2020 Virtual Paddle for Access
The annual Paddle for Access event celebrates our ongoing work to protect and preserve shoreline access. We welcome individuals or teams to join the cause and sponsorship opportunities are available to sponsor the event or participants/teams.
VIRTUAL EVENT DETAILS
Date and Time: June 26th through August 15, 2020
How It Works: We’ve designed a 3 mile and 6 mile virtual race as well as multiple challenges grouped as: 1) Water Challenges 2 ) Land Challenges 3) Fundraising Challenges. You can register for either or both races and opt to participate in the different challenges via the PaddleGuru registration link. For the water racing challenges, we’ll be accepting a variety of tracking methods from apps. Please read further down the page for more details on challenges in each of these categories.
Registration: All registration will take place on PaddleGuru and will remain open through August 14th. All registration will take place on PaddleGuru and will remain open through August 14th. Participants are welcome and encouraged to join both the 3 and 6-mile race and to participate in more than one challenge. Your participation includes an invitation to further support us on GoFundMe where you can help raise funds to support our work. The link to your fundraising page will be sent in a separate email following registration. Please join us and help support our work to protect and preserve shoreline access throughout Rhode Island!
Cost: A one-time fee of $20 plus processing will go to support our work. ln addition to supporting our mission, the first 100 participants will receive a custom 2.5-liter dry bag with a clear pocket available for pickup at our office, 21 John Clarke Road, Middletown, RI 02842.
WATER CHALLENGES
We’re hosting multiple water and land based challenges this year. Scroll through to find which challenges you want to do and keep in mind we welcome and encourage participants to compete in as many divisions and challenges as they can!
To participate, competitors should utilize fitness trackers such as Garmin, Strava, SpeedCoach, MapMyRun or any other GPS watch apps. This is required for us to be able to verify your activity. To find out where the ROW’s are, please visit: ROW’s Map
Water Races & Challenges
- Fastest time for 3 and 6 mile races
- Largest total miles paddled during the 50-day period
- The largest number of miles paddled in one day
- The most amount of ROW’s visited (launched from, paddled too)
Race Divisions
- 12’6 And Under SUP
- 14′ And Over SUP
- Prone All Sizes
- Sea Kayak – All Sizes
- Solo Canoe – All Sizes
How it Works:
1. Participate in challenge(s)
2. Record your time and course on a Garmin, Strava, or similar app
3. Email your information to PFA@cleanoceanaccess.org
a. First and Last Name
b. Challenge(s) participating in
c. Craft type (SUP, Prone, Kayak)
d. Your Time
e. Screen Shot of your race path from any tracker app and picture of ROW sign if available.
Note: You may redo a challenge as many times as you would like and the best time will be the final score. Race times must be received by August 15th to be considered for awards.
If you are participating in a duration challenge such as the greatest number of miles traveled in 50 days or the greatest number of ROWs visited please submit each individual activity by email and we will compile the information and announce the winners after August 17th.
**All participants are required to wear a personal flotation device and leash on the water.**
LAND CHALLENGES
For competitors who wish to remain on land but want to support our work, we have devised a few additional challenges for you.
Land Challenges
- Most number of cleanups hosted
- Most amount of ROW’s visited on Aquidneck Island
- Most amount of ROW’s visited in Rhode Island
- Most amount of ROW site surveys
To find out where the ROW’s are, please visit – ROW’s Map
Here’s How it Works:
1. Participate in challenge(s)
2. For cleanup challenges please fill out our tally sheet
3. For site survey challenges please fill out our site survey form
3. Email your information to PFA@cleanoceanaccess.org
a. First and Last Name
b. A picture or scan or your tally sheet or site survey form and picture of ROW sign if possible.
c. Name of ROW visited
Note – All information needs to be submitted by 8/15 to be considered for awards.
FUNDRAISING CHALLENGES
Our Paddle for Access race has historically been a major fundraiser that allows us to continue our work. To further support our mission, we encourage everyone on water or land to help raise funds and awareness for COA by joining our GoFundMe campaign. We encourage all participants to set a fundraising goal of $500 however for those who go above and beyond we have created additional goals.
PRIZES
- All water and land challenge winners will receive a locally crafted medal to proudly show their support of COA!
- Participants that raise $250 will receive a COA branded t-shirt, stainless steel cup, and COA bag
- Participants that raise $500 will receive a COA branded sweatshirt, t-shirt, stainless steel cup, and COA bag.
- Participants that raise $1,000+ will receive a COA branded beach blanket, sweatshirt, t- shirt, stainless steel cup, and COA bag,
EVENT PURPOSE
Clean water and healthy oceans are critical to fun ocean events which is why we believe in action today so future generations can enjoy ocean activities. Shoreline access limitations inspired the roots of our organization back in 2006 and to this day it is the most important, yet least understood issue that we work on. The Paddle for Access event celebrates our work to monitor all 50 rights-of-way across Aquidneck Island and ensure everyone has access to the shoreline. The event also sheds light on many other issues that impact public access to the shoreline, including erosion, sea-level rise, invasive species and long term shoreline planning.
ADDITIONAL INFO
Can’t make the race? You can still help support our work to protect and preserve shoreline access throughout Rhode Island by donating here: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/paddle-for-access
All results will be announced during the week of August 17th and prizes and medals will be available for pickup or delivered shortly thereafter.
Additional information about rights-of-ways and public access please visit cleanoceanaccess.org or http://www.crmc.ri.gov/publicaccess.html
For further information please contact us at PFA@cleanoceanaccess.org
OUR 2020 EVENT SPONSORS
2019 RACE PHOTOS
Drone pictures by Veronica Brown
Land pictures by Dave McLaughlin
THANK YOU TO OUR 2019 SPONSORS
AND OUR 2019 DAY OF EVENT SPONSORS
