On July 9, 2016 we will hold the 19th Annual East Coast Paddleboard Championship at Sun Glow Pier in South Daytona Beach Shores.

As the original paddleboard competition race for unlimited paddleboard's on the East Coast and an innovator for including stand up paddle boarding in 2006 this year we will mark a turning point yet another innovative platform that includes all paddling boards and craft.

This will be a free race, there is no charge to participate. We will be crowning East Coast champions with all first-place finishers on all watercraft and boards classes- from unlimited, stock, 14 foot paddle boards, to unlimited 14,12.six and surf stand up paddle boards- also included surf skis, Outrigger kayak, if can paddle it and you bring it in you take first place you will be crowned and East Coast Paddling Champion. Those Champion names will be put on the perpetual trophy which is a tradition to honor those winners and their respective classes.

Everyone else will be a participant paddling for fun unless you're chasing the number one guy- the number one guy will be in the front of the pack. We will record finishers as they finish on the beach.
The race will be a 6 mile race - it will start at 9 AM at the end of Sun glow pier. Parking is available on the beach a small charge the county charges for parking.

Sun glow will be providing some free beer-Ho daddy O's SURF Cream shop in Ponce Inlet will be sponsoring a grom East Coast paddle board Championship race from one end of the pier to the other side ages 10-14.

As the granddaddy of all races on the East Coast- let me to say that we've seen the blowup of the stand up paddle board community through the years and the splintering in the hundreds and thousands of races the ego driven trophy placement finishes classes and this year we are going to make this more a fun paddle and inclusive of our paddling community.

The money you bring to this race - buy food, maybe a T-shirt if you'd like that you're going to keep it in your pocket. We will have a really large turnout this year and it will be a great race ,the top people will vie for the championship and the rest of us will have a great time.  We will award the prestigious Tom Blake Award- given out to the person that has influenced East Coast paddle boarding and or made a major contribution to the sport of East Coast Paddle Boarding.

It's been a pleasure putting these races on since 1998- and of the spirit of the water men we will continue this year providing a great race venue a competitive slate inclusive of every paddle class at you could think of and we will make awards for those winners available- the rest of us are all going to enjoy the beer early morning!!!

So please pass this around we will depend on you to get this out by word-of-mouth and email blasts. This will be the best year ever so come on out July 9 and make it a great day thank you.

Michael O'Shaughnessy

Founder- East Coast Paddleboard Championships