Lake Murray SUP Classic this Weekend!

SUP Race: Fastest Growing Watersport Featured at Lake Murray Dam;

Race to Benefit Local Special Olympics SUP Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Grace Metzgar, Race Director
Tel: 803.407.2235
Email: [email protected]

Lake Murray Dam, Columbia, SC – For a third year, the Lake Murray Stand up Paddleboard (SUP) Classic will bring racers from across the southeast to the open waters of Lake Murray for a weekend of action. Proceeds from the race benefit Special Olympics South Carolina.

Presented by Half Moon Outfitters, the event begins Friday afternoon, Sept. 26 with clinics for those wanting to improve paddling skills. Roddy Medders of Stand and Paddle, Bluffton, SC, will explain proper stroke technique and provide general SUP skills instruction. A second clinic features legendary racer Rand Perkins of Bryson City, NC. Perkins is 62-years-old athlete who has a extraordinary winning record against racers more than half his age. He will talk about the training and conditioning techniques that have benefitted him through his racing experience. More information can be found about each clinic on the race website: www.lakemurraysupclassic.com

Saturday, Sept. 27 is race day. Races start and finish from the Lake Murray Dam Public Park and Swimming Beach and have been designed for all skill levels. While the beach will be closed to the public, spectators are welcome. Special Olympics athletes take to the water first at 8am for a one-mile challenge that capitalizes on what they’ve learned over months of training. Three and a half and seven-mile courses will challenge both recreational and advanced paddlers. For those without racing experience, a ‘First-Timer’ one-mile race is planned. The final race of the day will be the Kid’s race, where developing skill is always on display.

Awards will be presented in a variety of categories in a ceremony following the race at the British Bulldog, site of the race after-party starting at 1pm. Members of the public are welcome to be part of the festivities including live music by local musicians The Flat Out Strangers, good food and a SUP Swap Meet, an opportunity to buy or trade paddling equipment.

The weekend culminates Sunday morning when paddlers are invited to meet at Liberty on the Lake at 9:30am for a social paddle followed by an opportunity for lunch on the deck at Liberty.

This event has benefitted from the generous sponsorship from companies such as Half Moon Outfitters, Dutch Fork Animal Hospital, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Chernoff Newman, The British Bulldog, Liberty on the Lake, Gregory Electric, Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, Hilton Garden Inn, Aladdin Steel, Earth Fare and many others.

For more information, visit the race web site at www.lakemurraysupclassic.com or ‘Like’ the event page on Facebook www.facebook.com/LakeMurraySUPClassic.

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