Paddling into the new year

Mike Sciacca

Slowly, they began to trickle down to the shoreline at the south side

of the Huntington Beach Pier early Saturday, nine brave souls about

to challenge themselves, and the ocean, at the start of the new year.

A little past 8 a.m., they were in lineup and, when the horn

sounded, they bolted for the water as the 20th annual New Year’s Day

Paddle Race started.

Competitors began on the south side of the pier, traversed the

water on their longboards around the tip of the pier, then headed

back to shore and toward the finish line on the north side of the

pier.

The early-morning start -- which included cold water temperatures

and spotty breaks -- was refreshing to many.

“It’s definitely a great way to start the new year,� said Gary

Sahagen, president of the Huntington Beach Longboard Crew club, a

nonprofit organization founded in 1985 and one that stages the race.

Sahagen has either competed in or staged the event each of its 20

years.

He did both this year.

“These folks get up early and head for the water,� he said. “It’s

a nice, cold, refreshing way to dive into 2005.�

The race annually has been billed as a “casual and friendly�

event, and it proved to be just that.

Last year’s race drew 25 competitors, said Sahagen, who expected

this year’s race to meet or exceed that number.

Instead, just nine competitors signed up at the starting line.

Despite the low turnout, the paddlers were pumped for the challenge.

“We’ve had more and more people show up every year religiously,�

he said. “Half of those who come out are regulars, and the other half

who come out are newbies.

“Some of these people get involved with our longboard club; others

just come out to challenge themselves with the paddle.�

Huntington Beach full-time lifeguard Steve Reuter can be

considered a race “regular.�

In fact, the 46-year-old won the race for the third time in four

years.

He finished second last year.

“Win, lose or draw, it’s just fun,� Reuter said. “I love coming

out here and challenging myself. It’s just a lot of fun.�

Medals were awarded to the top six finishers.

One competitor to finish among the top six was Huntington Beach

resident and Huntington Surf and Sport employee Gary Cunanan.

The 23-year-old was out surfing early New Year’s Day and was

plucked from the beach by a longboard crew member, who encouraged

Cunanan to give the race a try.

He did -- and finished in sixth-place.

“When they asked me, I figured, ‘Why not?’� Cunanan said. “I had

always wanted to go around the pier, anyway, and that moment, the

start of the new year, seemed like the best time to do it.�

When he emerged from the water, Cunanan seemed winded but

exhilarated.

“It was awesome,� he said. “It’s an awesome view, coming around

the pier, and then looking back at the beach and beyond. I’d

definitely do it again.�

So would 12-year-old Keeley Driscoll, a Huntington Beach resident

and first-time competitor.

Not only was she racing for the first time, but Driscoll was the

youngest competitor -- and the only female among the nine paddlers.

She made it halfway up the south side of the pier and was pleased

with her effort.

“My uncles surf, and they had told me about this event, so I

thought I’d give it a try,� she said. “The toughest challenge for me

was getting through the break.

“My arms aren’t used to paddling out far like that, so they got

tired really fast. But I’d do it again in the future. This was a fun

experience.�