Should Men & Women Get Equal SUP Prize Money?

Candice Appleby takes first and Bailey Rosen takes 2nd at the 2012 River Rocks event.

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee - After competing at the Battle of the Paddle last weekend and turning in a stellar performance, Candice Appleby wasted no time, hopped on a plane and headed to Tennessee!  As part of the 2012 Sup Splash Race Series, paddlers were excited to "storm up the Tennessee River" in the River Rocks event with a $12,000 purse going out to the winners.

Candice took command of the race and came out on top wining a $3500 prize which equalled the top men's prize money won by Chase Kosterlitz.  The money was broken down as follows:

Men's Elite 14', $3500, $1,000 and $500

Women's Elite 12'6", $3500, $1,000 and $500

Men's 12'6", $500, $100, $50

Many paddlers appreciate the equal prize money offer as was the case in this WPA sanctioned event and actually seek out races where this opportunity is present.  Candice herself left a message on her facebook page that said, "Thanks SUP Splash River Rocks festival for an awesome equal gender payout. Can't argue with 3.5K."   

However, while many do not dispute amazing performances by an incredible athlete like Candice and want her to win great money, some are thrilled about equal gender payout prizes while others are still not so sure.  At this point in time there are typically more male participants in races who in total contribute more in registration fees that can add to the winners pot.  Therefore, some people feel that men should take home higher amounts and more prize money.  However, others feel that if a woman like Candice is turning in phenomenal races, and often beating the majority of the men (and in some cases beating all of the men), that she should take home the top prize or at least a prize equal to the best man regardless of how many male to female participants there are. 

Another argument says that if the first place women finishes several places behind the first place man then she has not turned in the best performance and should therefore not receive equal prize money.  For example, if the best woman is 10 places behind the best man, then there are 9 men who have paddled better and deserve a piece of the prize money making it unfair to pay the first woman equal money to that of the first place man.  Others would say that this idea is ridiculous and that men and women are obviously different and can not be compared or placed in the same category.  The argument would continue to say that this is why men and women are in different race categories and that the best female performance is no less stellar than the best male performance and should therefore be awarded equally.   

This discussion had gone in circles over the years which is why we want to know what you think.  What extra information can you add to the discussion?  Surely there are various scenarios and view points to go along with those already mentioned. What ideas and detail can you add to the overall picture?  Please place your thoughts in the comments box below.

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