Glassy calm water - the perfect condition for the third annual stand up paddleboard festival hosted by Alpha Adventures last Saturday in Porpoise Bay.
More than 80 participants, as young as six and as old as 60, took part in some aspect of the festival during the successful day-long event.
Activities started in the morning with demonstrations and clinics. Short and long course races were held in the afternoon, and the day wrapped up with an awards ceremony and prize draws.
"We pioneered stand up paddling [SUP] on the Sunshine Coast more than five years ago before it was as popular as it is today," said festival organizer Jamie Mani. "I fell in love with stand up paddling originally in Hawaii - the birthplace of modern stand up paddling. We brought SUP into our operations with the sale of boards and teaching lessons. The teaching of paddle boarding became organized under Paddle Canada and I was certified as an instructor trainer in the first group of instructors in B.C."
Mani said the festival evolved out of building a paddleboard culture on the Sunshine Coast, and hosting a festival seemed like the perfect way to do so.
Profits from the festival have gone to the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Halfmoon Bay unit over the years.
"We were very happy with the turnout, and the feedback in person at the event and on social media has been very positive," Mani said. "We want to thank all the volunteers who helped out - especially the RCMSAR volunteers and all the participants. We're already looking forward to next year."
