Third Annual Santa Monica Paddle Races See Record Attendance

The Pier Paddle race yesterday was AMAZING! Surf and skate legend Jeff Ho , and a booths full of amazing historical local photos and information satisfied the crowds on Santa Monica Pier in between the many races. It was an awesome beach day full of family fun and local history - and locals making history in each race category! It was really fun! Don’t miss the event next year… here is the official release and race results can be found by clicking here!

Official Press Release:

Thousands of spectators gathered Sunday to watch some of the best watermen and waterwomen in
the world compete at the 2012 Santa Monica Pier Paddle Race and Ocean Festival sponsored by
Honolua Surf Company and Pacifico Beer. Spectators lined the railing of the pier throughout the day
as racers navigated higher-than-normal surf at the start and finish lines. Competitive events this year
included the long coarse paddle, short course fun paddle, one-mile ocean swim and the run-swim-run.
Visitors to the festival were also treated to live music, hula dancing and dozens of vendors and
historic exhibitors.
The elite class paddlers raced on a 5.5-mile course, which was won overall by prone paddler Anthony
Vela of San Clemente with a time of 1:00:23. Kyle Power of Agoura was only 23 seconds behind at
1:00:46. Candace Appleby was once again the fastest woman, winning the women’s category with a
time of 1:14:12. Complete finish-line results will be posted at www.pierpaddle.com.
“Our company is all about supporting the traditions of these sports and of the waterman lifestyle,” said
Pat Fraley, brand manager of Honolua Surf Co., “we’ve been involved in this event since the very
beginning and we’re glad to see the Pier Paddle has grown every year.”
Paddlers in this year’s race ranged in age from 9-years old to well in people into their seventies. Also
present were a number of families with multiple generations who raced together. The Pier Paddle also
showcased lifeguard dory races.
A number of legendary figures from surfing and paddleboarding’s past were present. Jericho Poppler,
surfing’s first Women’s International Professional Surfing Champion in 1976, raced stand-up paddle
and placed first in her age-class today in the 2-mile fun paddle. Also on-site sharing stories her stories
of paddling’s early days in Santa Monica was Esther Maire Lorenz, who won the US National
Paddleboarding Championships at the pier back in 1947. “I think this is wonderful to see paddling
coming back like this,” said Lorenz, “I just think there should be even more races.”
While paddleboarding is exploding in popularity today, it had a long prior history, including a heyday in
the 1940s when the Santa Monica Pier was a hub for racing. The sport disappeared for decades,
eclipsed by surfing, only to be brought back to life with the innovation of stand up paddling, or SUP.
The Pier Paddle was a benefit for Santa Monica-based Heal the Bay and its public marine education
facility, the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. Heal the Bay will receive a portion of net proceeds from the
event.

Event partners and sponsors include: Honolua Surf Co., Quickblade Paddles, Subaru of Santa
Monica, Pacifico Beer, Heal the Bay, ZJ Boarding House, Samsung, Clif Bar, Patrick’s Sunscreen,
Mariasol’s Restaurant, Santa Monica Daily Press, Suplove, Rogue Stand Up Paddleboards, Revo
Sunglasses, Santa Monica Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, World Paddle Association and the
National Doryman’s Association.
Photo credits for attached race photos:
Finish Line. Photo Credit Alex Thompson. Caption: “Women’s winner Candace Appleby crosses the
finish line.”
Racer and Ferris Wheel: Photo Credit Jeff Berting. Caption: “A racer speeds toward the finish line of
the 5.5-mile paddle race.”