Generation gap closing quickly in Velzy-Stevens Paddle race
Velzy-Stevens Paddleboard race record holder Kyle Daniels (center) prepares to pass the torch he took from fellow lifeguard Mike Inscore (right) to Inscore’s son Hogan (left).
“You have to race my son,” Inscore told the 21-year-old Daniels.
Inscore’s son Hogan was four years old.
On Sunday, at the International Surf Festival Velzy-Stevens Paddleboard Race, Inscore held Daniels to his 13-year-old promise.
Daniels has won the Velzy-Stevens race every year since its inception in 2000, with the exception of 2003 when he didn’t compete. And he won it again on Sunday in a time of 17:15. But the second place finisher cast doubts about whether or not Daniels can continue his streak through 2011.
Placing second, just over one minute behind, was Los Angeles County Lifeguard Cadet Hogan Inscore. A measure of the nearly lifelong bond between the two paddlers was the fact that Inscore was paddling a board borrowed from Daniels. It was the same board Daniels beat Australian lifeguard Jamie Mitchell on in the 2006 Catalina Classic. Mitchell had not previously lost a paddleboard race in five years.
The bond between the two paddlers was not unusual for the Velzy-Stevens race. Elle Inscore, 13, placed second in the women’s division, behind Los Angeles County Lifeguard Tracey Crouthers.
Lifeguard Tom Seth, set aside the competitive drive that helped him lead Los Angeles Lifeguard County Central Division to victory in the Taplin Bell competition the previous night to paddle alongside his 13-year-old daughter Emily.
Manhattan Beach resident Tom Horton, who last month competed in the Molokai Channel Paddleboard Race in Hawaii, paddled with his 13-year-old old son Cole.
DJ O’Brien, of Redondo Beach, a Catalina Classic competitor, paddled with her 14-year-old daughter Mattie.
Mike and Lisa Caputo, of Manhattan Beach, paddled with their 13-year-old daughter Skylar.
Scott Rusher of Manhattan, another Catalina Classic competitor, finished fourth overall Sunday, then circled back to pace in his 13-year-old daughter Keala.
Catalina Classic paddler Bill Caras, of Manhattan, paddled with his eight year old son George.
Lifeguards Heidi and Erik Nelson of Torrance paddled with their 15-year-old son Taylor.
Mac Borman, of Redondo, paddled with his stepdaughter Jennifer Stevens, 16. The race is co-named after Jennifer’s deceased father Terry.
The Honea sisters Hayes, 13, and Hali, 11, paddled with their dad Jeff, but only as far as the pier. Dad continued on for another 18 miles in preparation for the upcoming Catalina Classic.
Peter and Janette O’Campo of Hermosa paddled with their two daughters Nikki, 13 and Natalie, 12.
Brothers Will, 17, and Jack, 15, Elliott of Buffalo, New York, paddled together.
Greg Dellenbach of Manhattan and his son Matt, 13, paddled together.
Brothers Oscar, 13 and Jeremy, 11, Ocko Michalak of Venice paddled together.
The race’s sole tandem entry was Palos Verdes fire fighter Phil Ambrose and his young cousin by marriage Erin Deyo, of Shreveport, Louisiana. It was their second race together. Last year was her first time in the Pacific Ocean.
Aside from the large number of related paddlers, Sunday’s race was also notable for the fact that for the first time it was nearly won by a stand up paddler. Trevor Baxter of Torrance covered the two mile course in 17:55, finishing second over all, just 40 seconds behind Daniels. Gene Smith was second in the SUP division, and seventh overall.
For complete results visit www.surffestival.org. ER