On Sunday, the beloved Bay Bridge Paddle returned. While this is very much a local race, it’s also one of the biggest in our area and brings in paddlers from around the country. This year’s race ushered in some changes - a new race director, integration into the Maryland Seafood Festival, fun names for each individual race, and a new, autumn race day.

This race is always a fan favorite. It offers three distances - 1, 3, and 9 miles, with the longer distances paddling at least a portion of the iconic Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Initial weather forecasts showed small craft advisory conditions for race day, but the director - Carleen of Chesupeake/Howl Health - pivoted quickly to make the three and nine mile courses safer while still giving paddlers the chance to get into the bay’s big water and under the towering bridge spans.

This year we both decided to paddle the mid-distance three miler. We hope you’ll keep reading for our recaps, but beyond just our analysis of our individual races, we have to share just how much fun this event was. Most of us of us “compete” at this level as an excuse to hang out with a solid group of like-minded people. And this year’s Bay Bridge Paddle was just that. Not only was it the biggest race of the season, but it brought paddlers we hadn’t seen in a few years. Needless to say, we’re feeling a lot of warm and fuzzies since Sunday. This is why we do what we do: We compete to feel these feelings. And we introduce others so they can feel them too. Anyway, on to our recaps….

Meredith’s Race

When we saw the news on Saturday night about the small craft advisory on race day, I started to spiral. I’m a visualizer when it comes to sports - whether that’s a SUP race or just a mountain bike excursion - and I was having a really hard time envisioning staying on my mostly flatwater board for 3 miles in the choppy bay with wind gusts up to 30 mph. By the time I went to bed I had virtually convinced myself I would be dropping down to the 1 mile race to help ensure my survival. This might sound overly dramatic (and yes, it ended up being just that) but it’s an important reminder that there’s no shame in adjusting your expectations and strategy to keep yourself safe on the water and still wanting to come back for more.

On race morning I decided to make a final determination once I saw the conditions in real-time, which ended up being the right call because things were much better than they had originally predicted. Once I knew I’d be staying in the mid-distance race, I could begin visualizing what that could look like for me. My strategy started at the start line itself, where I chose to line up to the first buoy in a way that would minimize my distance to it and maximize the cleanest water. I was really surprised that I didn’t see a lot of other competitors on that end of the beach, which only helped to boost my confidence as I visualized my race.

Once the race started, I found myself ahead of the pack of females for about the first mile. This leg was all downwind, which Scott and I don’t get a lot of experience with. So that was fun! About a mile in I was passed my another woman, then a second. By the time I got into the bridge spans I was struggling against side chop and I was passed by a third woman. But honestly, seeing the ladies who were passing me really didn’t get inside my head the way it usually does. These three powerhouse women are exactly who I would expect to be passed by. The fact that I was able to (sort of) keep up with them and finish behind them in fourth place made me feel very proud of my abilities. Bonus: I didn’t totally fumble my beach finish this year and I finished 3rd in my age division and 4th overall female.

Finish line at the Bay Bridge Paddle.JPG

Flying Fish race boards at the Bay Bridge Paddle.JPG

Scott’s Race

I think a lot of people had some PTSD lingering after the 2019 race when conditions were so gnarly, which helps to explain why Mere was so high strung going into this one. I wasn’t quite as anxious as she was, but that could also be because I knew I’d be riding a new (to me) board that could better handle the conditions than my other flatwater board.

I had a great starting position, but my start really wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be. Inflatable PFDs are meant to be worn in the front, not the back as most of us racers have been doing for years. Mere and I decided to self investigate what it would be like to race with it in the proper position. It definitely got in the way every time I fell in, which happened at the start.

Despite this fumble, I was able to make up time on my new board. By the time I got to the first buoy I was in a strong second place. While I never found a rhythm with my stroke during the first downwind leg, I was excited to actually feel stable enough on my board to step back and catch at least one ride. That put a cheeseball grin on my face.

Like Mere, and I would think many others, I was on the struggle bus in the bridge spans. The wind was going one direction and the tide was ripping in the other. This is where I fell off my board the most and lost several spots as a result. But, as soon as I was going back into the headwind I hit my stride. This is always where I feel my strongest. At that point, my goal was to make up some of the places I lost. I put my head down and powered through, making up at least three spots.

With two buoys to go I was in fourth place overall and continuing to close in on third. I really thought I could get there, but more falls squashed that.

My biggest takeaway is that my falls are killing my performance. I know a different board would help (and it's in the works thanks to Flying Fish), but do I need more time on my Indo Board? Do I need to keep my eyes more focused on the horizon? Do I need more time in big water? The answer is yes to all of these and probably more.

Overall, I feel really good about my performance. My race strategy was solid and I didn't have to adjust it on the course. In the end, I placed 7th overall in the men's division, and 3rd in my age category.

Podium finishers at the Bay Bridge Paddle.JPG

The race season is winding down but there are still a few more opportunities to get out there and compete.

DC Biathlon, October 1, hosted by Team River Runner
Round the Rocks Race, October 9, hosted by Chesupeake
The Carolina Cup, November 6, hosted by Wrightsville Beach Paddle Club.

We hope to see you at the DC Biathlon and the Carolina Cup (sorry, Carleen, your race is over our anniversary weekend). If you raced, we’d love to hear about your experience on the courses and your takeaways. Comment below! Questions about racing? Pop ‘em below too!