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As the summer nears its end, Sports Basement Redwood City and Redwood Water Sports are hoping to bring people together in the vein of events like Bay to Breakers with their first-ever Bay to Basement community paddle race. Organizers say to expect cheering spectators, some of whom will be in costume and prizes.
Community members can take part in the two-mile out-and-back race on Redwood Creek on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 12, via kayak, stand-up paddleboards and surf skis (long, skinny sit-on-top kayaks). The course starts near the footbridge at Courtyard by Marriott on Bair Island Road. It ends beside the sporting-goods retail store on Walnut Street.
“Redwood Creek is right outside our doors, but a lot of people don’t realize what a great recreational resource it is,” said Randy Phan, community marketer for Redwood City’s Sports Basement, in a press release. “We wanted to create something fun that brings people onto the water, gives the community something entertaining to watch and doesn’t take itself too seriously. You can paddle to win — or just paddle for the vibes.”
Employee John Walti, a San Carlos native who lives in Redwood City, suggested the store host such an event. Walti sees the contest as a way to pay homage to the creek and its history.
“It gave Redwood City its name,” he said. In the 1850s, the creek, a deep-water channel that ran inland into what is present-day downtown Redwood City, emerged as an affordable way to transport redwood logs and wood from the redwood forests in the Peninsula hills to San Francisco, according to the Port of Redwood City and the Peninsula Library System. “The (shipping) business put Redwood City on the map.”
There will be 11 exhibitors at the event, including the San Mateo County History Museum, which will display artifacts on the history of Redwood Creek. Grass Roots Ecology, the Marine Science Institute, Bair Island Aquatic Center and BayFoils will also be there. The Aquatic Center will provide safety measures for participants and alert competitors of obstacles in the creek — like old houseboats.
Sports Basement hosts other community events, clubs, clinics and outdoor programs throughout the year. It hosts a run club on Wednesday evenings and a cycling club on Sunday mornings. The retailer will put on a Woom bike test ride on Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Surf skis will launch first, followed by kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. The races are expected to end by around 12:30 p.m., according to Sports Basement staff.
There will be men’s and women’s divisions in each category. The stores will hand out prizes and gift cards to top finishers.
Phan advised people who are ultracompetitive to not show up.
“This is just meant to be fun,” he said. Phan hopes it becomes an annual event.
Bay to Basement. Sports Basement, 202 Walnut St., Redwood City. Sept. 12, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (check-ins begin at 10 a.m.). $10 plus a $2.51 online registration fee. Spots are limited to the first 40 to 60 paddlers who sign up. Registrants will receive a $10 Sports Basement gift card. tinyurl.com/baytobasement.
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