Submitted by City of Gig Harbor
Beautiful Gig Harbor will be the location for the Gig Harbor Paddlers Cup on April 11 and 12. The annual event will feature competitive paddle racing for kayaks, canoes and SUP, as well as outriggers and para-canoes. Proceeds benefit the Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Racing Team. There are several exciting new elements to this fourth annual event including:
The Gig Harbor Heritage Classic — Before there were steamboats, ferries and bridges, just how did everyone get to town? They rowed. The Gig Harbor Paddlers Cup celebrates this important part of our Peninsula’s history with the return of the Heritage Row, now renamed the Heritage Classic. Paddlers will start at Jerisich dock and paddle across the Narrow’s to Owen’s Beach at Pt. Defiance and back. The route is approximately six miles round trip and this event will take place on Sunday.
The Heritage Classic is also part of the NEW Seafair NW Paddleboard Series. The top three male and female finishers will qualify to compete on the hydroplane course at Seafair in August of 2015. More information about the Seafair NW Paddleboard Series can be found at www.nwpaddlingseries.com.
Dragon Boat Racing — The Corporate Dragon Boat Races are open to corporations, public service groups, and clubs sponsored by small businesses and high schools. Participants of any level of fitness can quickly adapt to and develop a passion for this sport – no experience necessary! Boats will be provided by the Gig Harbor Paddlers Cup. Team registration deadline is March 31. This event will take place Sunday.
The Gig Harbor Paddlers Cup will be based at Skansie Brothers Park and Jerisich Dock in the heart of historic downtown Gig Harbor with Saturday sanctioned event races taking place inside the harbor. See the schedule of events for the two day event as well as the course layout at www.gigharborpaddlerscup.com
Visit vendors and booths with informational displays on water sports and equipment at the park while the races are taking place. You will also have the ability to try out equipment, view new boats and learn more about paddling sports.
Registration is now available for both competitors, vendors and dragon boats on line at www.gigharborpaddlerscup.com. Special rates are available at Gig Harbor area hotels for participants. Rooms are limited so booking early is encouraged. http://gigharborpaddlerscup.com/lodging/. For additional information about the Gig Harbor Paddlers Cup please contact the Gig Harbor Canoe & Kayak Club Event Coordinator at gigharborpaddlerscup@gmail.com.
Major sponsors of the Gig Harbor Paddlers Cup and Expo are The Skin Cancer Center, Kim Rioux, DDS, Heidi Rowntree Realtor, The City of Gig Harbor, and Tacoma South Sound Sports Commission. Additional support comes from Peninsula Light, Downtown Waterfront Alliance, Thrivent Financial, Timberland Bank, Umpqua Bank and the Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Club.
