Deception Pass Dash Kayak Race Results
December 3, 2007

Don Kiesling was the men's winner in Seattle Raft and Kayak's second annual Deception Pass Kayak Race on December 2. US Surfski Champ Tracy Landboe took the women's crown.

The second annual Deception Pass Kayak Race was held on Sunday, December 2. The impressive mass of 76 paddlers was watched over by a 10-kayak team of rescue paddlers stationed around the 5-mile, out-and-back course, as well as chase boats and jet skis provided by Sheriff’s deputies from both Skagit and Island Counties, and volunteer private boater Tom Dillard of Coupeville.

The course took the paddlers southwest around Deception Island before turning east to enter Deception Pass. Local current forecasts predicted slack tide at 10 am, but by the time the first racers arrived at Pass Island in the heart of the famous current, the ebb was already building against them. When the rest of the pack reached the island, the push was strong enough that 15 never made the turn around Strawberry Island at the east end of the course. All returned to Bowman Bay safely, with smiles on their faces and greater determination to come back and beat the course next year.

The two-time champion turned out to be Seattle’s Don Kiesling, adding another Dash title to his many paddling victories. On the women’s side, US Surfski Champ Tracy Landboe, also of Seattle, took the crown.