Sea Paddle NYC Announces Elite Race

NEW YORK, New York – SEA Paddle NYC is adding a competitive edge to its fourth-annual fundraising event.  In addition to the non-profit’s highly anticipated charity paddle around Manhattan, its Elite Race is bringing professional paddle boarders to New York to go head-to-head in SEA’s first-ever competitive paddle.

Turning heads in SEA’s Elite Division is professional ocean athlete Candice Appleby.  Celebrated for her 2010 win at the Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle Elite Women’s Division, as well as champion of Duke’s Ocean Festival Contest 2008 in both the Women’s and Open Pro Stand Up Paddle divisions, Appleby enters SEA Paddle NYC’s 2010 Elite Race to raise awareness of the benefits and healing powers of the ocean.  She will dedicate this year’s race to a 14-year-old boy with autism whom she spends time with in the ocean.

Joining Appleby is the SUP circuit’s Ernest (EJ) Johnson and fifteen-year-old phenom Slater Trout, who recently fought for a second-place finish at the Second Annual Gerry Lopez Rainbow Sandal Battle of the Paddle.  Originally hailing from Florida’s Gulf Coast, Trout’s participation in SEA Paddle NYC will hopefully raise awareness and funds for SEA’s environmental projects and coastal preservation in the wake of this year’s deep-sea disaster.  

Starting at 9:30 a.m., the industry pros will battle it out with some of the tri-state areas best watermen, including Mark Temme from Manhattan, Scott Bradley from Long Island, Rol Wolson from Sandy Hook, NJ and Mark Colino from Brick, NJ.  Paddling from Pier 40, Elite racers will continue past the Intrepid Aircraft to the George Washington Bridge and on to the Harlem River.  Paddlers will then proceed past Fort Apache in the Bronx, through Harlem and past the new Yankee Stadium.

Entering the East River at the legendary Hell Gate, the paddlers will pass by Roosevelt Island and the U.N. while having to avoid landing sea planes.  Nearing the end of their journey, Elite racers will pass under the Williamsburg, Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge to finish at the north side of the South Street Seaport.

Immediately following the Elite Race and charity paddle, SEA will host its much-anticipated after-parties at the South Street Seaport.  The Ultimate Beach Party will begin at 3:00 p.m. and the White Water Evening will start at 6:00 p.m.  This is the first year SEA will host its renowned fundraising events in Manhattan.

To learn more about the Elite Race, or to purchase tickets to the Ultimate Beach Party and White Water Evening, please visit www.seapaddlenyc.org.


About Surfers’ Environmental Alliance (SEA)
Surfers’ Environmental Alliance is committed to the preservation and protection of the environmental and cultural elements that are inherent to the sport of surfing. SEA’s goals are achieved through grassroots activism, community involvement, education and humanitarian efforts. The non-profit organization successfully engages in projects that strive to conserve the quality of marine environments; preserve or enhance surf breaks; protect beach-access rights; and safeguard the coastal surf zone from unnecessary development.  To learn more, please visit www.seapaddlenyc.org.