Paddlers do stand-up job in SUP ‘n Run race

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Start of the 2-mile stand-up paddleboard race as Alaska Wilderness SUP held their 2nd annual SUP ‘n Run event at Little Campbell Lake in Kincaid Park on Sunday, July 23, 2017. (Bill Roth / Alaska Dispatch News)

Nothing like jumping in with both feet – or in this case, standing up on both feet.

When 16-year-old Sarah Dike stood on a paddleboard for the second time in her life Sunday, it was for a two-mile stand-up paddleboard race at Little Campbell Lake.

She wasn't feeling particularly confident — "I wasn't scared, but I was nervous," she said — but it turns out stand-up paddleboards, and stand-up paddleboarders, are quite kind to beginners.

The atmosphere at the second annual SUP 'n Run, sponsored by Alaska Wilderness SUP, was low-key. Experienced paddlers provided tips to the inexperienced and volunteers on the water provided advice and encouragement.

"I was holding my paddle wrong for the first lap," Dike said, "and (a volunteer) said, 'You might want to turn it around.' "

Dike and her friend Rachel Kellar, 17, were among several beginners who competed on a calm, warm day at Kincaid Park.

The field of about 50 included Alaska's only professional paddleboard racer – Hailey Driver of Girdwood, who smoked the field.

Driver, 25, covered the two miles in 22 minutes, 8 seconds, propelled by fast, short strokes and tight turns around the four buoys that marked the course.

Driver was 46 seconds faster than the top man (Andrew Cunningham, 22:54) and more than five minutes faster than the second-place woman (Sami Glascott, 27:30).

Driver started paddleboarding six years ago and began racing three years ago. She enters a handful of races each year in the Lower 48, where she competes against anywhere from 50 to 200.

While she has yet to win any prize money, she's good enough to have a paddleboard sponsor, a sun block sponsor and a paddle sponsor. To pay the bills, she works as a server at Jack Sprat in Girdwood.

"I love the sport because of the camaraderie," she said. "Yes, they are your competition, but if you see them in trouble, someone will stop to help."

Lifejackets and leashes were mandatory gear for Sunday's event, which included the 2-mile stand-up paddleboard race and a duathlon consisting of a one-mile stand-up paddle and a 4-mile trail run.

John Collins claimed the duathlon victory in 41:30 despite scant experience.

"It's my second day on a paddleboard," he said.

"… The most challenging part is balance. If you're not used to being a skater or a skier, it's a bit of a new sensation."

Glascott, who owns a stand-up paddleboard business, said women usually pick up the sport quickly because their center of gravity is near their hips, making it easy for them to keep their balance. Men sometimes have a harder time, she said, because their center of gravity is near their shoulders.

"It's a whole-body workout," she said. "It's not about upper-body strength."

Even though it looked like she was paddling furiously when she rounded the buoys, Driver didn't rely entirely on muscle. She performed pivot turns by stepping on the tail of her board so the nose would rise out of the water and make the maneuver smoother.

"Practice makes perfect," she said. "It's just time on the board."

Even a little bit of time can make a difference. Dike covered the two miles in just under 35 minutes, time enough to go from anxious to eager.

"Everyone started going out really fast, and I nearly fell off," she said. "I thought, 'Oh my goodness, this isn't going to be good. Rachel's going to have to come and tow me.' ''

But after awhile, she got more comfortable. Although she finished 14 seconds behind Kellar, who said she paddleboards occasionally at Nancy Lake, she was ahead of her friend for part of the race.

"I was coming up behind Sarah and was just wanting to paddle with her, and she started paddling faster and faster," Kellar said. "I had to yell, 'Sarah, slow down!' ''

Replied Dike: "I'm kinda invested in this now."