Tyler Anderson: US Paddle Board Champion

The 15th annual Hennessy’s U.S. Paddleboard Championships was held in Redondo Beach on, July 10. The race, a 12 mile, three lap course off the beach, is known for being one of the most difficult races on the coast, due to the large number of quality competitors who race for the title of U.S. Champion every year. This year was no exception, with a record number of prone paddlers, and SUP paddlers, no one could be certain of victory over such a large field of competitors.

After 12 grueling miles, battling it out with LA County Lifeguard Anthony Vela, our own Lifeguard and Long Beach native, Tyler Anderson was the first to round the final buoy and sprint up the beach to claim his second U.S. Championship title, Followed closely by Anthony Vela and Sean Richardson.

Though Tyler claimed victory in the end, during the race he wasn’t sure who would hit the beach first. Anderson’s quads and hip adductors started to cramp on the second lap around the course, instead of paddling in the faster position on his knees, Tyler was forced to his stomach to stretch out his legs. Though Anderson expected Vela to take the lead, Anthony too was feeling the fatigue of sprinting so hard for so long and was just too tired to pull ahead.

After the finish, Anthony and Tyler were too exhausted to speak to each other and settled on a good spirited congratulatory hug until they could catch their breath. The last time Anderson and Vela raced was Sunday June 27th at the 21 mile Rock 2 Rock race, where Anderson was also claimed victory by a mere hundred yards.

Anderson and Vela both have plans to race in the prestigious Catalina Classic this year on August 29th. The Catalina Classic is a 32 mile race from Isthmus Cove, Catalina straight to the Manhattan Beach Pier.

While Anderson will be defending his title of Catalina Classic Champion 2009, another Long Beach Lifeguard and father of two, Jeff Gillott, plans to complete his 11th Catalina Classic this year. Last year Jeff was awarded the “320 Mile Award” for completing 10 Catalina Classic races, an award not even possessed by seven time Catalina Classic Champion Kyle Daniels.