With a field of 85 Unlimited paddlers registered in this year's Catalina Classic, it's hard to say who's going to take home the gold. We've seen a few different podiums throughout the season, with no race having all of the top guys present- so it's going to be pretty exciting to see all the big dogs finally in the same race. Is Max First back for title number six? Is Jack Bark finally going to get his win? Is Robert Parucha going to show up big now that he's back on the scene? Here are some of our favored picks for the top five.
Max First
Manhattan Beach, CA
Notable Races This Season: South Bay Paddle (1st), El Morro (1st)
Notable Catalina Classic Stats: 5x Champ
Jack Bark
South Bay, CA
Notable Races This Season: Davenport Downwinder (1st), R10 Race (1st)
Notable Catalina Classic Stats: Four 2nd place finishes
Robert Parucha
San Diego, CA
Notable Races This Season: The Loop (4th), South Bay Paddle (2nd), Waterman's (2nd), Molokai to Oahu
Notable Catalina Classic Stats: 2023 (3rd)
Lance Lerum
San Diego, CA
Notable Races This Season: The Loop (1st), South Bay Paddle (3rd), Waterman's (1st)
Scott Clausen
Seal Beach, CA
Notable Races This Season: Waterman's (5th)
Notable Catalina Classic Stats: 2023 Champ, 2022 (3rd), 2021 (1st)
Zach Jirkovsky
Ventura, CA
Notable Races This Season: El Morro (2nd), The Loop (3rd), South Bay Paddle (5th), R10 Race (2nd)
Notable Catalina Classic Stats: 2023 (5th)
Tristan Sullaway
San Diego, CA
Notable Races This Season: Waterman's (3rd), El Morro (4th)
Notable Catalina Classic Stats: 2023 (4th)
Alex Merrill
Seal Beach, CA
Notable Races This Season: El Morro (6th)
Notable Catalina Classic Stats: 2023 (6th), 2022 (2nd), 2021 (3rd), 2019 (4th)
Some others we are watching for a top spot are Chris Russell, Stephen Sinkus, Spencer Pirdy, and Patrick Shaughnessy. Here is the full start list (via the Catalina Classic board).
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