Paddleboard endurance races have become a world-wide sport, but the return of the 48th Annual Catalina Classic Paddleboard race brings back the one that is referred to as the “Granddaddy of Them All.” The race returns to the island on Aug. 24 with some of the top racers in the world heading to Catalina to tackle the 32-mile course from Isthmus Cove to the Manhattan Beach Pier.
The South Bay area, Bark family has long been a major player in the business of board shaping, surf and paddle, and with brother and sister, Jack and Emily, winning the Unlimited Division and Women’s Division last year, the family finds itself in position to have to defend their titles, with a field of nearly 100 expected to challenge.
Last year, Emily held off defending champion Liz Hunter, by less than two seconds, finishing the course in 6 hours, 12 minutes, 13.86 seconds. Meanwhile, not only did Jack Bark win his first title in five tries, he broke the course record and became the first person to complete the crossing in less than five hours. His time of 4:54:45.00 beat the previous record of 5:02:12.00, according to a story on the siblings by Diane Krieger, on the torrancememorial.org health blog.
Coverage of last year’s race on paddleboard.com included a photo of Emily being carried up the beach on the shoulders of brother Jack and first-place Stock division winner Lansdown Lachie.
Of note is the young competitors who are making noise in paddleboard endurance races. Finley Murphy, the third place women’s finisher was only 16 years old at the time of last year’s race. Also turning heads, was 15-year-old Hawaiian, Toa Pere, who finished second in the Stock Division and 18th overall, in a time of 5:44:19.98.
This year’s race will leave Isthmus Cove, starting at 6 a.m. Water conditions, obviously play a big role in crossing times. Last year’s conditions were reportedly favorable for paddlers. This year, will tell if more records will fall, or new champions emerge. For more visit catalinaclassicpaddleboardrace.com. For more on paddle board racing around the world, including past Catalina races, visit paddleboard.com.
