For Immediate Release

Canadian Larry Cain and USA’s April Zilg Repeat Victories in
Surf to Sound Challenge


Larry Cain and April Zilg at Surf to Sound Challenge – Courtesy NC Press Release
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC – Following a deceptively perfect launch with ideal weather and sea conditions, the second-half of the 7 th annual Surf to Sound Challenge turned brutal with headwinds of 15-20 mph combined with a rapidly falling full-moon tide. Elite paddlers were brought to a near standstill, grinding slowly through the last two-miles to the finish line.

“The downwind run was really fun,” said Canada’s Larry Cain, winning his fifth Surf to Sound Challenge elite men’s title. “We got to the jetty in an incredibly fast time. But as we made the turn it was the typical Carolina grind, facing lots of current and a pretty strong wind.”

“It was a slog. We were hit pretty hard,” said North Carolina native April Zilg, capturing her third consecutive title in the elite women’s division. “I was struggling to hold above four miles-per-hour.”

Zilg, ranked 11 th in the world on the women’s index, and Cain, Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist and Sports Hall of Fame Inductee, both plan to defend their titles in 2018.

Surf to Sound Challenge is a weekend of family activities, paddle clinics, vendor displays, and end-of-season races for all skill levels including:

  • The 6.5-mile Surf to Sound Challenge for elite paddlers.
  • The scenic 4-mile Harbor Island Outer Loop, a beginner to intermediate race circumnavigating Harbor Island.
  • The Froth, an 11-mile longboat ocean canoe (OC) and surfski endurance event includes soundside and ocean racing, traversing Bank’s Channel, Masonboro Inlet, the Intracoastal Waterway, and Mott’s Channel.
  • The 9-mile Blockade Runner Flatwater Championship, an endurance challenge for experienced paddlers.
  • The celebrated Kid’s Race, for children 7 to 14.

Results for the 6.5-mile Surf to Sound Challenge Elite Race:

Men 14' Division 
  1. Larry Cain, Burlington, ON, Canada
  2. Fielding Pagel, Mystic, CT, USA
  3. Brandon VanElslander, Oakville, ON, Canada
  4. Kodie Peekstok, Waterford, ON, Canada
  5. Brian Meyer, Annapolis, MD, USA

Women 12.6 Division
  1. April Zilg, Wilmington, NC, USA
  2. Stephanie Shideler, Long Beach, NY, USA
  3. Jenny Alderman, John’s Island, SC, USA
  4. Mary Howser, Annapolis, MD, USA
  5. Jenna Blackburn, Wilmington, NC, USA
Steve Phillips and LeAnne Young – Courtesy of NC Press Release
Results for the 4-mile Harbor Island Outer Loop:

Men 14 Division
  1. Steve Phillips, Wilmington, NC, USA
  2. Bryan Worth, Southport, NC, USA
  3. Mitch Bechard, Newport Beach, CA, USA
  4. David Young, Wilmington, NC, USA
  5. Peter O’Donnell, Wilmington, NC, USA

Women 12.6 Division
  1. LeAnne Young, Wrightsville Beach, NC, USA
  2. Elle Newkirk, Wrightsville Beach, NC, USA
  3. JeAnna Bunting, Wilmington, NC, USA
  4. Kim Mallard, Greenville, NC, USA
  5. Erin Fitzpatrick, Wrightsville Beach, NC, USA

Results for the 9-mile Blockade Runner Flatwater Championship:

Men 14' Division
  1. Larry Cain, Burlington, ON, Canada
  2. Fielding Pagel, Mystic, CT, USA
  3. Brandon VanElslander, Oakville, ON, Canada
  4. Billy Miller, Manteo, NC, USA
  5. Dan Miller, Calgary, Canada

Women 12.6 Division
  1. April Zilg, Wrightsville Beach, NC, USA
  2. Stephanie Shideler, Long Beach, NY, USA
  3. Melissa Austin, Annapolis, MD, USA
  4. Karen Wilson, Wilmington, NC, USA
  5. Kirsten Lefeldt, Chicago, IL, USA

Results for The Froth 11-mile longboat OC and SurfSki race:

OC-6                  
Wilmington OC-6 Team Members:
Ricky DeVennish, Wilmington, NC, USA
Jack Marinich, Wilmington, NC, USA
Rick Wheeler, Wilmington, NC, USA
Mike Dremen, Wilmington, NC, USA
Henry Wicker, Wilmington, NC, USA
David James, Wilmington, NC, USA

OC-2                  
1. Chris Martin, Hampstead, NC, USA
1. Rob Deisroth, Wilmington, NC, USA

2. Monica Monteon, Silver Spring, MD, USA
2. Annette Ramos, Falls Church, VA, USA

OC-1                  
1. Harrison Deisroth, Wilmington, NC, USA
2. Bryan Meyer, Annapolis, MD, USA
3. Chris Mulstay, Jacksonville, FL, USA 
4. Barry Blackburn, Wilmington, NC, USA
5. Mike Medwedeff, Wilmington, NC, USA

Surf Ski                       
1. Hunter Hay, Wilmington, NC, USA
2. Justin Schaay, South Africa

Kids Races (round the buoy)
One Lap Race:
  1. Sienna Schaay, South Africa
  2. Mary Paige Mott, Wilmington, NC, USA
  3. Oceania Schaay, South Africa
  4. Stella Beausang, Wimington, NC, USA
Three Lap Race:
  1. Georgia Bloomer-Rancourt, Wilmington, NC, USA
  2. Kathryn Emmart, Wilmington, NC, USA
  3. Mason Kober, Wilmington, NC, USA
  4. Cooper Lang, Wilmington, NC, USA
  5. Canon Lang, Wilmington, NC, USA

Held every November and presented by the Wrightsville Beach Paddle Club, Surf to Sound Challenge is sanctioned by the World Paddle Association (WPA) and hosted by Blockade Runner Beach Resort. Surf to Sound Challenge is a weekend of family activities, paddle clinics, and end-of-season races designed to include all skill levels.
Start of the 2017 Surf to Sound Challenge – Peter Newman, Aerial Images ILM
Contact:                

Mark Schmidt, Race Director
Phone: 910-620-1835
Robert B Butler 

Permission granted for redistribution – photo credits required

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