With a field of 85 Unlimited paddlers this year, 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 in the same race.
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: 4 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 (6th)
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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