Stand Up Paddleboarders from throughout the state and across the border are travelling to Bundaberg to participate in the 4670 SUP Club’s Ocean Addicts Clearwater Classic Race Weekend.
The two day event from August 17 to 18 will include a time trial on Saturday afternoon on the club’s Riverview Run culminating in the Clearwater Classic main distance race on Sunday morning.
4670 SUP Club race coordinator Paul Stumer said he had already had registrations from the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Brisbane and northern New South Wales.
“There’s been a great response so far,” Paul said.
“We’ve made it a weekend event to encourage people to travel.
“People are looking for this type of event. They can come and experience the town and what our region has to offer.
“We’ve made entry fees affordable so people will spend money to come here.”
With 70 registrations so far across the two days Paul said he was “quietly confident” that they would reach their cap of 50 registrations for the Saturday event and 100 registrations for the Sunday event.
“It’s the biggest SUP event in our area that’s ever been here.”
4670 SUP Club Clearwater Classic run like state comp
Having travelled the country for state and national events himself Paul said the event was being organised just as a state event would be to give local paddlers a taste of higher level competition.
“That’s our goal is to give people that full race experience.”
On Saturday the time trial event is over 3 km and 4 km distances on the Elliott River from Riverview to the mouth and back.
Sunday’s main event flatwater distance race offers short and long courses of 5 km and 11 km starting at Elliott Heads and travelling upstream turning large inflatable buoys and returning to the start/finish line at the mouth of the river.
Paul said the event was also an opportunity for locals to come along and see what the club was all about.
He said many people joined for social paddling but they also provided pathways to coaching and bigger competitions for those interested.
Paul and Laurie Stephenson co-founded the club in late 2016 for “likeminded people wanting to get fit and active and create an opportunity for people to paddle, learn and grow.”
For more information and to register head to the 4670 SUP Club webpage.
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