Strength, balance, endurance and tenacity are all required for the most taxing of the paddle board disciplines, known as the “downwinder,” and this weekend’s 2014 Rum Run is going to provide a significant challenge for all the participants.
Neil Martin, local paddle board enthusiast and one of the partners of the Cayman Standup Paddle Company, organized the inaugural Rum Run in 2013.
Last year’s weekend event incorporated paddle board clinics to improve technique, paddle board yoga demonstrations, a fun beach day of sprint races for men, women, children and relay teams, and culminated in the 8-mile endurance paddle from Rum Point to Camana Bay.
Downwind paddle boarding is a growing sport from the Hawaiian Islands where paddlers brave the open seas to paddle between islands or ride the swells along the rugged coastlines.
In Cayman there is potential for the sport to develop further. “Last year, 13 paddlers took on the 8-mile course, with boat support,” said Martin.
“The course was a relatively unknown quantity as we believe it was the first time that anyone had crossed the North Sound on a paddle board.
“With the wind at your back it is possible to try and link together the swells as you ride the boards. The participants all completed the course in under two hours with a huge sense of achievement.”
As the popularity of paddle boarding increases locally, there are more people looking to take on the different challenges at this year’s event, being held Saturday at Public Beach and Sunday at Camana Bay.
Martin is delighted with the willingness and support of the main sponsors; Carey Olsen, Miller Lite, Caribbean Canvas Company, Olukai, Cayman Stand Up Paddle Co, Seven Fathoms Rum, Sun Bum and Laird Stand Up, one of the industries leading shapers and manufacturers of boards, spearheaded by the legendary waterman Laird Hamilton.
Chuck Glynn and Noa Hopper, two pro riders from Laird Stand Up, will be running this year’s paddle clinics as well as competing in the main events, which is creating a huge buzz amongst the local paddle board community of enthusiasts.
Proceeds from the event go to support ARK Cayman.
With the winds forecast to rise to 20-plus knots this weekend, the paddle boarders could be having the downwind ride of their lives.
SCHEDULE
Saturday:
- 10 a.m.-11 a.m.: Paddle clinic with Chuck Glynn and Noa Hopper
- 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.: Sprint races, categories and prizes for men, women, children
- 2–4:30 p.m.: Corporate relay and relay events
- 5 p.m. BBQ at Dukes
Sunday:
- 11:30 a.m.: 8-mile downwind crossing of the North Sound
- 3 p.m.: BBQ at Duke’s
For more information on the sprint races and the downwind paddle, contact Neil on [email protected] or check for details at www.rumrun.ky.
Neil Martin, local paddle board enthusiast and one of the partners of the Cayman Standup Paddle Company organized the inaugural Rum Run in 2013.
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