On Sunday, August 27th, 2023, paddlers from all over the world will take to the waters off Southern California in the 46th annual Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race, the premier and most historical paddleboard race in the world.
The first paddle board crossing to the Catalina Channel was done in 1932 by Pete Peterson, Wally Burton, and Tom Blake. The race was motivated by Tom’s desire to promote his new paddle board design. Officially , the race was started in 1955 by Los Angeles County Lifeguard Bob Hogan and members of the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce. Many Legendary watermen and water women have taken the challenge and have helped make the Catalina Classic the pre-eminent waterman’s event of the year. Check out our Race Records page.
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.
Catalina Classic – August 27, 2023
PRE-QUALIFIERS (Paddler’s who finished the 2022 Classic within two hours of the winner within their class):
- Stock Women qualifying time: 8:31
- Stock Men qualifying time: 8:06
- Unlimited Men qualifying time: 7:27
- Registration Date TBD
- REGISTRATION LINK HERE
OPEN-QUALIFIERS (Paddlers who did not qualify via 2022 Classic or exceeded the qualifying cut-off times):
- Registration date TBD
- Completed registration must be received by TBD
- Paddlers must identify their 2023 race results from no more than 3 races.
- The Race Directors will attempt to fill all 100 entries based upon pre-qualified applicants, open qualifier race results, and committee selections of International entries.
- Open entrants will receive confirmation within 10 days of the registration deadline. The balance of entry fee will be due upon notification.
- Registration link will go live on TBD
Mailing Address
Catalina Classic Paddleboard Association, Inc.
PO Box 3556
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
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.