Last weekend 10 of the Jersey SUP Club paddlers headed to St Malo to compete against some of Frances top Stand Up Paddlers in the Paddle Party 2012. The event was held over Saturday and Sunday and the weather was amazing.
On the Saturday the 1st race was a 5km around the back of the walled town. The setting was stunning and there was a huge crowd along the beach and the ramparts cheering all the racers on.
The second race of the day was a 10km race in the St Malo marina. The race was started in the water by the Pirate ship and the course took the racers around the whole harbour which meant they had to crouch and paddle under a bridge to get from one part to the next. For this race there were spectators all among the bridge and banks shouting support and there were even a few familiar Jersey faces in the crowd.
Sundays race was held in Dinard. The first race was 5km from Dinard to Saint Lunaire, once there we had a relaxing 3 hours enjoying a BBQ before the 2nd race of the day, another 5km back to Dinard.
Jason Stolte summed up the weekend very well with these words
“Quite an experience racing with so many people over 4 races and 25k. The individual battles, the camaraderie, the sheer physical effort. Each one of us cheered on our colleagues over the finish united in the challenge and the battle of racing across the sea with a paddle and a board, respectful of each other’s efforts and all brothers at the end.”
“One of my best weekend’s ever for the experience. It wouldn’t have mattered where I came but actually leading the last race if only for 50 yards and coming 4th overall was the icing on the cake.”
The Jersey crew would like to thank the organisers of both days for putting on a spectacular event. We couldn’t have been made to feel more welcome and look forward to coming back for the next one.
The class results were worked out based on your total scores over the four races.
Men’s 14ft class – results out of 10
2 – André LE GEYT
3 – Jason STOLTE
5 – Aaron ROWE
Men’s 12’6 class – results out of 26
3 – John HARVEY
5 – Gary SMITH
9 – Tim ROWE
12 – Mark CREEDON
14 – Alan FERNANDES
22 – Richie LANGFORD
23 – Steve ASCROFT
Click here to view photo’s from the 1st day of racing Paddle Part 2012