Anthony Vela claims the men’s and Karen Wrenn the women’s division at the elite stand up paddle (sup) race of the Carolina Cup 2011 in Wrightsville, NC. See results of sup race on Sup Race group.

Stand up paddle (sup) board racers having their dopamine-laden fun in the cheerful spirit of the event. Photo: Bill Gassett.

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WRIGHTSVILLE, North Carolina – The Carolina Cup 2011 is now in the books as one of the iconic east coast gatherings for the stand up paddle (sup) community. Racers came from all over the map, including California, Canada, Puerto Rico, and beyond. Stand up paddle boarders of all stripes came together for a spectacular jousting, with Anthony Vela claiming the top finish, followed by Chase Kolsterlitz 2nd, Jim Terrell 3rd, Larry Cain 4th, and Justin Cook 5th. In the women division, Karen Wrenn came 1st after a fierce battle with Heather Baus and Candice Appleby, who came 2nd and 3rd respectively. Watch the video coverage from the Carolina Cup 2011 Sup Race on Sup TV.

Conditions couldn’t be better for a stand up paddle (sup) race/event. The sun was shining, winds were relatively calm, and turnout exceeded all expectations, with an impressive number of people registering on the day of the race. The course tested the participants on many levels, where waves, a long course, and open ocean conditions were all part of the package. Plus, with cash prizes on tap, sup competitors were all the more motivated to offset some of their traveling expenses. Vela and Wrenn, top finishers of the men’s and women’s division, took home $2,000 each.

Looking forward on the world sup race calendar, the Carolina Cup has undoubtedly cemented its place as one of the most important sup race events of the East Coast, providing a great venue for paddlers of all different levels to show up and give their all either for fame or fun. John Beausang from Distressed Mullet deserves all the accolades, together with the great coverage of Chris Aguillard from Soul Surf Media and all the indispensable cheerfulness of sup competitors and participants. Accolades also go to the event's sponsors, among which are prestigious sup companies like Boardworks, Surftech and Yolo Boards, making it all possible, from event organization, video/cotent production, and distribution.

Helpful Links about the Carolina Cup 2011 Sup Race.

Sup Race Results: All of that and more on the Sup Race Group.

Sup Race Videos: Sup TV has three clips on Carolina Cup 2011.

Visit Related Sites: Distressed Mullet and the Carolina Cup Event's Page.

Photos of Carolina Cup: Bill Gassett posted some nice sup photos on Facebook.

Sup Races and Events: Check out the sup races and events in your area on Sup Connect.

What did you think of the Carolina Cup 2011 Sup Race/Event?

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