C4 Waterman/Boardworks Team to Go Big at Battle of the Paddle
Secret Weapon: 13-year-old Slater Trout
Oceanside, CA – (Oct. 9, 2008) – C4 Waterman and their distributor, Boardworks, have rallied a red-hot team of stand up paddle (SUP) racers for this Saturday’s $25,000 Battle of the Paddle at Doheny State Beach, Dana Point, California. In addition, they will host a hospitality tent with a full set of demonstration boards and paddles and unveil a couple of their latest models from shaper Dave Parmenter: the 9′3″ “Sub-Vector” and the 11′0″ “Moochie”.
The Hawaii team will feature 13-year-old SUP dynamo Slater Trout, from Maui, and Kauai’s consummate waterman Kalani Vierra. Trout will be the youngest paddler to take on the sport’s biggest names in the elite division that offers a record winner’s purse of $10,000. But don’t be misled by Trout’s age. At 6′0″ and 155 lbs., Slater has been a feature in flat-water races and SUP surfing events in Hawaii over the summer.
“I’ve been paddling mile-and-a-half runs back and forth at my local beach every day, plus doing a bit of hill running to get my lungs expanded,” said Trout.
“I’ve just been working on the calm, flat-water paddling, getting used to my Holoholo board. I’m pretty nervous, but I’m young, so they’re probably nervous about me, too. I’m just ready to go and try my best.”
The format of the Battle of the Paddle is a five-lap, 1.5 mile circuit race with a total distance of 7.5 miles. Each circuit lap will include a short beach exchange.
Joining Trout and Vierra in the elite division will be Californian Robbie Ellingson.
Hawaii will also be sending a focused team of women to contest the elite women’s division including Tiare Lawrence (Maui) and Jennifer Koki (Oahu). First prize for the women is an unprecedented $2,500.
The amateur division will include C4 paddlers Ted Rutherford (California), Phil Rainey (California), Jeff Baldwin (California), Tanner Trout (Maui), and The Unknown Paddler (Idaho).
“We are mustering the entire Boardworks Global Headquarters behind this event,” says Bob Rief, COO of Boardworks. “It will be the biggest Southern Californian – maybe even the biggest West Coast event ever for the paddleboard community. Drop by our tent, re-hydrate and have some fun.”
For race updates and more on the C4 team visit www.C4waterman.com
About the Battle of the Paddle:
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Doheny State Beach, Dana Point, CA.
Registration from 7:30 a.m.
Races start at 9 a.m.
I know this kid and he is as humble as he is good. Keep ripping kiddo!!