Pier paddle

Mike Sciacca

On New Year’s Day 2003, Angela Madsen paddled her way around the

Huntington Beach Pier, her determined effort catching the eye of Gary

Sahagen.

“She was amazing out there,” recalled Sahagen, president of the

Huntington Beach Longboard Crew, which stages the annual New Year’s

Day Paddle Race. “Right then, we thought about opening up this race

to the public.”

And so, on Jan. 1, the New Year’s Day Paddle Race around the pier,

previously a members-only event for those who belonged to the

Huntington Beach Longboard Crew, will be open to competitors from the

general public for the first time.

Madsen wasn’t a member of the crew when she competed last Jan. 1,

but watching the paraplegic paddle around the pier inspired members

of the crew to expand the event beyond crew membership.

“She got to the water by wheelchair and hopped on a surf board,

then paddled around the pier,” Sahagen remembered. “We were so

impressed with her and what she accomplished.”

Madsen finished the race, “last, as I recall,” she said, with a

chuckle. But the Long Beach resident, who runs a rowing program for

the disabled and won a world championship gold medal as part of the

national adaptive rowing team, says she will be back out at the pier

again on New Year’s Day.

“I know I’ll do better this time out,” Madsen said. “I had a lot

of fun with it last year and plan on coming back to do this every

year.”

Huntington Beach City lifeguard Steve Reuter is the two-time

reigning champion of the paddle race.

This will be Reuter’s third time competing in the race.

“To me, it’s just a fun thing to do,” said the 44-year-old, who

has been a city lifeguard for 28 years. “The race is early in the

morning, so it will be a challenge for those who will be out late on

New Year’s Eve.”

“Angela saw me on the beach one day and told me, ‘I’m gunning for

you.’ It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Sahagen, 49, said last year’s race drew 20 competitors -- the

largest in the event’s history, which dates back to 1985.

The paddle race originally was held on Super Bowl Sunday but was

moved to New Year’s Day a few years ago.

No paddle boards are allowed in the race, Sahagen said, with

competitors allowed to only use a board that’s big enough to use for

surfing.

There is no registration cost, although a $5 donation is

encouraged to help cover costs of the event.

The competition will have one open division, and medals will be

handed out to the top six finishers.

“But we might break it down and create more divisions for the

following year, if the turnout is good on New Year’s Day,” Sahagen

said.

“Most of us who have competed in this race are surfers but I think

that this year, we’ll have more paddlers out there than surfers. It’s

becoming more competitive, that’s for sure.”

The Huntington Beach Longboard Crew is 173 members strong. That

number includes 12, including Sahagen, who are charter members of a

club established in 1985.

The club contributes to local charities including the Huntington

Beach International Surfing Museum.

Its focus is on surfing, family, local environmental issues and

giving back to the community.

The New Year’s Day Paddle Day Race is just one of two holiday

projects the crew has became involved with.

Recently, the crew took up a collection, then matched that amount

of money raised, and went out and purchased a food basket and toys to

benefit a local single mother and her two young children, Sahagen

said.

The crew presented the family with their Christmas packages

earlier this week.

“We’re more than glad to help out,” Sahagen said. “It’s a great

way to end the year, and the paddle race is a great way to start the

New Year.”

* MIKE SCIACCA covers sports and features. He can be reached at

(714) 965-7171 or by e-mail at [email protected].