about
about
2023
Sites and Scenes
Thank you to our photographic partners: the City of Portsmouth Department of Marketing & Communications, which provided two roving photographers; the City of Portsmouth Department of Museums & Tourism; and Renee Russell, official Friends photographer.
Getting the Boats, Boards and Racers Ready
Paddle Battle prides itself for providing plenty of Volunteers to Help Our Racers Get from Their Cars and into the Water (for those who want the help)
Colin McGlynn back again for a third 1st Place finish
Left, Jeannie Diaz
Eda Wu back for her 3rd year
Rebecca Randolph
Mayor Shannon Glover has raced in all of the Paddle Battles
Andrew Scarborough
Michael Hillstrom
Heading Out to the Starting Line
Portsmouth Mayor Shannon Glover
Colin McGlynn
Christina Rayburn in red top
Waiting to Start
Eda Wu
David Mitchell (3-time Sponsor and Racer) in grey kayak; Michael Hillstrom in red/orange kayak
Eda Wu and Jonathan King
Far right, Jeannie Diaz
Mayor Shannon Glover and Jeannie Diaz
Emily Pauler
Katie Roberts
Lindsay Goodwin (rear) and Darren Kring in tandem kayak and Colin McGlynn in single kayak. Lindsay entered solely for the opportunity to beat her good friend Colin.
Andrew Scarborough
And They're Off!
Racing at Last
Finishing and Relaxing
Watching
Trophy Time
Rebecca Randolph, 1st Place, SUP Female, Beginner-Intermediate, Age 50+
Andrew Scrborough, 1st Place, SUP Male, Beginner-Intermediate,, Age 50+
Eda Wu, 1st Place, SUP Female, Age 20-35. Eda has raced in all three Paddle Battles and last year finished 1st in the Navy v. Coast Guard Challenge Cup.
Michael Hillstrom, 1st Place, Kayak-Male,Beginner-Intermediate, Age 36-50
The custom made Portsmouth Paddle Battle trophy
Doing it Safely
The Paddle Battle is known for its focus on the safety of our racers as they race on the busy commercial Elizabeth River. Thank you to the Portsmouth Fire Department, the US Coast Guard, Freedom Boat Club (Sponsor) and the Portsmouth Boat Club (Sponsor) for providing on-the-water safety boats.
Above, Portsmouth Fire Department Fire Boat crew getting ready to hit the water.
Left, 2 Safety Boats, on the left from Freedom Boat Club (Sponsor) and the other manned by Portsmouth Boat Club Volunteers
Andy Sutter, Paddle Battle Steering Committee, Freedom Boat Club (Sponsor) President and head of Safety Boat operations, heading out to the water. Andy is another 6:00 a.m. Volunteer.
The next to last heat was cut short, and the final heat was canceled, as thunder and lightening appeared over the southern end of the Race course. Safety Boats quickly instructed racers to get off of the water and to seek shelter at the nearest land point.
Paddle Battle is Also About Land Fun
Thank you to Tidewater Maritime Living History Association, Sprinklez Face Painting, Guitarist Dan Rosnato and DJ Eric for adding to the day's fun.
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Face painter extraordinaire Sprinklez with Sprinklez Face Painting & Balloon Twisting
Left, Dan Rosnato. Dan has performed at every Paddle Battle so we forgive him for his choice of colleges.
Olde Towne Portsmouth resident Bert Haneman (in chair) with Steve Milner
Left, Steve Turner (PBC) showing off his Hammerhead Crane t-shirt
Right, Ross Turner, former Assistant Curator, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum. Ross has since moved on to The National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
Thank You Volunteers
It takes as many as 60+ volunteers to put on the Portsmouth Paddle Battle, with the first ones arriving on site starting at 6:00 a.m. Shown below are a few of these intrepid souls. A special thanks to the Portsmouth Boat Club (PBC)(a Paddle Battle Sponsor) and to Jim and Kathy Cullen with the Portsmouth Farmers Market (also a Paddle Battle Sponsor) for "loaning" us volunteers from their organizations.
Also a huge thanks to the Paddle Battle Steering Committee, which meets starting in January of each year to begin planning for the Paddle Battle: Gary Bahena and Jeannie McCoy, Co-Chairs, Nettie Fischer, Michelle Wren, Andy Sutter (Sponsor), Tom Butt, Keith Toler (Assistant Director, Portsmouth Department of Museums & Tourism) and Sheila Janes.
Above from left, Jeannie McCoy (Paddle Battle Steering Committee Co-Chair) and Brenda Turner (PBC)
From left, Portsmouth Farmers Market for lending us some of their volunteers HA Chantelle Gonzales (USN), HS3 Justice Badgley (USCG), Braelea Badgley (USCG Veteran), HS3 Tyquise Parker (USCG) and HA Kirian Bisong (USN). Not shown, A1C Seth Michael Erickson (USAF) and A1C Casandra Durden (USAF).
Front row from left, Dina Butt and Andi Hutt; rear row left to right, Mark Stearns (PBC and Paddle Battle Sponsor), Brenda Turner (PBC), Jeannie McCoy and Gina Fremeau (PBC). Also pictured, two terrific Coast Guard guys who manned the Coast Guard RIB safety boat)
From left, Mick Kuaffman (PBC), Mark Stearns (PBC and Sponsor) hugging Jeannie McCoy, and Dina Butt
From left, Gina Fremeau (PBC), Merritt and Maureen Mizelle (Portsmouth Rotary Club and Sponsor) and Georgianne Mitchell (Sponsor)
From left, Keith Abernathy and Robert Fogel, Board of Directors, Friends of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum, and 2 of the 6:00 a.m. Volunteers.
Tom Butt, Paddle Battle Steering Committee, helping directi land Volunteer activities. Another 6:00 a.m. Volunteer.
From left, Gina Fremeau (PBC), Maureen Mizelle and Georgianne Mitchell
Far right, Janet Sutter (Sponsor)
Jeannie McCoy, Paddle Battle Steering Committee Co-Chair, looking concerned about some detail no one thought of in advance. Another 6:00 a.m. Volunteer.
Maureen Mizelle, Steve Milner (1st VP Friends) and Merritt Mizelle
Steve Milner and Renee Russell (official Friends photographer and Wheelhouse newsletter Editor)
Gary Bahena, Paddle Battle Steering Committee Co-Chair, Race Committee volunteer and Friends President, asking for quiet as he makes real-time race finish scoring entries: "Shhhh, I'm old and can only concentrate on one thing at a time"
From left, Race Committee members Jeff Fremeau (PBC), Gary Bahena and Russell Gettier (PBC)
From left, Race Committee Chair Matt Arel (PBC), Russell Gettier (PBC) and Jeff Fremeau (PBC)
Friends Board Member Steve Milner
Thank You Sponsors
