The Blog

As stand up paddling continues to grow around the world and especially here in New England, so does the list of races and events. Here is a list for the upcoming 2012 season. Most of these are straight up SUP events but a few others like the Run of the Charles are long running canoe and kayak races that have opened up SUP divisions in the last couple of years. This list is a work in progress and just what I have dug up. If or want to add more details to something I already have up, let us know. Races with different boat types that have stand up paddle classes are denote with a *.

April New England Stand Up Paddle Events

April 29th Run of the Charles* New England’s largest canoe and kayak race, held each April, includes 6, 9, and 19 mile races, a 24-mile, five-leg canoe relay race, and a 26-mile professional marathon. Has stand up paddle and prone paddle divisions. www.crwa.org/rotc/rotc.html

May New England Stand Up Paddle Events

May 19th Essex River Race* The Essex River Race is a 5.5+ mile open water event from the Essex River at Route 133 in Essex, MA, out behind the barrier beaches of Ipswich and back. Has stand up paddle and prone paddle divisions. www.blackburnchallenge.com

May 20th 16th Annual Mystic River Herring Run and Paddle* Join the Mystic River Watershed Association for a fun day along the Mystic River. The day’s events include a 5K run/walk race, three paddling races (3, 9, and 12 miles), a bicycle tour, educational booths, children’s activities, and more. mysticriver.org/herring-run-paddle/

May 26th APBA Atlantic Paddle Battle #1 Memorial Weekend SUP & Surf event at Salisbury Beach. With six events this season the APBA series will offer a purse total of $20,000. www.atlanticpaddleassoc.org

June New England Stand Up Paddle Events

June 2nd APBA Atlantic Paddle Battle #2 APBA SUP & Surf event #2 at Salisbury Beach. With six events this season the APBA series will offer a purse total of $20,000. www.atlanticpaddleassoc.org

June 2nd Buzzards Bay Classic hosted by Osprey Sea Kayak Adventures on June 2nd, a SUP and Kayak Race in Westport, MA. There will be a 3 mile Recreational and 6 mile Elite Division as well as demo’s, workshops and kids events after the race. More information is on the link below. www.ospreyseakayak.com/races/buzzards-bay-classic

June 9th CCBC Wellfleet SUPathlon BOP style SUP race in the morning followed by a SUP surf contest in the afternoon and a beach BBQ party to round out the day! Whitecrest Beach, Wellfleet, MA. www.capecodbaychallenge.org

June 10th SoundSurfer Waterman’s Challenge  Open and Elite races, sprints, kids races. WPA Sanctioned event. On the Saugatuck River in Westport, CT. Hosted by Down Under Surf Shop. This is a charity event to benefit F.O.C.U.S (For Our Children’s Unlimited Success), Harborwatch and The Norwalk Aquarium’s Children’s Opportunity Fund. www.soundsurfer.org

June 16-17th Boston Tea Paddle Surfari and Team Brown present the Boston Tea Paddle stand up paddle event at Liberty Wharf in Boston. Two days of waterfront races and events including Elite and Open 3 mile buoy course, sprints, four person relays, kids race, 8 mile distance race through Boston Harbor, demos, sponsor village. www.bostonteapaddle.com

June 17th ESA-SNE BIC SPORT SUP Race #1 3.5 mile flat water race in the Narrow River, Narragansett, RI. Race starts at 10am in front of Narrow River Kayak. ESA-SNE Facebook Page

June 30th APBA Atlantic Paddle Battle #3 Sand & Sea Fest SUP Race at Salisbury Beach. With six events this season the APBA series will offer a purse total of $20,000. www.atlanticpaddleassoc.org

June 30th 1st Annual Cape Cod Paddleboard Festival This fundraising event will include a relay race as well as leisurely group paddle through Chatham Harbor out to the Monomoy barrier beach, and back. Event culminates with a late afternoon BBQ party at the Cape Cod Beach Chair Company with the 30-foot Breakaway X-Grill. www.adventurechatham.com

July New England Stand Up Paddle Events

July 14th The Blackburn Challenge* The Blackburn Challenge is a 20+ mile open water circumnavigation of Cape Ann. Has stand up paddle and prone paddle divisions. www.blackburnchallenge.com

July 14th APBA Atlantic Paddle Battle #4 Surf Music & Art Fest/SUP Race at Salisbury Beach. With six events this season the APBA series will offer a purse total of $20,000. www.atlanticpaddleassoc.org

July 21st CCBC Challenge on the Charles 4-mile SUP race on the Charles River followed by a party and fundraiser on the banks of the Charles River. Community Boating Docks, Boston, MA. www.capecodbaychallenge.org

July 21st ESA-SNE BIC SPORT SUP Race #2 3.5 mile flat water race in the Narrow River, Narragansett, RI. Race starts at 10am in front of Narrow River Kayak. ESA-SNE Facebook Page

July 28th Paddle to the Point The Paddle to the Point is a charity stand-up paddle board race. It will be run on a closed 3 mile course off of Main Beach in Ogunquit, ME. Benefits the Molly Fund. www.paddletothepoint.org

August New England Stand Up Paddle Events

August 4th APBA Atlantic Paddle Battle #5 Ogunquit Beach, ME. With six events this season the APBA series will offer a purse total of $20,000. www.atlanticpaddleassoc.org

August 5th Stand Up For Liberty Team Brown and Surfari present a 25 mile paddle for charity to benefit A Journey Forward. Leaves from Liberty Wharf, Boston and ends at the Bath & Tennis Club, Magnolia Beach in Manchester by-the Sea, MA. www.standup4liberty.com

August 11th ESA-SNE Newport Surfing Championships and New England SUP Surfing Championships ESA SUP surf contest in conjunction with their August surf contest at 2nd Beach in Narragansett, RI. ESA-SNE Facebook Page

August 12th ESA-SNE BIC SPORT SUP Race #3 3.5 mile flat water race in the Narrow River, Narragansett, RI. Race starts at 10am in front of Narrow River Kayak. ESA-SNE Facebook Page

August 25th Cape Cod Bay Challenge 5th Anniversary 34-mile SUP marathon leaving Plymouth, across Cape Cod Bay with an after party and fundraiser in Wellfleet, MA to end the day. The grand daddy of New England stand up paddle events, the CCBC is a benefit for Christopher’s Haven. www.capecodbaychallenge.org

September New England Stand Up Paddle Events

September 1st APBA Atlantic Paddle Battle #6 SUP Race Finals/SUP surf contest at Salisbury Beach. With six events this season the APBA series will offer a purse total of $20,000. www.atlanticpaddleassoc.org

September 8 Newport SUP Cup 6 mile Elite and 3 mile Open class races around Goat Island. Race from Newport Shipyard, Newport, RI. www.newportsupcup.com

September 15 3rd Annual CT Challenge Paddle Event WPA Santioned Event Sept. 15, 2012 Fairfield, CT. CTChallengePaddle.org Call 203-650-5964 for more info.

September TBA The Rotary Great Race 2012* The Open Water Race is a 7+ mile event starting and finishing at Devereux Beach in Marblehead. Most human powered, non-motorized crafts are eligibile to race (exceptions no swimmers, no sailboats). Both serious racers and casually oriented participants are allowed and encouraged. www.rotarygreatrace.com

September 22nd CCBC Late Summa Paddle Mellow multi-mile cruise (costumes required) followed by a party to end the summer the right way. Humarock, MA. www.capecodbaychallenge.org

September 22nd Paddle For The Bays* Another exciting day on Barnstable’s southern waters, featuring the aquatic sports of kayaking, canoeing and the growing, popular and challenging fun of the sport of paddle boarding, is set as part of a “Paddle for the Bays” www.3bays.org/events/Paddle-for-the-Bays.html

October New England Stand Up Paddle Events

December New England Stand Up Paddle Events

December 1st Surfari Santa SUP Cruise Dress up in your holiday finest to help escort Santa’s tugboat across Manchester Harbor to his throngs of young fans! Reindeer games and refreshments to follow. Bring a present for a older child/young teen. Proceeds to benefit Cape Ann families via Project Uplift. www.standuppaddlesurfari.com/santasup/