Dean Randazzo Brings ‘Won’t Quit’ Attitude To Paddle Race
Finishes First 22.5-mile Paddle For A Cause In Eight Hours
ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY – On Saturday local surf legend and cancer survivor Dean Randazzo joined paddlers from around the world in a 22.5-mile race around Absecon Island.
The 12th annual Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation Paddle For A Cause presented by Seashore Construction brought competitors and spectators to the Frank S. Farley State Marina at Golden Nugget Atlantic City for 22.5-mile and 8-mile races, and a 4-mile social paddle in kayaks, paddleboards, outrigger canoes and surfskis on Saturday, June 8.
Randazzo of Ventnor was recovering from a bout with Hodgkins Lymphoma when the inaugural event was conceived. The course was designed by Mike May in 2001 to challenge racers as a reminder that they are helping people struggling with cancer. Randazzo said that’s exactly what kept him motivated in the water.
“It was really tough out there,” said Randazzo, “I just kept telling myself that I couldn’t quit, because if I quit then it’s OK for people with cancer to quit I couldn’t let them down.”
Randazzo completed the 22.5-mile stand-up paddleboard race in 8:06:51.81. Up until now a series of health issues had kept him off of the signature long distance course for the past 11 years and he accomplished a major goal by completing the race. “It was truly inspiring,” said foundation President Mark Zappone who extended the time limitation on the race to allow Randazzo to finish, “that guy just has no quit in him.”
In the men’s divisions, Sean Brennan of Robbinsville Township, New Jersey finished the 22.5-mile race first and won the surfski category with a time of 2:49:37.61. Kevin Kahikina of Point Pleasant, New Jersey won the OC-1 division with a time of 4:04:57.64. Fielding Pagel of Annapolis, Maryland finished won the stand-up paddleboard category with a time of 4:04:35.94 and Ryan Matthews of Ocean Township, New Jersey won the prone category with a finishing time of 4:06:40.94. Andy Giordano of Ocean View, New Jersey won the master’s 14-foot stand-up category with a time of 5:22:56.05 and 14-year-old Hugh Shields won the prone 17-year-old and younger category with a time of 5:20:37.69
In the women’s stand-up paddleboard division Stephanie Shideler of Long Beach, New York won first place and was the fifteenth overall finisher with a time of 4:23:18.95. Lisa Hertz Malick of Melbourne Beach, Florida won the prone category with a time 5:10:50.32. Jennifer Panetta of Berwyn, Pennsylvania won the 12-foot, 6-inch stand-up paddleboard category with a time of 6:03:36.08. Grace Emig of Brigantine won the 12-foot, 6-inch prone category with a time of 5:40:48.33. Josette Lata of Pine Beach, New Jersey won the master’s 14-foot stand-up category with a time of 5:56:07.54 and 14-year-old Emma Engle won the stand-up paddleboard 14-foot 17-years-old and younger category with a time of 5:52:39.42.
Cash prizes of $800 for first place, $350 for second place and $150 for third place were awarded for the 22.5-mile race around Absecon Island in the following categories: men’s open prone, men’s 14-foot and longer stand up paddleboard, women’s open prone and women’s 14-foot and longer stand up paddleboard. The top three overall finishers in two new categories this year, the Surf Ski and OC-1, were awarded $250 for first place, $150 for second place and $100 for third place.
With funds still being counted, he 12th annual Paddle For A Cause more than $70,000 for the Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation to help fight cancer in our area.
Top fundraiser honors went to local artist Jon Baker of Egg Harbor Township for the third year in a row. Baker raised a total of $9,290 and received the Karen Grant award which is named for a board member, volunteer and grant recipient who passed away from cancer last April. Todd Desatnick was the second place fundraiser with $5,200 raised, followed by Paul Giunta who raised $1,975.
This year’s event was held in honor of Gregory Weber and a new annual Greg Weber Industry Award was presented to new board member David Kolb for outstanding service to the organization.
The Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation will hold its 6th annual Art For A Cause Tuesday, July 16 at Heritage Surf and Sport in Margate. See TheDRCF.org for more information or to make a donation.
| Event Name | Division | Name(s) | Racer Num | Time | Rank | Div Rank |
| 8 Mile Race | OC-1 18-49 Female | Andrea Kahikina | 1 | 1:47:58 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 Mile Race | Open 50+ Female | Deborah Ventz-Migneco | 42 | 3:18:21 | 8 | 1 |
| 8 Mile Race | SUP 50+ Male | Tom Nelson | 84 | 2:47:22 | 5 | 1 |
| 8 Mile Race | SUP 50+ Female | Marsha Worthington | 13 | 2:53:02 | 6 | 1 |
| 8 Mile Race | SUP 14 50+ Male | Dave Spencer | 47 | 2:20:56 | 2 | 1 |
| 8 Mile Race | SUP 14 50+ Male | Tim Knight | 83 | 2:24:06 | 3 | 2 |
| 8 Mile Race | SUP 14 50+ Male | Lawrence Goldstein | 51 | 2:41:23 | 4 | 3 |
| 8 Mile Race | SUP 14 50+ Male | Edward Engle | 73 | 3:11:22 | 7 | 4 |
| 8 Mile Race | SUP 14 50+ Male | William Thornton | 82 | 3:19:30 | 9 | 5 |
| Event Name | Division | Name(s) | Racer Num | Time | Rank | Div Rank |
| 22.5 Mile | OC-1 18-49 Male | Matt Zwingraf | 17 | 4:34:22 | 17 | 1 |
| 22.5 Mile | OC-1 50+ Male | Kevin Kahikina | 30 | 4:04:58 | 6 | 1 |
| 22.5 Mile | Open 18-49 Female | Stephanie Levine | 61 | 5:41:54 | 37 | 1 |
| 22.5 Mile | Prone 12’6″ 18-49 Female | Gracie Emig | 77 | 5:40:48 | 36 | 1 |
| 22.5 Mile | Prone 14′ 18-49 Male | Ryan White | 6 | 5:33:05 | 32 | 1 |
| 22.5 Mile | Prone 14′ 18-49 Male | Chris Baylinson | 50 | 5:34:11 | 35 | 2 |
| 22.5 Mile | Prone Stock U17 Male | hugh shields | 58 | 5:20:38 | 29 | 1 |
| 22.5 Mile | Prone Stock 18-49 Male | Tom Caruso Jr | 32 | 5:33:06 | 33 | 1 |
| 22.5 Mile | Prone Stock 18-49 Male | Nate Dirvin | 49 | 6:34:04 | 48 | 2 |
| 22.5 Mile | Prone Stock 18-49 Female | Lisa Hertz Malick | 25 | 5:10:50 | 26 | 1 |
| 22.5 Mile | Prone Unlimited 18-49 Male | Ryan Matthews | 9 | 4:06:41 | 7 | 1 |
| 22.5 Mile | Prone Unlimited 18-49 Male | Dan Michaluk | 37 | 4:09:07 | 8 | 2 |
| 22.5 Mile | Prone Unlimited 18-49 Male | Mark Spagnuolo | 36 | 4:19:30 | 9 | 3 |
| 22.5 Mile | Prone Unlimited 18-49 Male | Brian Pasternak | 56 | 4:22:45 | 14 | 4 |
| 22.5 Mile | Prone Unlimited 18-49 Male | Lewis Ostrander | 34 | 4:42:20 | 20 | 5 |
| 22.5 Mile | Prone Unlimited 18-49 Male | Patrick Kennedy | 14 | 5:01:00 | 24 | 6 |
| 22.5 Mile | Prone Unlimited 18-49 Male | Zachary Weiner | 8 | 5:20:36 | 28 | 7 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 12’6″ 18-49 Male | Daniel Rosenak | 52 | 5:50:36 | 40 | 1 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 12’6″ 18-49 Male | Dean Randazzo | 81 | 8:06:52 | 50 | 2 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 12’6″ 18-49 Female | Jennifer Panetta | 3 | 6:03:36 | 44 | 1 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ U17 Male | Robert Mulloy | 57 | 4:29:16 | 16 | 1 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ U17 Female | Emma Engle | 66 | 5:52:39 | 42 | 1 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 18-49 Male | Fielding Pagel | 64 | 4:04:36 | 5 | 1 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 18-49 Male | Jack Martin | 60 | 4:19:31 | 10 | 2 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 18-49 Male | Jason Chew | 44 | 4:19:33 | 11 | 3 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 18-49 Male | Tyler Hunter | 43 | 4:20:37 | 12 | 4 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 18-49 Male | Ryan Oliver | 59 | 4:21:08 | 13 | 5 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 18-49 Male | Scott Cleveland | 20 | 4:35:04 | 18 | 6 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 18-49 Male | Sean Duffey | 33 | 4:38:16 | 19 | 7 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 18-49 Male | Todd Desatnick | 15 | 4:52:17 | 21 | 8 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 18-49 Male | Sven Peltonen | 76 | 4:56:57 | 22 | 9 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 18-49 Male | Robin Delgado | 79 | 4:57:54 | 23 | 10 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 18-49 Male | Michael Fithian | 62 | 5:09:37 | 25 | 11 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 18-49 Male | Matt Kalwinsky | 72 | 5:13:24 | 27 | 12 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 18-49 Male | Michael Jacobus | 67 | 5:33:30 | 34 | 13 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 18-49 Male | Justin Rau | 68 | 5:50:57 | 41 | 14 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 18-49 Male | Todd Busler | 74 | 6:07:00 | 45 | 15 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 18-49 Male | Brandon Putt | 53 | 6:24:07 | 47 | 16 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 18-49 Male | Jeremy Glick | 78 | 8:04:16 | 49 | 17 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 18-49 Female | Stephanie Shideler | 69 | 4:23:19 | 15 | 1 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 18-49 Female | Noriko Okaya | 70 | 5:33:04 | 31 | 2 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 18-49 Female | Kate Mcbride | 2 | 5:49:08 | 39 | 3 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 50+ Male | Andy Giordano | 23 | 5:22:56 | 30 | 1 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 50+ Male | Eddy O’kinsky | 39 | 5:47:26 | 38 | 2 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 50+ Male | Tom Forkin | 26 | 6:13:59 | 46 | 3 |
| 22.5 Mile | SUP 14′ 50+ Female | Josette Lata | 16 | 5:56:08 | 43 | 1 |
| 22.5 Mile | Surfski Single 18-49 Male | Sean Brennan | 63 | 2:49:38 | 1 | 1 |
| 22.5 Mile | Surfski Single 18-49 Male | Robert Jehn | 29 | 3:08:05 | 2 | 2 |
| 22.5 Mile | Surfski Single 18-49 Male | Jason Malick | 4 | 3:45:21 | 4 | 3 |
| 22.5 Mile | Surfski Single 50+ Male | John Costello | 46 | 3:37:14 | 3 | 1 |
