What SUP? Race set for Shem Creek

CHARLESTON - Stand-up paddleboarding basically didn't exist in the Lowcountry five years ago, but the growing sport will mark a high point Saturday with a race featuring a total purse of $6,000 that's sure to draw participants.

The inaugural Shem Creek SUP Shootout is Saturday on Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant. The event features a 10K Elite Class SUP Race and a 5K Recreational Class SUP Race, and a Kids Shem Creek Sprint. The elite race starts at noon, followed by the recreational race at 12:10 p.m. and the kids sprint at 12:20 p.m.

Among the participants and sponsors will be Dean Johnson, 37, of Charleston, who is both a professional paddleboard racer and a maker of the watercraft.

"The idea behind the race is to show people how much fun the sport is," says Johnson, who won the local Naish race series and finished fifth out of 25 in the Naish SUP National Championship in San Diego in September 2009. Not bad considering the epicenter of the sport is in the Golden State.

Johnson, who grew up in Atlantic Beach, N.C., and was a professional cyclist in Europe, moved to Charleston in late 2006 to take care of a sick relative and combined his interest in endurance sports and surfing through stand-up paddleboarding.

He and Dave Clifford, owner of Charleston Water Sport Outfitters and a sponsor of Sunday's race, have been working hard to promote the sport in Charleston because of its abundance of waterways.

"The water here is fantastic," says Johnson, who logs seven to 10 miles of paddleboarding a day in addition to working out and running. "Charleston is a great place to train and work on technique."

Clifford agrees, saying, "Paddleboarding is the perfect fit for Charleston. … It's still gaining momentum and I don't think we're anywhere near the pinnacle yet."

Total purses are $3,000 for the elite and $3,000 for the recreational.

Other related events include free stand-up paddleboarding demonstrations and clinics at 9 a.m Friday and 10 a.m. Sunday at the beach at Station 30 on Sullivan's Island.

All races start and finish creekside at Red's Ice House. Spectators are encouraged to come out.

The event is sponsored by Charleston Water Sport Outfitters, Red's Ice House, Distressed Mullet, Dean Watersports and SUP Nation.

Shem Creek SUP Shootout

What: 10K Elite Class SUP Race and 5K Recreational Class SUP Race, and a Kid's Shem Creek Sprint

When: Saturday, noon

Where: Shem Creek at Red's Ice House

Purse: $3,000 for elite and $3,000 for recreational.

Details: Call 884-9098, e-mail info@charlestonwatersport.com.

Editor's note: Earlier versions of this story gave the wrong date for the race and the demonstrations. The Post and Courier regrets the error.