A Hot Success! 2014 East Coast Surfski Championship, the Lighthouse to Lighthouse Race

History of East Coast Surf Ski Championship

Several years ago, on a winter’s training paddle while passing under the Newport Bridge, I specifically remember coming up with the idea of having an East Coast Surfski Championship (ECSC). I knew that I did not have time to create another race so I thought if an existing race could host the race, then I could get it going. At the time, the Jamestown Counter Revolution Race was being revived so we asked Dan G, race director and accomplished rower, if we could create the Championship and he host it. This way I could do the marketing, increase the overall attendance of his race, and leave most of the logistics to him. During this time frame, I was working for Stellar and ran the idea of supporting the race by Dave Thomas of Stellar. So in 2011, we held the first East Coast Surfski Championship with 23 surf skis on the Seekonk River due to an impending hurricane. Borys Markin won on that day edging out Reid Hyle by seconds. In 2012, the Jamestown Counter Revolution ceased and I asked Gary Williams and Wayne Lysobey if they would host the ECSC with continued sponsorship from Stellar.

Ed Joy(left),Reid Hyle(center), Borys(in red), Sean Brennan(right), 2011 ECSC

So fast forward to this year’s 2014 Lighthouse to Lighthouse Race, the East Coast Surfski Championship where we had 87 surf skis registered, the largest collection of surf skis ever assembled on the East Coast. This race(L2L) is not just surf skis because it includes sea kayaks, rowing shells, sups, etc. However, like the Blackburn Challenge, the surf skis over the last several years has made up the largest class and growing every year. Our statistician, writer,paddler, Greg Lesher, who compiles the race data on Surfski America hosted on this site, informed us that we had 18 new surf ski racers that had not previously raced in any significant surfski race before registering for this event. That parallels with this site’s stats that show we average 30% new visitors on a monthly basis of the 17,000 visitors we get monthly. So the numbers are growing! Thanks to Dave Thomas of Stellar for his continued support. Pam Boteler of WomenCan International and Gary Williams of Achilles were also a major sponsors and actively reached out to the women paddlers. This year there was equal prize money for men and women due to their leadership.

Mary Beth(3rd), Beata(1st) Pam(2nd)

Beata, one of the top female surf ski paddlers is taking more of a leadership role by encouraging more women paddlers to take up the sport. Other sponsors were Ocean Paddle Sports East, North Coast Kayaks, Vaikobi, and Elite Ocean Sports. So a big thanks goes to these folks and of course to Gary Williams, race director, for being open to good ideas and making this year’s event go off without a hitch. Next year with even more planning, coordination, and team work, we hope to have the largest surf ski race in the United States for virtually all levels of paddlers.

Beata,Borys,Austin,
Steve/Mark of Ocean Paddle Sports East

Mark and Mark of Elite Ocean Sports

Race Day

Hot, Hot and Humid. With a very mild summer here in the Northeast, the race day conditions were more Mississippi like. This was by far the hottest/humid race of the year. We are not use to the heat. I like to think I am being from Mississippi but I need a period of adjustment that we did not get this year. Most of the paddlers I spoke with, found the second leg with light winds at our back, oppressive. Once you turned around the second light house, it was like someone turned up the temperature by 20 degrees. No exaggeration here. Many racers ended up bonking and it was just a matter of when. Tim H who rode down with Betsy and myself turned around at mile 4, slogging it back and calling it a day. I must admit at mile 2, I had the same thought. I continued and limped back to the finish from mile 8 to mile 14, Done. Chris Laughlin of North Coast Kayaks bonked at mile 12, with one last 50 second push to catch Chris Chappell. Not happening Chris L. said. Chris Chappell normally not a hot weather paddler nor is Tim Dwyer, both had good races. I want what they were drinking! Eric Constanzo also told me he suffered greatly to a 9th place finish. Michael from Ohio had a smile on his face when he passed me at mile 11 and even a broader smile as he put his arm around me after the race and said ” I was able to beat you today”. I laughed and said I made it easy on you today. Great fun these races. Nothing better than friendly competition among friends. I think only the boys from the South Carolina seemed to have no ill effects from the heat. Mark McKenzie, Mark Smith and Andy McMarlin had no mention of the heat. Reid from Florida was looking no worse for the wear placing second place behind Borys and the winner of the whole affair Austin Keiffer, who by the way is also from the Carolina’s. He was enjoying himself. It was nice for Austin to join us today before he heads to South Africa for their racing season. We wish Austin success on the international racing circuit. Austin placed 5th in the US Surfski Championships a few weeks ago.

Borys, Austin, Reid

Joe Glickman pre race.

Dana edging out Ken in the SS 20 Class Surfskis

Austin Keiffer (Winner) and Dave Thomas of Stellar

At this point I often go into some detail of my race but today I have my race on video with captions so I will let it speak for itself with one note. My video camera’s battery died at mile eight just about the time I was winding down also, so my video is just of the first seven miles. So thanks to everyone; sponsors, paddlers, wives(Betsy with the pics), Wayne(food), volunteers for making this race an even bigger success by getting more paddlers into surfskis both men and women. It was great to see everyone!

Professional Pictures from Dan, almost 500! Thanks Dan!!

http://danmarinophoto.photoshelter.com/gallery/Lighthouse-to-Lighthouse-Race-2014/G0000IVExnjs.JsU/C0000xbdp1Wa_Np0Results

http://www.lighthousetolighthouse.org/#!results/c1l9x

Betsy’s Pics Below

https://plus.google.com/photos/111670948231605580163/albums/6056431459436532305