COULD THIS JUST BE THE BEST RACE FORMAT IN SUP HISTORY?
written by Sarah Thornley @supjunkie
Yes, we are talking about Last Paddler Standing, the ultra-endurance race that took place this last weekend on the stunning Lake June in Winter, Lake Placid, Florida. The last 3 years have seen this race at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, but Race Director Greg Wingo decided it was time for a change, and what a change!
It included a more natural setting, a better beach start, and clearer viewing for spectators. Greg also knew that this new body of water would test the paddlers more, being open and prone to wind and side chop. Little did we know at the start of the race, that the weather would throw in something new that could have had a dramatic effect on the results.
For those who are not familiar with the format, every hour paddlers must complete a 3.33-mile loop, coming back to the beach and their land crew set up. On the top of the next hour, they start again and so it continues every hour for 48 hours. Most paddlers have a land crew, but some manage on their own, being responsible for food intake, hydration, rest and good timing. If a paddler is not ready and on the water on the hour, they are out! It’s a cut-throat world out there with rules that must be adhered to. These rules have been created to make the best and most interesting race format out there, and they are not to be broken.
After 48 hours, the Super Loop comes in with an extended distance of 4.9 miles, again this must be completed in the same format and within the hour. Racers who manage to complete 48 hours (and there are not many each year) often bow out and the numbers who complete the Super Loop are low – it’s quite something to have to up your speed after 48 hours’ worth of paddling day and night.
At 9 a.m. local time on Saturday morning, 33 paddlers (ten women and 23 men) took to the water. Another new aspect of the event was some superb drone footage taken by Craig Sawyer/The SUP Coach who is a huge part of the production and media team. It was a game changer and was in play at the outset.
The course consisted of 4 right hand buoy turns, with one of them out on the main body of the lake and this certainly became known as the Buoy of Doom, causing paddlers difficulties with heavy side chop and windy conditions, especially on Saturday.
Mike Malone, husband of OG endurance paddling queen Salli O’Donnell, had said he was just paddling one lap but popped right back in after about 100 metres, his goal had been to be the paddler with the shortest time on the water. He certainly achieved that! It was quite the start, and he was also the first to ring the bell on getting off the water. Mike and Salli then stayed for the whole weekend, encouraging and helping others – they are truly beautiful people.
Next to finish was Chris Noel, the local owner of Wet Dogs Brewing who had entered just the night before, having been inspired by those she met at the towns’ welcome drinks party at the Brewery. We love this spirit of adventure and Chris has promised to train going forward and enter next year.
True Brit Karen Greener, who was supporting Bruce Smith, just wanted to paddle one lap and that she did, with Bruce by her side all the way.
Young gun and son of Trey, Colt Reaves has attended this race 3 times and at just 14 years old is the youngest competitor – he battled against the elements this year, but it was so great to see him there again.
Others coming in under ten laps were Robert Fournier, Jeannie Johns, Christian Logan, Bryant Ransom and Allen Alquist.
We certainly had some early upsets with Alex Zowacki becoming too unwell to finish. He looked set to paddle many laps but had to pull out after 12 – we cannot wait to see what this young and talented paddler can achieve next year.
Tammie Hampton from Hawaii had a scare that took her out of the race – she paddled over an alligator around 11 p.m. and in its confused state it thrashed about, mounting her board and hitting her leg! She was alone at the time, and it completely unsettled her, but she bravely finished the lap and retired.
Carlo Arias from Costa Rica was also out after completing 15 laps. He got cold in the night and then overheated and realized it was just too dangerous to continue. His positive energy certainly kept us all entertained when he was paddling , and we were sad to see him out. He’s an incredible talent and we know he’ll be back!
Bobby Johnson, one of the favorites, retired after 16 laps – one minute he was paddling and the next he was walking his board back to his tent. It takes a brave heart to retire, and we applaud his record at LPS, 41, 43, 48 and 16 laps over the last 4 years.
Two laps later, another shocker. John Knippers, who had been struggling with a cold pre-race and had a board issue during it, retired on lap 19. His 19-foot unlimited board had been letting in water and during an early lap, a team had gathered around, drilled a hole in the end of the board, drained it and patched it up as best they could whilst John was waiting for the turnaround. It held up well, but John did not, and he’s experienced enough to know when not to push against an illness that could lead to serious issues down the line.
Yulia Piatek, who was returning from a great performance last year, paddled quietly and efficiently but at 22 laps, her race was done.
Two ladies who paddled side by side almost the whole way through were Lindsey Tilton and Lindsay Hasegawa (nee LeBlanc), great friends on and off the water; they supported each other for hours, sometimes singing together to raise the spirits. It was joyous to watch, and we were sad to see first timer Lindsay Hasegawa retire at lap 27. This was some record, especially as she thought she had paddled 26!
Meral Amica Akyol from Germany and partner of John Knippers was certainly the smiling assassin; every lap being paddled with grace and a huge smile on her face. She was often at the front of the women’s fleet and with 16 laps completed in 2024, she reached a staggering 34 – a true credit to her training and commitment.
The last to leave the competition in the under 40 laps was Gregg Peters. What a paddler, consistently grinding it out and achieving more than he ever thought possible. Before this race, he had paddled on a SUP just twice although he has a huge amount of experience of paddling other crafts and has completed the M340 5 times.
So, from lap 38, we were down to the “Super Seven” paddlers. A 2-hour delay due to lightning and thunder earlier in the night was another curveball and one that some paddlers struggled with. Their consistency, timing, and method were all thrown into the air and when they re-started, some faced difficulties. By the second ‘new’ lap, they had settled back in, and all made it to the 48-hour mark. The decision to carry on with the Super Loop was easy for most and we watched all seven step up. As we watched those paddlers around the course, the tension rose, and we seriously wondered if anyone would make it. Five did indeed, but we lost Michael Carson and Laird Wharton – for 46 laps they had been incredible to watch.
Jeremy Stanton, who was paddling with his twin daughters for inspiration, delighted us all with his relaxed style and smiles, and we could not be more delighted to see him achieve 47 laps.
So, to our Queen of Last Paddler Standing, the uber talented Lindsey Tilton who 2 years ago had paddled 48 laps and stopped – since then it has been well documented by her that she regretted stopping for all the women and girls out there who need good role models. She had been determined to paddle further this year and she did just that, also claiming the first woman to attempt and complete the first Super Loop.
Lindsey came, she saw, she conquered this race, and the celebrations rang out throughout the camp – what a role model!
We were now down to three, Brad Friesen, unbelievably a first timer at LPS, UK’s Bruce Smith who in 2023 achieved 48 laps having been down to the last four and John Batson, who last year missed the cut off in the Super Loop and the race won. RD Greg Wingo stated that he did not want the race to win a second time.
To see these 3 paddlers head out once more on the second Super Loop, once more all finishing in a nail-biting race to the beach.
A very quick turnaround now and the three left the beach for the third Super Loop. The level of excitement was very real; we witnessed history! Bruce “Almighty” Smith gave everything he had but it was just not to be and after 1 kilometer he paddled back in – the love and applause for this man could not have been more intense – a true people’s champion.
All eyes were on John and Brad and once again, they completed that Loop – we really could not belive what was happening. Brad looked super fresh but enabled the ‘assist’ and gave John his blessing to paddle again. For those who don’t know the end game rule, once there is only one paddler left, that paddler must complete the lap, in this case the 4.9-mile Super Loop, within the hour.
Could our calm and consistent paddler John Batson make it – paddlers, team supports, volunteers and the general public were invested in John and we wondered why it was ever in doubt, with John giving a turn of speed to complete a fourth Super Loop and WIN Last Paddler Standing. It was almost a meant to be moment; it was John’s time, and he made it with true grit, determination and wonderful support. We all had our favorites, but don’t think there could have been anyone else winning LPS in 2025 other than John!
History and records were made in 2025, the weather tried to take it down, never before have 7 paddlers reached 48 hours of paddling, never before has a woman attempted and completed a Super Loop and never before have 4 Super Loops been completed by anyone. Where on earth do we go with this next year? The paddlers are going to have to up their game – is that at all possible?
For those of us who are used to fast paced racing and dynamic start lines, this is a whole new level – every hour the slowest start to a race you will ever see but the twists and turns of Last Paddler Standing will hook you in and have you wondering if it’s at all possible for you to have a go. It is, and you should as the LPS family vibe is strong – it’s a small, supportive community and everyone who turns up has a huge sense of achievement, regardless of the laps completed.
When a paddler decides to retire, RD Greg Wingo, hands them their poker chip, signs their race number with the number of laps completed and makes them feel a million dollars for just showing up.
I’ve watched this race almost every hour for the last 3 years, have been totally addicted and to be there live, really gave me a better understanding of why this race draws you in. We implore every level of paddler to have a go, you will not be disappointed, and you will leave with something truly special in your heart.
Congratulations to every paddler who took on that first lap and stepped up to be a part of Last Paddler Standing – we cannot wait to see you all in 2026! Keep an eye on the social media pages of the event as the date is dropping soon.
- Mike Malone – 0
- Chris Noel – 0
- Karen Greener – 1
- Julie Mitravich – 2
- Colt Reaves – 2
- Robert Fournier – 4
- Jeannie Johns – 6
- Christian Logan – 6
- Bryant Ransom – 6
- Allen Alquist – 7
- Jackie Gover – 12
- Alex Zowacki – 12
- Tammie Hampton – 14
- Lenin Henderson – 14
- Carlo Arias – 15
- Tim Arehart – 16
- Michael Barron – 16
- Bobby Johnson – 16
- Chris Thomas – 17
- John Knippers – 19
- Aleksey Synkov – 19
- Yulia Piatek – 22
- Lindsay LeBlanc – 27
- Michael Dolinar – 30
- Meral Amica Akyol – 34
- Gregg Peters – 37
- Michael Carson – 46
- Laird Wharton – 46
- Lindsey Tilton – 47
- Jeremy Stanton – 47
- Bruce Smith – 48
- Brad Friesen – 49
- John Batson – 50
We like to thank Sarah from SUPjunkie for her support. Would you like to be part of our community supporting the Stand Up Magazin? We exist because of you!
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