The first ever Paddle Battle LI kicked off Saturday morning with a 12-mile elite long course race for experienced paddlers.
The race started in downtown Riverhead and went to Simmons Point in Jamesport then over to Cow Yard Beach in Red Creek Park and back to downtown.
There were 72 registered racers, adults and children, on stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and canoes. Other races ranged from a 2 1/2-mile amateur race, a 5-mile race, and a 200-yard sprint for children and one for adults.
Jared Dreeben, 11, of Jamesport and Georgia won the children’s sprint.
Bryan DeLuca, executive director of the Long Island Aquarium and president of the East End Alliance, organized the event, which benefits The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation and the East End Tourism Alliance.
“This is great for the first year,” he said. “It is a great river with no boat traffic and no wake zone. In the future we may split the canoes and kayaks from the stand-up paddleboards.”
Peconic Paddler owner Jim Dreeben, who has been in business for 48 years in Riverhead, helped Mr. DeLuca design the course for all the races. He has organzied several charity paddle trips for canoes and kayaks in the past for “Save the Bays” and the “Peconic Baykeeper.” His business stocks six brands of stand-up paddleboards and 30 models. When asked about the growing interest in the stand-up paddleboards he said, “It’s something new. People like the challenge. It is a great core workout and you can see more things in the water from standing up.”
Jeremy Grosvenor, 43, of Sagaponak did the 2 1/2 mile paddleboard.
“It was beautiful. I love the waterway,” he said. “It is so special for an island to have a river and not to be scared by it. It is such a smart thing to do. Kids should do this instead of playing video games.”
RESULTS
2 1/2 Mile — Male
SUP Under 12’6″
Youth 13-17: 1. Gavin Cucchi, 59:11
Adult 18-39: 1. Jimmy Bissett, 37:53
Senior 50-59: 1. Rick Werheim, 39:09
Super Senior 60+: 1. Russell Tillman, 55:04
2 1/2 Mile — Female
SUP Under 12’6″
Adult 18-39: 1. Janet Orourke, 49:32
5-Mile — Male
SUP Under 12’6″
Adult 18-39: 1. Dominik Krawczyk, 1:24:35
Master 40-49: 1. Jeremy Grosenur, 58:00
Senior 50-59: 1. Johnny O’Hara, 59:04
5-Mile — Female
SUP Under 12’6″
Senior 50-59: 1. Mary Scheerer, 1:02:19
2 1/2 Mile — Male
SUP Over 12’6″
Adult 18-39: 1. Keith Attisano, 34:20
2 1/2 Mile — Female
SUP Over 12’6″
Master 40-49: 1. Deb Wertheim, 38:50
Senior 50-59: 1. Debra Fattibene, 39:16
5-Mile — Male
SUP Over 12’6″
Youth 13-17: 1. Will Brant, 58:27
Adult 18-39: 1. Taylor Resnick, 55:36
Master 40-49: 1. Mike Navarra, 1:05:47
Mixed Double 2 1/2 Mile — Male
Adult 18-39: 1. Dennis Martin, Eli Fishman, 35:27
Sea Kayak 5-Mile — Male
Master 40-49: 1. Scott Robertson, 55:29
Senior 50-59: 1. Matthew Wichrowski, 45:13
Super Senior 60+: 1. Howard Bergesen, 56:12
Rec. Kayak 2 1/2 Mile — Male
Youth 13-17: 1. Quinn Simmons, 39:51
Super Senior: 1. Archie Harrison, 37:20
Rec. Kayak 2 1/2 Mile — Female
Master 40-49: 1. Dawn Dawson, 45:10
Super Senior 60+: 1. Joanna DiNardo, 57:34
Rec. Kayak 5-Mile — Female
Master 40-49: 1. Krista Demeny, 40:59
Senior 50-59: 1. Debbi Gallucci, 40:51
Elite Unlimited 12-Mile — Male
1. Ken Walls, 2:20:34
1. Emery Korpi, 2:23:35
