Surfski Knowledge Base

Brandon N <brandon@…>
09/27/09 #7145

We spent the day down on Mercer Island for the 1st Annual Round the Rock SUP Race (www.RoundtheRock.com). There were two races, a 13-mile long course and a 2.5-mile short course. It was PACKED!!! 71 racers competed in the long course, and there had to be 50 or 60 paddlers in the short course. I honestly didn't know there were that many people into the sport in the PNW.
Sunny blue skies and warm air temps were ideal (for those of us on “support duty” especially), but on the water it was challenging: tail wind for the first 5 miles, stiff headwind for the next 5 miles, then 3 miles of refraction with “waist high” slop that had some of the top guns swimming – and repeatedly!
Nonetheless, Bellingham represented in a HUGE way!!! Our man Beau Whitehead just KILLED IT! He finished thee 13-mile course in 2hr 35min and change – more than 20 MINUTES AHEAD of 2nd place.
And amongst the women, Heather KILLED IT! She finished 6th overall and first woman by an unknown amount, in a time of 3hr 12min and change.
Then… bored with the beach scene after KILLING IT once, Beau entered the 2.5-mile race and just KILLED IT, taking first in that one too!!!
On the beach, there were more people hanging out than there were racers on the water, and a ton of exhibitors. Board and paddle demos were going on all day, Surfrider Foundation (who sponsored the event) were there en force doing their typical world class job of making friends and proponents for cleaner waters and beaches, BBQ pulled pork sammies were keeping everybody fueled up. It was all epic, and we'll definitely put in on the calendar for next year with hopefully a bigger B'ham contingent!
NOw, I can't sign off on this post without at least trying to give some context for Beau's “stature” in this sport and amongst this crowd. It's awesome to watch because Beau is the ultimate humble ambassador, and it's a good thing because – race results today aside – he is nothing short of a celebrity athlete in the SUP scene. Paddle-makers recruit him to be their “Team racer”, other racers want him to just “paddle my board, Beau!”, surf shops gift him with shirts and shwag, everybody just wants their picture with him. He's as gracious as he is adored, and I'm sure he'll make light of this post, but we love having our sports heroes, and Beau is high on that list.
Power to Bellingham Paddlers!

Re: Bellingham ROCKS OUT @ Round the Rock SUP Race!
lori & beau whitehead
09/27/09 #7146

Thanks for the huge props Brandon! The highlight of my day was posing for the trophy picture with your stud wife! That's a good day when you get to share the podium with Heather! Big thanks to you & my wife for being awesome an awesome support crew.
Beau
P.S: I owe you guys an energy gel (-:

Round the Rock SUP photos now online
Michael Lampi
09/27/09 #7147

Some folks from Bellingham felt that the Lake Samish race wasn't enough for the weekend. Heather came down with Brandon and Hayden for the Round the Rock Stand Up Paddling race, but left them them on the shore while she wasted most of the field paddling around Mercer Island.

There were a couple of sections where there were some waves and some wind, due to a nice northerly breeze (maybe 15 mph?). Ok, so the entire west side of the island was purgatory for the paddlers, with 2 foot waves at the northwest corner by the I-90 bridge, and nice 1-2 footers hitting them on their beam across the north side of the island.

Here was a race where the other vessels were mostly slightly slower than my Escapade - especially in the windy, wavy sections. I was able to photograph just about everyone until the battery ran out of juice.

http://snorlax.lampi.us/images/Round%20the%20Rock%202009/index.html

Michael Lampi
(6.7 miles Saturday, 17.8 miles Sunday)