Renegades will be banned for life: Key Lesson from the Maui to Molokai Race
I was reviewing posts yesterday about the Maui to Molokai and came across one of their rules and it struck a chord with me. It’s…
Category: Race Director
Competition or Personal Accomplishment: A thought on race courses
This is an observation for race directors looking to get more people to come and enjoy their races. When you have a challenge that goes…
One Board Class: 14 and Under
First of all, let me be clear. As far as I can see it, there is no dominant governing body that can regulate races. At…
So you want to start a paddle race. Here’s a quick list of tips for planning
A few random suggestions and this is not a complete how-to list. Feel free to add to the bottom: Involve local and regional paddlers in…
Tips for Race Directors starting a SUP race
In the past 6 weeks, there have been two examples of disastrous races. Races that barely escaped being headlines in the local paper. Races where paddlers…
How can a paddle race with 100 people have 3361 divisions? Let’s do the math
This mathematical exercise is based on a comment that suggested we as a sport adopt standard marathon age groups and recognize every division in each race We are going to…
Trailblazers: It’s time to bring your own division
I’ve been around events for a long time and there seems to be a consistent theme. With 80,000 potential divisions, people end up paddling a craft,…
Paddleboard Safety: Personal responsibility and it’s impact on others
At what point do our choices affect others? At what point does saying “personal responsibility” really mean we’re not taking personal responsibility or responsibility for…
New safety considerations for paddleboard race directors
In the beginning of the sport and races, it was as if they handed everyone a machete, pointed at the jungle and said, “have at…
7 Registration and TIming Tips for Standup Paddleboard Race Directors
by Kim Hillhouse As a race director, it’s nearly impossible to please everyone all the time… especially, when trying to stay within a budget that…
Celebrating under 17, over 50 paddlers and categories with less than 3 competitors
Results. Wow. Let me tell you about race results. From a race director’s point of view, they often are the hardest part of running a…
How to create a paddle destination race
Let people know why your area is a place paddlers want to visit It’s the most basic question, but a good one. Is this located in a place…
What is the future of SUP events?
One popular SUP event model has been to build a race, then add events until it becomes a festival—a destination. Meanwhile, in the outdoor sports…
Races are changing, here are some great tips for running and great race
At one point early on, races were actually about the podium. If you were in a sport with 10 people, you could expect a top 10…
3 tips to get the most out of race timing
by Colin Hackman from Go Time, Race timing Race timing is a big part of your race budget. It’s also a huge part of the…
Standup Paddle Races: Standardized Distances?
First, let’s start with what’s out there from the WPA and the PSUPA: From section 6A and 6B of the WPA Rule Book: 6. Race/Courses Defined…
How to create a succesful SUP race—Part 1: Building a Local Base
A successful long-term strategy for a sustainable, fun local race starts with a strong local paddler base. Here are a few tips and tools to…
Chattajack31: What I learned about how to run a great race
Nothing can prepare you to run an event than going to other events and paying attention. Being a competitor will help you be a better…