The East End Tourism Alliance will be hosting their fifth annual Paddle Battle LI event on Saturday, July 29 on the Peconic River in Riverhead.
This event raises money for the United Way of Long Island’s VetsBuild Program which supports veterans and military families, the Long Island Aquarium and the East End Tourism Alliance. Last year, the event raised nearly $25,000 and organizers hope to exceed that goal this year according to a press release issued by the East End Tourism Alliance.
The family-friendly event includes a 2.5-mile amateur race, a 5-mile competitive race, and a 12-mile elite class race. There will also be a pair of two-person canoe and kayak races. First Place medals will be offered to winners in each category for each class and distance.
In addition to the individual racing event in the morning, there will be the Paddle Battle Team Challenge. This is a recreational stand up paddle board and kayak race for companies, organizations and unions to compete against one another for the Paddle Battle Team Challenge trophy. The race will consist of teams of four competitors who will participate in the 2.5-mile stand up paddle board and recreational class kayak categories. The team with the overall best combined time will take home the championship trophy along with the bragging rights of winning the 2017 Paddle Battle Team Challenge.
Bryan DeLuca, the event coordinator said, “This is an excellent team building event with four-person teams competing against other teams. It’s great to see Long Island companies and organizations competing to support this event.”
Registration starts at 7 a.m. on the Peconic waterfront. Entry fees are $55/pp before the race day or $65 on the event day. Rental canoes and kayaks are available for $40. Life vests are required; all participants must wear their own PFD (personal floatation device) during the race. Click here for complete pre-registration details or find us on Facebook.
Team Challenge Registration starts at 9 a.m. on the Peconic waterfront, The race will begin at 11 a.m. The Team Challenge sponsorship entry fee is $2000 per team and must be submitted by July 21. Rental canoes and kayaks are available for $15. Life vests are required; all participants must wear their own PFD (personal floatation device) during the race. Click here for complete pre-registration details or find information on Facebook.
In the event of severe weather, Paddle Battle LI will be held on Sunday, July 30.
VetsBuild is a partnership program with United Way of Long Island and United Veterans Beacon House to help veterans find employment in the green construction industry. At no cost, veterans train for employment opportunities in energy efficiency, renewables, weatherization, Energy-Star construction, home performance, HVAC and home restoration. Training is conducted at United Way’s E3 SmartBuild Training Center.
The Long Island Aquarium offers a variety of experiences, from marine life exhibits to educational programs with the aim of “provid[ing] an interactive and exciting educational experience” according to the EETA press release.
The East End Tourism Alliance was formed in 2008 as a non-profit membership corporation under the laws of New York. Its purpose is the promotion of the East End region as a travel destination.
Source: Press release issued by the East End Tourism Alliance dated June 15, 2017.
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