By Mark Dorsey
Intern
While the rest of Wilmington clings to its warm bed sheets on the morning of Jan. 17, the thrill-seeking athletes of standup paddleboarding will once again be gearing up and taking to the intracoastal waters for the start of the Seventh Annual Cold Stroke Classic at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort. Organized by local retailer Coastal Urge, the event draws lovers of the newly popular sport from all parts of the East and West coasts to compete for cash prizes, fame and bragging rights.
Jeoffrey Nathan, race director and co-owner of Coastal Urge, explained the race was begun to encourage people to keep paddleboarding during the off season
“We started the race seven years ago to encourage people to keep their boards out of their garages and out on the water,” Nathan said.
For all of those brave enough to laugh in the face of freezing mid-January tides, the race commences at 10 a.m. with the course taking contestants on a brisk tour around the beautiful, yet untamed waters of Harbor Island.
“It’s a nice route,” Nathan said, “because you can always get out at any point during the course but there are still plenty of wind and tide conditions to negotiate.”
With two divisions to choose from, paddlers will either register for the 3.5 mile recreational course or the 7 mile elite course, which took last year’s first-place winner Jeremy Whitted of Charleston, S.C., more than one hour and 20 minutes to complete. Those in the elite divisions are competing for a $1,250 cash purse while those in the recreational classes compete for $5,000 in prizes donated by Coastal Urge. Nevertheless, Jarrod Covington, a former contestant and current Wrightsville Beach resident, believes that even though winning and taking home the victor’s cash is a big part of this race, it is really the camaraderie between all the paddlers that should be the main focus.
“This race is a big part of the community,” Covington said.
New to the 2015 event is a swap meet and barbecue at the Wrightsville Beach Coastal Urge store located at 2035 Eastwood Road from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16. A free North Carolina pig-pickin’ dinner is available for contestants with raffles and giveaway prizes accompanied by the rocking sounds of DJ Fray during the evening.
Over the years, the Cold Stroke Classic has become a date to save on the calendar for many, including John Beausang, Wilmington local and fifth-year participant.
“It started the standup paddle culture in Wrightsville Beach and the friendships we made in the first year have grown and fostered new ones. It’s something I look forward to all year long,” Beausang said.
While the race does bring the paddlers together it also attracts those who like to watch the sport. For those interested in learning more about standup paddleboarding, Coastal Urge is hosting an exhibitors expo located at the Blockade Runner, which will be open to the public throughout the event with free demos.
“I would love to see the town get behind it even more,” Covington said. “It’s a very spectator-friendly sport.”
Registration for the Cold Stroke Classic, up until midnight Friday, Jan. 16, starts at $55 for adults and $25 for children at
www.coldstrokeclassic.com
