October 24, 2016: The 5th Annual US Gondola Nationals took place in Stillwater, Minnesota October 22-23. Eight gondoliers from Newport Beach competed in the seven races that comprised the national competition. Gondoliers from Gondola Adventures®, Inc. and Gondola Company of Newport won medals in every race, taking home gold in five of the seven races:
Gold Medals:
• 4-Man Distance Race – Greg Mohr, Simon Atkins, Kalev Pallares, & Jakob Easton of Gondola Adventures
• Tandem Sprint Race – Jakob Easton & Hunter Mitchell of Gondola Adventures
• Tandem Distance Race – Parker Harrison & Mike Ruffino of Gondola Company of Newport
• Tandem Obstacle Course – Jakob Easton & Hunter Mitchell of Gondola Adventures
• Solo Sprint Race – Jakob Easton of Gondola Adventures
Silver Medals:
• 4-Man Distance Race – Parker Harrison, Eddie Rivera, & Mike Ruffino of Gondola Company of Newport (with Mark Schooling of Gondola Paradiso in Oxnard, former gondolier with Gondola Company of Newport)
• Solo Obstacle Course – Hunter Mitchell of Gondola Adventures
• Solo Distance Race – Mike Ruffino of Gondola Company of Newport
Bronze Medals:
• Tandem Distance Race – Greg Mohr & Jakob Easton of Gondola Adventures
• Tandem Obstacle Course – Simon Atkins & Kalev Pallares of Gondola Adventures
• Solo Sprint Race – Parker Harrison of Gondola Company of Newport
• Solo Distance Race – Hunter Mitchell of Gondola Adventures
BACKGROUND:
There is a growing “gondola culture” in America, and especially in Southern California. Currently there are ten gondola operations in the southern half of the state. A recent cover page article in the Wall Street Journal featured some of the 30 plus companies offering gondola experiences in America. Gondolas are usually the “best kept secret” in their city; running quiet black boats in the dark. For more information: www.USGondolaNationals.com, Gondola Adventures – www.gondola.com, Gondola Company of Newport – www.gondolas.com.
Contact: Greg Mohr, 949-337-6359, greg@gondola.com