2014 Key West Classic

THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014

5-7pm  LAZY DOG YAPPY HOUR

Join us at Lazy Dog for a casual meet and greet happy hour at Hurricane Hole Marina, 5130 US 1, Key West. Meet the dogs and feel free to bring Fido on a leash! This event is open to the general public. Free board demos and drink specials!

FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2014

1-3pm  PADDLE CLINIC (TBA)

Paddle Performance Clinic  and course management (tides, winds, current, course). At Higgs Beach.

All levels welcome!

5-8pm  KICK-OFF PARTY AND REGISTRATION PACKET PICKUP AT TURTLE KRAALS

Racers can catch up, discuss race strategies, review course map! Invite your friends and family to this fun free event. Bocci courts and corn hole games!  Complementary KONA BEER.

** IMPORTANT NOTE: All racers required to pick up packets before the morning of the race to obtain your timing chip and race number. If you are unable to attend the registration party please contact us at race@lazydog.com to make other arrangements.

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2014

12-mile “Paddle Around the Island”

Key West Paddle Board Classic

WPA Southeast Region National Points Race

4-mile Open Race

Open race (12’6, 12′ and under) boards

RACE DAY

Higgs Beach

7:30 am: Classic Expo Opens

8:15-8:30 Blessing with Reid Inouye

9:00 am: Racer’s Meeting

9:30 am: 12-Mile Elite Race (ocean start), beach finish

10:00 am: 4-Mile Open Race (ocean start), beach finish

3:30 pm: Wrap-up at the Beach

9:30am   12 MILE ELITE RACE sponsored by TURTLE KRAALS

$85

We’re going all the way around the island!

Starting at Higgs Beach, near the White Street Pier and then Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park. Round the corner and paddle past famous Mallory Square. Through the harbor, head toward Fleming Key Bridge and enter the Gulf of Mexico, then turn right toward Cow Key Channel. A quick spin past the mangroves and you are headed out into the Atlantic and back to the finish line on Higgs Beach.

Race Divisions

The Key West Paddleboard Classic is an all-inclusive, diverse event for all paddlers.

• Standup Paddleboard Race 12’6″
• Standup Paddleboard Stock (12′ and under)
• Standup Paddleboard 14″
• Standup Paddleboard Unlimited
• Paddleboard Stock (Prone)
• Paddleboard Unlimited (Prone)
• Outrigger (OC1, OC2, OC6)
• SurfSki
• Kayak
• Dory

10:00am  4 MILE OPEN RACE sponsored by RIVIERA

$60

We are going to watch the tidal conditions on this one very closely the days before the race and then determine the most enjoyable 4-Mile course starting from Higgs Beach. But it will probably look something like a triangle in the following direction:

The Open Race course will follow in the wake of our Elite racers heading west, we’re going to round a buoy marker and head away from the island for a mile or so toward another buoy marker. After the 2nd turn, racers will head to the finish back at Higgs Beach!

SPECIAL OLYMPICS PADDLE- to begin immediately after 4 mile race.

AWARDS CELEBRATION 6-10pm

Located at Turtle Kraals & Half Shell Raw Bar Plaza in Lands End Village along the Historic Seaport.

Join us for live music and dancing! Awards celebration includes food, drink specials, prize drawings for all participants and awards presentation and special acknowledgement for our top finishers.

Complimentary admission for all racers. Tickets for friends/family can be purchased at registration on active.com or at the door for just $15/person at the door. Includes two free Kona draft beers.

SUNDAY, MAY 4

FUN ON THE BEACH

9:00am  Kids SUP CLINIC

9-10am, Higgs Beach, Key West

For all levels!
You can reserve your spot on the registration page.
$40 Clinic includes free entry into the kids race.

10:30am  KIDS RACE

1 mile double loop course.
15 and under, $10 (race only, no clinic)

11:30am  SPRINT RACES, $20

12’6 and under boards only, men’s and women’s divisions
The sprint races will run in heats. Top two finishers in each heat will continue on to next heat.  We will sprint to a buoy, make a left hand turn and sprint back. The final race will be a challenge for the top 5 men and women athletes.

1:00pm  RELAY RACES, $10/person

The relay race is always the most fun and memorable. Teams will consist of four persons with at least one female per team. Only one board can be used per team, a 12’6″ or under SUP board. The course will be eight laps, each team member will run through course twice.  This is an ocean circuit race.  There will be a beach start, a short loop course, competitors will beach their board, run through an obstacle course, then tagging their teammate.

WHERE TO STAY

We want to make sure your time in the Florida Keys is more than just a great paddlin’ competition!  Checkout our list of hotel recommendations. Because this fun event shares the same weekend as Mother’s Day, we strongly encourage making all hotel / accommodation reservations as quickly as possible.  Hotel room blocks provided by Sheraton Suites Key West (located on Smathers Beach and 1 mile from race start) and the Best Western Key Ambassador (ocean front and about 3 miles to race start). If you prefer to stay closer to downtown Duval the Key West Hospitality Inns is offering 10% off to racers.  Please see booking information below.

BEST WESTERN KEY AMBASSADOR

(3 miles from the start)

Race rate of $159/night plus tax. Contact Michele Lahr  of the Best Western at (305)-296-3500 for this rate.

SHERATON

Race rate

Traditional King $205.00 per night plus tax

Traditional Double Queen Suite $215.00 per night plus tax (305) 292-9800

 http://www.sheratonkeywest.com/

KEY WEST HOSPITALITY INNS

Offering a 10% off rate for racers. Key West Hospitality Inns has 3 guest houses closer to downtown Duval. Visit their website at www.keywesthospitalityinns.com or call 305-296-4275

CAMPING OPTION NEAR KEY WEST
BOYD’S CAMPGROUND

Visit boydscampground.com for more information on tent or camper sites!