Another SUP Race North Of The Border. The SIC Gorge Paddle Challenge!

Back in March it was announced that the SUP race the kids looked forward to each October would not run this year.  The Pacific Paddle Games(PPG) was a chance for our SUP Team's Elite paddlers to go north and test their skills against kids from all over the world.  It was special for many reasons.  The Elite Team came together early in the season and trained hard to be ready for the two races that would run over the fall weekend.  The race provided focus and energy to a group of kids who hardly ever got to paddle against kids who are not already part of the SUP program here in Sayulita.  The last two years the kids have made relationships, though distant, with other youth paddlers from the west coast to the east coast US and it is always fun to see those friendships rekindled at each race. Many of the kids recognize each other and keep in touch via social media like Instagram.  Lastly, it is just fun to travel with the Team and support each other in all the age groups and classes the Team would compete in.  A great bonding session.  The parents have a great time too!

After the PPG cancellation and the Carolina Cup completed back in April we were looking at a period of time where there would be no north of the border races for the foreseeable future.  It may, in fact, be a year, year and a half or possibly even longer until the kids competed again on the world stage against their SUP peers.  Living here we just do not get to race anywhere near the amount some of their SUP friends do in programs up north unless we travel.  A calendar year or more is just a long, long time to train without a goal to focus on and push towards for anyone.

One of the big three races in the USA is The Gorge Paddle Challenge in Hood River Oregon.  The other two races, The PPG and The Carolina Cup, the kids have already competed at. This year the "Gorge" will be sponsored by the brand of board the kids race on, SIC Maui, and be held the 17th-18th of this month.  We saw this as the last chance for a long while to go to a race plus we get to see a part of the country we have yet to see, the Columbia River Gorge.

Problem was the $1000s of dollars required to travel with lodging, food, airfare and race fees etc was just not available after spending part of the summer traveling around Mexico.  To solve this the kids volunteered their savings account balances to pay for the costs needed to get there and back.  Of course we would pay the amount back over the following months but the cash available would prevent us having to put things on credit cards or digging into house funds to head north to the race.  Traveling to international races is not cheap!!  Creative financing for sure!

Photo from The SIC Paddle Challenge FB page.

The "Gorge" race is famous for being a "downwinder".  This means the racers will be aided by a tailwind but they also have to navigate challenging currents and water conditions.  The Columbia River Gorge is a world class location for all things "wind" so the event will be a new challenge for the kids since experiencing the epic conditions at the race really cannot be duplicated near us.  This gives a big advantage to racers who train there.  Several pros are already at the race a week early to develop some strategy and understanding of the conditions they will see come race day.

Photo from the SIC Gorge Paddle Challenge FB page.  Hood River Waterfront Park.

The kids will finish up training in the first half of this week with their offseason trainer/coach, Ryan Helm, and then we will be off.  Ashley will fly in from Atlanta to meet us and have a rental SUV ready to accommodate the kid's race boards and drive to Hood River where all the race activities will be held at the waterfront park.  Our hotel is just a 10 minutes walk from the event! Fingers crossed that we make our connections in LAX and Alaska Airlines (yes we bought tickets) will allow the oversized baggage on the plane.  Should be a super fun event.  We just wish other team members were making the trip with us.  This one is going to be up to us to represent the Sayulita JR SUP Team.