Nick Scheel Race Report: Race the Lake of the Sky, South Lake Tahoe
From start to finish, “Race the Lake of the Sky” will go down as one of my favorite races. South Lake Tahoe is known for its skiing but in years to come it will also be known for Stand Up Paddling. In the summer months the snowboarders and skiers have turned into a passionate SUP community.
I was stocked to receive my Starboard BOP they day we were leaving. Like Christmas day I was excited to open the box, screw in the fin and let it rip. And it did just that!!!
My first event was a file mile race with 115 competitors. It was clear after the first mile my lungs were not used to the 7,000 foot elevation, breathing was difficult and fatigue set in much sooner than expected. I finished third place in the 13-17 division.
The second event on Saturday was the grom race where 35 youth paddlers tested their skills on a short course with numerous buoy turns. The Brakett boys, Tahoe natives and team 404 riders, put up a great fight through the 400 yard course. I was able to take the inside turn on the last buoy and gain enough distance to take first place.
Sunday morning started off with the main event; 14.4 mile race to Emerald Bay and back. I will admit I was nervous thinking about 14.4 miles at 7,000 foot elevation. Forget about winning, I just wanted to finish in one piece. With Josiah Brakett on my tail at all times there was no time to enjoy the beauty of Lake Tahoe. Instead of looking for Bald Eagles, I was looking for smooth water and any opportunity to extend my lead. At the final buoy turn and 14 miles behind us, Josiah took the inside turn and we were shoulder to shoulder. We pressed our boards into one another making it impossible to paddle on both sides. A technique we’ve both learned in our performance paddling clinics. I just didn’t know we would be using it against each other. I could hear the voice of the announcer booming and the crowd cheering as we exchanged paint. Seemed more like Nascar than the typical stand up race. Brakett was determined not to come in second as the home town favorite and race promoter’s son. As we approached the beach, Brakett jumped off his board early while I opted for one last paddle stroke and hit the sand dry. I edged Brakett out in what was nearly a photo finish. The overall winner was Thomas Maximus (Team Riviera) followed by Danny Ching (Team 404).
My last race of the day was a team relay. Candice Appleby was our team captain and we all agreed my Starboard BOP was the best all-around board for the race. 26- 4 person teams entered the race. The first turn was chaos and it appeared that more people were in the water than on their boards. We had a solid third place finish.
In total I took a first, second and two third place finishes. As the only Starboard rider I was pleased to have some podium time!!!
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