Despite some less than favourable weather conditions organizers and participants are calling the first ever down wind toonie race for paddlers a huge success for the 麻豆社国产Paddling Club (SPC).
"We're excited for our first one, our goal was about 10 boats that would be pretty good and we ended up with 21 boats," said organizer Ian Lowe.
In total 32 people competed in five different types of boats including 12 single-person kayaks, two-double sea kayaks, two six-person outrigger canoes, two stand up paddle boards, a surf ski and one recreational canoe.
Lowe said it was nice to see such a wide variety of boats out on local water for the Saturday (June 26) race.
Many but not all of the participants were from Squamish. Six Pembertonians who called themselves the Bald Eagles were the first to cross the long course finish line in a six-seater outrigger canoe with a time of 36:40, while Lowe crossed the finish line second in his high performance sit ski.
"But that was more to do with my boat than anything else," Lowe joked.
"Well it's a combination but it's definitely a fast boat."
The second six-person outrigger from Pemberton powered by Team Awesome crossed the finish line in third place with a time of 39:43.
Both the short and long course started and finished in the Mamquam Blind Channel, with the longer course stretching out to Nexen Beach and back. Near the halfway point, Lowe said the wind picked up and the water turned choppier than expected.
"It was gusting to 20 knots, which is pretty good wind, so there was three foot waves that people were having to deal with."
Stand up paddle boarder Norm Hann competed in the race and although the tough weather didn't bother him too much, he said he could definitely see the weather being too tough for many stand up paddle boarders to race in.
"The conditions I had to go around, I'm comfortable in those types of conditions but there's not too many people who would have been able to stand on their board out there," said the owner and operator of Mountain Surf Adventure.
He said, from a stand up paddle boarding perspective, traveling into a head wind is tough and certainly not ideal for paddle boarders.
Regardless of the head winds, Hann had a great time chasing the usually fast kayaks around.
"I liked it because I'm always trying to beat the kayakers because generally kayak are more efficient than stand up paddle boards, so it was fun being out there with them and chasing them around.
"It's nice to see the kayaking and paddling community out. But it would definitely be nice to see some more stand up paddle boarders."
With 28 paddlers completing the long course, only three racers chose the shorter route.
"And considering those conditions that kind of surprised me," Lowe said.
Kayaker Karen Berrisford finished the race first in 26:22, second place went to canoer Ted Prior who crossed the finish line at the 30:30 mark while third place went to stand up paddle boarder Dawn Englehart with a time of 34:50.
The SPC is organizing another toonie race in July although the date has yet to be confirmed. Lowe said if the next down wind toonie race has as many people show up, the SPC might host a third and final race for the summer in Aug.
"Again if we get the same kind of draw we did for this first one definitely continuing something for next year either weekly or bi weekly."
For up to date information on upcoming paddling events visit www.squamishpaddlingclub.com/.
