SUP Connect Announces Photo Contest Winners

In the first annual SUP Photo Contest the competition was close as the level of stand up paddle photos submitted was extremely high. See who won below and don't forget to keep clicking away in preparation for the next contest.

"Stand By Me" takes 1st place in the SUP Photo Contest. "Jack Marshall Shimko" and "On Fire" follow up in the 2nd and 3rd place spots.

Read more about the SUP Connect Photo Contest here

SAN DIEGO, California – The polls have closed and after three rounds of voting, the winners of the first annual SUP Photo Contest have been chosen. It was a tight race but ever since the start “Stand By Me” was the crowd favorite and clear frontrunner in the race. “Stand By Me” wins first place, “Jack Marshall Shimko & Training Partner” takes second place, and “On Fire” rounds out the podium at third place.



The underlying emotional quality of “Stand By Me” clearly spoke to the audience as this photo received the most support in the final round of voting. Submitted by Rebecca Amber, this photo was taken in Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. We see a young couple throwing caution to the wind (or is it water?) as they join paddles together on one of the most important days of their lives.



Jack Marshall Shimko is no slouch. This guy eats nails for breakfast with a side of granola. Readers will recall that Shimko recently completed his second long-distance paddle, grinding out 260 miles in ten days and finishing in Newport Beach, California for the Paddle2Live event on September 10th. During his paddle, Shimko was joined by many supporters, many of them of the aquatic-based disposition. With his photo’s second place finish in the SUP Connect Photo Contest, Shimko continues to raise awareness of the annual Paddle2Live event.



Usually one doesn’t need to worry about fire when in the ocean. These two ancient elements have been locked in eternal opposition to each other since water stole fire’s girlfriend. But every once in a while, the shutter blink of a camera lens catches the two making nice, if only for a few micro seconds of time. “On Fire” submitted by Grant Hulley Photography shows us the beauty that a slice of a single moment can yield. Dropping into a wave, cutting through the water as it rushes towards the stand up paddleboard, water and fire become one.

Congratulations to everyone who submitted their photos for the SUP Connect Photo Contest. There were some amazing shots out there and there will certainly be more great shots to come as more and more people grab their boards, paddles, and cameras. Below is a complete list of the top 10 photos with their total vote count.

The top 10 photo submissions will receive an awesome shirt from the Shore Thing Stand Up Paddleboard Collection. These technical performance garments are designed to be light weight by utilizing 100% microfiber moisture wicking mesh with UPF 40 sun protection. In addition to these valuable shirts, the top three photos will also receive a limited edition SUP Connect t-shirt to wear proudly to all events and functions, both formal and informal.


The Top 10 SUP Photos

1. Stand By Me – 254
2. Jack Marshall Shimko & Training Partner – 219
3. On Fire – 206
4. Love is a Risk, Do It Anyway – 181
5. SUP Exploring – 175
6. Plane Over Paddle – 165
7. Tamul Falls Waterfall – 158
8. The Place – 156
9. SUP Silhouette – 126
10. Del Mar Va – 115

To see all the finalists in the SUP Photo of the Year Contest click here

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