The annual Harbor Hoot this weekend brought hundreds of stand-up paddlers to the Dana Point Harbor – the event celebrates the sport and teaches about safety while navigating the sea.
The gathering on Saturday, Oct. 14, marked the Harbor Hoot’s fifth year and offered three events – a 3K Channel Scoot, the Harbor Hustle Sprint and a Baby Beach Bolt Team Relay.
Stand-up paddle competition launched in Dana Point with the Battle of the Paddle at nearby Doheny State Beach back in 2010 when the sport started gaining popularity. The competition turned into the largest event in the world, which then turned into the Pacific Paddle Games.
But when that event fizzled about five years ago, local stand-up paddle athletes and newbie racers had few options for competition. Enter Harbor Hoot.
Harbor Hoot has grown since it launched five years ago, said Anthony Vela, event founder and organizer, who also runs the Performance Paddling training club in the harbor.
Last year had about 185 participants and this year signs ups were capped at 200.
Organizers also promoted the safety aspect of the sport, such as not paddling in the middle of the harbor channels during busy summer days, which can cause trouble with boaters.
“People are recreating in the harbor all the time, so now it’s a matter of having them doing it safely and be conscious when they are out there,” Vela said. “That’s the main mission – everyone having fun and being safe.”
The 3K Channel Scoot is like a walk on the water, allowing participants a chance to test their speed and agility against fellow paddlers. The Harbor Hustle is a challenging course that “showcases the harbor’s beauty while providing a dynamic and competitive experience,” event organizers describe.
The team relay adds an element of camaraderie and teamwork to the day’s festivities.
Vela likens the event to the popular Turkey Trot in the Harbor, where serious racers show up, but so do leisurely strollers just looking…
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