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VIDEO: BATTLE OF THE PADDLE LIFTSUP HANDLE

http://www.youtube.com/embed/4EnsevXbQ3I

The Elite Race
Saturday September 29, 2012

The Battle of The Paddle features an offshore course that will challenge competitor’s technical, surfing and athletic skills. Elite Race competitors will race on SUP Class 12’6” boards and will compete multiple laps of an off-shore circuit that will include an exchange area where they must beach their equipment for a short sand run around a course flag.

Qualifying Heats:

This year the race will be conducted with morning qualifying heats that allow racers to advance into the afternoon Elite Race final.

Qualifying heats include men & women.

Each qualifying heat will advance up to 25 men & 10 women racers into the Elite Race final. Heats #1 & #2 will be seeded using last year BOP CA’s Elite Race top fifty results.

If your 1st through 50th 2010 result is an odd number you will be in Heat #1. If your 1st through 50th 2010 result is an even number you will be in Heat #2.

All other entries will be randomly selected into either Heat #1 or Heat #2.

Race Schedule (both men & wahine)

Heat #1 START @ 9:00 A.M.
Heat #2 START @ 10:00 A.M.
Elite Race Final START @ 2:00 P.M.

Course:
The course is around all buoys as directed by the Beachmaster/starter. At no time during the race may a competitor impede another competitor. Unsportsmanlike conduct/actions will result in disqualification. Any competitor failing to round all buoys will be disqualified from the race.

For morning qualifying heats: paddlers must complete two (2) laps around the designated course and exchange area. Event race distance is approximately 2.0 miles. At the finish, leave your board on shore, run through exchange area to the finish line in control of your paddle.

For the Elite Race Final: paddlers must complete three (3) laps around the designated course and exchange area. Event race distance is approximately 3.0 miles. At the finish, leave your board on shore, run through exchange area to the finish line in control of your paddle.

Board Certification:
All boards to be measured and certified on Sparky’s SUP table before being allowed into the Elite Race. Boards must be < 12’6″ Stock, fixed rudders and mono-hulled. Sparky’s SUP Table located at the Board Drop-off Area.

Sparky Approved Rainbow Sandals decals must be displayed on all Elite Race boards. Please place decal on the upper top deck section of your board. Failure to have the decal will result in disqualification.
SUP 12.6 CLASS Defined (by coalition of CA & HI SUP committee):

• Length – 12’6″ ft maximum (381.0 cm )
• Board Weight – No Weight Restriction.
• Fins shall be fixed in place.
• Board Design is open, except for multi hulls, which are not allowed.
• Rudder(s) are not allowed.
• Foil(s) are not allowed.

Competition Jerseys:
All competitors must wear their competition jersey securely on their torso at the start, during and finish of all events. Failure to so at any point will result in disqualification. Please do not wear items that will obscure the numbers on your jersey re: Camel Baks.

Beachmaster/starter: Shall be responsible for officiating event start and finish.

Course Marshall: Shall be responsible officiating the race from the water.

Board Handler Marshall: Shall be responsible for managing and officiating the board handlers and board handler area.

Protests:
Must be filed within 15 minutes of the last competitor finishing the event. Protests must be filed with either the Beachmaster or Course Marshall. The Beachmaster, Course Marshall and associated event officials shall determine the outcome of any protest filed.

SUP – You Must Be Standing – 5 Five Stroke Rule:
If you fall you have 5 strokes to get back on your feet and stand up. This rule is in effect so a paddler does not achieve an advantage by not standing up. You must complete the course standing upon your board.

The stand up rule is not in effect in the area from shore to the first turning buoys both coming in and going out of the exchange area.

Exchange Area:
After rounding the last buoy with the right shoulder, paddlers must beach their craft and run the designated sand course in control of their paddle. The paddler must re-enter the course between the designated markers.

Handlers:
Each Elite Race competitor is required to have (1) equipment handler that can re-position the competitors SUP craft for the course re-entry.

Board handlers must stay within the designated area until their competitor has rounded the last course buoy leading up to the exchange area. Handlers must obey all instructions from the Board Handler Marshall. Failure to comply will result in disqualification.

**Elite Racers/Handlers meeting at 08:30AM Location: Event Stage.
Mandatory meeting to announce instructions for Elite Race board handlers.**

Start:
The Elite Race will have a beach start. Paddlers must follow the Beachmaster/starter’s instructions. Final start instructions for men and women Elite Race will be announced prior to the race start time.

Finish:
After rounding the last buoy with the right shoulder, paddlers will finish in an upright position, run through the exchange area to the finish line in control of your paddle. The board is to be left on the shore. You must cross the finish line area to receive a finish time and placing. Any shifting or hassling for position in the funnel will result in disqualification. Competitors must not leave the finish area until their place, name and number, has been recorded by the scorer. Please make sure to return the electronic device to tag collection.

Prize Money
Overall Wahine
1st $5,000 1st $2,500
2nd $3,500 2nd $1,250
3rd $2,500 3rd $1,000
4th $1,000 4th $500
5th $750 5th $250
6th $250
7th $250
8th $250
9th $250
10th $250

Trophies
Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle trophies awarded to Men 1st through 10th place. Wahine racers are awarded trophies 1st through 5th place.