(June 22, 2017) Sunny skies and calm waters provided an idyllic experience for nearly 100 paddle board enthusiasts during the second annual “Return to Goat Island” Paddle Sports Festival and Race in Snow Hill on Saturday.
The all-level SUP (stand up paddleboard) race included a 17-mile elite competition, both solo and team, along with a three-mile recreational race. There was even a kid’s race consisting of a single lap around the roughly two-acre Goat Island, which is in the Pocomoke River off the shores of Byrd Park.
The joint venture between the Town of Snow Hill and Walk on Water in Ocean City also featured foodstuffs and beverages, along with musical entertainment from the Lauren Glick Band.
Walk on Water co-owner Ron Gossard said the day of water-based activities helped expose the riverfront in Snow Hill to the nearly 200 people in attendance.
“This is pretty special for a lot of people compared to where they paddle at home,” he said.
Thankful that Mother Nature delivered picture-perfect weather for a day of festivities along the water was Snow Hill Economic Development Director Michael Day.
“It’s just a fabulous day here in Snow Hill,” he said. “We’re really tickled with everything.”
Since partnering with Sandy Deeley, Walk on Water co-owner, to launch Return to Goat Island last year, Day said organizers opted to condense the activities into one day for the second go-round.
“The long distance race is also today, whereas last year it was on Sunday and we didn’t have anything going on after the race,” he said.
After emailing last year’s participants for input, Gossard said minor tweaks, along with the tighter schedule, were hit upon.
“This way hopefully a lot more people camp … enjoy the festivities and get it all in one day,” he said.
While numerous paddle board loving parents brought along children with a burgeoning interest in watersports, Kris Ohler, from Mechannicsville, co-piloted the recreational race with Takoda, her 1-year-old Boston terrier.
“This was his first race and he started shaking,” she said. “He’s not a water breed, but he had a good time.”
In fact, Ohler said Takoda stayed on board for the bulk of the three-mile cruise until some children shore side grabbed his attention.
“As soon as he heard the kids, he’s friendly and he wants to go play,” she said. “So he’s pulling and he’s splashing in the water because he’s trying to get to the dock to play.”
Participating in the kid’s race were two newcomers to the sport, sisters Emerson, 8, and Riley Clarke, 6, of Severna Park.
“It was fun and a little bit scary,” Emerson Clarke said.
Her sister, by contrast, despite also being a newcomer sounded less intimidated.
“I was happy and I was not scared,” Riley Clarke said.
Another first-time racer, Zoey Vea, 6, of Annapolis, was grateful the children used 18-foot inflatable paddle boards, which were provided by Walk on Water.
“I can’t balance very good on a regular paddle board,” she said.
Contemplating next year’s gathering, Gossard said overlapping the long distance race with other festivities is likely the blueprint moving forward.
“The 17-miler obviously takes a long time, so there has to be some activities to fill the rest of the day,” he said. “We try to divide it up so that everything’s going on at the same time.”
Assessing the assembled crowd, Gossard said Return to Goat Island offers activities to interest all ages.
“A lot of adults are getting kids into racing,” he said. “If they’re diehard into racing and doing a 17-miler their kids do the three-miler, so it’s kid friendly.”
After a second successful paddling event on the Pocomoke River, Gossard sees a new family tradition unfolding.
“A lot of these guys … have campers so they come down, they bring their kids, and the whole family comes down,” he said. “There are not many places that have a great spot like Byrd Park and camping right down the street.”
Winning the 17-mile solo race was Charlie Johnson at 2:52:30 on a surf ski. The 17-mile team event top finishers were Elizabeth and Bruce Poacher at 2:45:27 on a surf ski double. Two-person team Chris Sperry and Jeff Cook wrapped up next at 3:15:52. Wayne Best won the three-mile recreational race at 30:58 on a 14-foot SUP.
The all-level SUP (stand up paddleboard) race included a 17-mile elite competition, both solo and team, along with a three-mile recreational race. There was even a kid’s race consisting of a single lap around the roughly two-acre Goat Island, which is in the Pocomoke River off the shores of Byrd Park.
The joint venture between the Town of Snow Hill and Walk on Water in Ocean City also featured foodstuffs and beverages, along with musical entertainment from the Lauren Glick Band.
Walk on Water co-owner Ron Gossard said the day of water-based activities helped expose the riverfront in Snow Hill to the nearly 200 people in attendance.
“This is pretty special for a lot of people compared to where they paddle at home,” he said.
Thankful that Mother Nature delivered picture-perfect weather for a day of festivities along the water was Snow Hill Economic Development Director Michael Day.
“It’s just a fabulous day here in Snow Hill,” he said. “We’re really tickled with everything.”
Since partnering with Sandy Deeley, Walk on Water co-owner, to launch Return to Goat Island last year, Day said organizers opted to condense the activities into one day for the second go-round.
“The long distance race is also today, whereas last year it was on Sunday and we didn’t have anything going on after the race,” he said.
After emailing last year’s participants for input, Gossard said minor tweaks, along with the tighter schedule, were hit upon.
“This way hopefully a lot more people camp … enjoy the festivities and get it all in one day,” he said.
While numerous paddle board loving parents brought along children with a burgeoning interest in watersports, Kris Ohler, from Mechannicsville, co-piloted the recreational race with Takoda, her 1-year-old Boston terrier.
“This was his first race and he started shaking,” she said. “He’s not a water breed, but he had a good time.”
In fact, Ohler said Takoda stayed on board for the bulk of the three-mile cruise until some children shore side grabbed his attention.
“As soon as he heard the kids, he’s friendly and he wants to go play,” she said. “So he’s pulling and he’s splashing in the water because he’s trying to get to the dock to play.”
Participating in the kid’s race were two newcomers to the sport, sisters Emerson, 8, and Riley Clarke, 6, of Severna Park.
“It was fun and a little bit scary,” Emerson Clarke said.
Her sister, by contrast, despite also being a newcomer sounded less intimidated.
“I was happy and I was not scared,” Riley Clarke said.
Another first-time racer, Zoey Vea, 6, of Annapolis, was grateful the children used 18-foot inflatable paddle boards, which were provided by Walk on Water.
“I can’t balance very good on a regular paddle board,” she said.
Contemplating next year’s gathering, Gossard said overlapping the long distance race with other festivities is likely the blueprint moving forward.
“The 17-miler obviously takes a long time, so there has to be some activities to fill the rest of the day,” he said. “We try to divide it up so that everything’s going on at the same time.”
Assessing the assembled crowd, Gossard said Return to Goat Island offers activities to interest all ages.
“A lot of adults are getting kids into racing,” he said. “If they’re diehard into racing and doing a 17-miler their kids do the three-miler, so it’s kid friendly.”
After a second successful paddling event on the Pocomoke River, Gossard sees a new family tradition unfolding.
“A lot of these guys … have campers so they come down, they bring their kids, and the whole family comes down,” he said. “There are not many places that have a great spot like Byrd Park and camping right down the street.”
Winning the 17-mile solo race was Charlie Johnson at 2:52:30 on a surf ski. The 17-mile team event top finishers were Elizabeth and Bruce Poacher at 2:45:27 on a surf ski double. Two-person team Chris Sperry and Jeff Cook wrapped up next at 3:15:52. Wayne Best won the three-mile recreational race at 30:58 on a 14-foot SUP.