Gone were the 30 knot winds, frigid temperatures, and pelting rain that whipped the gun-gray river into froth during last year’s race. There were no frantic paddlers pinned by the current against a parked barge.

One day we'll have live streaming video and audio commentary!  But until then the next best thing is post-race video - and here's Rambo's highlights of the 2010 NY Mayor's Cup.

Sean Rice came to New York to defend his title knowing that he was not the favourite to win the race – he’d never beaten Dawid Mocke in a big race, nor was he expected to beat the strong Australian pair of Caine Eckstein and Jeremy Cotter.

The fifth edition of the NY Mayor’s Cup starts in just under ten hours time – and we’ll be there (in a virtual way) providing live commentary courtesy of Beth Glickman (who’s much better looking than the Glicker)...

The US Surfski Tour kicks off this weekend in New York City on August 14 with a classic tussle as two of Australia’s finest ski paddlers bang boats with two of South Africa’s finest over a 45km course that frames one big-ass chunk of rock...

"....The sea was angry that day my friends, like an old man trying to return soup at a deli" - George Costanza, "Seinfeld:  The Marine Biologist".

Sean Brennan of Team USA heads up through the maelstrom of the Hudson River (Pic: Suzy Allman)

South African Sean Rice won the 2009 NY Mayor’s Cup race this morning in grueling conditions, holding off a strong challenge from Bevan Manson (SA) and Jaka Jazbec (Italy). Evergreen Olympian Greg Barton (US) came fourth.

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"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." ~Frank A. Clark

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The Bay Creek Paddling Center is hosting the 2nd Rochester Open Water Challenge on June 27, 2009, in Rochester, NY. The race will be at Sea Breeze Park, a wonderfully appointed park with rest rooms, great local restaurants, beaches and a theme park for the family. We are proud to be one of the Mayor's Cup Tune Up Races.

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I was 15 kilometers up the Hudson, my eyes fixed on the Little Red Lighthouse beneath the towering expanse of the George Washington Bridge, when Hank McGregor and Oscar Chalupsky paddled towards me looking like tourists who'd just had their pockets picked.

The scene in New York in the early morning before the race (Pic: Jeff Chen/Trigger Images)