Competitors in the recreational class of the 2nd annual Cold Stroke Classic battle for position near the finish line at Dockside Marina on Saturday, Jan. 9. Allison Breiner Potter
If there's a board involved, Chuck Patterson—a world-renowned professional waterman from southern California—is usually willing to participate. So when the 2nd annual Coastal Urge Cold Stroke Classic standup paddleboard race around Wrightsville Beach was scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 9, he quickly hopped onboard—knowing he'd be paddling in 35-degree, blistering chilly weather.
"The conditions are part of the challenge," Patterson said in an interview from California a few days before the race. "I'm just stoked to go out and paddle with some new people."
On Saturday, paddlers flocked into the Wilmington area, where the race went by in a flash. About 80 paddlers participated in what observers and race officials hailed as a landmark moment that secured Wrightsville's slot in the paddleboarding community.
"It’s definitely bigger than I would have thought for the 2nd annual," said Aaron Campbell, a 31-year-old paddler who drove 16 hours from Holland, Michigan, with two friends to compete. "My goal coming down here was to not fall in and get as close to the front as possible," he said.
Paddlers from other states, Florida, Hawaii, Tennessee, Ohio, Oregon and New Jersey were all present. When asked whether she had ever witnessed such a diverse group of states represented at a race, Hannah Curtis, the official manning the race registration table, said with a smile, "No, I have not."
The paddlers gathered around the Dockside Marina a couple of hours before noon Saturday, browsing the dozen or so tents that housed sponsors promoting their latest standup paddleboard gear and sport equipment, while sipping hot coffee to warm their bodies at a time when their breath was faintly visible in the icy air.
A few board manufacturers were present showcasing their latest models and offering demos to anyone brave enough to risk tumbling into the water.
"I get a feeling that demos today are going to be nonexistent," said Joe Mosquera, a representative for a California-based manufacturer.
At noon, racers stepped aboard their paddleboards, skimmed off and congregated in the Intracoastal Waterway. The race was divided into two groups: the recreational division, which paddled around Harbor Island once, a distance of about 3.5 miles; and the elite division, which paddled around the island twice for a 7-mile trek.
A blow of the horn signaled the start of the race. The elites started first, followed promptly by the recreational division. Each start drew a roar from the crowd massed along the marina docks and leaned against the railings of the Heide Trask drawbridge.
As soon as paddlers dug their oars into the water, it sent the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and Sea Tow assisting vessels into gear. Their radios cracked with clear, detailed reports throughout the race about how each racer was fairing.
Having crossed beneath the Heide Trask drawbridge, the paddlers thinned out and snaked through the waterways around Harbor Island, moving north into Lee’s Cut, then Banks Channel and Motts Channel to the finish back at Dockside.
Toward the finish line, paddlers, most of whom were wearing a minimum amount of clothing and gear, fanned out into small groups that dotted the landscape. As they approached the finish, Jeoffrey Nathan, co-owner of Coastal Urge, broadcast congratulatory remarks to crowd applause.
Most paddlers reported that beside their wet feet, the race made them hot, and the cold air no longer bothered them.
"Conditions were awesome," said Brad Howard, a paddler from Wilmington who donned a bright blue Luchador Mexican wrestling mask to keep his face warm.
"Everybody hung together and we pulled each other around...Everybody gave it 100 percent and it was really a great race."
Howard's comments aligned with the general mood. "It's great to see how excited people are about it," said Brandi Baksic, a West Coast paddler who took the first place in the women's elite division.
"People have been getting into (paddleboarding) over on the West Coast and it's nice to learn what people are doing on the other side of the world...I'm sure next year this will be even huger," she said.
While the results were being tallied by Catherine Nathan, and some other race officials, Patterson mingled about the marina occasionally posing for photos with fellow paddlers as reggae music blared from a set of speakers.
"Seeing a smile on everybody's face gave me a boost of excitement," Patterson said. "To see how many people are hungry for the sport is so refreshing and new. To be a part of that and to see how everybody worked to get this going and to see the presence of people from all over the country was great."
"Competition is one thing," he added, "but to see how many people are so excited to get out and paddle is really mesmerizing."
Miles Abernathy, a 15-year-old paddler from Wilmington who participated alongside his father, said races like this are "how the sport is going to grow... I think this is going to happen every year," he said.
Results (Top 3):
Men's Elite Division:
1) Byron Kurt
2) Ej Johnson
3) Colin McPhilips
Woman's Elite Division:
1) Brandi Baksic
2) Helga Goebel
3) Nikki Gregg
Men's Recreational Division 12'6" and under
1) Tommy Lloy
2) David Slemp
3) Justin Cook
Women's Recreational Division 12'6" and under
1) Katie Moore
2) Jennifer Hill
3) Kimbery James
Men's Recreational 14" and over
1) Haywood Newkirk
2) Brad Howard
3) James Bain
Women's Recreational 14" and over
1) Jacky Fisher
