SBBC R10 2 Mile Short Course Paddleboard Race

 

Up to the day of the SBBC R10 Paddleboard Race I had only paddled on a prone paddle board 3 times in the last couple of decades. On top of that I had never even paddled on a 12' stock board. My friend had a 12' stock board he said I could barrow for the race and told me that I could either sign up for the 8 Mile or the shorter 2 Mile course. I thought it over and after weighing the Pro's and Con's of each course, the possible weather conditions and my own lack of experience I decided to do the 2 Mile course. 

I picked up the board from my friends house the night before the race. I checked the weather and surf forecast for the 100th time and felt a little better about the 2 Mile course. It would start to Torrance beach and run north to around Avenue C and back. At 7:30 am the hard core paddlers started the 8 Mile race to the R10 Buoy from Torrance beach. Just before 8:00 am the announcement went out to get in the water line up at the starting line for the 2 Mile.  I was suited up and as ready as I was going to be.

I grabbed the 12' Bark stock board by Surftech that my friend let me barrow. I jumped on the board for the first time and paddled thru the surf. All the competitors formed a line at the red buoy and we waiting for the starting horn to sound. At 8 am sharp the horn rang out. Everyone began paddling, sprinting and the pack started to spread out. I was trying my best to stay with the top 5 others and that was not easy. The three leading paddlers kept adding distance. I held my pace, stroke after stoke making progress towards the buoy a mile from the starting line.  

I rounded the buoy and sprinted another 100 yards. I regained some lost ground and began catching up to the person in the 4th position. Another half mile down the beach I finally passed him, holding my pace, never letting up and not looking back. I made the final left turn at the starting buoy and headed for the sand. Digging deep I caught a small wave but fell off to the side. Luckily my board stayed near me. Quickly, I jumped back on and paddled the rest of the way to the shore line. My wife, sister and nephews all cheered me on as I sprinted up the sand bank to final finish line. 

I was stoked to discover that I had finished 4th overall and I was first in my division (18 to 49 years old on 12' stock paddle board). Shortly after 2 mile the race Matt Walls started the awards ceremony. He called out the the top three finishers for each division and handed out metals to each winner. Matt called my name and cheers rang out as he handed off the blue ribbon first place metal to me. I felt so accomplished. I definitely expanded my comfort zone by doing something I had never done before. Now I'm really excited to enter the next race and see if I can do even better. This is definitely the type of event any new paddleboarder should try out.