My heart was pounding all week leading up to the first Ultimate SUP
Challenge on the Ottawa River. This was my first time competing on a
paddleboard and I had only been riding whitewater for 3 months on Class
II rivers in Western New York. I had seen too many Youtube videos of
the Ottawa and knew this would be bigger water than I have ever been in –
coming from a surfing background as opposed to whitewater.
Pulling up to where the race would be held I was super intimidated
not only by the water but all the pros that were competing including
Mike Tavares, Todd Caranto, Kristin Thomas and Jessica Rando just to
name a few. The first heat was a simple ferry across a rapid, down
through Push Button and finished on the far shore. The Second heat added
a pivot turn start into some small rapids and two full buoy turns. I
advanced through both of those heats in the top three.
The third and final heat added a much bigger challenge down the Black
Chute. Watching the men go first there were some gnarly wipe outs on
the Waikiki wave. Todd Coranto and Mike Tevares wowed the crowd with
the only clean rides through the wave train. When my turn was up I had
my ...more
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