Community Corner

Heal the Bay to Benefit from Santa Monica Pier Paddleboard Race

The Santa Monica Pier Paddleboard Races and Ocean Festival will also include open-water swim races for both adults and children.

Hundreds of the best paddleboard racers will converge on the Santa Monica Pier Saturday, June 8.

The Santa Monica Pier Paddleboard Races and Ocean Festival will also include open-water swim races for both adults and children.

"The Santa Monica Pier Paddle has been a favorite event since its beginning four years ago,” said Jim Terrell, founder and owner of Quickblade Paddles. “The addition of a such a substantial prize purse this year makes it even more attractive to the sport's top competitors who will be traveling to compete from as far away as Hawaii and Mexico. This is definitely one of the premiere SUP events in the country.”

In addition to drawing elite SUP and paddleboard racers, the event features ocean swims, lifeguard dory competitions, youth activities and an all day festival on the pier. Hula dance groups will perform all day.

The Pier paddle event is a benefit for Santa Monica-based Heal the Bay and its public marine education facility, the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium that is housed underneath the historic Pier Carousel. Heal the Bay will receive a portion of net proceeds from the event.

Historic exhibits will feature antique surfboards, paddleboards, lifeguard equipment and vintage automobiles tied to local beach culture. Paddleboard racing was a popular Santa Monica sport in the 1940s with two paddleboard clubs headquartered on the pier.

Event partners and sponsors include: Tommy Bahama, Sierra Nevada, Honest Tea, Quickblade Paddles, SUP America Tour presented by Natural Vines, Suplove, Clif Bar, KIIS-FM, 987 FM, the Shore Hotel, Heal the Bay, ZJ Boarding House, Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica City TV, Santa Monica Daily Press, World Paddle Association and the National Doryman’s Association. 


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