Premier Watersport Destination Hosts Premier Watersport Events in Wrightsville Beach, NC
April 13, 2016 - Wrightsville Beach was recently recognized as a Pioneer in East Coast Surfing and the birthplace of surfing in North Carolina, and those are just the most recent in a long list of watersports-related honors. If you’re looking for the perfect excuse to check out the active island life on the water at Wrightsville Beach, plan a trip around these two upcoming watersport events. Spectators are encouraged – we’ve even included some fun facts that will leave you feeling in the know:
Wrightsville Beach SUP Surf Pro-Am
April 16-17
Sat: Late Registration 7:00 AM, Race 8:00 AM
Sun: Finals (if needed TBA at event), Surf Clinic: 3:00 PM
- Largest standup paddle surf prize purse on the East Coast with the potential for a combined purse of $9,000
- Pros competing in this year’s event include Colin McChillips, 3x World Longboard Champion; Emmy Merrill, 2x ISA World SUP Surf Gold Medalist; and Izzi Gomez, 2x Standup World Tour Champ and 2015 ISA World SUP Surf Gold Medalist
- Will also award prizes and includes divisions for Groms (under 14), open (15-49) and Master’s (50+)
- The Longboard SUP Division will be judged on longboard style maneuvers
- Includes children’s programs hosted by the Museum
- New this year, a mobile app will be available for spectators and competitors to see scores in each heat in real-time
- Title sponsors of this year’s event are Hobie, one of the biggest paddleboard companies in the world, and Salt Life, an international sports magazine
- Proceeds support the Wrightsville Beach Museum’s Waterman Hall of Fame, which recognizes individuals for their excellence in watersports
2016 Carolina Cup
April 19-24
Races start April 23. See website for a full schedule of events starting April 19.
- First major stop on the 2016 world SUP race circuit
- 800 paddlers are expected to compete in the event, including Olympians and world-record holders
- Attracting internationally ranked competitors from roughly 20 countries including New Zealand, Australia, France, Canada, Spain and Mexico
- Consists of three different races: 3.5-mile Harbor Island race; 6-mile Money Island race; and 13.5-mile Graveyard race
- Other clinics and demonstrations will be scheduled throughout the event
- New on the race calendar for 2016 is the six-man Hawaiian outrigger canoes
- All races will be visible from the Blockade Runner Beach Resort and the causeway bridges in Wrightsville Beach
- A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Ocean of Hope, a team of paddlers dedicated to people affected by cancer