Paddleboard races, surf contests almost every weekend in South Bay
Rock 2 Rock director George Loren (green board) joins the sprint at the start of the 2012 race as paddlers leave Two Harbors on Catalina Island. Photo by Ken Pagliaro
The growing popularity of stand-up paddling has breathed new life into traditional prone paddling, as well. Paddlers and surfers can find a race within driving distance just about every weekend through the summer.
Sixth Annual Dig 4 Jimmy Surf N’ Turf
Manhattan pier, Sunday, May 31
This event might be called the best of the beach. Entrants surf in the morning and play volleyball in the afternoon on four member, weighted teams. Proceeds benefit Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation and the Dig 4 Kids volleyball and academic program.
JimmyMillerFoundation.org or (for the contest) Dig4Kids.org.
Hobie/Hennessey’s U.S. Championships
Saturday May 30, Doheny Beach, Dana Point
The Hobie/Hennessey’s U.S. Championships aren’t actually in the South Bay but they attract large numbers of South Bay prone and stand-up paddlers. Prone and stand-up paddlers will race a nine mile, open ocean course. Stand-up paddlers will also compete in the Waterman’s Challenge — a 5 miler and a slalom race, using the same board. Men’s SUPs must be 14-foot and under, women’s 12-foot-6 and under. $65. A fun, three mile race will also be held. $45.
Hobie.com/race
Pier Paddleboard Race & Ocean Festival
June 6, Santa Monica
The 6th Annual Tommy Bahama Paddle Race & Ocean Festival at the Santa Monica Pier is a family-friendly event, featuring an ocean swim, paddleboard, SUP and dory races and kids races. All courses start and finish on the sand immediately south of the Pier. The pier deck features hula dancing, beer and rum garden, live music and a board and gear expo celebrating the history of paddleboarding.
Riviera Mexican Grill R-10 Race, Saturday. August 1
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 $45 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.
Rock2Rock
Sunday, June 21
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 Molo2Oahu 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
Sunday, June 21, Torrance Beach
The South Bay Dozen is organized by Los Angeles County Lifeguards Mike and Brian Murphy and sponsored by Hennessey’s Taverns as a benefit 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
ISF Surfing Championships
Saturday August 1, Manhattan Pier
Contest director John Joseph is hoping (their website solicits prayers) for surf this year. Divisions will include men’s and women’s’ shortboards, longboards and stand-up paddleboards. Advance registration is advised. Beach entries will only be allowed if there are division openings.
SurfFestival.org.
ISF Body Surfing Championships
Saturday August 1, Manhattan pier
The International Body Surfing Championship features eight men’s and women’s age divisions. Age groups are determined immediately before the contest begins and will be approximately equal in size. Limited to 108 male contestants and 36 female contestants. The top 2 finishers in each preliminary heat will advance.
The ISF Body Surfing Championships are run by the Gillis Beach Bodysurfing Association. Participants range in ability from the novices to former World Champions. Swim fins only. SurfFestival.org
Velzy-Stevens Pier to Pier Paddleboard Championships
Sunday, August 2
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 30, 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. 26
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
Island to Island Waterman Relay
Santa Barbara to Catalina Islands
This is a 28 mile (wide) open ocean relay race for paddlers, surf skis and OC1 Outriggers. Date to be announced.
islandtoislandwatermanrelay.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. Danny Ching, son of founder/coach Al Ching, won the 2013 Molokai Solo (single outrigger) and is one of the world’s top stand-up paddlers.
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. B
US Outrigger Championships.
September 12, 13, Newport, Catalina Island
The 56th 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. B
Paddling resources
For a list of paddling competitions throughout California visit EatonSurf.com/events or JoeBark.com
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). B