Recap of the 2012 Cold Stroke Classic
Photo: Harmony Dawn
The 5th annual 2013 Cold Stroke Classic has become North Carolinas longest running stand up paddle race. Known as the CSC the event usually lives up to its namesake with temps and winds usually making the open 3.5 mile race or 7 mile elite race, (one loop or two loops respectively around Harbor Island) even more challenging. Last years event had winds in the 25-40 mph range making it extra challenging and the first year of the CSC had temps hovering below freezing so I was prepared for anything. However this years weather proved to be idyllic with temps in the mid 50’s to low 60’s and very light Northeast winds. The start was of the beach in front of the iconic Blockade Runner Hotel which is always playing host to virtually every SUP race that originates out of Wrightsville Beach, NC. The open category started first and included approximately 50 racers several of which were first timers including a few who had attended my Race Stroke and Concepts clinic the day before. I was happy to see all the new faces and racers that have taken their stand up paddling into to new channels and try their hand at something new and exciting in SUP. For some it would be the first time they have raced in any sport and this was a great opportunity to push their paddling boundaries and hopefully inspire themselves to be better more efficient and faster paddlers. There is a kind of addiction in this sport that comes from the ease of paddling, and accelerated learning curve you feel each and every time you hit the water. Naturally people want to challenge themselves and the CSC is a great way to kick off a new way to do just that for someone who is looking for a new challenge. There was a huge variety in ability’s, ages and types of boards but the one thing was consistent, and that was the desire to be apart of a fun race in a new sport that has taken this region by storm.
The Elite race started 5 minutes after the open race which I am a big fan of because navigating through the open class gives me plenty of opportunities to give and receive words of encouragement to and from new paddlers and recreational racers. I truly enjoy this part of racing and encourage peer support while racing even if it’s with your most fierce competitor. After a great start on my 14 foot brushed carbon Starboard All Star I had some clean water to make the first mile of the race fast and clean, I had a great little lead but I knew there were some strong paddlers behind me and they were working hard too. It was still painful on the lungs as I reached deep and stroked as hard as I could to get a gap on the guys who were just behind me. My eyes stung with sweat, my lungs burned with a stretching pain I hadn’t felt in over a month and I had to swallow down the taste of iron that was coming up with a hint of banana. I had to back off a bit and make sure I kept gas in the tank for a strong finish, I could feel my heart rate was pushing up into the 160 range which I would not be able to maintain for the full 7 miles. Then I was quickly caught by 3 or 4 other 14’ elite paddlers but we started taking different paths around some of the open racers we had caught and started to make passes on. Some took the route near the docks while others chose the cleaner waters in the middle of the channel even though there was a stiff 2-3 knot current going against us and slight headwind. I reached down and bent over into a tucked position utilizing the choke stroke again to maintain my speed and reduce my wind resistance. This felt great for a few minutes as I focusing the effort on some different muscle groups. After the first loop another competitor and I were able to distance ourselves a little from the other 3 racers and we worked together sharing the load of blazing into winds and navigating the currents of the beautiful inter-coastal channels that surround Harbor Island using some tight drafting techniques. On the second lap we maintained a good albeit small gap between 3-5th place, and I felt good for a big push near the finish. I had to make no mistakes and time my last surge carefully. I choose to cross the last main channel early in an effort to make a move on the one guy in my wake he and I were actually side by side for a long time. He pushed hard with a rapid cadence so I reached deeper and deeper focusing on trying to put all my weight into the blade with each stroke. I was pushing harder than I had the whole race and now with the finish in sight and just under a mile to go it was time to try put a gap in on my competitors. It was working and I started to pull away. My lungs were burning and my throat was dry as I paddled downwind. Sweat was stinging my eyes and I was happy to have shook the flu which had me feeling at my worst just 5 days before. I took a few more sips from my hydration pack and was stoked I had some water to ease the burning in my throat. Suddenly I heard more boards banging and turned to take a quick look. To my surprise the 2nd draft train behind me had started to make a move and they were gaining fast. They had come out of nowhere fast and I knew it was now or never to hold them off with only about 300 meters left to get to the finish which was also a dismount and run up the beach. I kept my stroke rate consistent and put everything into each paddle stroke, but I felt good about holding them off and all I had to do was not make any big mistakes. Since I hadn’t been paddling for nearly 3 weeks, had barely recovered from one of the worst flu’s I have ever experienced, and knew I would be hurting on the last few miles I decided to use a smaller than normal blade and was absolutely loving this new Starboard High Aspect Paddle at 500 sq cm’s or about a mere 78 Sq inches. The narrow elongated blade has a much smoother power transition that the conventional “tear drop” style blade. The super light construction and flexi blade made it nice to my shoulders with a low impact feel and incremental power transition. I wasn’t sure at first if I would be over revving with this super small blade but I took a chance and happy I did especially towards the end of the race. Since I use the “choke stroke” often I cut my paddle to be a bit longer and tried a new handle called Steller Grip’s which gave me several paddle length options. Choking down I could sprint hard and fast to get a good start with only the blade or partial blade in the water, and then once up to top cruising speed I was back on the top of the grip going with a slower longer and much deeper stroke making the blade feel much bigger because I was getting over a foot of the shaft down in the water as well. This is like having gears in a car so I could use a range of grip options for different speeds and resistance options. The extra length with the smaller blade worked great for this first race of the year which is always the most painful because I am usually out of my racing shape and more focused on eating and enjoying all the Holiday food and drink. I could see the finish and literally hear the paddles being engaged in the water behind me but I hit the beach running and got across the line with only a board length between me and the 2nd place finisher. As I watched the paddlers come across the finish line in front of hundreds of cheering spectators under the warm North Carolinian sun I was reminded just why I love this sport, and its because it’s about supporting everyone and cheering them on to be their best doing something they love. True camaraderie. A huge thanks goes out to local supporters-Coastal Urge, Carolina Paddle Company, the Blockade Runner and Distressed Mullet for their support of the local paddling community. Of course a I couldn’t do it without the support from my sponsors as well- Trident Performance Sports, Starboard, Teva, H20 Overdrive, Astral, Level 6, and FCS.
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