SUP Racing Around Peanut Island
Where a 78-year-old, a powerhouse 60+ division, and a welcoming paddle community stole the spotlight
One of the questions I get asked most often is why I spend so much time traveling to paddle races. Of course, I love to compete. I enjoy testing myself against talented athletes, seeing how my training is paying off, and pushing myself outside my comfort zone. If racing were only about crossing the finish line, I probably wouldn’t drive hundreds of miles several weekends each year. It’s everything that happens before and after the race—the road trips, the places I get to explore, and the people I reconnect with—that keeps me loading my board onto my RAV4 and heading to the next starting line.
This trip almost became something entirely different. I had already planned a few days in Tampa to see Tame Impala in concert while I was traveling south from the Florida Panhandle. Then my friend Allen mentioned he was heading to Riviera Beach to race the Bill Bone Paddle for the Peanut. Since I was already going to be in Florida's central region, I decided to extend the trip, drive across the state to the east coast on Saturday, and join him for the race around Peanut Island. Looking back, I'm glad I did, because the race ended up being only part of what made the weekend memorable.
A Completely Different Race
Last year was brutal with strong winds, heavy chop, constant boat traffic, and a dredging barge sitting (rather moving) right in the middle of the course. Several paddlers became tangled in the dredging equipment, including me, and I now have barge and cruise ship anxiety- for real.
This year couldn’t have been more different. The clouds kept the morning cool, the wind was barely blowing, and there was very little boat wake. Lake Worth Lagoon was calm, making for fast, enjoyable racing. To give you an idea, my time difference was about 20 minutes faster this year.
Just as last year, the race course covered about 4.5 miles for the race board division, with two laps around beautiful Peanut Island. Beginners completed one lap, while race SUPs completed two, and boats completed three. There was even a SUP with your dog division. This year it was one of those super chill mornings when you could simply enjoy being on the water.
Standout Performances
The competition was strong across every division, but several stand-up paddleboard performances really stood out. Mark Hewitt led the way with the fastest SUP time of the day, finishing the course in 39:36 in the Men’s 60+ division. He was followed by Lenin Henderson, who won the Men’s Open division in 40:22. I finished first in the Women’s 50+ division with a time of 41:21, while Gabriella Cukier captured the Women’s Open title on an inflatable race board, in 41:44. Rounding out the top overall SUP performances were Michael Markunas (41:02) and Allen Alquist (42:47), proving that speed on the water isn’t limited by age. In fact, the Men’s 60+ division was one of the most impressive fields of the day, with three paddlers posting times that would be competitive in any age group.
A special shout-out to my new friend, Sabrina Wong, who finished second in the Women's 50+ division with an impressive time of 49:39. She's a great reminder of why I love traveling to races. Sure, it's exciting to bring home a medal, but the friendships you build along the way are just as rewarding. On the best weekends, you come home with both.
Another paddler who caught everyone's attention was 78-year-old race board competitor Ben Martin who won his division. Even better, he was paddling a custom-built 14-foot race board that he designed and built himself, complete with a classic flame paint job. You can't help but smile when you see someone still competing at that level while riding a board that's as unique as he is. It's a great reminder that passion for the sport doesn't have an expiration date.
As someone who spends a lot of time talking and writing about healthy aging, moments like that remind me why I believe movement is one of the greatest investments we can make in ourselves. The goal isn’t simply to live longer. It’s to keep doing the things we love for as long as possible. You can find the complete race results here.
The Best Part Came After the Finish Line
There were so many familiar faces from last year’s race. We caught up on training, upcoming events, life, and everything that had happened since we’d last seen each other. It reminded me that while paddling is technically an individual sport, the community behind it is incredibly supportive.
Once the awards were over, we weren’t in a hurry to leave.
Boards, boats, jet skis, and SUPs gathered at the nearby sandbar and Sunday Funday officially kicked off, Peanut Island style. Before long, the locals joined in, spending the afternoon soaking up the sun, cooling off in the water, and enjoying a little Riviera Beach shenanigans. That was definitely one of the best parts of the weekend.
There were so many familiar faces from last year’s race. We caught up on training, upcoming events, life, and everything that had happened since we’d last seen each other. It reminded me that while stand-up paddling is technically an individual sport, the community behind it is incredibly supportive.
Every race introduces you to people from different cities, different backgrounds, and different stages of life who all share one thing in common—they love being on the water.
Why I Keep Traveling
People sometimes ask if all the driving is worth it. For me, the answer is always yes. They want to know if I am sponsored. My answer- not yet. : ) The races challenge me and the travel gives me new places to explore. That’s why I’ll keep loading my board on my Rav 4, chasing another starting line, and looking forward to seeing old friends—and making a few new ones—at the next race.
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I loved your summary of the day and and all you encounter with the friendships and the races! Thanks for sharing all.
ANIMAL!!
Awesome, Young Lady!!
And ... Awesome Young Lady!!