Stand-Up Paddleboarding Race Series at Tumalo Creek
Sunday, June 20th, 2010Stand-Up Paddleboarding race series is a championship qualifier
Bend, OR – Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe will host a stand-up paddleboarding race series for eight consecutive weeks, every Wednesday evening from 6 – 8 p.m. in July and August. The series, which is sponsored by Naish Pacific Boardsports, is designed to encourage the fun aspect of paddling, while allowing a casual atmosphere to compete. Instead of splitting the group into categories, men, women, children, recreational and competitive paddlers will all start at the same time.
The U.S. Sailing High-Point Percentage System will be used each week whereby a paddlers score is based on the percentage of boats she competes against that she defeats. A cumulative score will be used at the end of the series to send paddlers on to the championship race on September 29, 2010 in Southern California. The top three women and three men from each race series will qualify for the championships. Board size limit is 12’6” and paddlers with larger boards are welcome to race, but they cannot qualify for the scoring system or be eligible for any prizes.
Paddleboarding is currently the fastest growing water sport in the US and has gained a steady following in Bend, where the flat sections of the Deschutes offer the perfect spot for an evening workout in the summer months. The sport originated in Hawaii as a way for surfing instructors to manage their classes. Paddleboarding has now become popular world wide, and many athletes are embracing it because of the strong “core” workout that is gained from balancing and using arm strength at the same time.
