The Mullet Run is an open-ocean race on July 24th, in and out of the surf and around 4 buoys. The event was organized by DistressedMullet.com and raised money for Surfers Healing and the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue. The inaugural event involved 41 paddlers from Virginia, North and South Carolina who paddled 2-4 laps in and out of stomach-to-chest-high surf. The race course was a shorter distance race with the open division encompassing 4-laps for 4+ miles and the surf division was a 2-lap, 2+ mile course.

Boardworks team rider, Chris Curry of Wrightsvile Beach, NC was the overall winner and won the Open Stock Division followed by Craig Stephens and Kevin Rhodes. Hobie Team rider Chris HIll won the 14' division followed by Bill Gassett and Kevin Vangritis. Anne Gassett won the Womens Open Stock followed by Katie Moore and Jena Schmidt. After the main event, the 3-person relay race brought the house down.

The WPA-sancioned race was followed by a picnic and a charity raffle where attendees won prizes ranging from EFX balance bands to fishing Charters with Double-Haul Guide Service, Dry Cases and a free week of surf camp with IndoJax Surf School. Winners received luchador masks and second and third-place finishers received custom candy-filled and luchador-figure-topped trophies build by Brad Howard and Lori Herring. It was a classic local event where people who love to paddle got togehte rto enjoy what they love and raise money for two good causes.

Sponsors of the event included Brax Spirit Cups, Sidearm Surf & Skate, Wrightsville SUP, GOYA events, H2Overdrive, Electric Sunglasses, Dr. Ding, The Brandit, Double-Haul Guide Service, Drypack, EFX, Clontz/Newkirk, Schmidt Builders, Cape Fear Chef and James Bain, Blue Green Machine, Charleston Watersports, Port City Java, Werner Paddles, and Mellow Mushroom.

Surf Recreational Womens
1. Heather Downs

Surf Recreational Mens
1. Ryan Hill
2. Keith Jensen
3. Greg Lew
4. Mack Bernhart
5. Dr. Ed
6. William Pope
7. Phil Luther
8. Todd Yancey
9. Miles Abernathy
10. Zo Tipton
11. Mike Rodden
12. B Smith
13. Jason Hand
14. Jo Pierce
15. Clark Shay
16. Mike Abernathy
17. Jason Gaskill
18. John Fox
19. Larry Bergman
20. John Klutz
21. Nick Cosmat

Open 14 Mens

1. Chris Hill
2. Bill Gassett
3. Haywood Newkirk
4. Kevin Vangritis
5. John Beausang

Open Stock Womens
1. Ann Gasssett
2. Katie Moore
3. Jenna Schmidt

Open Stock Mens
1. Chris Curry
2. Craig Stephens
3. Kevin Rhodes
4. Jason Colclough
5. Benjamin Surrazin
6. Greg Roach
7. James Molean
8. Mark Schmidt
9. Matt Casmat
10. Tyler Hustrulid

Relay:
1. Ryan Hill, Chris Hill, Jason Colclough
2. Katie Moore, Kevin and Keith Jensen
3. Craig Stephens, Sonny Stephens, and Chris Curry

For more information about Distressed Mullet, the 1st Annual Mullet Run, Surfers Healing or the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue, visit distressedmullet.com or email John Beausang at john@distressedmullet.com.