William McCracken of Asheville, North Carolina, and Amy Carlson of Canton, Georgia, claimed the top prizes Saturday, Aug. 15, as about 35 paddlers raced six miles on the Chattahoochee River in Sandy Springs' first stand-up paddleboard competition.

The inaugural Sandy Springs SUP Showdown, held at Morgan Falls Overlook Park, revives a local paddling tradition that went dark after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down High Country Outfitters' Stand Up for the Hooch race, which ran from roughly 2016 to 2019.

Dense fog delayed the scheduled 8 a.m. start by about 15 minutes as organizers held competitors near the starting line waiting for visibility to improve. Once the horn sounded, racers paddled three miles upstream to Azalea Park, turned around and headed back to Morgan Falls.

McCracken took the men's title, followed by Mitch Cherry of Atlanta in second and Allen Alquist of Dunnellon, Florida, in third. Carlson won the women's division ahead of Emmye Cherry of Atlanta and Robbin Rolader of Woodstock, Georgia. First-place finishers earned $250, with $100 for second and $50 for third.

The Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks Department organized the event in partnership with Murph's Surf, a local paddleboard outfitter. Swift-water rescue crews were stationed along the course, and organizers warned participants before the start about changing river conditions, submerged obstacles and heat. Elite Race Timing handled results at the finish line.

Jane Jarrett, leisure coordinator for Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks, told Appen Media the city wanted to honor the earlier race's legacy. "We wanted to pay homage to High Country Outfitters," Jarrett said. "They used to operate a Stand Up for the Hooch [race] from probably about 2016 to 2019, and then, of course, COVID happened, and so the race didn't continue."

Jarrett said she included an adaptive athlete division, supported by nonprofit Catalyst Sports, though no adaptive athletes entered this year's race. Catalyst Sports, a volunteer-run organization based in Atlanta, has previously operated adaptive kayaking programs at Morgan Falls Overlook Park.

Organizers plan to bring the SUP Showdown back to Morgan Falls in 2027.