16th Annual Key West Paddleboard Classic May 9-12

Key West Paddleboard Classic is a WPA Southeast Region National Points Race4 days of fun in the sun in Key West, Florida.

KEY WEST, Florida - After 16 years of the Key West Paddle Board Classic, Lazy Dog is presenting the event for the first time and will be incorporating a few fun changes. The organizing team trusts that the participants will still have an adventurous and enjoyable race experience!

One difference involves keeping an “ocean start” but changing the race start and finish location further down the street so that friends and families can watch the finish in a traditional "beach finish” style!

Also, Higgs Beach is the new race start, located at 1000 Atlantic Boulevard (about 1 mile from last years start). This county beach has clean changing rooms and bathrooms, a full service restaurant, and more parking!

There will also be board caddies at a board drop off location which anyone can use and the service free of charge!  It's also good to know that board rentals will be available but should be reserved now as they always sell out!

For further information please drop us a line at race@lazydog.com.

Please register here: Key West Paddle Board Classic Registration

SCHEDULE (Please note race start times are subject to change):

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

5-7pm LAZY DOG YAPPY HOURJoin us at Lazy Dog for a casual meet and greet happy hour at Hurricane Hole Marina, 5130 US 1, Key West. Meet the dogs and feel free to bring Fido on a leash! This event is open to the general public. Free board demos, live music, and drink specials!

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2013

1-4pm YOLO PADDLE CLINIC - Paddle Performance Clinic for Men and Women with Yolo Pro Riders. At Higgs Beach.  All levels welcome! Price: $40
5-8pm KICK-OFF PARTY AND REGISTRATION PACKET PICKUP AT TURTLE KRAALS - Racers can catch up, discuss race strategies and review the course map! Invite your friends and family to this fun free event. Bocci courts and corn hole games! Complementary Kona Beer.
** IMPORTANT NOTE: All racers are required to pick up their packets before the morning of the race to obtain their timing chip and race number. If you are unable to attend the registration party please contact us at race@lazydog.com to make other arrangements.

SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2013

12-mile “Paddle Around the Island” Key West Paddle Board Classic WPA Southeast Region National Points Race

4-mile Recreational race - Open race (14′, 12’6, 12′ and under) boards

RACE DAY at Higgs Beach

7:00 am: Registration / Classic Expo Opens

9:00 am: Racer’s Meeting

9:30 am: 12-Mile Elite Race (ocean start), beach finish

10:00 am: 4-Mile Open Race (ocean start), beach finish

3:30 pm: Wrap-up at the Beach

9:30am 12 MILE ELITE RACE sponsored by TURTLE KRAALS

10:00am 4 MILE RECREATIONAL RACE sponsored by RIVIERA

The Course:

We’re going all the way around the island!  Starting at Higgs Beach, near the White Street Pier and then Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park. Round the corner and paddle past famous Mallory Square. Through the harbor, head toward Fleming Key Bridge and enter the Gulf of Mexico, then turn right toward Cow Key Channel. A quick spin past the mangroves and you are headed out into the Atlantic and back to the finish line on Higgs Beach.  

Organizers will watch the tidal conditions very closely the days before the race and then determine the most enjoyable 4-Mile course starting from Higgs Beach. But it will probably look something like a triangle in the following direction:
The Open Race course will follow in the wake of our Elite racers heading west, we’re going to round a buoy marker and head away from the island for a mile or so toward another buoy marker. After the 2nd turn, racers will head to the finish back at Higgs Beach!

Race Divisions: The Key West Paddleboard Classic is an all-inclusive, diverse event for all paddlers.

• Standup Paddleboard Stock (12’6″ and under)

• Standup Paddleboard 14″

• Standup Paddleboard Unlimited

• Paddleboard Stock (Prone)

• Paddleboard Unlimited (Prone)

• Outrigger (OC1, OC2, OC6)

• SurfSki

• Kayak

• Dory

Awards Celebration:

The awards will take place at Turtle Kraals & Half Shell Raw Bar Plaza in Lands End Village along the Historic Seaport.  There will be live music and dancing!  The awards celebration includes food, drink specials, prize drawings for all participants and an awards presentation with special acknowledgement for the top finishers.  There is complimentary admission for all racers and tickets for friends and family can be purchased at registration, on active.com or at the door for just $15/person which includes two free Kona draft beers.

SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

Fun on the Beach!

9:00am: Kids SUP CLINIC WITH BAILEY ROSEN

Higgs Beach, Key West for all levels!  Reserve a spot on the registration page and come learn from one of Florida’s top racers, Bailey Rosen.  The $40 Clinic includes free entry into the kids race.

10:30am: KIDS RACE

1 mile double loop course.15 and under, $10 (race only, no clinic)

11:30am: SPRINT RACES

12’6 and under boards only, men’s and women’s divisions.  The sprint races will run in heats.  The top two finishers in each heat will continue on to next heat. Racers will sprint to a buoy, make a left hand turn and sprint back. The final race will be a challenge for the top 5 men and women athletes.

1:00pm: RELAY RACES

The relay race is always the most fun and memorable. Teams will consist of four persons with at least one female per team. Only one board can be used per team, a 12’6″ or under SUP board. The course will be eight laps, each team member will run through the course twice. This is an ocean circuit race. There will be a beach start, a short loop course, competitors will beach their board, run through an obstacle course, then tag their teammate.

For more information on where to stay or any other aspect of the event, please visit the Lazy Dog Paddleboard Classic Website.  

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