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| Introduction to Paddleboarding (Surfing) | |
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Have you ever looked out onto the Sausalito Boat Harbor and spied what you thought was a surfer paddling his board out on the glassy flat surface? Watching him, you might have wondered what he was trying to accomplish as he seemed to be paddling in vain for waves that didn’t exist.
It’s called paddleboarding, a sport that has taken hold in such bay area beach towns as Santa Cruz, and even as far inland as Sacramento. The paddleboard is akin to a surfboard in shape and will ride open ocean swells. However, paddleboards aren’t made for standing. Paddleboarders can either lie prone on the board or kneel—a more taxing position—in order to pull with an arm motion similar to that of swimming. Popular “unlimited” paddleboards are generally between 16” and 22” and have rudder systems. Cutting edge designs may take on speeds of a one-man canoe, while traditional “stock” paddleboards do not exceed 12”.
Many paddleboarders come from a rich tradition of “watermen,” or those who spend much of their time devoted to ocean activities, such as fishing, surfing, and lifesaving. However, the sport also appeals to swimmers and triathletes. For these zealous competitors drawn to the energy of the ocean, paddleboarding presents a terrific opportunity to be surrounded by blue, paddling toward some defined objective such as the famed Catalina Classic, a 32-mile race that starts on Catalina Island and ends at Manhattan Beach.
Paddleboard racing is popular in Hawaii and Southern California, given the opportunity for spending long hours in the water sans wetsuit. The Catalina Classic is the culmination of any paddleboarder’s racing endeavors, however, there are a series of events including Hennessey’s International Paddleboard race and Quicksilver’s Molokai to Oahu race that form a sort of triple crown of paddleboarding. In addition, smaller races (3-8 miles) convene to round out the summer season. In Santa Cruz, the Jay Moriarity Memorial Paddleboard race has gained publicity due to its namesake, Jay Moriarity who surfed to glory at legendary Maverick’s surf break.
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