Permission granted for redistribution – photos courtesy of Robert B Butler
2019 North Carolina Surf to Sound Challenge – Photo Gallery
Jarrod Covington of Wilmington, NC earns the male elite division title in 2019 Surf to Sound Challenge
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NORTH CAROLINA – Canceled last year following one of the worst hurricanes in state history, North Carolina Surf to Sound Challenge rebounded in Wrightsville Beach this weekend with nearly a 50-percent growth compared to 2017. “The biggest thing that impressed me about this race was the number of every-day paddlers that signed up and participated,” said Race Director, Mark Schmidt.
According to Schmidt, 2019 turned out to be the largest Surf to Sound Challenge ever, with 119 participants compared to approximately 80 in 2017. The increase is due to local and regional signups and a growing interest in the variety of paddle races on the schedule, including the sport of outrigger canoe (OC), rapidly increasing in popularity in the mid-Atlantic.
Weekend weather conditions were brisk and favorable as fall weather moved into North Carolina. However, racing conditions were especially challenging on Saturday in the ocean and sound. According to the US Coast Guard crew on watch from Wrightsville Beach, seas were 4-5 ft. with unrelenting winds of 15 mph. On Sunday, the winds abated somewhat, with afternoon temperatures rising into the low-60s.
Jarrod Covington of Wilmington, NC, and Stephanie Shideler of Southold, NY, were crowned the new elite male and female champions in Saturday's 6.5-mile Surf to Sound title race. Covington owns the outdoor recreational company Wrightsville SUP, and Shideler is a former Wall Street banker who gave it up to pursue her passion for the paddling sport. Shideler will represent the USA in the ISA World Standup Paddleboard Championship in El Salvador in late November.
North Carolina native April Zilg, ranked number two in the world by the Association of Paddlesurf Professionals, won this weekend's OC-1 division in The Froth, an 11-mile endurance race in the ocean and sound. Terry Kent of Ithaca, NY, earned the OC-1 men's title. Greg Flach, of Baltimore, MD, captured the 11-mile surfski honors.
Zilg, a three-time Surf to Sound Challenge champion now living in California, finished in the top spot in the SUP 14-ft. Women's division title in Sunday's Blockade Runner Flatwater Championship, a 9-mile race for advanced paddlers. John Batson, from Hilton Head Island, earned the SUP-14 Men's title in this race.
The outrigger canoe six-team member (OC-6) racing division introduced a new chapter in the paddling competition with success based on teamwork in beautifully designed and sleek watercraft over 40-ft long. Reggie Barnes, Craig Stephens, Mike Medwedeff, Wesley Stolp, and Chris Martin won the Men's Division; Bernadette Burton, Misty Brown, Melissa Luther, Wendy Smith, Cat Marinich, and Rebecca Grandey won the Women's Division; and, Jack Marinich, Cameron Deisroth, Jenna Blackburn, Anna Blackburn, Barry Blackburn, and Steve Lewis won the Mixed Division.
The Big Boss Brewing Company in Raleigh captured the title in the Corporate Challenge Relay.
SEE ADDITIONAL EVENT RESULTS AND PHOTO GALLERY BELOW
More results (Saturday, Nov.2):
The Surf to Sound Challenge, a 6.5-mile course for elite paddleboard and prone competitors. The race begins through the ocean surf, onto the Atlantic Ocean, plying the rushing waters of Masonboro Inlet, into Banks Channel, and to the finish line on flatwater.
SUP 14-ft - Male
1. Jarrod Covington, Wilmington, NC
2. Eric Carter, Wilmington, NC
3. Jeremy Whitted, Wilmington, NC
SUP 14-ft - Female
1. Stephanie Shideler, Southold, NY
Prone Stock - Male
1. Rob Brown, Wilmington, NC
2. Anthony Colasurdo, Toms River, NJ
SUP 12'6" - Male
1. Dan Smith, Palm Bay, FL
2. Jared Callahan, Washington, DC
SUP 12'6" - Female
1. Newkirk, Wilmington, NC
The Harbor Island Outer Loop, a scenic 3.5-mile race circumnavigating the island and designed for beginner to intermediate standup paddleboard and prone athletes.
SUP 14-ft - Male
1. David Young, Wilmington, NC
2. Russ Nelson, Wilmington, NC
3. Ed Pierce, Wilmington, NC
SUP 14-ft - Female
1. Laurel Kritkausky Coburn, Ripton, VT
2. Leanne Young, Wilmington, NC
3. Shondra Lichtenberg, Annapolis, MD
SUP 12'6" - Male
1. Warren Phillips, Wrightsville Beach, NC
2. Davis Smith, Carthage, NC
3. Chester Tyson, Wilmington, NC
SUP 12'6" - Female
1. Erin Fitzpatrick, Wrightsville Beach, NC
2. Georgia Bloomer-Rancourt, Wilmington, NC
3. Mary Jaye McGowan, Wrightsville Beach, NC
SUP Unlimited - Male
1. Christian Black, Wilmington, NC
2. Austin Laverdure, Wilmington, NC
The Froth, an 11-mile longboat endurance race for advanced athletes in ocean canoe, surf ski, and kayak. The course consists of Bank’s Channel, Masonboro Inlet (twice), the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway, and Mott’s Channel.
OC-1 - Male
1. Terry Kent, Ithaca, NY
2. Sean Havens, Vienna, VA
3. Steve Lewis, Wilmington, NC
OC-1 - Female
1. April Zilg, Santa Barbara, CA
2. Teresa Plitt, Wilmington, NC
3. Yuriko Nagano, Charlotte, NC
Surfski Single - Male
1. Greg Flach, Baltimore, MD
2. John Batson, Hilton Head, SC
The Corporate Challenge Relay, a relay sprint with six four-person teams using identical equipment in a standup paddleboard race from the soundside beach, around a buoy in the channel and back. The gear for this competition provided by the Wrightsville Beach Paddle Club (One Design boards by SIC, plus paddles, leashes, and flotation devices).
1. Big Boss Brewing Company, Raleigh, NC
2. Kapena Kai Apparel, Wilmington, NC
3. Team Schmidt (Mark Schmidt Builders), Wilmington, NC
4. Axis Fitness, Wilmington, NC (The team was very FIT, but April Zilg will have to explain this one)
The Kid’s Race, for paddleboarders 6 to 14, is on the soundside. All kids are winners in this fun event.
1. Everybody WON!
More Results, Sunday, Nov. 3:
The Blockade Runner Flatwater Championship, a 9-mile endurance challenge for experienced paddlers, including standup paddleboard, prone, and a separate start-time for 6-man ocean canoe (male, female, and mixed team entries).
SUP 14-ft - Male
1. John Batson, Hilton Head Island, SC
2. Eric Carter, Wilmington, NC
3. Campbell Carter, Wilmington, NC
SUP 14-ft - Female
1. April Zilg, Santa Barbara, CA
2. Stephanie Shideler, Southold, NY
3. Laurel Kritkausky Coburn, Ripton, VT
SUP 12'6" - Female
1. Susanne Butler, Wilmington, NC
Outrigger Canoe - 6-Member Teams
Women's Division
1. Bernadette Burton, Misty Brown, Melissa Luther, Wendy Smith, Cat Marinich, Rebecca Grandey
2. Amanda Browne, Christy Bain, Nicki Bloomer, Kerri Allen, Kimberly Hutchins, Jenna Blackburn
3. Lori Crow, Sienna Wyniemko, Jung Lee, Yuriko Nagano, Heidi Cinker, Jennifer Kessler
4. Susan Brunell, Eva Bergeman, Evonne Remhof, Jessica Kennedy, Jessica Kennedy, Cat Marinich
5. Clare Kinlaw, Lori Batson, Margie Annis, Margie Annis, Sarah James, Sarah Lloyd
Men's Division
1. Reggie Barnes, Craig Stephens, Mike Medwedeff, Wesley Stolp, Chris Martin
2. Harry Morck, Artie Darling, Rick Wheeler, Bill Boyer, Henry Wicker, Henry Wicker
Mixed Division (Male/Female)
1. Jack Marinich, Cameron Deisroth, Jenna Blackburn, Anna Blackburn, Barry Blackburn, Steve Lewis
2. Randy Crow, Heidi Armstrong, Yuri Aarnoudse, Jess Mokuahi Key, Ethan Brook, Joe Randazzo
Official and complete race results, including timing information, are available on Paddle Guru:
Thanks to Mark Schmit and Wrightsville Beach Paddle Club for organizing this series of races as well as the Carolina Cup (each April) – and our appreciation to the host of both events, Blockade Runner Beach Resort. Thank you, SetUp Events, for the excellent management of the race and timing results.
After checking out these photos, be sure to see the beautiful gallery by Matt Born of Star News Online. Matt is famous for the Carolina Cup Graveyard Race photo, launching into a rough surf with a person's legs straight up into the air! Here's Matt's link from Saturday's S2S:
And, be on the lookout for event photos from the talented photographer, Laura Glantz. Laura will probably tell you where to find them on her FB page: https://www.facebook.com/lauraglantzdesignandphoto
Stephanie Shideler of Southold, NY earns the female elite division title in 2019 Surf to Sound Challenge
Keeping it safe at the 2019 Surf to Sound Challenge: Seaman Nicole Poland; Petty Officer 2nd Class Jared Blue; Petty Officer Second Class Zachary Timm; Petty Officer Third Class Isaad Bayer; Petty Officer Second Class Dylan Hall. USCG Station Wrightsville Beach, NC – Photo courtesy of Robert B Butler
This photo of the Surf to Sound Challenge start was supplied courtesy of Eric Soderquist
Surf to Sound Challenge
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Courtesy of Anna Hogelin – Blockade Runner
Wonderful weekend. Dog tired.
