The Third Annual North Shore Cup Kayak and Paddlesports Race powered by Eliteoceansports was held on Nov 9, 2013 on beautiful Lake Marion, SC in excellent early fall conditions. With last year’s winner unable to attend, the 10km race looked to be wide open this year. The hot favorite for the win this time around was US Junior National Marathon and Sprint Team paddler Jesse Lishchuk, who made the trip down from Philadelphia, PA. Jesse was finishing his season strong with a great placing at L2L, followed up by a convincing victory at the Oneida Fall Boat Club Race, where he bested 2 past Blackburn winners (Sean Brennan and Craig Impens).
Winners Circle
Jesse’s key rivals for the race were 2 of the strongest regional paddlers in the area. Consistent strong man Pete Greene from Beaufort, SC lined up in his signature sky blue Van Dusen Mohican read to do battle. Pete has also had an excellent season with victories in the Hunting Island Biathlon, French Broad River Classique 2 day event, as well as 2nd place results at the Charleston Patriot Challenge and the Outdoors Inc Memphis Canoe and Kayak Race (behind Mike Herbert). North Carolina’s Chris Hipgrave, in his new Epic V14 Ultra, was the other paddler expected to rival Pete and Jesse for the title. Chris is an accomplished member of the US National Wildwater Team who has also had a great season, with 3rd place finishes in the Charleston Patriot Challenge and Chucktown Showdown.
Jesse in good form.
At the start of the race all eyes were on these three but quickly turned to one paddler, Jesse Lischuk. Jesse sprinted out to an impressive early lead in his Vajda Infusion II, with Chris and Pete content to settle next to each other, a familiar site for the next 50 minutes. Jesse continued to increase his lead as he powered over the first 2.5km directly across Lake Marion to the turn buoy. Behind Jesse, Chris and Pete matched each other stroke for stroke across the lake, which had only a slight chop on it from a light cross wind. At the 5km buoy Jesse held a solid one minute lead over Chris and Pete, who found themselves locked in a heated one on one battle for second place. Behind them, flatwater marathon specialist Oleg Vengerowsky of Manning, SC in his Epic V12 held a 20 second advantage on adventure triathlete turned surfski paddler Justin Fisher of Charleston, SC paddling a Vajda Hawx Elite.
On the second 5km lap the cross wind began to pick up and one could clearly see Jesse back off on his pace in an effort to conserve his advantage without risk of capsizing in his Infusion II. He would cross the line after 10km of paddling with a solid victory despite his reduction in pace over the mildly choppy final 5km. Two minutes after Jesse crossed the line Pete and Chris came home just as they had been the entire race, shoulder to shoulder. Pete held what looked to be a one foot lead over Chris over the final 50 meters but at the line Chris made one final surge and threw his ski at the line, closing up Pete’s advantage. Unable to split them, the 3 judges on the line unanimously declared it a dead heat.
Pete and Chris coming in 2nd in a tie.
Behind Pete and Chris another battle played out over the final 5km as Justin Fisher reeled in Oleg Vengerowsky and bested him at the line by 100 meters for a hotly contested 4th place.
Justin (4th)
After the finish, race director Chris Williams provided a great luncheon featuring SC BBQ and beer followed by his signature low key awards ceremony. It was another great North Shore Cup and a great way to wrap up the 2013 paddling season here in the Lowcountry.” All photos by Vadim Lishchuk, Main Street Photography and Video.
Mark McKenzie
Mark McKenzie setting up a boat.
6 Mile Results:
49:55 Jessie Lishchuk – Vajda Infusion II L
51:56 Chris Hipgrave – V14 Ultra
51:56 Pete Greene – Van Dusen Mohican
55:57 Justin Fisher – Vajda Hawx Elite
56:19 Oleg Vegernowsky – V12 Performance
57:31 William Allen – V10L Club
1:00:28 Stephen Knight – Nelo Viper 55
1:01:30 Mark Poole – V8 Performance
1:02:16 Bill Gardner – OC-1 (using kayak wing paddle)
1:02:55 Paul Laymon – V10 Sport Performance
1:03:31 Pete Chaplin – 18x
1:05:51 Don Wigston – Kayak Pro Namu
1:13:14 Mike Thomas
1:13:36 Leslie Chaplin – 18x
1:13:55 Tom Smith
1:14:30 Wyndy Amerson
1:15:23 Courtney Rudder
1:16:59 Cary Popour
1:25:37 Carol Santos
3 Mile Results:
31:37 Hansel Lucas
41:09 Jimmy Tucker
45:32 Kim Lucas
50:27 Lane Poole
Mark Smith of Elite Ocean Sports fitting a new surfski paddler!
Tandem
50:01 Lou Ann Tyler/ Harry Tyler
SUP
44:23 Teresa Rogers
46:47 Andrew Eschbacher
Leave A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.