On Sunday, August 30th, 2026, paddlers from all over the world will take to the waters off Southern California in the 49th annual Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race, the premier and most historical paddleboard race in the world.
Paddlers will leave the Isthmus cove, Catalina Island, at 6am and paddle 32 miles to the Manhattan Beach Pier on paddle boards (between 12 and 19 feet long) using only their hands to propel them through the water. Swells, Currents, and wind conditions play into what is notoriously one of the most grueling endurance events in the world.
Every year the Catalina Classic Paddleboard Association (501 c4 non-profit) makes donations to local non-profits that have included: 1% for the planet, Los Angeles County Junior Lifeguard Scholarship Fund, MB Roundhouse Aquarium, Jimmy Miller Foundation, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, and ECF Kayne Eras Center.