Jimmy Lewis Standup Paddleboard Auction to Raise Big Money for Big Brothers Big Sisters
Miami, FL (PRWEB) January 03, 2014 -- Click here to see what the bid is up to: Stiletto eBay Listing
Four years ago, Jimmy Lewis Paddleboard Distributor, Fuacata Sports and other local sponsors got together with the Orange Bowl Committee to create what has become one of the longest running, best attended, well funded annual SUP races in the country: The Orange Bowl Paddle Championship Powered by Jimmy Lewis Benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami. Learn more about the event and register here: http://www.orangebowlpaddle.com.
Every year, the team from Jimmy Lewis helps organize the race and donates Jimmy's fastest board to be auctioned for charity. Since the start of this race in 2010, more than $60,000 has been given to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami. This includes donations, sponsorships, race registrations, as well as the JL Auctions. Ken Russell, co-founder of the charity race and co-owner of Jimmy's US distributor is happy to see how the event has grown, stating, "Putting on an event of this size takes a lot of work, and we couldn't do it without the Orange Bowl Committee and sponsors. They've made this event first class and we're proud to be involved and donate the board."
This year, the auction runs from Jan 2 - Jan 12, ending on Sunday evening after the race. The auction can be found on eBay with a starting bid of one dollar and no reserve. But the chance of catching a bargain is slim. In an unrelated auction two years ago, a Jimmy Lewis board became the most expensive SUP in history, fetching $23,500 by the time the gavel dropped. Through a partnership between eBay and the PayPal Giving Fund, bidders can be sure that 100% of the final bid will go directly to the charity and help mentor at-need children.
The Jimmy Lewis Stiletto is a brand new, high speed, 2014 racing paddleboard. Jimmy Lewis himself entered last year's race on the custom prototype of this model, won his division with a good margin, and crossed the finish line in a Karate-Kid-Style Crane stance. The board is 14' x 28" x 6 1/2" with a volume of 315 Liters. Construction is full epoxy / PVC sandwich (JL Signature I-Beam Construction) on the entire deck and hull for the highest strength to weight ratio in existence. Rails are reinforced with Coremat. Gore membrane eliminates pressure within the board from extreme temperatures. The standing area is recessed to increase stability, and scupper holes drain any water that may wash onto the deck. The board includes a comfort grip internal carry handle and a JL Tracker Racing Weed Fin. Board retails in the US for $2,399. More information and photos of the board can be found at the Jimmy Lewis product page:
http://us.jimmylewis.com/p/stiletto?pp=20.
Maui-based Jimmy Lewis has been shaping surfboards for 46 years and is legendary for his high-end construction and fast shapes. He was one of the very first production SUP companies and continues to lead the market in quality and attention to detail.
The Orange Bowl Paddle Championship is held every January on the Sunday of Surf Expo weekend in Miami's Bayside Marketplace and Marina. The 3 Mile Recreation course is a scenic tour of Biscayne Bay. The 7-mile Elite Race boasts $13,000 in prize money. The course winds up the Miami River between Downtown Miami's famous skyline of modern high-rises. Many of the sports greatest paddlers have attended including Jim Terrell, Jamie Mitchell, Candice Appleby, and Danny Ching (the three time champion). This year, the race becomes the season-opener for the SUP Splash Series, the premier race series in the Southeastern US which is sanctioned by the American Canoe and Kayak Association.
Registration is still available. Check it out here: ORANGE BOWL PADDLE WEBSITE.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a donor and volunteer supported organization that transforms the lives of at-risk children through supportive adult mentor relationships. For further information, visit http://www.wementor.org.
Ken Russell, Fuacata Sports, http://us.jimmylewis.com, +1 7862065724, [email protected]
Share this article