(June 23, 2016) Last weekend was the Ocean City Air Show, the Firefly Music Festival, the Summer Kickoff in Pocomoke and the Berlin Peach Pageant, plus a celebration of little island in Snow Hill with a goat on it that paddle boarders and kayakers raced around.
And it still drew hundreds.
Those not paddling on the Pocomoke River played Frisbee games, cornhole or built Lego projects while others blew bubbles, used the nearby playground or visited the petting zoos.
Spectators and participants listened to performers, including Nick Haglich and the Dukes of Delmarva, while others basked in the sun, ate or caught up with neighbors.
All the while dedicated and amateur paddlers raced around the spit of land, and the single goat denizen stood sentinel.
“The participation, especially in our first year, was tremendous,” Sandy Deeley, owner of Walk on Water in Ocean City and co-founder of the event, said. “The town’s hospitality was outstanding, and the weather couldn’t have been better. Everyone is really happy.”
Altogether, 130 paddlers participated for the inaugural event. Deeley said achieving that number is huge.
Michael Day, economic development advisor to the town of Snow Hill, and a co-founder of the event, echoed Deeley’s sentiments from the town’s side.
“It was a very pleasant event, where everyone enjoyed themselves,” he said. “It was a fun, low-key event.”
Deeley and Day both said the event would return next year.
With that said, both also confirmed there will be a discussion of some changes before paddlers return to Goat Island.
“We’re going to send out a questionnaire to participants to find out some hard answers, but I think we might combine it into one day,” Deeley said. “The initial feedback has been extremely positive.”
Deeley explained that most races like the one that took place last weekend are on set rectangular or triangular courses and are mostly on open water. The Pocomoke River near Goat Island can offer none of those things.
“It’s a nice change. There’s an island to go around and plenty to look at. It’s a different environment from what a lot of these paddlers are used to. Most are racing every week, and most have nothing to look at during those races,” he said.
Day agreed there were some lessons learned.
“I think we should have had a banner on Goat Island, and there probably should have been someone giving demonstrations,” he said.
And although Goat Island features its own dock and hiking trail, there was no way to visit or return to Goat Island during “Return to Goat Island” unless you brought your own boat.
“The kids race was neat, and the most exciting things to watch were the starts to each of the races. I’d like to see more vendors but all in all, it was a great first run out of the gate,” Day said.
And it still drew hundreds.
Those not paddling on the Pocomoke River played Frisbee games, cornhole or built Lego projects while others blew bubbles, used the nearby playground or visited the petting zoos.
Spectators and participants listened to performers, including Nick Haglich and the Dukes of Delmarva, while others basked in the sun, ate or caught up with neighbors.
All the while dedicated and amateur paddlers raced around the spit of land, and the single goat denizen stood sentinel.
“The participation, especially in our first year, was tremendous,” Sandy Deeley, owner of Walk on Water in Ocean City and co-founder of the event, said. “The town’s hospitality was outstanding, and the weather couldn’t have been better. Everyone is really happy.”
Altogether, 130 paddlers participated for the inaugural event. Deeley said achieving that number is huge.
Michael Day, economic development advisor to the town of Snow Hill, and a co-founder of the event, echoed Deeley’s sentiments from the town’s side.
“It was a very pleasant event, where everyone enjoyed themselves,” he said. “It was a fun, low-key event.”
Deeley and Day both said the event would return next year.
With that said, both also confirmed there will be a discussion of some changes before paddlers return to Goat Island.
“We’re going to send out a questionnaire to participants to find out some hard answers, but I think we might combine it into one day,” Deeley said. “The initial feedback has been extremely positive.”
Deeley explained that most races like the one that took place last weekend are on set rectangular or triangular courses and are mostly on open water. The Pocomoke River near Goat Island can offer none of those things.
“It’s a nice change. There’s an island to go around and plenty to look at. It’s a different environment from what a lot of these paddlers are used to. Most are racing every week, and most have nothing to look at during those races,” he said.
Day agreed there were some lessons learned.
“I think we should have had a banner on Goat Island, and there probably should have been someone giving demonstrations,” he said.
And although Goat Island features its own dock and hiking trail, there was no way to visit or return to Goat Island during “Return to Goat Island” unless you brought your own boat.
“The kids race was neat, and the most exciting things to watch were the starts to each of the races. I’d like to see more vendors but all in all, it was a great first run out of the gate,” Day said.