The 2016 Carolina SUP Cup

The Event

Having just completed the 6.5 mile Money Open race at the 2016 Carolina SUP Cup, I am still so stoked! As a coach and competitor I was exposed to many new things which will be highlighted in the next technique blog. Being around world class elite competitors puts everything in such a good perspective. Fitness, equipment, nutrition, attitude, preparation, technique, and style are just some of the things that influence success as a competitor.

The Sup Carolina Cup at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina is the biggest race in the country and is an awesome location. There are great beaches, restaurants, accommodations, and diverse water conditions for training. This is a must do event for anyone that likes to race! It doesn’t matter what level of racer you are, they have a place for you while making you feel positive about your experience. The organization that runs this event does a great job and all there staff are very passionate.

This fun filled week allowed me to get there early and take everything in at a relaxed and focused pace. Another cool aspect of this event is the scope of the clinics offered by the top pros of the sup world. Here is a chance to improve while having a blast!

For the aspiring beginner to intermediate paddleboard racer, let us help you with equipment at special pricing and performance technique lessons. We are available to come to your location for privates or group lessons. Email us to figure out a plan for you!

Check the list below to see some of the clinics offered and the different race offerings from this years SUP Cup.

The Clinics

• Foundations of Stroke with Annabel Anderson
• Paddle Clinic with Travis Grant
• Skills and Drills with Annabel Anderson
• Women's Paddle Clinic with Lina Augaitis
• Footwork with Candace Appleby
• Young Adult Clinic by Fiona Wylde
• SUP Surf with Zane Schweitzer

The Races

The Harbor Island 3.5 Mile Recreational Race

This is a 3.5-mile flat water race, in the inland waterways and ICWW around Harbor Island in Wrightsville Beach. There are currents and wind, some boat traffic, but no ocean swells and a large portion of the race is in no-wake zones. This 3.5 mile race around Harbor Island on Wrightsville Beach is the 5K of the SUP race scene. It’s the perfect distance and course to start off on your SUP race adventure. Depending on your board and experience, it will take between 50 minutes and and hour and a half to complete the course. This is a great opportunity to get on a board and enjoy the water, enjoy the day. (Wrightsville Paddleclub Description)

The Money Island 6.5 Mile Open Race

This is a longer flat-water race, in the inland waterways around Wrightsville Beach, Harbor Island and the spoil islands between WB and Masonboro Island. Just like the Recreational Race, there are currents and wind, but no ocean swells. This 6 mile race around Harbor Island on Wrightsville Beach is the 10K of the SUP race scene. It’s the perfect distance and course if you’ve been paddling and want a challenge. This is an intermediate to advanced race. Depending on your board and experience, it will take between 1 and 2 hours to complete the course. This is a great opportunity to get into the racing scene, to push you body, and to see what you can do. (Wrightsville Paddleclub Description)

The Graveyard 13.2 Mile Elite Race

This is a beach start and finish. This is a 12.6-13.2-mile ocean and flatwater race, started on the ocean side of the Blockade Runner Beach Resort, out through the surf, downwind to the inlet, into the inland waterways and ICWW around Wrightsville Beach. There are two inlets, one of which will require racers to surf waves in through the inlet. There will be some boat traffic, and ocean swells. The ocean section of the race will be the downwind section, if the weather cooperates. We will change the direction of the race to optimize the conditions for a fast, fun, challenging race. The mileage depends on the line you take. This Carolina Cup paddle race is for elite paddlers with the skill and fitness to complete this endurance challenge. Depending on your board and experience, it will take between 2 and 3.5 hours to complete the course. This is a great opportunity to push your limits and measure yourself against some of the best paddlers in the world. (Wrightsville Paddleclub Description)

The whole event was a lot of fun, and I highly suggest anyone into paddleboarding to go check it out! We'll see you at the 2017 Carolina SUP Cup!

Photos: Wrightsville Paddleclub, @glantzphotography 


Jonathan Bischof is from Jamaica, Vermont and is an avid skier, stand up paddle boarder, kettle bell enthusiast, and loves to eat and cook. For fun he likes to race stand up paddle boards. He runs the stand up paddle board academy for Vermont Ski and Sport. Jonathan is a fitness professional with the following credentials; World Paddle Association (WPA) Level 1, National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), Functional Movement Systems (FMS) Level 1 and 2, and Russian Kettlebell (RKC1 and HKC).