32nd Catalina Classic greets surfers with stormy weather
Kyle Daniels : photo Jeff Cutler
Rookie and Veteran Paddlers Greeted with Challenging Conditions in
2007 Catalina Classic
The 32nd annual Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race saw record participants and attendance despite stormy conditions. With strong winds, heavy currents and cool water temps this years 32 mile race from Catalina to Manhattan Beach proved to be one the most challenging years since it’s inception in 1955.
At 5:50am Sunday
morning as the paddlers prepared to kick off the shores of twin harbors at
Catalina’s Isthmus, it was announced that the winds were 11 knots in the
channel and only going to get worse.
Immediately out of the harbor the racers met 3 – 4 foot wind chop that
persisted all the way 22 miles across the channel. 24-time Catalina Classic
finisher and legendary paddleboard shaper Joe Bark commented over the PA at
the finish line “in all my crossings this year might have had the worst
conditions”. In spite of rough water, 82 paddlers, many of them first
timers, finished the race.
The less that desirable conditions were nothing for now 6 time Catalina Classic winner and local Hermosa Beach lifeguard Kyle Daniels, and visiting Hawaiian Keoni Watson who both won their divisions by significant margins. Daniels beat out runner up Ryan Addison and crossed the finish line with Addison more than a quarter mile behind. Watson’s win was even more so convincing leaving 2nd place Michael Carr almost 12 minutes behind him.
Beach scene : photo Jeff Cutler
The growth of the
sport of paddleboarding has been astounding over the past few years. The
2007 Classic felt the impact of this growth both in the water and on land.
With 99 entries and 82 finishers this year marked the largest field of
paddlers in the races 52 year history.
The fact that nearly half of those participants were first time Catalina
Classic racers reflected the sports growth even more. This years race was
supported by the largest beach crowd in recent history.
Even with out of season rainsqualls keeping the beach cool, people lined the
pier and shores to watch the finishers complete their journey. The 2007
Catalina Classic was dedicated to the late Gibby Gibson. Special thanks to
Honolua Surf Co. and all the other race sponsors and supporters.
About the
Catalina Classic
The Catalina Classic Paddleboard race was officially started in 1955 by Los
Angeles County Lifeguard Bob Hogan. The fist Catalina crossing was actually
paddled in 1932 and was won by legendary waterman Tom Blake, beating out
Pete Peterson and Wally Burton in just under 6 hours.
The Catalina Classic paddleboard race starts at the Isthmus on Catalina
Island and travels 32 miles across one the Pacific’s deepest and busiest
channels and finishes at the Historic Manhattan Beach Pier.
The paddlers will paddle boards between 12 and 19 feet long, using only
their hands to propel them through the water. Swells, currents, and winds
conditions play into what is notoriously one of the most grueling endurance
events in the world.
Legendary watermen such as Ricky Grigg, Mike Bright, Tom Zahn, Gregg Noll,
Bob Hogan, Kemp Aaberg, Mike Doyle, George Downing, Joe Quigg, Mikey Munoz,
Mike Eaton, Buzzy Kerbox, and Laird Hamilton have helped make the Catalina
Classic paddleboard race the premier and most historical paddleboard race in
the world.