Family of Four to Race in Carolina Cup

Three members of the Alderman Family paddling together.

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, North Carolina - Meet the Alderman family. Don, Jenny, Dylan and Jack. All have signed up for the 2013 Carolina Cup in Wrightsville Beach, April 24-28. They will join amateurs and professionals from around the world in one of the largest and most respected stand up paddleboarding events in the United States.

"They should get a special family award," said John Beausang, Co-Chair, "They're enjoying the Carolina Cup the way we intended it, with the whole family having fun all weekend long. This is a great opportunity for people to participate in races based on their individual skill level among some of the best paddlers in the world."·

"This will be our 3rd year attending the Carolina Cup as a family and it is our favorite race," said Jenny Alderman. "The race is well organized and the venue is great. It has something for everyone and brings top athletes from all over the world, which is pretty amazing to see." Home base for the Carolina Cup is Blockade Runner Beach Resort.

Parents Don and Jenny will compete in the grueling 13-mile Graveyard Race, circumnavigating the entire island of Wrightsville by ocean and sound. Don will race prone, Jenny will race in the stand up category. Oldest son Dylan, 12, will race the 3.5 mile scenic flatwater course looping beautiful Harbor Island, "one of the most popular loops in the region," according to National Geographic. Jack, the youngest at 9, will participate in the fun Sea Turtle Race on Banks Channel.

Don Alderman will participate in the prone clinic before the race taught by Jamie Mitchell. Mitchell is ten-time Molokai World Champion, a 32 mile crossing of the treacherous Hawaiian channel to Oahu, known as "channel of bones". "The chance to meet Jamie Mitchell is reason enough to travel to Wrightsville," said Ms. Alderman. ·Don Alderman, and friend Chris Hill from North Carolina, are going to relay the Molokai race in July. Alderman says the Carolina Cup is excellent training for the Molokai.

The Alderman family lives on Johns Island, SC. "Our family time and vacations usually involve water so our children love to surf and paddle."·Photos | Alderman Family | SUP Champions

World competitors for the 2013 Carolina Cup include two-time Men's World Champion Danny Ching from California, European Champion Eric Terrien from France, 2012 World Champion Chase Kosterlitz from Florida, two-time Women's World Champion Candice Appleby from California, Gold Medal Olympian Larry Cain from Canada, and ten-time Molokai World Champion Jamie Mitchell from Australia.

Spectators are welcome to enjoy the races and visit SUP displays from leading manufacturers. Beausang, an avid surfer and paddler and founder of DistressedMullet.com said, "The Carolina Cup is a great opportunity for people to check out the fastest growing watersport in the world, take lessons, and even try stand up paddleboards, paddles and accessories during the 3-day expo from many of the world's most popular manufacturers."

Activities will be held during the weekend to increase awareness of, and benefit the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Topsail Island, and Surfers Healing, an organization dedicated to serving autistic children and their families.

The Carolina Cup is sanctioned by the World Paddle Association and is one of nine national qualifiers for the World Championships.

The Carolina Cup is presented by the Wrightsville Beach Paddle Club.

Registration: ·www.wrightsvillebeachpaddleclub.com

Accommodations: www.blockade-runner.com

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