by Linda McCoy, USA SUP President, SouthCentral Region

The Dickinson Bayou Brawl brought out an awesome crowd on October 17th in Dickinson, Texas, just outside of Houston. 

As part of the Regional Race Series and hosted by the Texas Canoe and Kayak Racing Association (TCKRA), the event featured a thrilling group start with paddlers on all kinds of crafts—including Outrigger Canoes, Kayaks, Canoes, Prone boards, and SUPs—tackling a scenic five-mile course down the bayou.

It was fantastic catching up with so many friends on the water, but the real heart of the day came after crossing the finish line.

Post-race celebrations featured hot dogs hot off the grill while everyone watched the youth steal the show! The kids had an absolute blast on the water, piling into canoes for hilarious backwards-and-forwards races, hand-paddling, and dressing up in costumes.

Sibling cheering squads lined the shore with bubbles and handmade signs, creating an infectious energy.

To cap off a perfect day, race director Sandy Yonley handed out the cutest, most unique awards crafted from thrifted action figures—making it downright tough to choose a favorite!

It was such an inspiring, fun-filled event for all ages.

Be sure to put this one on your calendar for next year! It is truly fun for the WHOLE FAMILY! 

by Tricia Lyons, USA SUP Regional Rep, NorthWest Region

Chattajack 31 2026!

Year two of taking on this 32-mile endurance paddle race in Chattanooga, Tennessee, came with a brand new twist: TANDEM SUP!
@susanne.butler.86 and I decided to join forces to help fill out the Tandem bracket at the request of @michelleeason2008 and her partner Grant

We drafted well together at last year’s race, so we figured, why not?
This challenge did NOT disappoint.
We had exactly one day and six miles before the race to dial in our first-ever attempt at tandem paddling.

Safe to say, we crossed the finish line still friends and knowing each other a whole lot better!

Communication is truly KEY on a tandem board—one sneeze, cough, or head turn, and your partner feels everything. I had to press into my feet and legs way more than usual just to keep balanced.
The start was absolute chaos! We endured 1 to 2 miles of solid wash from other paddlers right out of the gate, but we made it through. The rest was smooth sailing until we hit mile 27.

I had previously pulled something in my back and hadn’t fully recovered. By the end, every single boat wake made my left leg cramp so badly that it dropped me to my knees and slowed us down. Sue was an absolute rock—strong, resilient, and a true leader through the mental and physical challenges.

Even as the pain intensified with every passing boat wake, Sue kept me in check and focused. We fought through it and made it to the finish line!
So incredibly GRATEFUL and proud to have accomplished something so hard, so new, and so incredibly cool.

By Ellison Smith, USA SUP Vice President, NorthEast Region

The 15th Chattajack and my first! 31 Miles through the Tennessee River Gorge in the Volunteer State. Starting in the Eastern Time Zone at Market Street Bridge and finishing in the Central Time Zone at Hale's Bar Dam. 753 participants (ages 15-78), representing 39 states, DC, Puerto Rico and six countries. The first of five years to earn my belt in 2031.

Temps were brisk as the sun ascended but would rise quickly thereafter as the weather pattern had played out similiarly all week. Upon arriving at Ross's Landing on the morning of, I could feel myself drawn to the electric energy field where all gathered were estactic about the race around the staging area. Everyone exuded eageress and excitement to get going on the long journey ahead. Final preparations were underway, for the time had come. I bestowed words of encouragement on the beaming faces of my friends and wished them all the best on their paddle. Before we knew it, the National Anthem was being played on a banjo with a Tennessee twist across the steps which were teeming with paddlers of all ages and crafts. The emaculate emcee got us all rocking and ready to go. SUPs were in the first heat and I rushed to the restroom before getting out on the water. I'm not a super competitive paddler and barely had any time to train due to work obligations after the USA SUP National Championships. Despite this, I knew I was up for the challenge, considering I had delved more into distance and developed my mental toughness throughout the year. Also, knowing your hydration and nutrition needs are met goes a long way towards having a successful paddle.

There was an extended wait time while everyone launched from the dock and paddled upriver to the bridge. A quick warm-up set me straight and I chose a spot near the middle of the pack where I felt the flow the fastest. It was a three minute countdown with a rolling start approaching the bridge behind the official boat. Music was in the air as the signal to go approached. And we were off! I had no real plan going in, except to know the course and run my own race. I prefered to challenge myself and decided to make the trip without drafting. Not what I would advise others to do, just personal preference to see how much I could push my abilities. The first 15 miles came relatively easy, over the next 7 I exerted a little extra effort and the last 9 were all mental. Taking the tack of most paddlers proved to best for me in navigating my way through the twists and turns of the river. The only misjudgement I made was drinking half of my water supply too quickly with resulted in a kneel-down three times for some relief in the first 15 miles. Still there was enough to get me through the rest of the way.

At one point, it seemed like the end would never come, but then I refocused and concentrated on my stroke. Before too long, the dam in the distance grew larger and the finish arch came into view. I was looking forward to mile 31, however the length increased to 32 miles without the ability to cut some corners due to the submerged aquatic vegetation. The last mile seemed like an eternity but finally passing through the arch felt incredible. I sat down for the cool down one mile paddle to the River Gorge Ranch take-out area and chatted up some others along the way. A finisher medal was bestowed upon us all after disembarking our craft. At the camp there, we all enjoyed bananas, smoothie packs and chocolate milk to aid in recovery. I basked in the post-race glow with others I knew, congratulating them in kind and all I can say is...whew.

by Jack Flynn, SouthCentral Region Member

USASUP National Championships 2026 was truly an unforgettable experience. Set against the backdrop of beautiful Gig Harbor, this collection of race events was the perfect blend of competition and enchantment. The people of the town were welcoming and enthusiastic about the national event that had descended on their home waters.

For my first National Championships, I decided to take part in the brand-new Inflatable category for all of my races over the weekend: Sprints, 5K, and Technical. Hydrus Board Tech, a premium Idaho-based manufacturer of inflatable SUPs, generously provided 10 brand-new Elysium Air 14x26 inflatable race boards for use during the National Championships. With a new loaner board in hand, I headed out to the events.

 

My first event was the 100m sprints. This was my first time racing sprints beyond a handful of practice meetups, and there was one complication: For the previous three months, the daily high in my native training grounds of Austin, Texas, had rarely dipped below 90 degrees. Consequently, our water temperatures had been in the 80s. Gig Harbor, however, is connected to the cold Pacific waters of Puget Sound, and on race day the water was a whopping 53 degrees. On a new board, embarking on a chaotic race with more experienced racers, I had one thought: Don’t fall in. How did I do in sprints? Well, I didn’t fall in…

 

By Day 2, I had worked through some of my cold-water fear and embraced the 5K distance event with much more enthusiasm. Having made friends with my fellow inflatable competitors, I positioned myself behind them at the start. I reasoned that I would conserve some energy early through the chaos, then work my way toward the front of my heat. The plan worked! To my rejoicing, I finished first among those registered for the inflatable 5K race, earning the top spot on the podium. Not bad for a first USASUP Nationals experience! Huge thanks again to Hydrus for providing the fastest inflatable I have ever ridden.

 

While winning in this brand-new category was fun, it was only the icing on the cake of the overall experience. I found the USASUP community—and our Gig Harbor hosts as well—to be overwhelmingly warm and supportive. Beyond the many conversations on the water, off the water, and while hanging out at the Hydrus tent, we also found time to get together for dinner each night. It was a great experience getting to know the other participants and spending time together.

 

Each day of racing became increasingly enjoyable because of that growing camaraderie. I came to Gig Harbor hoping to race well. I left grateful for the people I met, the friendships I made, and a SUP community I’m sincerely looking forward to seeing again.

by Travis Prewitt, NorthWest Region Member

The 15^th Rose City SUP Classic had perfect conditions for the 55 SUP racers on Portland’s Willamette River October 4^th. Any report on this race must mention Bob Rueter and Bodie Von Allmen.

Rueter founded Gorge Performance 43 years ago as a surf and windsurf shop in Portland and has watched the evolution of SUP from surf boards to Bark Dominator to the dugout carbon fiber boards of today. He and wife Kim have organized and sponsored the SUP Classic since inception. Bob also found time to win the senior (over-67) age group.

Bodie Von Allmen from nearby Lake Oswego entered his first SUP Classic as an 8-year-old. He was the overall winner of the 4.5-mile race at age 10 and overall winner of the 6-mile race at age 13. Now 20, has re-repeated as overall winner of the 6-mile race every year except when professional racing took him elsewhere, this year with a time of 1:05:42.

Vicki Mills was the top female at 1:13:23 at 6-miles. Michael Witherite and Kristi Turner topped the podium in the 4.5-mile race. In the 2-mile race the next generation of champions were led by Yaseen Salem and Fattima Zaki.

by Travis Prewitt, NorthWest Region member

The 13^th annual Paddlesplash festival packed SUP racing and a lot more for three days September 11 through 13th on Lake Natoma in Folsom, California.

The festival bills itself as a celebration of water, wellness, and community. Most importantly the festival is the main fundraiser for NorCalSUP’s outreach program for at-risk and foster children to learn water safety and community through paddleboarding.

Through the years the festival has added less competitive, community events such as a first timer’s race, poker paddle, dog paddle parade, relay race, 100-person yoga and many clinics for SUP, safety, kayak and outrigger to reach the broader community.

For SUP racers, and other craft, there was a two, five and eight mile race this year on the almost always calm waters of Lake Natoma. No motors are allowed on the lake, making it a historic site of Olympic training and rowing championships.

In the 5-mile race the Heinemann family came close to a sweep. Shirley was the fastest overall female, husband Rob was a half-minute behind overall male winner Rod De La Rosa.

In the 8-mile race Marsha Arnold and Michael Kahn were overall winners. On a personal note, for the third year in a row I was the only competitor in my over-70 age group for the five- and eight-mile races. Guys, the rocking chair can wait.

by Ellison Smith - USA SUP Vice President - NorthEast Region

23 Miles 

Carolina Hellbender

Aloha Paddle Lake Norman 

$14,000 to benefit the Carolina Brotherhood- Honoring The Fallen & Their Families. A non-profit dedicated to supporting first responders and their families throughout North and South Carolina. The race supported the local heroes who serve, protect and sacrifice. I'm very thankful to all those who made generous donations to my fundraiser, totalling $450! I can personally attest that your monetary gifts were heartfelt and sincerely appreciated.

The event was the brainchild of Gabe Barajas and brought to life with Lynda Bachman. Following the Super Chill Paddle and Plunge, which was the coldest race of the year, he envisioned hosting the hottest in sharp contrast. To be a direct test of drive and determination. While initially intended to have temperatures influence the experience, the weather turned out to be an anomaly of a typical August summer day. Temps in the low to mid 70's and overcast skies provided relief from what could have potentially been a more hellishly hot paddle. It was a quick seven week turnaround from the inception of the idea to race day. This served as testament to the will of the organizers, supporters and volunteers to help bring the idea to fruition.

Race day preparations for the 23 mile one-way Hellbender began with dropping off our boards at Stutts Marina where the finish was located. From there, everyone boarded a party bus bumping the Hellbender theme song to set the mood. The driver transported us to the Long Island Boat Ramp from where participants would paddle to the start at the Buffalo Shoals Bridge. Prior to getting things underway, there was a call to remember the fallen and their families. Those who had lost loves ones recounted their heroism and how impactful they were in the community. They'll never be forgotten. This was succeeded by 23 seconds of silence. Subsequently underscored by a classical Piobaireachd and a moving rendition of the national anthem by Emerald Phoenix. It was a touching reminder to always be thankful for those who keep us safe.

Once the ceremonies were concluded, paddlers and their support boats headed a mile north to the bridge. I was very fortunate to have local, knowledgeable and enthusiastic Captain Kim Funston Repnow offer her valuable time and resources. She and her friend Kristy Schaeffer Misch came through in a big way to see me through to the end. In the field were seven solo SUPs, three SUP teams, two solo and one tandem surfskis and two OC-6 boats. Joining me on the water were Aaron Paquette, Nea Lee, Alex Zowacki, Mike Hill, Naomi Weiss, Ruth Ann Steen, Jennifer Kessler, Susanne Butler, Annslee Bottoms and Gregg Peters among others. Fire & Rescue and Police were on hand in heavy presence for response if called upon.

My mindset going in was to complete the course on the lake in four and a half hours at 5 miles an hour. My longest race to date had been 10 miles and my longest paddle had been 30 miles. Knowing this, I was confident in my ability to get it done, supported but unassisted by not drafting the boat at any point. With four stops totalling about 25 mins along the way, I was successfully able to meet my goal, all the while training for future distance races. Crossing the finish line felt incredibly rewarding as I was able to contribute to such a great cause and have miles of fun while doing it. At the finish, racers were handed a cowbell and offered ice cold lemonade with Fireball shots

by Ellison Smith, USA SUP Vice President - NorthEast Region

Pittsburgh, the Steel City. Famously known for it's industrial heritage. Once the steel capital of the world, responsible for producing the steel used in landmarks such as the Empire State Building and the Brooklyn Bridge. The city of bridges and ketchup origination has shifted it's identity to technology and healthcare.

What started last year as an inaugural race, Alex Zowacki has continued the PITT Paddle for it's second edition. The student, hard worker, marathon runner and now Blackfish Paddles ambassador is truly dedicated to the sport. The event takes you to the iconic convergence of the three rivers in downtown. Alex had spent a tremendous amount of time coordinating and planning to see that paddlers continue to have the opportunity to enjoy the city's waterways and recognizable features along the path to fun and competition.

This year, as well as last, a large contingent of the CHESUPEAKE community from Maryland made their presence known and showed up in a big way on the podium. The race day festivities began at the Three Rivers Rowing facility located on Herrs Island in the Allegheny River. The race started slightly north of the point from the previous year. The course was designed to go up around the park at the north end of the island, down along the southside enroute to Park State Fountain where the three rivers meet. From there, it was back up the river, past Acisure Stadium and PNC Park to return to the finish for the 10K. 15K participants including myself continued to the Ohio River which was my second time competing on the waterway this summer.

There we circled Brunot Island to make it two circumnavigations prior to finishing. I wasn't able to take in much of the 12 bridges or the cityscape but was aware of the fantastic setting with the occasional quick look up. Fighting the current on the return portion of the race was no joke. I hadn't experienced a current that strong since the the St. John's River in Jacksonville early last year. It wasn't as challenging as that but nonetheless, it was so much so that I was convinced I was dragging aquatic vegetation or debris of some sort behind me. Hugging the island and shoreline proved to be the best track to take while being mindful of the minefield of swirling eddies which could spin you into the river at any point. The Monongahela River wasn't included on the tour but perhaps it may make the cut in an even longer course in the future. It was a lot of fun racing and trading places with Gregg Peters, Natalie Shurigina and Aaron Paquette during the tough trek. After accomplishing 23 miles in my previous race, the 12 didn't seem as daunting.

I finished third overall and no worse for wear. I had a great time reconnecting with Kathryn Skies and John Alexander Mackey who I missed at the End of Summer Splash SUP Race, Randy Rair and Tony Galang with whom I helped set a Guinness World record on the Ohio River to the west in Cincinnati, as well as Saul Kravitz, Melanie Watt and Robert. Let's all do it again next Labor Day weekend!

by Debbie Carrillo - SouthCentral Member

*all photos by Laurel Hart - SouthCentral Member

I heard so many great things about the Grand River Dam Paddle in Langley Oklahoma and its organizer John Knippers, you know I had to go.  Arriving Friday, before everything got kicked off, gave me the ability to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and to meet some incredible people. Many of the participants were camping at the location which gave it special energy. There were participants arriving from 11 different states with so many different crafts.

Saturday morning after everyone was registered, everyone was ready to go! Excitement was high and John had us ready to go. The fans were in full force, ringing cowbells to get us going.

I signed up for the 11-mile race to challenge myself. I was excited but of course very nervous since it was my first time at the GRDP. The race itself consists of 5.5 miles downriver and then 5.5 miles back up to the start. Easy enough right? Well, little did we know what mother nature had waiting for us. The river flow was minimal; it was hot and so humid!  We were hot before we started. I knew it was going to be a hard paddle, so I used Linda McCoy as my rabbit; I wanted to be able to see her to give me motivation. Luckily it was a long wide river enabling me to see her off in the distance as our gap widened during the race.

There were times when I really didn’t even think I would be able to finish but I would get encouragement from other paddlers. Kayaker, Zane, was a real blessing. Our conversation kept my mind off the struggle. I had plenty of water/electrolytes  but had to stop paddling several times just to splash water on myself. Eventually I could see the Dam, but where was the bridge indicating we were near the finish line? Finally, it was in view and there was Linda crossing the finish line!  I made it. Not only did I complete the GRDP but I came in third. Exhausted but a very proud old lady.

Thankfully, John and all his dedicated volunteers were at the finish line making sure that we were well taken of.  Getting together with the other participants, eating good food, and chatting about the race was fun. John personally made the unique paddle completion awards for each of the participants. He also made special paddle “trophies” for each category of winners.

 This race was amazing and every participant, whether they made the podium or not, was exhausted and proud of what they had achieved. A real community of winners!  John Knippers puts his heart and soul into this race and it shows.  GRDP is a must do!

by Kristina Morros

For many paddlers, race weekends are about much more than competition. They are an opportunity to travel, reconnect with friends, discover new waterways, and spend time with a community brought together by a shared passion for stand-up paddleboarding. That spirit was on full display at this year's Bill Bone Paddle the Peanut in Riviera Beach, Florida, on July 19th. After challenging conditions last year, the 2026 event offered nearly perfect racing weather. Calm water, light winds, overcast skies, and minimal boat traffic created fast conditions on Lake Worth Lagoon, allowing competitors to enjoy one of Florida's most scenic race venues. The race board course covered approximately 4.5 miles, taking paddlers on two laps around scenic Peanut Island. Recreational paddlers completed one lap, while canoe, kayak, and outrigger competitors tackled longer distances. There was even a SUP with Your Dog division, adding to the event's relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

Notable Finish Times

There were several standout performances highlighted this year's race: Mark Hewitt posted the fastest stand-up paddleboard time overall, finishing in 39:36 while competing in the Men's 60+ division. Lenin Henderson captured the Men's Open title in 40:22, while Gabriella Cukier won the Women's Open division aboard an inflatable race board with a remarkable 41:44 finish.

Other standout performances included Michael Markunas (41:02) and Allen Alquist (42:47), demonstrating the depth of competition throughout the field. One of the day's most impressive divisions was Men's 60+, where multiple athletes recorded times that would be competitive in any age group. Among the women, Kristina Morros claimed the Women's 50+ division in 41:21, while Sabrina Wong earned second place with a strong 49:39 finish.

 

Passion Has No Age Limit

One of the day's most memorable stories belonged to Ben Martin, who won the Men's 70+ division at 78 years old.

Martin competed on a custom-built 14-foot race board that he designed and built himself, complete with a classic flame paint scheme. His story perfectly captures the creativity, dedication, and lifelong passion found throughout the paddle community. It's a reminder that competitive spirit and a love for the sport have no age limit.

Post-Race, Riviera Style

Following the awards ceremony, many competitors gathered at the nearby sandbar alongside boats, jet skis, and local paddlers to enjoy an afternoon on the water. While stand-up paddle racing is technically an individual sport, events like Paddle the Peanut serve as a reminder that one of its greatest strengths is the community surrounding it. Every race brings together paddlers of different ages, backgrounds, and experience levels, united by a love of being on the water.

For many competitors, those friendships are just as rewarding as the medals. The racing may bring people to the starting line, but it's the community that keeps them coming back year after year.