The 2025 NAC Va’a California Race Series has officially come to a close, and what a season it has been! From the first race to the final crossing, paddlers brought their A-game, pushing themselves and their teams to new levels of competition and camaraderie.
A Look Back at the Series
This year marked the third edition of the NAC Va’a California Race Series, and the momentum continues to grow. The series featured three exhilarating races, each testing paddlers’ endurance, skill, and ability to adapt to ever-changing conditions.
- Race #1 set the tone for the season, with a strong turnout and competitive racing along the California coastline.
- Race #2 brought even more intensity, as teams refined their strategies and individual paddlers showcased impressive growth.
- Race #3, the grand finale, saw competitors battle it out from Long Beach to Newport. With the added element of unpredictable wind conditions, the final race demanded both power and precision.
Series Scoring System
The NAC Va’a California Race Series is a points-based competition, where paddlers accumulate scores based on their finishing positions in each race. Points are awarded per event, and the total at the end of the season determines the overall champions.
Full Series Scoring Details:
- 1st place – 25 pts
- 2nd place – 18 pts
- 3rd place – 15 pts
- 4th place – 12 pts
- 5th place – 10 pts
- 6th place – 8 pts
- 7th place – 6 pts
- 8th place – 4 pts
- 9th place – 2 pts
- 10th place – 1 pt
At the conclusion of the series, the paddlers with the highest cumulative points in their respective divisions were crowned the overall winners.
Overall Points Winners
Congratulations to the top performers of the 2025 NAC Va’a California Race Series! Their consistent performances and determination earned them the highest overall points across the three races:
🔹 19U Champions
🥇 Carter Teasdale & Charlotte Nurok
🔹 Open Division Champions
🚀 Danny Ching & Zoey Chiang
🔹 Masters Division Champions
💪 Thiago Giacomelli & Lynn Milosz
🔹 Senior Masters Division Champions
🔥 Guillaume Escarguel & Suzy Strazzulla
🔹 Golden Masters Champions
🏅 Scott Granger & Kathy Lynch
Your hard work and perseverance have set the bar high for future competitions!
Thank You to the Community
This series wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of the paddlers, coaches, volunteers, and spectators who make NAC Va’a events so special. A huge mahalo to everyone who participated, whether on the water or behind the scenes. Your passion and commitment keep the sport thriving.
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
We extend our gratitude to our incredible sponsors for their support in making this series a success:
🏆 Hammers and Legends
🌊 Ozone SoCal
🚣 ARE Va’a
Your contributions help elevate the NAC Va’a California Race Series and support the growth of paddling in our community. Mahalo for believing in this sport and its athletes!
What’s Next?
As we wrap up this season, we look ahead with excitement. The growth of the NAC Va’a California Race Series is undeniable, and we can’t wait to see what 2026 has in store. Whether you’re a returning competitor or new to the sport, we encourage you to stay connected, keep training, and continue building the va’a community.
See you on the water next year!
