August 15th, 2009 -North Lake Tahoe - With the trailer loaded full of carbon race boards, the Hobie Stand Up Paddle Team rolled into Lake Tahoe last Friday with only one thing on their mind, complete event domination. Saturday morning greeted the team to beautiful glassy conditions and an insane mountain back drop, a welcome change from the previous days 40 mph blow up.
As race time approached it was clear that this race was going to be a big one, and eventually almost 200 paddlers hit the water to compete in a heavily contested and challenging 7 mile course that wrapped from Kings Beach around the point to Crystal Bay and back. When it was all said and done, Hobie’s Chuck Patterson, riding the new 18' Carbon Race took first place honors finishing the course in a blazing and hotly contested 59:26. To make the sweep complete Mitch Kahn took the 14' overall title finishing in 1:04:23 and Byron Kurt took the 12'6 overall title finishing in an impressive 1:04:51. In addition to the sweeping the overall titles the Hobie riders didn't stop there, Hobie riders also took down many of the age division titles as well.
- Chuck Patterson - 1st Place Overall, 1st Place Unlimited 40-49 - Hobie Carbon 18' Race
- Mitch Kahn - 1st Place Overall 14' Class, 1st Place 14' 40-49 - Hobie X-14
- Byron Kurt - 1st Place Overall 12'6 Class, 1st Place 12'6 40-49 - Hobie CR-1
- Tommy Lloy - 1st Place Unlimited 18-39 - Hobie Carbon 18' Race
- Colin McPhillips - 1st Place 14' Class 18-39 - Hobie X-14
- Cody Alter - 1st Place 14' 18 & Under - Hobie X-14
- Rainbow's Sparky Longley - 1st Place Legend 60+ - Hobie CR-1.5
- Peggy Munoz - 1st Place Women's Legend 60+ - Hobie CR - 1.5
Full Ta Hoe Nalu Race Results
After all the racing was said and done, the beach opened up to a giant on the water demo that had the Hobie demo rack empty most of the time, as everyone on the beach was eager to talk shop and try out what they had just seen on the water as well as the full line of ATR boards and new Hobie Paddles. A special thanks must also go out to Chuck's mom Bitsy Patterson for letting the Hobie Team stay at her beautiful Holiday House Hotel right on the lake , and for being the oldest person to complete the race, on a Hobie or course, way to go Bitsy and Thank You!
