EJ's Race Recap of the Carolina Cup
Westy, Betsy and I jumped in with The Pope to check out Happy Hour with Colin and Byron at CB Surf Shop for the meet and greet. After a few beers, Byron, Colin and I decided we would work together as a drafting team on race day to at least help get us to the ocean and once there, we would go our separate ways as it would be everyman for himself downwind.
The race directors had to switch the race course due to weather conditions in order to create more of a downwind run. We were met at the ocean by waist to shoulder high sets which I was able to make it through two waves and ended up getting knocked off by the third wave where I was then greeted by fellow paddler and Local NC friend Chill and we proceeded to downwind together the next 5 miles and you had to take left runners the entire time to take the outside line to keep you from getting pushed into shore.
I was able to pass most of my competitors by the time I got to the rock jetty which then put me in fourth place but the chop at the inlet ended up throwing me in again and was passed by Colin M. as the next pack (Byron Kurt,Justin Cook,Matt Becker and I) converged together we were headed into the upwind, up current,inner coastal flat waters it was at this point we all took slightly different lines which Byron ended up with Justin as I took my own line and it was an uphill battle for the next 3.5 miles. About half way through I hear a paddler on my tail and looked to see Larry Cain in his C1 surf stance sailing past me, I could have jumped in his slipstream and drafted him but I decided to tough it out like a man and take my own line.
We were greeted at the finish line with big cheers and ice cold water.
All of the finishers sat on the dock and waited for the remaining paddlers to come in to cheer them on as well. I was pretty stoked at my time of 2:25 and 8th place with such an Elite group of paddlers.
14′ MEN—Main Men’s Event 12.5 mi.
1 VELA, anthony 14′ Men 02:15:03
2 KOSTERLITZ, Chase 3 – 14′ Men 02:15:06
3 TERRELL, Jim 14′ Men 02:20:29
4 CAIN, Larry 14′ Men 02:22:58
5 COOK, Justin 3 – 14′ Men 02:22:59
6 MCPHILLIPS, Colin 3 – 14′ Men 02:23:31
7 KURT, Byron 3 – 14′ Men 02:24:24
8 JOHNSON, EJ 3 – 14′ Men 02:25:00
9 HILL, Christopher 14′ Men 02:26:00
10 BECKER, Matt 3 – 14′ Men 02:28:49
Later that afternoon we headed back to the hotel and I packed up my cooler with some cold Coors Lights and headed down to the pool for a little R & R before the evening festivities began.
I found myself walking around the parking lot drinking beers with my fellow Luchadores as I waited anxiously for my beautiful wife to receive her 1st place award for the 6 mile Money Island race!
A Huge Thank You to William Pope, John Beausang and the rest of the crew who helped put this all time event together.
Make sure to mark y’alls calendars for this all time event. For the inaugural year this truly puts North Carolina on the map as one of the best SUP events of the year!!
We look forward to next years Carolina SUP Cup!!!!
– EJ
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