The PNWORCA / CORA 2023 Small-Boat Racing Winter Series Championship event lived up to expectations as the courses were challenging, the conditions were epic, the awards were exceptional, and the after-race meal was exquisite.
The PNWORCA Race Committee no longer tracks Small-Boat Racing Winter Series points and the Small-Boat Racing Winter Series Championship event host no longer recognizes Division Top 3 Finishers. However, the CORA Race Committee continues to track Small-Boat Racing Winter Series points so as to recognize Canadians who are among the Top 3 Finishers in a Boat / Gender / Age Division and to continue the tradition of the Peter Forand Masters Challenge Trophy.
The Small-Boat Racing Winter Series is not only about putting in miles on the water, but also about putting in miles on the highway, as the 2023 season saw 7 races contend with Winter storms in Vancouver BC, Portland OR, Bellingham WA, and Seattle WA. There were 417 entries across all 7 races and yet 24 paddlers were registered in two or more Age Divisions based on the different registration systems used by the 7 host clubs, which impacted their Boat / Gender / Age Division standings.
For the first time in the history of the PNWORCA / CORA Small-Boat Racing Winter Series, at the conclusion of the 2023 Peter Marcus Farewell Tour, we were able to present the Peter Forand Masters Challenge trophy to the Champion at the Championship Event Awards Presentation.
The PNWORCA 2023 Small-Boat Racing Winter Series winner for the Peter Forand Masters Challenge is Mignon Fontenelle (Sand Point Outrigger Canoe Club) in the Women Masters 50+ OC1 Division. The PNWORCA Small-Boat Racing Winter Series event organizers recognize Mignon Fontenelle for the fourth time as the Peter Forand Masters Challenge winner in accordance with guidelines as the Female or Male Masters (40+ / 50+ / 60+ / 70+) OC1 paddler with the highest number of points (Six Races; Six 1st Places) across all age / gender divisions at the end of the Winter Series.
Congratulations to Mignon Fontenelle as she continues to demonstrate commitment and excellence in Winter Series small-boat racing.
CORA wishes to recognize these individuals who were top contenders for the Peter Forand Masters Challenge Trophy:
- Kevin Cowan, Portland OR (#2)
- Beau Whitehead, Bellingham WA, 2021 Champion (#3)
- Pam Watts Cornall, Canada (#6)
- Bob Stewart, Canada (#8)
- Ken Asano, Canada (#13)
- Doug Thomas, Canada (#14)
CORA wishes to recognize these individuals who were Top 3 Finishers in their Boat / Gender / Age Division:
- Rob Magus (1st V1 Men), Bob Stewart (1st OC1 Men), Graeme Galves (1st V1 Men), Beau Whitehead (1st OC1 Men), Manny De Leon (1st SUP Men), Makoto Tsukigase (1st OC1 Men – Age 16)
- Pam Watts Cornall (2nd OC1 Women), Tony Hodanic (2nd V1 Men), Darren Grant (2nd V1 Men), Masato Tsukigase (2nd OC1 Men – Age 13)
- Ken Asano (3rd OC1 Men)
For more information about the Peter Forand Masters Challenge, CLICK HERE