First repeats Catalina Classic win, Lansdown sets stock record, Brown doubles down
Max First celebrates his second Catalina Classic victory. Photo by Joe Gitelson As hundreds of Catalina Classic paddlers and their escorts gathered at Catalina Island’s Two Harbors Saturday evening to listen to race instructions and race lore from Buddy Bohn, the founding director’s voice wobbled. On his mind was Bob Hogan, a father of the 32-mile paddleboarding marathon with a 51 year tradition. Hogan was a Los Angeles County lifeguard when he organize the inaugural Manhattan Beach International Paddleboard Race in 1955. The race ran six times annually, before going dormant after the 1961 race. Bohn was a young boy back then. He would sit on the railing of the Manhattan Beach Pier, watching competitors cross the finish line. In 1982, Bohn, by then a County Lifeguard, helped resurrect the race, which became known as the Catalina Classic. “Each year we dedicate the race to someone with significance to our sport,” Bohn said. “It’s important that we know where we came from.” This year’s race, Bohn said, was in honor of Hogan, who died last December, at the age of 83. “We want Bob to be the winner this year,” Bohn said. To make it happen, part of his ashes would be scattered in the…
Read this story on easyreadernews.com