Jeff Berry Claims The 4th Annual Surfguys Stand Up Paddleboard Challenge

A small crowd of intrepid paddlers hit the Indian River Lagoon in Melbourne, Florida today for the 4th Annual Surfguys Stand Up Paddleboard Challenge.  Cloudy skies at the start of the long course race turned to sunshine only a day after Tropical Storm Andrea moved through this area.  The racers were even treated to a surprise visit by local wildlife as a dolphin swam among the paddlers on one of the turns.

The Annual Surfguys Stand Up Paddleboard Challenge was a WPA sanctioned event earning competitors valuable season points.  In the 6 mile long course event, Jeff Berry claimed the men’s 14’ class while Joseph Morel took the 12.6’ class and 2^nd overall, also sharing the podium was Kyle Linogon who took 2^nd in the 14’ class and 3^rd overall.   Helga Goebel cleaned up in the women’s division followed by Lindy Carter.  The 2.5 mile short course was won by young gun Zeke Bitzkowski for the men and Naomi Gutnik for the women.  Complete results can be viewed at; http://www.paddleguru.com/races/SurfGuysSUPRace