The running of the 2013 Orange Bowl Paddleboard Championship
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Getting ready to move out on the first race of the day. The Elite and Recreational races had starts for numerous board size classes and by gender.
Almost a 100 racers stretched out across the Miami Financial District skyline.
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This epic event is the creation of Garry Menk and Ken Russell, exclusive Distributors for
Jimmy Lewis Kite, Paddle, and Surf Boards for the US, Central, and South America.
http://redefineyourride.com
The Paddleboard Championship has taken a place in the events leading up to the Orange Bowl. Funds received in the event are donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami and the kids have a chance to paddle one on one with some of the great paddlers competition in the event.
They ran two races including the Elite and Recreational courses shown below:
The seven mile Elite course, this day with winds from the SE at around 15 to 20 mph and a nasty chop. The racers really felt this on the long run to the south close to Rickenbacker Causeway.
The three mile Recreational race. They were more in the lee for parts of the race but it was still challenging all the same.
Paddling hard against wind and chop to round the south mark off Rickenbacker Causeway
The Recreational racers make out of the marina and stroke south against the wind and chop.
Preparing to race
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The only good shot I got of Jimmy Lewis but he is holding another brands board? Next time!
Alexandra Villarreal Menk with able helper
Folks showed up early in some cases. Here Kent with Maui and Todd from ASM, JP Australia and Imagine Boards hang out and wait for the big paddle to go off.
Rory Kam and Barbara Sage hang out
Garry of Jimmy Lewis poses with Mary Anne and Mini
Packet Casey and his lady Bianca Drouin
There were a number of water going dogs. This one keeps a weather eye astern.
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Lining up to start the men's Elite Race. Actually in the time it took to pan this series of shot you can see them starting off in the right side of this composite.
These folks move fast and even though the photographers were in a powerboat, keeping up can be tricky.
A lady train, paddling for bear.
Bunching up and charging hard
The women paddle down to the Intracoastal in the Elite race
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Dozens of racers stretching off into the far distance down into Biscayne Bay.
Moving the photo boat out in front of the pack again.
Candice Appleby strokes along with the USCG.
*** The setting for the race is fairly amazing by its contrast. Makes for a target rich photographic shooting environment too.
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Mother and daughter paddle hard against some nasty chop and head wind. They were FAST though and you should have seen them cook once they turned downwind.
Rounding the first mark, someone has to be first and it is Danny Ching.
A panoramic view at the mouth of the Miami River where it joins Biscayne Bay. We'll be revisiting this area soon.
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Mark and Jesse moving hard south
There goes Packet Casey
Mark Athanacio books north to the Miami River after passing the mark.
Helga Goebel ripping along into the wind and chop.
Mary Anne Boyer (MAB) padding hard into the second leg of the race.
Bailey Rosen drives hard throughout the race.
[b]So, that is Part I. I have broken this up into two parts to aid loading speed. The balance of the Elite Race and entirety
of the Recreational Race show up in Part II.
Check it out at:
http://www.fksa.org/showthread.php?t=11722