Local Surfers and Paddleboarders Raise $18,000 for SurfAid at the Third Annual Paddle for Humanity
Encinitas, CA –This past Saturday, April 30th, 182 athletes gathered at Doheny State Beach to compete in the 3rd Annual Paddle for Humanity to benefit SurfAid International. The paddleboarding and stand up paddle (SUP) fundraiser attracted some of the region’s best paddlers, who competed in the 6-mile elite race, and dozens more who participated in the 2-mile fun paddle.
The Executive Director of SurfAid International USA, Randal Schober, said the event would not have been possible without the commitment from the sponsors, most notably Watermans Applied Science. “Watermans has come out year after year to help organize and rally the paddling community in support of our cause,” Schober said.
The event was sanctioned by the World Paddleboard Association and was part of the WPA’s championship points races. San Clemente’s Thomas Maximus was the overall male winner with a time of 54:08 and Brandi Baksic, also from San Clemente, was the overall top female in 1:06:48. Each competitor had a chance at winning raffle prizes that included gear from Rogue, Quickblade, Toes on the Nose, Sticky Bumps, Board Fisher and Hobie.
Special prizes were also awarded to the top three event fundraisers. First place for “Most Funds Raised” went to Mark Carlisle of Team Hobie who raised $2,825 for SurfAid. Mark Pighini of Team Suplove and Jared Varges were also recognized for their individual efforts in raising money and awareness for SurfAid.
The event’s success reaffirms the event’s popularity which has grown from one event in 2010 to a national series this year. SurfAid and Watermans Applied Science are taking the Paddle for Humanity to Deerfield Beach, FL on June 4th and to Washington, DC on August 20th.
To view complete results, or to learn more about SurfAid, visit www.paddle4humanity.org.
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SurfAid International
SurfAid International is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the health, well-being and self-reliance of people living in isolated communities connected to us through surfing. In partnership with communities and government, SurfAid works to prevent disease, suffering and death through educational programs that aim to change poor health behaviors. SurfAid’s main goal is to empower communities to help themselves and create health sustainability. SurfAid’s 2011 program work focuses on the Mentawai and Nias islands (an archipelago off the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia) and includes malaria prevention, water and sanitation, health and nutrition, emergency preparedness and emergency response to disaster. To learn more about SurfAid go to www.surfaidinternational.org or call 760-753-1103.
Watermans Applied Science
WATERMANS®: APPLIED SCIENCE stands committed to providing quality sun protection products to those individuals for whom life in the shade is not an option. They offer the best, most effective and functional, high-performance sunscreens on the market, specifically designed for high-intensity water and endurance athletes. Their sunscreen is formulated to stand up to the rigorous demands of an active life in the sun, wind and water. Their goal: to ensure a day in the sun doesn’t mean a lifetime of dealing with the consequences. To learn more about Watermans go to www.watermansappliedscience.com or call 949-596-0080.
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