Stand-up paddle board racers hit the water Saturday in Mooresville for the first annual Aloha Cup, hosted by My Aloha! Paddle Sports and Fitness. (Tammy Cox / Our Towns Habitat)

More than 38 community members on Saturday ‘stood up’ for Habitat, participating in the inaugural Aloha Cup Paddle Board races. Hosted by My Aloha! Paddle Sports and Fitness, the Stand-Up Paddle event (SUP) drew folks from as far as Asheville and raised $950 for Our Towns Habitat for Humanity.

“It was an amazing day for evolution of Stand Up Paddling on Lake Norman,” My Aloha owner Rob Bennett said. “Traffic on Williamson Road bridge slowed to a crawl from everyone taking notice.”

Mr. Bennett first discovered Stand Up Paddle about 5 years ago in Hawaii, and loved it so much he decided to bring it to Lake Norman earlier this year. He offers fitness programs and lessons for individuals or groups, and he also has boards available for rent or purchase.

He plans to host the Aloha Cup annually, as well as other races and events to raise money for community organizations.

“One hundred percent of that $950 will go to serve families in the Mooresville, Davidson, Huntersville and Cornelius area,” Our Towns’ Resource Development Director Tammy Cox said. “For example, (that money) can (be used to) build a front porch for a new home.”

And the Aloha Cup is just the beginning. Mr. Bennett already has started planning for a race in the spring, as well as a lake clean-up event, he said.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ALOHA CUP WINNERS:

• Mac Barnhardt, of Lake Norman, won the 4-mile advanced men’s race. Matt Cesmat came in second, and Ramsey Mead took third.
• Jen Cesmat won the 4-mile advanced women’s race. Kate Myers came in second, and Pamela Palmer took third.
• Landon Lipke, of Asheville, won the recreational 2-mile men’s race. Nick Cesmat came in second, and Harley Conrad took third.
• Dawn Jeffers, of Davidson, won the 2-mile recreational women’s race. McIntyre Barnhardt came in second, and Jackie Harley took third.

RELATED LINKS:

July 7, 2011: “Local biz owner says, ‘Stand up, Lake Norman’”