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CAPITOLA — When she heard that surfwear company Roxy would be sponsoring the first all-women's paddleboard race in conjunction with the sixth annual Jay Moriarty Memorial Paddleboard Race in Capitola, Cynthia Aguilar knew she had to be there.
By LEO MAXAM
Sentinel correspondent
The Miami-based paddleboarder lives for the feeling of gliding along the ocean and although the contest was 2,000 miles across the country, she decided to find a way to compete.
"This was the first all-women's paddleboard race I had ever heard of," Aguilar said of the Roxy division of Saturday's race on the Monterey Bay, "So it was very important for me to come and be part of it and support it"
Without the financial backing of a major sponsor, Aguilar had to pay for her trip entirely out of her own pocket. She purchased a plane ticket to the Bay Area, spent the night before the race camped out in her rental car, and managed to borrow a board for the contest.
Despite having to adjust to the relatively cold waters of Northern California and compete on unfamiliar equipment, Aguilar finished the 12-mile "long course" in third place with a time of 2 hours, 39 minutes and 29 seconds behind women's champion Jane Cairns of Santa Barbara 2:29.53 and Savannah Shaughnessy from Santa Cruz 2:34.36.
"I've never been in a race with so many women," said Cairns. "To see that is just awesome"
In the 12-mile race paddlers started at New Brighton State Beach and paddled up the coast, past Capitola and Pleasure Point until they reached the one-mile buoy off the Santa Cruz wharf, and then made a beeline back to New Brighton.
In the two-mile "short course," competitors also launched from New Brighton Beach but then paddled southeast to the cement ship at Seacliff State Beach and back.
Aguilar was the only women's competitor to double up and race in both the short and long course races.
In the short course it came down to an all-out sprint finish in the last hundred yards between sixteen-year-old Kirra Hellfritsch and Aguilar. Hellfritsch, a youth aid with the Manresa junior guards competing in her first ever paddle board race, was able to outlast the visibly exhausted Aguilar and pull away to finish just a couple of seconds in the lead.
"I wasn't expecting to win," Hellfritsch said still gasping after her victory. "Aguilar had a big lead on me halfway through, but I think she started to get tired towards the end and I was able to close the gap. My arms felt like jelly by the end"
While she finished just shy of first place in both races, Aguilar certainly displayed the spirit and passion of the late Jay Moriarty, the legendary Eastside waterman known as much for his smile and generosity as for his accomplishments riding huge waves.
In the men's division, Malibu's Gary Fortune won the long course for the fourth year with a time of 1:54.38, followed by fellow Malibu paddler Kyle Power 1:56.10 in second. Westside Santa Cruz waterman Joe Beek was the top local men's finisher with a time of 1:56.10, good for third place.
"This race has got a lot of soul to it," Fortune said when asked about the appeal of the Jay race. "I never knew Jay, but I like to come every year because of the positive vibe and to support a good cause"
Proceeds from Jay Race entry fees and raffle tickets go towards local junior lifeguards programs. Last year's event raised over $5,000 and Jay Race organizer Gunnar Roll estimated that this year's contest should raise at least that much based on the fact that the race attracted three times as many contestants this year.
In addition to the 12- and two-mile races, there was also a small course set up right off the beach where kids as young as six years old could get their first taste of paddleboard racing. Santa Cruz paddler David King, who has participated in every Jay Race since its inception in 2002, said he's noticed the sport's growing popularity over the years, especially among youth.
"We've had more kids than ever before," said King. "This year we've also had the best conditions ever. Calm seas and light winds, good paddling conditions, make it easier for kids just getting into paddling to get the hang of it"
Fortune agreed with his fellow competitor.
"Most races are usually made up of adults, you don't see a lot of kids," Fortune said. "This race is special in that there are lots of kids of all ages, boys and girls"
Paddlers young and old will have their next chance to race on the Monterey Bay on Saturday, July 21 in the five-mile Wharf to Wharf Paddleboard Race.
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