Some of the best paddlers in the world showed to at Doheny to compete for a share of $25,000 in prize money.  Jamie Mitchell aka "The World's fastest paddler" big wave charger and nice guy took top honors and will bring $10,000 back to Australia.  14 year old Slater Trout, an amazing all around waterman will bring $5,000 back to his home in Maui. 

I was in the 4 mile open race.  A 4 lap race in nice conditions.  I had to pleasure of watching Bian Syzmanski and Zane from Maui fly by me on 12'6" stock boards while I was on a 14'. 

During the elite race, aka "smash up derby", I saw board carnage never before witnessed.  Boards and bodies were colliding and only the fastest and most skilled survived.  On Jamie Micthell's last lap a head high set greeted him at the bouy and he gracefully rode it to the beach.

I also paddled the 10 mile distance event on Sunday morning from Doheny to San Clemente Pier and back.  The water was very choppy due to 20 mph NW winds.  I have never seen so many elite paddlers fall.  I think I fell about 20 times.  Going into the wind was brutal.  The top guys finished in 1 1/2 hours.  I finished (thankfully with no lifegaurd assistance) around 3 hours. The last guy finished in 6 hours. 

click for more pics http://web.mac.com/tomtomproductions1/tomtomproductions1/Battle_of_the_paddle_Oct_2009.html

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