Winners: Wrightsville Beach Biathlon 2nd annual event
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, N.C. . . . The endurance of athletes of all ages was tested over water and across sand as racers paddleboarded four miles, then sprinted four miles to the finish line in the 2nd annual Wrightsville Beach Biathlon on Saturday, March 26.
Chris Johnson, winner in the Men's Division, said: "Conditions were very good. The air was cool, the water was great, and the current was calm." Johnson, an accounting student at UNCW Wilmington, hopes to pursue stand up paddleboarding (SUP) professionally. Johnson completed the 8 mile course in 1hour/16mins/24seconds, beating last year's by 8 minutes. This was Johnson's 3rd SUP race.
Men's Division:
1st Place: Chris Johnson, Wilmington luckystarfaux@yahoo.com
2nd Place: Bryan Batton, Wilmington
3rd Place: Chris Curry, Wrightsville Beach
4th Place: Greg Lew, Wilmington
5th Place: John Bosang, Wilmington
In the Women's Division, Kimberly James completed the race in 1hour/29mins/57 seconds. Kimberly, of Wilmington, said "...conditions were perfect on the beach and the water. I felt really good today. Everything clicked." Kimblerly has raced SUP in six states from NC to California. Typically, she finishes 2nd, 3rd, or 4th. Today, she experienced her first win.
Women's Division:
1st Place: Kimberly James, Wilmington chris.johnson83@yahoo.com
2nd Place: Kristen Lewis
3rd Place: Karen Wilson, Kure Beach
4th Place: Susan Lew, Wilmington
5th Place: Bev Veals
SUP or stand-up paddle boarding is the fastest growing outdoor water sport in America and the Wrightsville Beach Biathlon will attracted clean water sportsmen and women from North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. With its protected inland waterway enhanced by challenging ocean conditions, Wrightsville Beach is recognized as one of the prime destinations for SUP athletes in the East Coast's southeast region.
The whistle start began on Banks Channel opposite the Blockade Runner Beach Resort, event co-sponsor.
Stand up paddle boarders stroked the open channel into Motts Channel, turning South along the Intracoastal Waterway, to the Coast Guard Station, back to the starting point, an approximately 4-mile course.
From there, athletes sprinted to the ocean front along Public Beach Access No. 33 and completed a second 4-mile pier to pier course along the beach strand between Johnnie Mercer's Pier to the Crystal Pier and back to the Blockade Runner.
Last year's champion, Chris Curry, completed the course in 1 hour and 24 minutes. Coastal Urge, a local outfitters store, and co-sponsor assisted with logistics.
Contact:
Jason St. Clair Jeoffrey Nathan
Blockade Runner Beach Resort Coastal Urge
(800)541-1161 or (910)256-2251 (800) 383-4443 ext 10
jason@blockade-runner.com
