As if standup paddling nearly five miles wasn't grueling enough, participants of the first-ever Wrightsville Beach Biathlon on Saturday, March 6, ran another four miles in the sand.
"It was rough," said one.
Thirty or so participated in what will probably become an annual addition to Wrightsville's seasonal agenda of paddleboard races and events. The biathlon, hosted by the Blockade Runner Resort with logistical assistance from Coastal Urge, had racers panting heavily over land and sea, but not in that order.
They began with a dry start whistle, shore side, in front of the Blockade Runner, divided into three groups based on board size. For these racers, an alert reaction time and quick board mount was crucial to getting ahead.
Despite the cold wind conditions and some rough tides, the racers dug their oars into Banks Channel waters, through Motts Channel and around the spoil islands. They passed lines of hulking pipe, towering dredge equipment and huge barges left over from the recently completed beach re-enourishment project. They cut through it all, their eyes intently focused on the prize, and returned to the Blockade Runner.
At the transition point, Chris Hill hit the beach first followed soon by Chris Curry and Ian Balding.
They jogged across Public Beach Access No. 33 south of the Blockade Runner. On the beach strand, they circled Crystal Pier, passed the resort again and circled Johnnie Mercer's before reaching the finish line at the rear of the Blockade Runner.
A pack of onlookers roared and cheered as each racer crossed the finish line. Curry, 28, was first. He said his training has paid off and it was evidenced by his time: 1 hour and 24 minutes.
"I'm enjoying the beautiful day and taking it all in," Curry said as he caught his breath and drank a yellow Gatorade. "The biathlon? It's incredible. You're here at Wrightsville Beach, you get to be in the water and then get to run along beach."
His tone suggested the experience was the pinnacle of enjoyment.
"They brought an event here to this beach that was something different," he added. "It's definitely special."
Curry's dad, Bill Curry, 58, also competed and finished with a time of 1 hour, 48 minutes and 51 seconds.
Asked which was more difficult, the paddle or the run, the elder Curry said the two were just different.
"It's a mind game out there," he said, pointing toward Banks Channel.
He added that with the constant unknowns of wind direction, tide, current and chop, paddlers needed to keep their motivation and stroking to stay ahead.
"A run is sort of a mind game, but out here you can get in a really good, steady pace," Curry said.
“It’s bringing two different groups of athletes together to try a different specialty,” said Clark Shay, another participant.
