If you happened to drive by Ross Island on May 19, you may have seen something interesting: From a distance, it looked like dozens of men and women stood on the Willamette River, gliding forward; but as you got closer you saw they were vigorously rowing while standing on surfboards. The 2012 Ross Island Stand Up Paddle Series was underway, and it’s not over yet.
The stand up paddle race is a two-stage series held at the Oaks Amusement Park in Sellwood. The first leg was held on May 19 and the second stage will take place this Saturday at 9:30 a.m. It’s quite a sight to see.
Stand up paddling, also called paddle surfing or paddle boarding, is a water sport of Hawaiian origin. The participants stand on surfboards and use a paddle to maneuver and propel themselves forward. Paddle boarding is easier to learn than surfing, and it’s also a good core-muscle workout. The paddles used are constructed from carbon, fiberglass or wood, and riders are required to wear a personal flotation device when paddling in certain areas.
Saturday’s race results will qualify for World Paddle Association points for participants with a current WPA membership. The races are split into two categories: the elite class and the recreational class. The elite classes will race two laps around Ross Island for a total distance of 8.3 miles. The first lap will be clockwise and the second counterclockwise. The participants will turn around just south of the island instead of at the start and finish lines. The recreational class will race just one lap around the island for a distance of 4.3 miles. All board designs, including surfboards, are welcome in this class.
The participants need to follow a few rules during the race. A bumping penalty will apply, which means that the racers will have to dismount immediately if they run into a fellow racer.
Online registration for the Ross Island SUP event is currently open, even to those who did not compete on May 19. The registration fee for one race is $35 and $60 for both. Registration at the event begins at 8:30 a.m. Pre-registered participants need to check in and sign a waiver. The skippers meeting will take place at 9:30 a.m., and the race will start at 10 a.m. The awards ceremony will be held after each race, recognizing the overall category winners.
Cyril Burguiere won the men’s 14-foot elite event against eight other racers on May 19. He finished the race in 1:18:22. Doug Hopkins won the elite men’s 50-plus 14-foot event with a time of 1:25:52.
Oscar Maciel won the men’s 12-foot-6-inch event in 1:41:07 and Elizabeth Schalka won the women’s 12-foot-6-inch event in 1:37:18. In the recreational category, Rob Finlay and Tracy Solomon won the men’s and women’s categories, respectively. The weather is forecast to be cloudy on Saturday with a 30 percent chance of rain. If you want to see a great competition, head down to the waterfront near Ross Island.