Hey guys, I'm over here in Hood River, Oregon for the Gorge Paddle Challenge.

Almost every big name is over here for what will probably be the biggest race of the year outside of the Battle. Plenty of Aussies on show this weekend, with Angie, Jacko, Jake, James Casey and of course Travis Grant looking like they could all take home some big results.

I'm sending out live play-by-play commentary and pics during the races (if you followed Molokai or the Showdown you'll know what to expect), so if you wanna follow it along go here:

>> www.supracer.com/gorge-live/

Feel free to grab any of the updates or pics and repost them here on seabreeze.

Danny Ching, Connor Baxter, Kai Lenny, Georges Cronsteadt, Travis, Jacko, Jake, Slater, Fernando, Riggs, Annabel, Candice, Sonni, Lina, Angie, etc etc...

Massively stacked field!Today (Saturday) is the Course Race while tomorrow it's the Double Downwinder (hoping for wind!)The Elite Course Race starts in about 10 minutes (women) and just over an hour (men) so check it out...

Thanks for the heads up Chris.

Thanks Chris.. It looks awesome..

The men's race is on now.. Great live commentary and the odd pic..

great to see two Aussies up there in the top four.

"Out front it’s still Danny, Connor, Jake, Travis,"

Keeps telling me the page is down.....

Thanks again Chris..

1st: Connor Baxter
2nd: Travis Grant
3rd: Danny Ching
4th: Georges Cronsteadt
5th: Kody Kerbox
6th: Jake Jensen
7th: Arthur Daniel
8th: Chase Kosterlitz
9th: Slater Trout
10th: Kai Lenny
11th: Paul Jackson
12th: Bruno Tauhrio
13th: Fernando Stalla

Just posted the full recap and results if you wanna see how it all went down:

www.SUPracer.com/2014-gorge-paddle-challenge-results/

Crazy race. Awesome effort from the Aussie crew!

Chris site seems to be down most of today. I got the live race posts then after been down.. am on mobile if that has anything to do with it..

Great live coverage though

The live blog updates were awesome Chris! Looking forward to seeing how the double down unfolds tomorrow!

Great tuff racing here yesterday in the course race.

8 bouy turns each lap. 1mile each lap.
Elite did 5 laps.

It was hot and glassy so everyone with back up flatwater boards were laughing.

Great racing had by all.

Amazing to see so many ladies paddling super hard over here.

Hoefully it blows hard for the double downwinder today otherwise the flatwater boards will kill it again today.

Forecast looks ok for wind but late today.

Overall results are still open to grab.

X angie

The downwind races just started! Angie is out there now battling against Annabel, Candice, Lina, Fiona, Sonni, Andrea...

www.supracer.com/gorge-live/

The men start in 20 minutes. Then when they're finished we do it all over again, thanks to this new 'Double Downwinder' format.

Should be a fun day. We were worried about no wind but it's starting to really pick up. I'm on the lead escort boat right now - plenty of bumps here in the Gorge.

Perfect timing for me. Hour train ride into the city for work at 5:30am est and the 1st DW race is being called. Thanks bossman

It's going to be a close and exciting finish..

Poor Angie taking a wrong turn..

Congrats to Connor and Annabel on winning the first of the two DW races.. Great coverage again Chris..

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chrisparker said..
Just posted the full recap and results if you wanna see how it all went down:

www.SUPracer.com/2014-gorge-paddle-challenge-results/

Crazy race. Awesome effort from the Aussie crew!

Those live updates are priceless mate! Thanks Chris!!!

Hahah yes DJ its my own mistake! I lost about 3min of time having to go back up and around the marker i missed on the
First lap especially as i was sitting equal first at the time.
I was spewin!
All good i managed to work my way back up from 6th into 4th on the first lap. Managed a good clear 2nd place on second downwinder.
I had a blast today!
Put me in second overall cos of the times, so im super happy.
X angie

Congrats Angie.. Well done..

The top ten from each with times etc. Its been amazing here i love it. Perfect set up for downwind runs. I remember this place from my kiting days and ii was so happy to come here and downwind paddle it.
The double downwind proved not to be very windy but still enough bumps to just catch and still great fun paddling with the worlds best women.
We will be back here foresure.
X angie

Ange. What size boards were raced on for the event 12"6 or 14 and what was the length of the down wind races ? Thanks

Elite females had to race 12'6 all wkend but elite men were 14ft, lucky buggers hahaha
Each downwinder was 7miles or just a little over.
I think i had it as 24.8km for both downwinders yesterday.
I was on falcon 12'6

X angie