Riviera Mexican Grill R-10 Race,

Saturday. August 6, Torrance Beach

The Riviera Mexican Grill R-10 race is a seven mile, in and out race from Torrance Beach to the R-10 buoy off Rocky Point. 8 a.m. Registration is $40 and begins at 6:30 a.m. The event is open to paddleboards, SUPs, and surfboards (boards under 10-foot-6). There are shorter races for kids and less serious paddlers, too. The race is affiliated with the International Surf Festival. SurfFestival.org

Rock2Rock

Sunday, June 19, Catalina Isthmus

The annual Father’s Day Rock2Rock begins at the Catalina Isthmus and ends at Cabrillo Beach. The 22.17 mile downwinder is open to both individual competitors and relay teams. Rock2Rock is a qualifier for the Catalina Classic and Molokai2Oahu races in August. The race attracts up to 100 prone and stand-up paddleboards. Escort boats are required. Proceeds benefit the Sarcoma Alliance.

Rock2RockRace.com

South Bay Dozen

Saturday, June 18, Torrance Beach

The South Bay Dozen is organized by Los Angeles County Lifeguards Mike and Brian Murphy and benefits for the Jimmy Miller Foundation. The family-friendly event includes paddleboard, surf ski, outrigger, swim and running races. Points are accumulated for each event participated in, making for a full day of water sports.  

JimmyMillerFoundation.org

Velzy-Stevens Pier to Pier Paddleboard Championships

Sunday, August 7, Manhattan Pier

The Velzy-Stevens race, named after paddleboard builder Dale Velzy and champion paddler Terry Stevens, is part of the International Surf Festival. The race starts off the end of the Manhattan Beach Pier at 7:30 a.m. and finishes on the beach, south of the Hermosa Beach Pier. It’s family-friendly, with parents and kids paddling tandem and others riding all sorts of boards.  (www.SurfFestival.org)

Catalina Classic

Sunday August 28, Catalina Isthmus

The Catalina Classic is the oldest (established 1955) and longest (32 miles) organized paddleboard race in the world.  Legendary watermen Greg Noll, George Downing, Rick Gregg and Tom Zahn were among the 13 paddlers who competed in the first race. It continues to be the most prestigious prone paddleboard race in the world, attracting paddlers from all over the world.  Sorry, no stand-ups. It took half a decade to get women admitted.

CatalinaClassicPaddleboardRace.org.

West End Loop Paddleboard Race

Two Harbors, Saturday, Sept. 24

This 16 mile race is organized by the Catalina Island, Flying Fish paddlers and benefits the Sarcoma Alliance. Paddlers start at Cat Harbor, round the west end and land at Two Harbors.

Paddleguru.com

Paddling, Hawaiian style

Lanakila Outrigger Canoe Club in King Harbor trains half a dozen men and women teams, ranging in experience from novices to world champions. People who have never paddled are encouraged to come out and compete in novice races. Visiting paddlers are also welcome. Novice practices are Monday and Wednesday evenings for women and Tuesday and Thursday for men. The practices begin at 5:30 p.m. and continue until dark. Weekend practices are scheduled at various times. Lanakila.com.

US Outrigger Championships

September 10, 11, Newport, Catalina Island

The 57th Annual Catalina Channel Crossing/US Outrigger Championships is the longest Polynesian canoe race in the continental U.S. The women’s race begins in Newport and finishes 26 miles later, in Avalon. The men’s race departs Avalon the following morning for Newport.

Proceeds support local charities. Southern California Outrigger Racing Association.

Catalinacrossing.org. 

Paddling resources

For a list of paddling competitions throughout California visit EatonSurf.com/events.

Stand up paddleboard lessons and rentals are available in Hermosa Beach at Spyder Surf (Spydersurf.com), Tarsan Stand-up Paddling (TarsanStandup.com) and Pier Surf; in Manhattan Beach at Nikau Kai (NikauKai.com); in Redondo Beach at Dive N’ Surf (DiveNSurf.com); and in Torrance at Olympus Board Shop (OlympusBoardshop.net).