Gary Wise to represent YOLO in Molokai Race
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Team YOLO Board to Compete at 12th Annual QuiksilverEdition Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race.
South Walton Fire District Beach Safety Director Gary Wise qualifies as the only waterman from the state of Florida and East Coast to compete in the international paddleboard race.
Santa Rosa Beach, FL (July 16, 2008)-Locally-adopted Australian-born waterman, Gary Wise, South Walton Fire District Beach Safety Director, will compete in the famous 12th Annual QuiksilverEdition Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race on Sunday, July 27, 2008, representing Team YOLO Board. YOLO Board is a hybrid-style stand-up paddle board company based in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. This will mark Wise"s first time competing in the internationally-celebrated long distance paddleboarding competition known simply as "Molokai."
"I have competed in many races in my day but none compare to the magnitude of Molokai," said Gary Wise, South Walton Beach Safety Division Chief. "Unlike other long-distance paddleboard races, Molokai includes a challenging downwind course that serves as the ultimate endurance test. Most recently having won the masters division in the International Lifesaving World Surfboat Championship - a race which only lasts approximately six minutes - training for a race that lasts seven hours presents a lot of unique challenges."
The legendary race consists of a grueling 32-mile rough water race across the Kaiwi Channel that separates the Hawaiian islands of Molokai and Oahu, from Kaluakoi to Koko Head. Competing in the stand-up paddleboard solo rudderless division, Wise is the only male participant in the state of Florida and East Coast that qualified to compete among the roster of over 135 of the world's best men and women paddleboard and stand-up paddler racers. Cynthia Aguilera, a pro lifeguard from Miami Beach Patrol, is the only female participant who qualified from the state of Florida and East Coast.
"We are beyond excited that Gary will be representing Team YOLO Board at this year's Molokai race," said Jeff Archer, co-founder of YOLO Board LLC. "In addition to Gary achieving so much as a celebrated waterman, he also continues to be the driving force behind establishing the life guard safety program in South Walton. We couldn't be more proud to have someone of his caliber representing Team YOLO Board."
According to the Molokai race website, competitors in a variety of classes including unlimited and stock paddleboards, as well as solo and relay stand-up paddling, must fight their way across one of the roughest channel crossings in the Islands, literally surfing their way down consecutive open ocean swells in the attempt to reach Oahu. Once along its rugged coast paddlers are met with capricious head winds and side currents that make the last few miles to Maunalua Bay a grueling test of sheer will and muscle. For serious competitors only, this year's field will include six-time champion Jaime Mitchell, stand-up stand out Bonga Perkins and the 2007 women's unlimited winner Shakira Westdorp from Australia, who just barely touched out rival Kanesa Duncan of Oahu.
Molokai will mark the fourth paddleboard race that Wise has competed in on behalf of Team YOLO Board. Among Wise's numerous accolades he has garnered to date, his most recent wins on behalf of Team YOLO Board included placing first in the:
East Coast 12-mile Paddleboard Championship around Key West, June 2008.
Florida State 7-mile Paddleboard Champion in Cocoa Beach, Fla., March 2008.
East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame Museum 22-mile Waterman Challenge, Stand up Paddleboard division in Cocoa Beach, Fla., October 2007.
To learn more about the 12th Annual QuiksilverEdition Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race, visit www.quiksilveredition.com/molokai.aspx.
posted by YOLO Board @ 8:11 AM Click Here to View or Leave Comments
Aqua Surf Shop wins 1st Race in YOLO Series!! -Next Race Thursday July 31, OYSTER LAKE
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
With the generous support of our sponsors, paddlers, volunteers and wonderful spectators, we successfully hosted our first race in the YOLO Board Stand-Up Paddle Series at 6 pm on Oyster Lake in Santa Rosa Beach on Thursday, July 17, 2008. We had a great turnout with a total of 10 participating teams and at least 150 attendees. The two-hour long event closed with a spectacular sunset over Oyster Lake and many smiling faces with people already buzzing with conversation about the next race.
Congratulations to the winning teams!
1st place Team AQUA SURF SHOP
2nd place Team YOLO MEN
3rd place Team RYNO
Participating teams included:
Team DESTIN HEALTH & FITNESS CLUB, Team AQUA SURF SHOP, Team ROV, Team RYNO, Team SURFRIDER, Team SUNSET BEACH SERVICES, Team KITTY HAWK KITES, and Team WALTON WAHINIS, Team YOLO WOMEN, Team YOLO MEN.
The teams will continue on to compete in the second race slated for Thursday, July 31st as they vie for the champion title "YOLO Board Cup Series" to be awarded after the final race on September 18th. Race locations are: July 31, Oyster Lake, Santa Rosa Beach; Aug. 14, Watercolor Boathouse; Aug 28, HarborWalk Village, Destin Harbor; Sept. 18, Bud & Alley's, Seaside, FL.
A very special thank you goes out to Copy Systems in Santa Rosa Beach for handling all of our printing needs and emcee Mike Sturdivant of Blue Mountain Surf who did an awesome job of keeping the crowd entertained. .
The YOLO Board Stand-Up Paddle Series is free and open to the public for spectators.
Thank you again to everyone for their support and look forward to the next race. YOLO!
Congratulations to the winning teams!
1st place Team AQUA SURF SHOP
2nd place Team YOLO MEN
3rd place Team RYNO
Participating teams included:
Team DESTIN HEALTH & FITNESS CLUB, Team AQUA SURF SHOP, Team ROV, Team RYNO, Team SURFRIDER, Team SUNSET BEACH SERVICES, Team KITTY HAWK KITES, and Team WALTON WAHINIS, Team YOLO WOMEN, Team YOLO MEN.
The teams will continue on to compete in the second race slated for Thursday, July 31st as they vie for the champion title "YOLO Board Cup Series" to be awarded after the final race on September 18th. Race locations are: July 31, Oyster Lake, Santa Rosa Beach; Aug. 14, Watercolor Boathouse; Aug 28, HarborWalk Village, Destin Harbor; Sept. 18, Bud & Alley's, Seaside, FL.
A very special thank you goes out to Copy Systems in Santa Rosa Beach for handling all of our printing needs and emcee Mike Sturdivant of Blue Mountain Surf who did an awesome job of keeping the crowd entertained. .
The YOLO Board Stand-Up Paddle Series is free and open to the public for spectators.
Thank you again to everyone for their support and look forward to the next race. YOLO!
Check out more photos in the MY YOLO section of our website.
A HUGE THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
A HUGE THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
posted by YOLO Board @ 11:32 AM Click Here to View or Leave Comments
VIE Magazine features YOLO
Monday, July 7, 2008
The premier edition of the Emerald Coast's
newest magazine, VIE, included YOLO Board
as one of its feature articles.
Published by Lisa Burwell, Vie Magazine is unique in that its primary focus is on human interest stories celebrating the "people and places" of our Northwest Florida region, specifically from Pensacola to Apalachicola.
newest magazine, VIE, included YOLO Board
as one of its feature articles.
Published by Lisa Burwell, Vie Magazine is unique in that its primary focus is on human interest stories celebrating the "people and places" of our Northwest Florida region, specifically from Pensacola to Apalachicola.
posted by YOLO Board @ 12:02 PM Click Here to View or Leave Comments
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