Pandemic stops paddleboard races, but not paddlers

Jay Russell leads Thursday evening paddleboard workouts at 16th Street in Hermosa Beach. Photo by Philicia Endelman 

Pre pandemic, paddleboard races were held in the South Bay almost every weekend. But with the Catalina Classic, the South Bay Challenge, the Velzy-Stevens Pier to Pier and the Ocean Prone Series canceled, paddlers have been organizing informal events. Among the most popular is the Paddle-Run-Paddle held Thursdays at 6 p.m. at 16th Street in Hermosa Beach. Paddler and fitness trainer Ray Russell began organizing the free workouts two summers ago. Anyone with a stock or sprint paddleboard is welcome. Other informal paddleboard events this summer include a Manhattan pier to Hermosa Beach pier paddle Sunday morning, August 2, (the date Velzy Stevens was to have been held) and a Catalina Island to Manhattan pier paddle on Saturday, August 29 (the weekend the Catalina Classic was to have been held.) — Kevin Cody

Photos by Philicia Endelman

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