Olympic Gold Medalist Greg Barton will be racing again this year in the second running of the San Juan Challenge. In addition, Greg will be giving a presentation on racing paddles and techniques at a buffet dinner at Rosario the evening of May 2. The Challenge is a 40-mile, 2-day sea kayak race from South Harbor Park in Anacortes to Rosario Resort and back, May 2 and 3 of this year. Greg was the winner of the first Annual San Juan Challenge, April 19 and 20, 1997, in a total time of 5 hours, 11 minutes. The 1997 race had rough conditions on the second day that included winds to 52 mph and seas up to 8 feet in tide rips. Safety boats include local Dive Rescue Units and volunteer boaters, but participants must be prepared to self-rescue in rough conditions. Professional photographer Joel Rogers will be joining us again this year. Check out Joel's photograph from the 1997 Challenge, which will be in the 1999 Sea Kayaker Calendar, to be published later this year. This years' events also include a shorter but still challenging one-day race circumnavigating Guemes Island from South Harbor Park, a distance of 16.5 miles. Other events include a welcoming reception and party on May 1 at the Anacortes Brewhouse, pool rolling contest, team relay in Fidalgo Bay, used kayak and equipment auction, moonlight paddle, lectures, and demonstrations. The race course is a beautiful and varied one, with wild shorelines and challenging crossings of Rosario Strait, Bellingham Channel, Guemes Channel, and Obstruction Pass. Impressive currents and tide rips are expected. Race divisions are Men's and Women's Competitive, Men's and Women's Recreational, Master's, and Predicted Log. Spectators can view the race from the Start/Finish line at South Harbor Park, the top of Cap Sante, Boomer's Landing, Rosario Resort, or on the water! Volunteers are needed for numerous roles, including safety boats and crews, on-water race reporting, registration, and on-site traffic control. If you can help, please contact wayne korterud at <waynek_at_co.skagit.wa.us>. For more information, or to download a race application form see our Website at <www.sjcraceandexpo.org>. Whether you're a spectator, a novice kayaker, or a racer, join us in Anacortes May 1-3 for the 1998 San Juan Challenge Race and Festival! *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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