Conditions were a tad windy and there was some swell out around the islands that sit off St. John’s north coast, but clear blue skies made for great paddling as the Friends of V.I. National Park held its first ever Paddle the Park stand-up paddleboarding race off Maho Bay Beach.
A total of 41 people finished the event, which was held Saturday. St. John resident Nat Ford, 31, out-paddled the competition in the elite men’s division. With a time of one hour, five minutes and 30 seconds, this construction worker was the fastest man to paddle the five-mile course.
“I paddle regularly out of Coral Bay,” he said just seconds after he crossed the finish line.
Bill Kraft, 45, a kite board instructor from St. Croix, was just behind Ford in the elite men’s division with a time of one hour, six minutes and 41 seconds, to take second place.
“The wind outside was a challenge,” he said, adding that he practices every day.
Third in the elite men’s division went to Eric Walker, 40, who is a custom woodworker from St. Thomas. His time was one hour, eight minutes and 21 seconds.
He, too, mentioned the wind, but said the bigger challenge was the two paddlers who crossed the finish line ahead of him.
Isabelle Picard, 52, was the first elite woman to finish, with a time of one hour, 26 minutes and 40 seconds. An artist from St. Croix, she’s married to Kraft, the second place men’s finisher. She said she paddles regularly to keep up with her husband.
“But it was tough behind the island,” she said.
The second elite woman finished with a time of one hour, 38 minutes and 49 seconds. Thais Taylor, 30, who works at Skinny Legs Bar and Restaurant in St. John, said she hadn’t practiced much to get ready.
“It was pretty tough. The wind was killing it,” she said.
St. John personal trainer Jude Woodcock, 57, came in third for the elite women with a time of one hour, 48 minutes and seven seconds.
“I’m exhausted. It’s hard work,” she said as she slumped at a picnic table adjacent to the beach after the race.
All in all, she said she was pleased with her time because she wanted a challenge.
Paddle the Park also had an open category for folks who didn’t want to brave the five miles. They went three miles off Maho Bay Beach.
The first place finisher in the open division was Todd Clements, 44, a sunscreen distributor from St. Thomas, with a time of 41 minutes and 48 seconds. He came in way ahead of anyone else, a feat he said was due to the 14-foot board. He said everyone else was on 12.5-foot boards.
“It makes you faster,” he said.
Second in the men’s open division went to Mark Lonski, 42, a landscaper from St. John. His time was 48 minutes and 33 seconds.
“Just keep going,” he said was the secret to his success.
Matt Lasota, 47, a builder from St. John, took third in the men’s open division with a time of 49 minutes and 25 seconds.
“It’s great exercise and a lot of fun,” he said.
As for the women, Sharie Smyth, 68, who owns a paddle board accessory company on St. Thomas, had a time of 54 minutes and four seconds in the open division.
“It’s a wonderful experience and great to be in the water,” she said.
Second in the women’s open division went to Julie Lonski, 43, who owns a landscape business with her husband, Mark. Her time was 57 minutes and 10 seconds. She said she was motivated to finish the course because she didn’t want to drown.
“And I didn’t want to embarrass myself,” she said.
Laura Kline, 52, a nurse from St. Thomas, was third in the women’s open division with a time of 59 minutes and 32 seconds.
“It was a little windy,” she allowed.
Wind was better than pouring down rain, which came down the previous weekend. It forced the Friends to postpone the race until Saturday.
Friends President Joe Kessler said he plans to target the event to local residents and keep a fall date. Although bad weather can happen this time of year, Kessler said because the event attracts mainly local residents, it’s easy to reschedule.
The event, like the Friends Beach to Beach Power Swim in May, showcases the park.
“It’s how people want to enjoy the park,” Kessler said.
Like all St. John events held by non-profit organizations, volunteers made it happen. Kessler said 25 to 30 people were on hand to assist in various capacities.
St. John resident Ginger Kreofsky, clipboard in hand, was busy keeping tabs on things.
“It’s good to be part of the community. That’s why everybody volunteers,” she said.
St. John resident Maggie Day was also helping out.
“Your goodie bags are right over here,” she told each of the finishers.
The courses were set up so the finishers paddled the beach’s length before hitting the finish line. Spectators gathered here and there to watch.
“It’s exciting,” Joe Bobeck of Salon, Ohio, said as he sat with seven friends to wait for the finish.
