South Bay Paddle season opens
Max First and Alex Merril mug for the camera before dueling to the finish during the 8-mile Oceans Prone paddleboard race on Sunday. Photo by Chris Aguilar (FinFilmCompany.org)
Three-time Catalina Classic winner Max First and six-time UC San Diego All American swimmer Alex Merril engaged in a friendly duel during the eight-mile Oceans Prone paddleboard race on Sunday. The in-and-back course started at Neptune Street in Manhattan Beach and went north to Imperial Avenue in El Segundo. Merril finished in 1:25:39, half a minute ahead of First. Liz Hunter won the women’s division in 1:46:29, followed by Jenna Solberg in 1:46:41. The next Opens Prone race is a 12 mile race on Sunday, July 7, starting at Torrance Beach. This will be the last of the Ocean Prone Paddles four race series and is a qualifying race for the men’s and women’s stock, prone division for the US SUP and Paddleboard team. To qualify for the team you must paddle a 12-foot prone board in the 12-mile race. Bark Commanders are available to rent through Oceans Prone www.oceansprone.org.
Jenna Solberg (pink board), winner of women’s 20-29 age group and Liz Hunter, winner of women’s 30-39 age group .
This Saturday, June 8, the second annual South Bay paddle will start at 6:30 a.m. at the Hermosa Beach pier. The 15-mile in-and-back course runs south to Palos Verdes, then out to the R10 buoy and back to the Hermosa pier. The SB Paddle is a qualifier for the Catalina Classic on Sunday, August 25.
| Place | 8 Mile Overall | Time | Board | Gender | Age Division | Division Place |
| 1 | Alex Merril | 1:25:39 | UL | M | 20-29 | 1 |
| 2 | Max First | 1:26:07 | UL | M | 20-29 | 2 |
| 3 | Mauricio De La Barra | 1:30:38 | UL | M | 40-49 | 1 |
| 4 | Brian Peterson | 1:33:11 | UL | M | 40-49 | 2 |
| 5 | Mike Jackson | 1:34:22 | UL | M | 60-69 | 1 |
| 6 | Casey Annis | 1:35:47 | UL | M | 50-59 | 1 |
| 7 | Rodney Ellis | 1:37:35 | Stock | M | 40-49 | 1 |
| 8 | Jansy Obando | 1:37:40 | 14 | M | 40-49 | 1 |
| 9 | Scott Rusher | 1:39:31 | UL | M | 50-59 | 2 |
| 10 | Liz Hunter | 1:46:29 | Stock | F | 30-39 | 1 |
| 11 | Jenna Solberg | 1:46:41 | Stock | F | 20-29 | 1 |
| 12 | John Ward | 1:48:02 | 14 | M | 50-59 | 1 |
| 13 | Mark Cole | 1:51:16 | UL | M | 30-39 | 1 |
| 14 | Joe Scaturro | 1:54:40 | Stock | M | 30-39 | 1 |
| 15 | Kevin Cody | 1:55:56 | UL | M | 70-79 | 1 |
| 16 | Brian Toal | 1:56:09 | UL | M | 40-49 | 3 |
| 17 | Ron Witter | 2:01:21 | UL | M | 60-69 | 2 |
| Place | 2 Mile Overall | Time | Board | Gender | Age Division | Place in Division |
| 1 | Kurt Schaefer | 0:32:04 | Stock | M | 60-69 | 1 |
| 2 | Ruth Parish | 0:32:28 | Stock | F | 50-59 | 1 |
| 3 | Amanda Calhoun | 0:33:22 | Stock | F | 60-69 | 1 |
| 4 | Macy McKeegan | 0:33:24 | 14 | F | 20-29 | 1 |
| 5 | Ed McKeegan | 0:33:52 | 14 | M | 60-69 | 1 |
| 6 | Marilyn Kalty | 0:34:09 | Stock | F | 40-49 | 1 |
| 7 | Lara Schea | 0:39:53 | Stock | F | 40-49 | 2 |
| 8 | Nate Jones | 0:43:40 | 14 | M | 40-49 | 1 |