surfski novice

2014 WPA Championship Race Event St Petersburg, FL St. Petersburg Florida:   The World Paddle Association (WPA) in conjunction with the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Florida Sports Commission are proud to announce the 2014 WPA Championship Race to be held at the Sirata Beach Resort in St. Petersburg, Florida October 24, 25 & 26, 2014. It will be the 1st time the WPA Championships are held on the East Coast. “St. Petersburg-Clearwater is an amazing paddling destination with miles of open water and inter-costal conditions, it will challenge all competitors in this championship event. Get ready for a fun-filled three days of events showcasing our true Gulf Beach charm hosted by The Sirata Beach Resort and its first class beachside amenities. This will be a weekend not to be missed!”   Rob Mirlenbrink – WPA Region 5 Director and WPA Championship Race Director “We are excited to hold the WPA Championships in the St. Petersburg-Clearwater area given the large number of paddl...

The 1st Annual Pasco Paddlepalooza April 25-27th 2014 is going to be one of the biggest paddling events all year.  Three races with time trials, short course, long course, dragon boat sprints, etc.  There are races for many types of paddlers including kayak, Stand-up Paddleboard, OC-1, Surfski, K1, Tandem, recreational, etc.  Register at  www.pascopaddlepalooza.com Great prizes, each competitor gets a quality paddlepalooza dry weave shirt, craft beer festival, live music, raffle, food all held at Gill Dawg Port Richey and surrounding areas Salt Springs State Park, Cotee River, Durney Key, etc.

If you are interested in being part of a dragon boat team and competiting in the Battle of the Bayou as part of Pasco Paddlepalooza 2014, there will be a Intro to Dragon Boating held at Gil Dawgs in Port Richey from 6-7:30 pm with music on the deck and team Dawg social afterwards.  Come get your paddle on!  Call Walter for details at 727-842-1070.

The Tarpon Canoe Club organizes a great OC-6 team race every year called the Tarpon Relays.  Teams from all over the Tampa Bay Area will be competing this Saturday March 15th at the Anclotte River Park.  This event is an endurance event with three 8 mile races.  The first race of the day is usually from Anclotte River Park to Anclotte Key State Park and back.  The second race of the day is from Anclotte River Park to Alternate 19 and back.  Finally the day finishes with one last from Anclotte River Park back out to Anclotte Key State Park and back.  The waters between Anclotte River Park and Anclotte Key State Park are beautiful.  There is a string of small dredge islands leading out to the much larger Anclotte Key approximately 2.5 miles offshore.  In between you will see dolphins, sharks, and sea turtles.  See you all there!

The West Coast Championships was one of the best race event of the year.  Ideal weather and ideal location made for 2 days of intense paddling.  Saturday OC-6 500m sprints.  Saturday the beach was packed with hundreds of participants from clubs as far away as Miami and Atlanta.  Kai Aniani really over performed winning every event.  Sunday not as many participants but those who competed were very highly skilled paddlers.  We raced an ideal 8 mile course for SUP, OC-1 and Surfski from Sand Key straight out thru Clearwater Pass out to Marker #1 and back twice.  This course turned out to be one of the best course choices I have paddled in Florida.  The pass had its challenges on a great incoming current and side current as edge of the Sand Key jetty.  It was an ideal race under ideal condition, a real change from the last few years.  I stayed for both days and I'll be back next year.

There are two races in the Tampa Bay Area FL both on Valentines weekend.  I know you're girl might have some other plans, but if you are free then don't miss it.  Both are well attended and have been going for years.  Races are on Saturday February 15th & Sunday February 16th so technically they really aren't on Valentines at all and if you still have enough energy after this race, you can go out Saturday night.  Ok, here's the schedule: Sweetwater Paddle for the Cure 5 mile race & 2 mile family fun paddle https://www.facebook.com/pages/... Paddle-for-the-Cure /191690397537282 The annual Sweetwater  Paddle for the Cure  was created to bring kayakers and paddlers of all levels together to  ...  Be part of the biggest paddling event in  Tampa .  ...  6th Annual Sweetwater  Paddle For The Cure  Sunday, February 16,  2014 . Jensen Classic Weeki Watchee FL Saturday February 15th 12pm http://beatcancerwit...

List of paddling Pasco events thru April 2014 1.       Sunday January 19, 2014 - Sunrise paddling trip from Nicks Park in Port Richey to Durney Key off the mouth of the Cotee River. Coffee, Danish and maybe Champagne raised to celebrate the start of another wonderful day in paradise. Explore the island and nearby stilt houses and return to Nicks Park. We will launch between 6:45 am and 7 am – bring a lighting devise. Sunrise is at 7:23 am. We will head back to shore between 9:45 am and 10 am. It will be low tide when we head back in. Maybe lunch at Gill Dawg and Nap in the afternoon. 2.       Saturday February 22, 2014 - Sunset paddling trip from Eagle Point Park to Anclote River Park along the SW Pasco County coastline. Fire on the beach at Anclote River Park for about an hour and a half after sunset. Enjoy the mangrove covered shoreline along with a portion of the Ballies Bluff community, with views of the Gulf of Mexico and ...