Stand-up paddle boarding has become the coast’s fastest-growing ocean sport. With a combination of surfer’s balance skills and wave riding using canoe paddlers’s speed and endurance. Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez’s Battle of the Paddle festival/exposition had a series of races and demonstrations which offered ocean athletes the chance to experience this great new sport. The event took place at Dana Point’s historic Doheny State Beach. This was more than your ordinary paddle race. For the sport’s elite paddlers it was the first-ever championship styled SUP race featuring an offshore course. The course tested endurance, surfing skills of the world’s best men and women stand-up paddle racers. The cash purse totaled more than $25,000.00
Competitors competed on stock (12’6”) SUP boards on a circuit that included beaching their equipment through the surf for a short run around a course flag on the sand. Also competing on the same circuit course with out exchange was age-group races open to all SUP craft categories (12’6” stock, 14 ft. and unlimited). This exchange challenged competitor’s athletic & technical skills. This event was an excellent opportunity for recreational paddlers to learn from legendary waterman like Gerry Lopez, Jaime Mitchell, Dave Kalama, Colin McPhillips, Kyle Mochizuki, and Titus Kinimaka. The world’s best shapers where in attendance along with the latest board, paddle, and accessory innovations. For those who entered The Battle of the Paddle, they each received a free pair of Rainbow Sandals, event tees and lunch.
The special awards and aloha concert at 6..00 PM were amazing.
Legendary waterman Titus Kinimaka and Ekolu Kalama music complemented the event nicely. Event proceeds benefited the Surfing Heritage Foundation and Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association.
