waves of Alaska, “Gmac” has ridden it all.

Jamie Mitchell, one of the world’s premier ocean athletes has signed on for SEA’s first-ever Elite race around Manhattan. The Australian-born waterman, big-wave surfer and international swell-chaser is an eight-time Molokai-2-Oahu paddling champion.  Having won nearly every paddle race he has entered in the last eight years, Mitchell promises to bring his paddling prowess to the inaugural Elite race.

After the world-class watermen and industry greats complete their journey around Manhattan, they’ll join paddlers, family and friends for SEA’s Ultimate Beach Party at South Street Seaport’s Water Taxi Beach starting at 3:00 p.m.  The good times will continue on the third-floor viewing decks of the Seaport for SEA’s biggest party of the year, the White Water Evening.  Boasting the Brooklyn Bridge as the backdrop, White Water partygoers will celebrate the paddle and honor this year’s beneficiaries with silent auctions, a charity poker tournament, live music, an award ceremony and much more.

This year marks the first time SEA will host its renowned fundraising after-parties in Manhattan.  To learn more about SEA Paddle NYC, or to purchase tickets to the Ultimate Beach Party and White Water Evening, please visit www.seapaddlenyc.org.

About Surfers’ Environmental Alliance (SEA)

Surfers’ Environmental Alliance is committed to the preservation and protection of the environmental and cultural elements that are inherent to the sport of surfing. SEA’s goals are achieved through grassroots activism, community involvement, education and humanitarian efforts. The non-profit organization successfully engages in projects that strive to conserve the quality of marine environments; preserve or enhance surf breaks; protect beach-access rights; and safeguard the coastal surf zone from unnecessary development.  To learn more, please visit www.seapaddlenyc.org.

The 1st Annual Stand 4 Something (SUP 4 Cancer) kicked off with 30+ mph winds, big swell, and strong currents in the Columbia River for 30 competitors on Sunday. The 8-mile downwinder started at Viento State Park and finished at the Hood River Event Site, with hundreds of windsurfers, kiters, and one large island in the middle.

Competitors started standing in knee-deep water with their boards in lines of two and three.  At the start, competitors jumped on their boards and took off. Leaders opted to follow the shoreline over riding the swell, hoping for the eddy push.

The Start of the race.

Karen Wrenn took the lead for most of the race until the last 1 1/2 mile stretch when racers had to make a risky decision of paddling the longer starboard side (inside shoreline) of Well’s Island or the more direct port side (in the Columbia River current) of the island. Karen took the outside, while co-leaders Doug Hopkins (Amundson SUP) and Mark Ribkoff took the inside of the island.

Mark Ribkoff, on what seems to be a solo session of the race in the beautiful Columbia Gorge.

At the finish line all competitors had to carry their boards about 10 feet up to a grassy area, then run up across the Full Sail finish line with their paddle. The SUP 4 Cancer finish was tight down to the hundredth of the second.

Doug Hopkins takes a sneak back to check his lead.

Approaching the shoreline Doug Hopkins had the lead, Karen Wrenn was in 2nd, and Mark Ribkoff in 3rd place.  A slight board fumble from Karen Wrenn when she came out of the water moved her into 3rd place as she and Mark ran up to the finish line.  The finish was tight with Doug Hopkins coming in first at 1:26:07, Mark Ribkoff a close 1:27:05 and Karen Wrenn a snug 1:27:06 behind Mark.

Mark Ribkoff and Karen Wrenn race it out for 2nd and 3rd at the SUP Endurance Race

The top 3 finishers

Complete Results:

Overall:
1st – Doug Hopkins, 1:26:47
2nd – Mark Ribkoff, 1:27:05
3rd – Karen Wrenn, 1:27:06

Men:
1st – Doug Hopkins, 1:26:47
2nd – Mark Ribkoff, 1:27:05
3rd – Rod Parmenter, 1:28

Women:
1st – Karen Wrenn, 1:27:06
2nd – Keely Kelleher 1:40:53
3rd – Victoria Hopkins 1:44:19

Overall Times:
1:26:47 – Doug Hopkins
1:27:05 – Mark Ribkoff
1:27:06 – Karen Wrenn
1:28 – Rod Parmenter
1:30:16 – Steve Gates
1:30:22 – Dave Hazenboom
1:40:40 – Cyril Burguiere
1:40:53 – Keely Kelleher
1:44:01 – Rick Graves
1:44:03 – Tom Hanny
1:44:19 – Victoria Hopkins
1:44:57 – John Wrenn
1:45:20 – Jeff Bigler
1:45:51 – Jeff Castleberry
1:46:06 – Glen Mulvey
1:46:11 – Rob Dies
1:48:00 – Heidi Ribkoff
1:49:08 – Becky Bishopp
1:54:58 – Tatiana Lensenn
1:59:15 – Lori Capra
2:02:46 – Kelly Watermeyer
2:06:27 – Pam Galvin
2:06:46  – Stacey Castleberry
2:15:35 – Audrey Davis
2:16:00 – Tee Wolf
2:16:25 – Kevin Francis
2:18:04 – Jessica Peterson

PARK CITY, Utah – July 7, 2010 – Innovative Health Solutions™, LLC (IHS) the developers and marketers of H2O Overdrive will be hosting the H2O Overdrive SUP CUP Series  on July 31, 2010 at Jordanelle State Park Reservoir.

This summer come paddle the H2O Overdrive SUP CUP series with the nation’s top paddlers.  You can race against the West’s best in the $5,000 PRO Race or immerse yourself in the first ever Ghost Town Paddle.  This championship style event is high up in Utah’s scenic mountain country held at Jordanelle State Park located just outside of Park City, Utah (6,166 feet).  Event proceeds will benefit the National Ability Center.

Designed for the advance & adventurous paddler - the H2O Overdrive SUP CUP PRO Race will be a demanding 5-mile course that tests not only the endurance but also the technical skills of stand-up paddle racers.  The PRO Race will have men & women open divisions and race on 14’ SUP’s for $5,000 in cash prizes.

Those new to the sport might want to line-up for the Ghost Town Paddle - a fun age-group paddle open to all types of SUP craft (12’6”, 14’  & unlimited) and skill levels.  Paddlers will take on the approximately four-mile creepy course above Keetley, Utah, a ghost town submerged by the waters of Jordanelle Reservoir.

Come check out the SUP Mountain Lake Expo and learn more about the sport of stand-up paddle (SUP).  There will be several board manufacturers & exhibitors on hand demonstrating the latest designs and products.  This is a great opportunity to try out that new board & paddle!  Sponsors and exhibitors include: Quickblade, On It Pro, GOYA Events, Fibre Glass Fin Co., Watermans Applied Science, Bark Paddleboards, Kaenon Polarized, All Sports Eyewear, Utah Paddle Surfing.com, Hobie, Ocean Minded, Tahoe SUP Boards & Stand Up Paddle Magazine.

All participants will receive a cool event tee and H2O Overdrive racer’s kit full of sponsor samples.  Racers will also enjoy a delicious lunch and are welcome at the festive dinner & concert featuring American Hitmen at the National Ability Center that evening.

If your company is interested in being part of the SUP Mountain Lake Expo please contact us directly.  The only requirement to set-up is that your organization sponsor either (2) two paddlers in the Ghost Town Paddle or (1) racer in the H2O Overdrive SUP CUP Series Pro Race, as well as supply some swag for the athletes.

For more information:

http://www.h2ooverdrivesupcupseries.com/index.html

Event Coordinator: Barrett Tester ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

About H2O Overdrive

Honolulu,Hawaii-
July 6, 2010

The inaugural $10,000.00 Mormaii Moloka'i Pai'lolo Express Race presented by Standup Paddle Magazine, a 27 mile endurance crossing between the island of Maui and Molokai, commences this Sunday from the Kapalua end of Maui at the world renown surf break Honolua Bay ending at Kaunakakai Harbor on Molokai.


As this is an "Elite" race, expect to see some of the world's great water men and women displaying their skills in technique, endurance and navigation.

As for the channel, Pai'lolo, it has been known for it's "clean wind" which funnels between the two islands creating a perfect run over the decades by one-man outrigger canoe racers, kayakers and wind-surfers.

One such waterman who has done the run on both sail and stand-up boards is 15 year-old Connor Baxter. Says Baxter;  "Windsurfing is a lot easier because you can head straight out into the wind and find your course but on a stand-up, you need to set your line."

"On my last run several months ago, I basically went way up north before heading toward Kaunakakai Harbor and thought I made a huge mistake as I saw everyone way out in front of me. That's when my mind started playing tricks on me and I thought I was done with it. At the half-way point I realized because I was closer to Molokai, I was actually riding along the coastline and had a better line than the leaders and my confidence level shot straight up."

"Eight miles outside the finish where two years ago in another run, I was actually heading into the 5 hour mark dealing with the doldrums and absolutely no wind I felt fatigued, but this year, we had 10 knot winds for the last third of the same run and I shaved almost 2 hours off my time. Of course having a better board (14' Starboard/Sandwich Isle Composite) really helped."


As for this first annual Mormaii Molokai Pai'lolo Express, expect to see a wiser Baxter on a 16' Starboard/SIC with winds forecasted out of the east-northeast at 12-15 knots and expect Maui's finest on the run including this years Olukai Premium winner Livio Menelau and board maker Mark Raaphorst. Also expect to see Molokai's distance champion Ekolu Kalama in this race as he readies for another 32 Molokai to Oahu Championship.

$10,000.00 in prize money will be given away and as for bragging rights, the overall winner receives $4000.00 and the top female gets $1000.00.

There will be a mandatory race day competitors meeting at 9:00 A.M. at the Honolua Bay, Maui boat launch ramp and the race is schedule to start at 10 A.M. from the middle of the bay.

For Logistics;
Contact:
Rodney Kilborn, race director, Handsome Bugga Productions
Telephone: 808.575.2842
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Or go to:
Handsomebuggaproductions.com


For image or video request contact:
Fox Lach, media coordinator, Standup Paddle Magazine
Telephone: 808.723.9192
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it