Last year we invited the ocean to our ¼ century anniversary and she showed up in force. She started with a tsunami, excited everyone with epic pre-contest glassy overhead surf, and finished with the biggest storm we ever had. We had to shut down the PaddleFest a day early, the first time ever, not for the athletes who nobly played in this tumultuous stuff, but for the tent structures. Our greatest concern was for the SUP racers; however, they happily persevered in this maelstrom and now compare this event with the Molokai Channel Race-what great company! What it did accomplish was a great Saturday night party at the Coconut Grove that rocked into the fray. This year we will duplicate the best of the plot of last year, surf, race, Saturday Night Party, with the expected return of classic Steamer surf.

http://www.facebook.com/SantaCruzPaddleFest

http://www.asudoit.com/paddle_fest/