Bay Bridge Paddle
Saturday April 29th, 2017
Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis, MD
REGISTRATION is now CLOSED!
Notice: Cash prizes will be awarded based on current registrations with 5 in a category, in these categories – 9 mile 14′ male, 12’6″ female, 12’6″ male, Surfski, Male Se Kayaks. Trophies will be given to the top 3 finishers in each class with more than 5 contestants for the Elite race and the Intermediate race.
Water enthusiasts of all ages and expertise are invited to join us at the Bay Bridge Paddle, open to Stand Up Paddleboards, Kayaks and other paddle craft.
New this year, we will have packet pick-up on Friday, April 28, along with a not-to-be-missed clinic sponsored by Mercy Medical Center’s Orthopedic & Sports Medicine surgeon John-Paul Rue, M.D. and a variety of vendors for those last minute race purchases. The official hotel sponsor, Crowne Plaza in Annapolis, will be hosting the Friday night events. In addition, they have a block of rooms on reserve for our out of town guests. Please see our FAQ for discount & hotel details.
Paddling any part of the Chesapeake Bay waters is a thrilling experience and launching from Sandy Point State Park is no different. With a beautiful sandy beach on the Western Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, you are provided with expansive views overlooking the Bay Bridge. This race will bring together all levels of paddlers to share in a day of camaraderie and fellowship. Each race will present a different experience and challenge, the bay’s shifting conditions add to the fun as racers can experience anything from flat water glides to gusty winds and unpredictable swell and tides from the wind and current.
The Elite 9 mile Crossing will challenge racers with a high level of fitness and paddling experience; racers with less experience or conditioning can enjoy the 5K Paddle or the 1.5K recreation course closer to shore. In addition to these races, there will be other memorable events to entertain everyone, and with the generous backing of our sponsors, there will be over $7,000 in prizes and cash awarded!
All race participants receive a commemorative T-shirt and a carb-loaded breakfast to help get you energized for the race. When you return from the race and are ready to refuel, you will also receive a complimentary delicious, fresh, healthy lunch package. (Breakfast sponsored by Naval Bagels and lunch provided by Fresh Market) There will be other breakfast and lunch food items for sale for all attendees during the event.
Celebration will take place all day long with live music and activities for everyone. Awards ceremony will take pace shortly after the races have completed.
The Bay Bridge Paddle proudly supports the Foundation for Community Betterment.
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Register
Bay Bridge Paddle Cost Schedule
| Paddlers | January 1 | February 14 | April 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elite | $85 | $95 | $110 |
| Intermediate | $65 | $75 | $85 |
| Recreational | $45 | $55 | $60 |
*Be sure to carefully review Race Information and sign appropriate waivers. In order to participate, you must sign waivers online or bring printed, signed waivers to the paddle event.
Race Schedule
Stroke Clinic
1:30pm – 3:30pm
Sandy Point State Park East Beach. Limit 10 paddlers, $80 – Register here.
This 2 hour Stand Up Paddle clinic by April Zilg will take one hour to cover proper technique, and the biomechanics of paddling and then one hour to video and analyze each paddler’s stroke. Paddlers can expect to learn proper body position and which muscle groups to engage for each phase of the paddle stroke, which helps avoid injury and increase efficiency.
Packet Pick-up at Crowne Plaza
3:00pm – 8:00pm
Pick up your racing packet, breakfast and lunch meal tickets, official Bay Bridge Paddle racer shirt (provided by IDOSUP), and check out some last minute items and offers by some of our partners who will be onsite to answer questions and provide some give-aways
Drop-in Demo – Land paddling with Fishplanx
3:00pm – 5:00pm at Crowne Plaza (service road area)
What do you do when the weather starts to turn and it gets cold? How do you continue to stay in paddling shape? Have you heard of land paddling? It’s a great way to stay in shape and keep up your paddling skills when you don’t have time or resources to get out on the water.
Sports Wellness Clinic sponsored by Mercy Orthopedic Specialty Hospital
5:00pm – 6:00pm (free w/registration)
“Avoiding and Treating common overuse shoulder injuries in SUP” by Dr. John-Paul Rue with Mercy Orthopedic Specialty Hospital
Are you a paddler? Have you felt stiffness or pain in your shoulder from time to time, or on a regular basis? Overuse injuries are more common than traumatic injuries. The shoulder is the most commonly affected joint, with rotator cuff tendinitis and impingement, along with biceps tendinitis the most frequent complaints. Dr. Rue will offer insight and strategies for prevention and treatment of these common shoulder injuries.
Racer Dinner with Guest Speakers sponsored by Kind Healthy Snacks
6:00pm – 8:00pm at Crowne Plaza
$24 per person – register here
Guest Speaker:
April Zilg, a nationally-recognized SUP athlete and Hobie Team Rider, competing in both SUP Racing and SUP Surfing. She’s held down the #10 spot in the world rankings for 2 years running, has top 10 finishes in Carolina Cup and the Pacific Paddle Games, a 4th in the 2016 EuroTour, and a 1st place Women’s winner at our very own 2016 Bay Bridge Paddle!
Guest Speaker:
Lisa Consiglio-Ryan, a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and CEO of Whole Health Designs, a clean eating lifestyle company.
Registration/check-in
7:15am – 8:15am
Rental board pick-up
7:30am – 8:00am
Racer briefing
8:00am – 8:20am
9M Course – Kayaks and Surfski start
8:30am
9M Course – SUPs start
8:35am
5k Course – Kayaks and Kayak Double start
8:45am
5k Course – SUPs start
8:50am
1.5k Course – Kayaks start
9:00am
1.5k Course – SUPs start
9:05am
Demos on shore and live entertainment
12:30pm – 3:00pm
Awards and raffles
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Beach obstacle course races sponsored by Sprint
2:00pm – 3:00pm
3:30pm
Event ends
Course Maps
*Course(s) subject to change.
*Course(s) subject to change.
*Course(s) subject to change.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, admission to the event is by pre-registration only. Day of Registration is not available.
Please contact us at info@abceventsinc.com with the subject “paddle rental” if you are interested in renting a paddle board or kayak. Paddle board prices range from $40 – $60, depending on the type of board you wish to rent. Kayaks prices range from $50 – $80.
The official hotel sponsor for the 2017 Bay Bridge Paddle is The Crowne Plaza Hotel, 173 Jennifer Rd. Annapolis, MD 410-266-3131. There are a block of rooms reserved for racers with the Bay Bridge Padde. When making reservations, please use this link for the discounted rate. Other activities for racers as well as registration will be held at the Crowne Plaza on Friday.
Stay tuned for details on clinics.
We are working with our sponsors on discounts and will pass any along that we receive. Please stay tuned.
Refunds are allowed more than 10 days from the event. We are not able to process refunds less than 10 days from the event.
Spectators will be allowed in the spectator area. There will be food/drinks available for purchase for spectators as well.
Entry fee covers cost of the race. In addition, each racer will receive a racing t-shirt, breakfast (provided by Naval Bagels) and lunch (provided by Fresh Market).
Yes, Parking is $5 per person for Maryland residents, and $7 per person for out of state residents. Each participant will be sent a parking pass for one car only that can be used for that racer.
The elite race is an 9 mile race for Elite paddlers with the skill and fitness to complete this endurance challenge; racers should have significant experience in diverse, challenging open water weather conditions and completing long distance races.
No. We have many classes for paddling, including SUP, Prone, Surfski, and Sea Kayak, depending on the particular course.
| Paddlers | January 14 | February 14 | April 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elite | $85 | $95 | $110 |
| Intermediate | $65 | $75 | $85 |
| Recreational | $45 | $55 | $60 |
The race will take place in the morning with start times between 8:00 and 11:00 (weather dependent). We will update these times as we finalize the schedule.
Refunds are allowed more than 10 days from the race. Within 10 days, there will be no refunds. Please contact us to process your refund.
The Elite Race is out to the eastern shore, around a bouy, and back to Sandy Point State Park. No transportation is necessary.
Yes. Naval bagels will be selling bagels and cream cheese. Fresh Market will be selling lunch items, menu TBD.
Pets are not allowed at Sandy Point State Park during the Bay Bridge Paddle.
We will have lots of fun land and water activities the day of the event. We do have a recreational course that anyone can paddle. It is a less stressful and fun paddling experience. We may have other board demos at the event as well, so we hope you will come out and join us!
We are currently working with sponsors and should have more information shortly.
Breakfast and lunch items will be available for purchase on-site for spectators (Breakfast and lunch is included in event price for racers). Groceries can be purchased off-site from our sponsor, Fresh Market.
We recommend Naval Bagels and Stan and Joes as sponsors of ours. However, there are many wonderful restaurants in the Greater Annapolis Area.
There are a limited number of vendor positions available. Please contact us if you are interested.
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Sponsors
