Shark Bite Challenge – Brandon Rahe
Shark Bite Challenge April 17th, 2011
The Shark Bite Challenge has been around for a long time as a canoe/kayak event, but in recent years, they have opened up all types of paddleboard divisions. This is a great testament to how our amazing sport is still growing and gaining acceptance!
Honeymoon Island, FL was the setting, with strong winds and enough swell to surf. But a gorgeous day of Florida sunshine always makes for fun racing!
The 8 mile Elite course was simple: 2 miles out, 2 miles back, 2 laps…GO!
I got off to a great start, hanging with a monster on a 17 foot custom board with a rudder, and held with him until the 2 mile mark…then he caught bumps that seemed to go on forever. I just didn’t have enough board to keep up. But my lead was HUGE over the rest of the SUPers by that point, and I just kept charging solo for the next 6 miles.
Competitors were falling off of their boards left and right along the course due to the rough conditions, but I managed to stay on my feet the whole time. Even saw a huge spotted eagle ray pass inches under my board at about the 7 mile mark. One of those moments that are special to SUPing.
This was a great race to help prepare for the Florida State Championships the next week, and I’d be happy to do it again!
Thanks so much to my sponsor STARBOARD for giving me the privilege of representing them with a 1st place finish at events like these!
– Brandon Rahe
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