It was another beautiful day for a SUP race this morning of Saturday, May 19th, 2012 at Spa Beach Park in Downtown St. Petersburg, FL. All the racers getting geared up for one of the best races on the east coast, the “Water Monkey Challenge”. Put on by Chase Kosterlitz, sponsored pro SUP racer and owner of the Water Monkey Shop. Jess and I first raced at the Water Monkey challenge in 2009. Just keeps getting better and better! This year there was an 8 mile elite coarse which Jessica and I both did.

We both used our Starboard 12’6”x26.5” BOP brushed carbon race boards. The elite coarse was a 4 mile loop. So we started from the beach. Paddled north to the canal and made a left. Went all the way to the end of Coffee pot bayou and made a right hand buoy turn. Went all the way back the beach where we started. Right hand turn around a buoy set off the beach about 20 yards in the water and then did the same route again. To a running beach finish over the timeline. Jess ended up placing 6th in her division. I got 1st place in the mens 12’6” class. Definitely representing for the Wave Of Wellness Team! Overall there were about 128 who raced that day. The fun coarse was about 3 miles long. For the 3 mile you had to paddle north from the beach out to a buoy and do 2 laps. The awards ceremony took place at Jonny Reno’s. A cool little bar at the end of the St. Petersburg pier where they had free food and a ticket for a free beer. What an awesome and well put together event. Jess and I will definitely be back next year. Big thanks to all our awesome sponsors: Travel Country Outdoors, Werner paddles, Hinano Tahiti, Pocket Fuel Naturals and of coarse Starboard SUP.