New course for Battle of the Paddle

New Courses for the Battle of the Paddle
The Seventh Annual Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle is certainly in for a big year in 2014, with not only a location change but an entirely new course for paddlers to negotiate.

When event organizers moved the event to nearby Salt Creek, one question on every paddlers mind was how they would cope with the consistently larger swell rolling in to the beach. This week the question was answered, with details being released on the events brand new website.

Instead of paddling in and out multiple times through the surf, stand up paddlers will now paddle out through the breakers, then paddle three laps around a course running parallel to the beach (Keeping them out of the breaking swell). They will then paddle back out to sea a little, turn the final buoy and surf back to the beach for a running finish. In the event of very large swell, event organisers have plans in place for a safer water based starting line to help out the beginner paddlers.

For the Elite paddlers, gone is the traditional M shaped course, instead being replaced by something totally new, which doesn’t resemble any letters of the alphabet. The Elites will paddle straight off the beach and around a buoy behind the breakers. They will then head back towards the beach on an angle, round another buoy and out to sea again, still on an angle. Two more buoys with a diagonal line back to the beach for a run, then around the whole course a second time. Still following? Check out the picture of the BOP course here.

In short, it means lots of diagonal runs in and out of the surf, arguably the most challenging line to take through big surf, and certain to provide spectacular viewing for the public.

To see it all in action, check out this video of Chuck Patterson and the guys from Riviera Paddle Surf. They paddle the course, show off what’s on offer and of course talk you though some of the changes.