1981 began the rebirth of the International Catalina Channel Paddleboard Race. The Manhattan Beach Chamber Of Commerce Executive, Trudy Smart, gave the original race bylaws and articles of incorporation( from the International Catalina Channel Paddleboard Race) to lifeguard lieutenant Buddy Bohn. Bohn consulted with many of the past competitors and current ocean Lifeguards and ocean athletes. After much encouragement, Lt. Bohn partnered with fellow Ocean Lifeguard and friend, Weldon Gibby Gibson, who had actually competed in the original races. Together they approached the LA County Lifeguard Association Trust Fund for their support and endorsement. All parties decided that the event should be attempted the summer of 1982. All agreed that the new bylaws, rules, and articles of incorporation should be as close to the originals as possible. They would call it what they all felt it was, The Catalina Classic Paddleboard Marathon.
The paddle from Catalina to the Manhattan Beach Pier had not been officially attempted in twenty years, and much had changed since 1960. Several paddlers of that period made themselves available and the Lifeguards formed a committee of volunteers to begin the organization. Safety being the number one priority, the committee consulted with our ocean athletes that had been racing the channel during those previous twenty years. The Catalina Channel Swimming Federation was one such group and the National Dory Association was another. Their input was vital, with regard to escort support, communications, navigation, advanced life support, and general organization. The Swimming Federation’s format was the closest fit to the original paddles. The Dory Association’s race was really an annual lifeguard event with a two person crew rowing from Catalina’s Isthmus to Palos Verdes. The Catalina channel Dory race at that time was a male dominated event, but there were a few female Lifeguards getting on board. The channel swimmers format consisted of one solo swimmer at a time, challenging the channel, and required that an escort be present. Some of their event distances exceeded our 32 mile course. The Channel swimmers were only limited by age, minors needed parental consent. We knew many of the men and women swimmers and their trainers. Many of our Lifeguards and paddlers had paddled as support for these brave swimmers.
The Catalina Classic Paddleboard committee decided that entrees younger than 18 needed parental consent. There would be no age groups or distinction of gender. It was felt that if you could meet the qualifications for entry you could paddle. Our focus was on racing the channel first, and competing against the other paddlers was second.
The rules were eventually updated, stock boards would go from 14 feet to 12 feet with a 20 pound minimum weight. The original course would be the same, required escort same, not touching or being aided by anyone or craft, the same, no age or gender categories. This was the “Classic”.
The core values were focused on , “let’s keep this original, we are paddling in the wake of giants, it’s the Catalina Classic”. At the end of August in 1982, 10 paddlers and their crews met at the Isthmus cove. They were briefed by some of the former paddler/Lifeguards, pitched their tents, and tried to sleep a few hours before the 6:00 a.m. start. The crossing was a success and a new kind of aquatic camaraderie was established between the women & men who paddled it together that day. All the paddlers were really supportive of each other’s achievements.
“Winning “ was really secondary, the feeling was that we’d CONQUERED the Catalina Channel. The race had been reborn. Our paddling camaraderie is alive to this day!
This was so much fun! I, (and a bunch of other “paddlers”)had the privilege of escorting a handful of swimmers over a 10 year period.. Actually close friends who attempted and succeeded in swimming many different routes, both single and double crossings of the Catalina Channel. And one circumnavigation by Cindy Cleveland, who went on to Win the Classic 2 years in a row. Siga Guddmonson was coaching this handful of swimmers and was very careful to make the escorting of these swimmers a very safe and official event. There were always two paddlers on either side of the swimmer at all times. A lot of us swam for Siga on Surfside swim club, a novice team in the South Bay. When I got wind of the Catalina race I decided to enter on the premise if my friends can swim this thing, then surely I can paddle it.
Training on an old yellow LA County rescue board I spent a couple months paddling back and forth between Hermosa and Manhattan Beach piers. As the date approached for the Classic I was offered a white Paddleboard by lifeguard Alvin Smith. I gave this to Joe Bark a few years back…The day dawned beautiful at Isthamus and we (the ten of us) took off for Manhattan pier. Glassy mid channel with a little chop as we got to R-10..and Manhattan in our sights, all and all a really cool experience I won’t soon forget. So amazed how this has grown and become so much more than just a paddle, supporting and encouraging a community of watermen and waterwomen paddling for great causes!
Thanks for sharing your experience and insight as one of the 10 paddlers that raced in 1982! We’re so glad you were part of that group and encourage you to come back and give it another go!