by Sofia Williams
Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race Director Francziska Steagall presented a history of the race to the Manhattan Beach Historical Society at its Saturday, June 24 meeting.
Steagall noted that local land traditions receive widespread attention, but “there’s so much going on in the ocean that people don’t know about.”
The first Catalina to Manhattan Beach paddleboard race, she said, was held in 1932 when Tom Blake, inventor of the newly-patented, hollow paddleboard, enlisted lifeguards Pete Peterson, Wally Burdon and Chauncy Granstrom to prove the superiority of the new paddleboards.
Los Angeles County Lifeguard Bob Hogan founded the modern Catalina Classic Paddleboard race in 1955, when 13 paddlers started the race and eight finished. Among the finishers were now legendary surfers Rick Grigg, Greg Noll and George Downing.
Over 100 paddlers will compete in this year’s 46th annual Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race on Sunday, August 27. The top finishers will reach the Manhattan Pier at about 11 a.m.
The 32 mile race starts at Two Harbors on Catalina Island and ends at the Manhattan Beach pier.
The record time is 5:02:12, set by lifeguard Tim Gair in 1989.
Proceeds from the Catalina Classic are donated to ocean related programs, including The Jimmy Miller Foundation, the Cabrillo Foundation, and the Roundhouse Aquarium.
For more information, visit CatalinaClassicPaddleboardRace.com. ER
