U.S. SURFSKI CHAMPIONSHIPS
August 21- 23, 2009
Sausalito and Berkeley, CALIFORNIA
In 2009, the US Surfski Championships has new dates and new courses. The
race dates have been moved up one month to the San Francisco Bay Area's
windy season take advantage of the summer afternoon winds that funnel though
the Golden Gate. The single
surfski long course (view course map) has been changed from
the past format with the start and finish lines at the same location to a
point-to-point mostly downwind race. The course starts at historic Fort
Baker , makes a trip
out the Golden Gate to the ocean, turns on a buoy past Point Bonita
, and then finishes with
a long downwind run past Angle Island on the
way across San Francisco Bay to the finish at OCSC Sailing School
in Berkeley. In addition to challenging
conditions, the course offers spectacular scenery with views of the Golden
Gate Bridge , Alcatraz
Island , the Marin Headlands
, and the San Francisco
skyline.
The popular Friday demo day with clinics continues in 2009. As in past
years, the single surfski races (including a short course and a long course)
are Saturday, and the double surfski race is Sunday. The races conclude
Sunday afternoon with the 4 x 2km Alcatraz Breakout Relay. Food and drinks
will be served at the long course finish line on Saturday, and at the
start/finish line on Sunday. Awards will be handed out on site at the
conclusion of each day's races.
By way of generous sponsorship from Premier Sponsors
Ocean Paddle Sports,
Huki Outriggers & Surfskis,
Epic Kayaks,
Think Kayaks, and the WaveChaser Paddle Series,
the minimum cash prize list is $12,000. Plus, all racers are automatically
entered into a raffle for many other prizes. The first 100 entrants are
guaranteed a goodie back that includes a race jersey donated by Premier
Sponsor PaddleMe Sportswear. Although this is
the US Championships, it is an international event and past years have had
competitors from ten deferent counties. Ocean Paddle Sports, Huki Outrigger
Canoes & Surfskis, and Epic Kayaks will have all of their latest products
available for demos.
The
Doubletree Hotel in Berkeley is offering special room rates
for Surfski Champs competitors, friends, and family. The Hotel is on the
water and is walking distance from the Friday demos and clinics, the
Saturday long course finish line, and all of the Sunday events.
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