Get Out: Got a paddle? Hundreds converge on Charleston for National Paddlesports Conference, other events

The Charleston area’s reputation as a destination, to visit or to live, for outdoor activities is growing. The latest example of that respect is the area’s selection to host this weekend’s American Canoe Association’s fifth National Paddlesports Conference and SUP Summit.

The oldest and largest organization that promotes paddling, including kayaking, rafting and paddleboarding, in the United States is expecting 250 people from 20 states and several countries to attend the conference Friday-Sunday at The Tides hotel on Folly Beach.

The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission, which has long supported paddling by organizing the East Coast Canoe and Kayak Festival for more than two decades, is handling many of the local activities and logistics.

Chris Stec, ACA chief operating officer, said the organization chose Charleston for two reasons: It is a “family-friendly destination with a welcoming culture” and has “spectacular paddling opportunities,” ranging from rivers and a harbor to marshes and the ocean.

Kathleen Cartland, executive director of the Charleston Metro Sports Commission, said the park commission’s experienced staff and water access for paddle-sports played a major role in ACA choosing Charleston.

She calls PRC an invaluable resource to leverage the sports commission’s mission to capitalize on the area’s “most-valued attributes” and to provide a “competitive edge over other communities.”

“We realize that we cannot compete head to head with cities that have built large sports complexes with the primary objective of promoting sports tourism,” Cartland said.

“We continue to assess our existing resources, which may not be traditional sports facilities, as venues for hosting new sports travel events. ... We want to brand the Charleston area as an ‘up-and-coming’ destination for adventure and endurance sports. Nationally, these sports are growing.”

Some of the highlights of the conference will be multiple paddling opportunities for all skill levels and all craft; a keynote talk by Jon Bowermaster, an award-winner writer, filmmaker, adventurer and conservation icon; as well as some of the best films about paddling selected by the Reel Paddling Film Festival.

www.americancanoe.org/?NPC_Schedule

Golden Nugget SUP

Charleston’s paddling muscle will be flexing with several other events this weekend.

Half-Moon Outfitters’ third annual Golden Nugget Stand-Up Paddleboard Race and Paddle ’n Party will be 1-5 p.m. Sunday at the Lighthouse on Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant.

The World Paddle Association-sanctioned races features a 10K and 5K (on the water) with a total purse of more than $5,000 in cash and prizes. Some boards and paddles are available for rent by calling Half-Moon’s Mount Pleasant store at 881-9472.

The fee for the race and party is $50, or $25 for just the party. The proceeds benefit the Mount Pleasant Land Conservancy.

To register, go to www.GoldenNuggetParty.com

SUPer Scary

While the Golden Nugget was planned to coincide with the National Paddlesport Conference, another paddling event was rescheduled to Saturday because of the threat from Hurricane Sandy last weekend.

The second annual SUPer Scary SUP Race event will be 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, starting from 83 Center St. on Folly Beach.

The event benefits Pet Helpers and the Emerson Rose Heart Foundation.

For a race schedule and registration fees, go to www.charlestonsupsafaris.com.

James Island Connector Run

While locals often make much of the views and the challenge of running the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, largely because pedestrians can actually be on the bridge, the James Island connector is almost it’s equal.

And the Ashley River’s version of the Bridge Run comes Saturday with the 14th annual James Island Connector Run, which includes a 10K fun bike ride starting at 8:25 a.m., a 10K and 5K at 8:30 a.m. and a 5K walk at 8:35 a.m.

Both races start at Cannon Park. The 10K finishes at Cannon, but the 5K finishes between the Harborview Road entrance ramp and the Folly Road exit. Buses bring 5K runners and walkers back to the park.

Fees are $30 Thursday and Friday, and $35 on race day.

Packet pickup and in-person registration is 2-7 p.m. Friday and 7:15-8:15 a.m. Saturday at Cannon Park.

The event, which benefits the Gavalas-Kolanko Foundation, has stunning views of downtown Charleston with the Cooper River span in the background and a series of challenging “hills” at the beginning and end of the race.

www.jicrun.com