My First 8-Mile SBBC R10 Prone Paddleboard Race: A Day I'll Never Forget

Photo By Lindsay Zuelich @Wood_Brain

 June 6, 2026, was a big day for me—my first 8-mile prone paddleboard race.

I felt pretty good when I woke up that morning. I had some coffee, ate a banana, and loaded up the car. LZ and I drove separately because I needed to get back to the surf shop after the race for the South High Surf Team awards ceremony.

Once I arrived, I suited up in my long john wetsuit and long-sleeve Florence Windshield top. I grabbed my 17'6" Bark paddleboard and headed down to check in. They wrote the number 128 on my right hand and handed me a race shirt.

I was definitely a little nervous, but I felt ready.

Photo By Lindsay Zuelich @Wood_Brain

As racers gathered, I ran into a bunch of people I knew, including Brenton, Kurt, DJ, Brent, Tyler, and Christian. Before I knew it, the pre-race briefing was underway. Matt Walls went over the course, safety procedures, and race logistics. Then it was time to hit the water.

Photo By Lindsay Zuelich @Wood_Brain

Because of the low tide and some pretty hairy set waves, I started wide to the north. As everyone positioned themselves for the start, I slowly worked my way closer to the front of the pack. I spotted Brenton and moved up a little farther.

Then the race started.

Photo By Lindsay Zuelich @Wood_Brain

Everyone took off, and I settled into my pace. Early on, I caught a boat wake heading out to sea and managed to hit 8 mph for a short stretch while passing a few paddlers. Before long, I found myself behind DJ and drafted off her for a while. Then I moved over to Brenton and sat on his wake for a bit before sprinting ahead to catch Kurt.

Kurt and I chatted for a while as we paddled. Eventually I started to pull away, holding a steady pace right around 4.7 mph.

Photo By Lindsay Zuelich @Wood_Brain

The last mile approaching the R10 buoy was a solo effort. I felt like I was sitting somewhere in the top third of the field. I rounded the buoy and began the long push back.

Any time I saw my speed drop below 4.5 mph, I would get up on my knees and start knee paddling. I'd stay there until my back or thighs started complaining, then drop back down and prone paddle again. I repeated that strategy for the next three miles.

With about a mile remaining, I started mixing in more aggressive knee-paddling sprints, often hitting 5.4 mph. I passed a few more racers, but it felt like everyone around me was locked into a similar strong pace.

Photo By Lindsay Zuelich @Wood_Brain

In the final quarter mile, I finally got past the guy on the green board who had been alongside me for a while. The surf was still running, and I decided to roll the dice and charge toward shore at full speed.

One wave passed underneath me, and I stayed right behind it. Then I caught a small one-foot wave and rode it almost all the way to the beach.

I handed my board off to someone on shore and started running for the finish line.

Photo By Lindsay Zuelich @Wood_Brain

Man, my legs were cooked.

Running was way harder than paddling at that point, but I was determined not to fall like I did during one of the 2-mile races last year. Somehow I held it together and made my way up the chute to the finish.

Photo By Lindsay Zuelich @Wood_Brain

Final time: 1:41.

For me, that was a huge result. It worked out to an average speed of about 4.9 mph over the entire race. I finished 44th overall and 14th in my division (ages 18–49).

The surf zone was definitely one of the biggest challenges of the day. With the low tide, some surprisingly powerful waves were breaking across the course. Every so often a set would roll through and completely hammer anyone caught in the wrong spot. Paddlers heading out would get stopped in their tracks, while those coming back toward shore had to time things perfectly to avoid getting pitched.

Photo By Lindsay Zuelich @Wood_Brain

At one point, I saw a paddler on a 12-foot prone board get completely barreled by a wave. It was one of those moments where everyone watching had the same reaction: equal parts impressed and relieved that it wasn't them. Seeing that was a good reminder that even though this was a distance race, the surf could still demand your full attention.

Afterward, I helped collect boards, congratulated friends on their races, and hung around for a while before heading home for a quick shower.

Photo By @KevFoto

Unfortunately, I didn't have enough time to make it back for the race awards. Instead, I headed straight to the South High Surf Team awards event at the Soul Performance Surf shop in Gardena.

The second half of the day ended up being just as special as the race.

Mark Brog from Soul Performance and I were giving away the custom prone paddleboard we built together. A lot of people showed up, and I finally got to meet Reagan Hansen, the young waterwoman who was receiving the board.

Photo By Lindsay Zuelich @Wood_Brain

She was absolutely blown away.

Seeing how excited and stoked she was honestly made my day. When she picked up the board, she couldn't believe how lightweight it was—just 11.5 pounds. At 7'8",  it was pretty much the perfect size for her.

Reagan Hansen wasn't just the recipient of the board—she was this year's South High Surf Team Waterwoman of the Year. It was an award she truly earned.

No matter what the ocean was doing, Reagan was out there. If the waves were big, she was surfing. If the waves were small, she was surfing. And when the surf went completely flat, she still found a way to get her time on the water by paddling her longboard around the bay.

She really embodies the passion, consistency, and dedication that define a true waterwoman. It's not about chasing perfect conditions. It's about showing up and finding joy in the ocean no matter what it gives you that day.

That's exactly why Mark wanted to do something extra special for her. Rather than just giving an award, he wanted to give her a custom prone paddleboard—a board that would open up an entirely new way to experience the ocean.

Since Mark knew I was heavily involved in prone paddling and had experience shaping boards, the project became a perfect collaboration. Together, we designed and built a board specifically for Reagan. From the beginning, the goal was to create something that wasn't just a trophy to hang on a wall, but a board she could actually use and enjoy for years to come.

Hand Shaping a 7'6” Prone Paddleboard | Part 2 Rails & Bottom Contours

Meeting her in person and seeing how genuinely excited she was made all the hours of planning, shaping, sanding, and glassing worth it. You could tell she understood what went into the board and appreciated the thought behind it. Watching her pick it up for the first time and seeing her reaction was one of the highlights of my day.

I even gave her parents a copy of my book No Bad Tides Surfing Strategies For Life and my phone number so we could all meet up sometime. Hopefully I'll get the chance to take her out paddling in the harbor soon.

Looking back, June 6th was one of those rare days that had a little bit of everything: a challenging race, a personal best effort, great friends, and the opportunity to help inspire the next generation of paddlers.

Not a bad day at all.