Race Recap: Chesapeake Stand Up Challenge 2019

We look forward to the Chesapeake Stand Up Challenge every year. It’s put on by the best in the biz - Mark and Mark of East of Maui Annapolis - the only true all-season board shop in the area with two of the most knowledgeable people around. It also lives up to its name, with side chop, wind, and boats giving paddlers a true challenge on the water. Similar to Goat Island, we divided and conquered at this race - Scott paddling his usual long course and Meredith bumping down to the 1 mile sprint with Fin in tow. Here’s a recap of our time on the water and what we’re taking away from the experience.

Scott’s Race

This is one of our favorite races to get there early and hang out afterwards. This race truly embodies the spirit of the SUP community. Again, I came into this race with zero expectations, but I did prep both boards with Onit Pro’s Blue Goo and Extreme Cream hoping it would help boost my morale!

I had a great start with all of the 7-mile racers, staying in the lead pack (including 14-footers) for the first three miles of the race. Wind and tide were at our back during the first leg, but it didn’t seem to help much (boy, was it hot - I nearly finished my hydration pack out there). In fact, my GPS showed I was paddling faster in the up-wind/up-current return trip. My biggest takeaway: I stayed closer to the deeper water on the way out to take advantage of the current and wind, but moved inland on the way back to help combat the opposing current. I always try to focus on one aspect of my stroke in every race, and this time I concentrated on a wider grip on my paddle. I felt really powerful and fast, and I think it helped in the upwind leg because I was lower to the water, but I definitely felt it in my lower back the next day. More training required!

On a side note: It was nice to have friends (Julie and Bernie) meet me on the water before the last buoy to cheer me in. In the heat of the race, it’s a good reminder that the camaraderie is what brings us all out there in the first place. I was stoked to nail a nearly picture perfect buoy turn at the finish and secure second place in the overall men’s 12’6 category.

Just a friendly reminder to thank all of those volunteers out there, especially the people looking out for your tails (safety boats, crew, and the U.S. Coast Guard).

Meredith’s Race

I decided to race the 1 mile sprint since this course can be notoriously windy and choppy. While we’ve been training more with Fin on our race boards, I wasn’t quite sure how comfortable my little passenger would be if the conditions were too rough. Safety first, right?

That being said, that training really paid off! Scott and I’ve been working with Fin to stay stationary - whether sitting or standing. It’s just as much for his safety and comfort as it is mine and those paddling around me. That training worked! He stayed on my board the entire race, which of course meant I wasn’t stopping and starting several times during the race like I was at Goat Island.

Once we were up and moving and I realized Fin was in it for the long haul, we paddled hard. But I also took time to take it all in and be respectful of the brand new paddlers, many of them kids, around me. I paused to try to help retrieve a lost flip-flop and slowed down several times to let a young boy paddle ahead of us. We 100% could have gone faster, but I’m not sorry that we didn’t.

After all of that, Fin and I still crossed the finish line in second place overall. But, I already knew going into the race that I wasn’t going to accept a podium spot. I’m a seasoned paddler, having competed in races for the last 6 years with my fair share of wins and losses. I figure if I can paddle 32 miles down the Tennessee River Gorge, it’s completely unfair of me to compete against brand new racers in a 1 mile sprint. Even though Scott and I talked about this before the race, it still felt really good to give up my spot, inspire another seasoned paddler to do the same, and see two groms and a new SUP racer experience the thrill of standing on the podium.

I say this not to pat myself on the back or elicit kudos and thanks, but to remind my fellow racers about what this sport is really all about. Winning is fleeting. The friendships, the personal growth, and the challenges we face and conquer are what really matter. I loved seeing two other SUP pups out there competing and was so stoked for Fin to make new puppy friends, Blitzen and Amal! Special thanks to Mark and Mark for giving Fin a shout-out as the first pooch to cross the finish line. Think we can get a SUP pup category next year?!

We’re finding that our race recaps this year are doing more than just reviewing our experiences. For us, they’re uncovering thoughts, feelings, and themes about this sport and the racing niche (more blog posts to come!). What are you discovering about the sport or yourself this season? Have these recaps uncovered anything for you? We’d love to hear - comment below!