26 years ago it began…….the La Push Pummel. A Washington whitewater paddler named Sprague Ackley started this tradition many years ago as a casual gathering of river boaters to tackle the big winter swells of the Pacific Northwest. No fees, no rules, no contest……just fun. Fast forward many years later, the La Push Pummel has morphed into a gathering of SUPs, high performance surf kayaks, belly boards and whatever else you “get your surf on” with. 15 years ago Ken and Ellen Debondt took over the La Push Pummel and new life was breathed into an old event.

The Pummel’s home base will be at the Quileute Oceanside Resort. Get reservations soon, right here: http://www.quileuteoceanside.com/.There is a potluck Saturday night, so bring your favorite dish and be prepared for a feast beyond belief. One thing I do know about paddlers, they can eat and they usually eat very well. This is going to essentially be the kick off event for the 2012 season with the Santa Cruz Paddlefest the following month.

We will be heading up with two carloads of people and boats as well. Spectators and boaters alike should have a great time. So bring your favorite dish to the potluck and come on out to beautiful La Push, Washington. You won’t be sorry. This should prove once again the surf crowd can host an fantastic event and with 26 years leading up to this year’s, they surely have the experience to back it up.

Sometimes with great events come great tragedies. Last year one of the co-sponsors, Ellen DeBondt was taken in a terrible accident just after last year’s event. Ellen met Ken in the 1990′s at the La Push Punmel and eventually got married in La Push. Let’s all “surf one” for Ellen and celebrate her life with great surf, food and people.

Here is the event page on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/events/319230064765898/

 

See you all there!