The Cold Stroke Classic: Standing Up for Cleaner Oceans

SUP Cleanup Blockade Runner Coastal Urge Cold Stroke Classic wrightsville beach Jeoffrey Nathan John Beausang Distressed Mullet Robert B Butler www.ncpressrelease.com Chuck Patterson Byron Kurt Brandi Baksic E.J. Johnson north carolina

Photo by Bill Baggett

Start of the 2014 Cold Stroke Classic - Photo by Bill Baggett

For Immediate Release

Weather Challenges Racers in 2014 Coastal Urge Cold Stroke Classic

January 18, 2014

Wrightsville Beach, N.C. - One of the East Coast's longest running stand-up paddleboard races did not disappoint on Saturday, providing extreme conditions for seasoned SUP athletes seeking adventure. With temperatures at 34 degrees and winds 10-20 mph, the 6th Annual Cold Stroke Classic launched with white caps in the channel under clear skies.

Photo by Bill Baggett

Winds, dropping temperatures, running tides and choppy waters added to excitement and complexity, requiring more thought and strategy by participants. Paddlers from all corners of the United States registered for the competition.

The Classic featured a 7-mile elite competition, a 3.5-mile recreational race, and a 14-and-under kids' division. A cash purse was awarded in the elite division, and over $5,000 in prizes in the recreational division.

Jeremy Whitted of Charleston, S.C. and April Zilg of Wilmington, N.C. took top honors in the Elite Men's 14' and Elite Women's 12'6" in their respective divisions.

Here are the top 3 winners in all categories:

Elite Men's 14'

1. Jeremy Whitted, Charleston, SC

2. Ron Gossard, Ocean City, MD

3. Dan Gavere, The Gorge, Oregon

Elite Men's 12' 6"

1. Will Lathan, Wilmington, NC

2. Matthew Nacy, Purceville, VA

3. Tom Wilson, New Bern, NC

Elite Women's 12' 6"

1. April Zilg, Wilmington, NC

2. Kimberly James, Wilmington, NC

3. Miriam Sutton, Wilmington, NC

Recreational Men's 14'

1. Neil Macindoe, Annapolis, MD

2. Bryan Barton, Annapolis, MD

3. William Reece, Chapel Hill, NC

Prone Unlimited

1. Christopher Hill, Surf City, NC

2. Mark Schmidt, Wilmington, NC

3. Gordon Rock (alias Runslo Walksalot), Wilmington, NC

SurfSki Unlimited

1. James Smith, Wilmington, NC

2. Hunter Hay, Wilmington, NC

Recreational Women's 12' 6" and under

1. Anna Blackburn (14 years of age), Wilmington, NC

2. Julia Nicholls, Morehead City, NC

3. Harmony Dawn, Ottawa, Canada

Recreational Men's 12' 6" and under

1. Eric Kopka, Hamstead, NC

2. Justin Schaay, Charleston, SC

3. Ed Pierce, Wilmington, NC

2014 Men's Elite Unlimited Winners: Gossard, Whitted, Gavere

Late breaking links for 6th Annual Cold Stroke Classic photographs and official results:

Star News Online (60 photographs)

(photos by Jason A. Frizzelle)

Acclaimed Cold Stroke Classic Returns January 18

Courtesy of Coastal Urge

Wrightsville Beach, N.C. will host one of the East Coast's longest running stand-up paddleboard races on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17-18, 2014. The 6th Annual Cold Stroke Classic features the coldest race conditions of the year in coastal North Carolina.

Courtesy of Coastal Urge

Over 120 professional and recreational competitors will race, hailing from all corners of the United States and countries as far away as Portugal.

Courtesy of Coastal Urge

“The Cold Stroke Classic launched the sport of SUP on the East Coast,” says John Beausang, editor and owner of DistressedMullet.com, a leading online paddleboard resource. “It brought early pioneers and SUP ambassadors to Wrightsville Beach, including Chuck Patterson, Byron Kurt, Brandi Baksic and E.J. Johnson. It was the race that launched a hundred races.”

Courtesy of Lemonstripe

The Cold Stroke Classic began under the visionary leadership of Jeoffrey and Catherine Nathan, founders of Coastal Urge, a Carolina-based lifestyle outfitter. The couple and Coastal Urge also established, and continue to present, the annual Newport SUP Cup in Newport, Rhode Island.

The Cold Stroke Classic features a 7-mile Elite competition, a 3.5-mile Recreational race, and a 14-and-under kids' division. A cash purse will be awarded in the Elite division, and over $5,000 in prizes will be awarded in the Recreational division.

Courtesy of Coastal Urge

The race will circle Harbor Island via Banks Channel, Motts Channel, and the Intracoastal Waterway. All races begin and end at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort, host of the Cold Stroke Classic. The Blockade Runner is celebrating its 50th Anniversary during 2014.

Courtesy of Lemonstripe

Information and registration: www.coldstrokeclassic.com

Accommodations: www.blockade-runner.com/cold-stroke-classic

Courtesy of Coastal Urge

The race weekend will begin on Friday, January 17, with world-renowned SUP professional Dan Gavere's race and stroke clinic. Gavere will focus on what it takes to have the perfect race day, including a seminar on the choke down stroke technique, the bow draw, and paddling in rough conditions. The clinic features on-the-water training with one complete loop of the Harbor Island race course.

Courtesy of Coastal Urge

On-water assistance will be provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, and SeaTow. USCG approved PFD’s and board leashes are required.

Courtesy of Coastal Urge

The Cold Stroke Classic benefits SUP Cleanup, an organization dedicated to removing trash and debris from littered waterways and beaches throughout the United States.