Paddle For Clean Water Festival in Ocean Beach this Sunday!

SAN DIEGO, September 8, 2008 - Beach lovers and ocean enthusiasts from throughout San Diego County can make a statement – wet or dry – in support of clean water when the Surfrider Foundation’s San Diego Chapter hosts its 17th annual Paddle for Clean Water Festival presented by Clif Bar, starting with free breakfast at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 14 and featuring a paddle around the Ocean Beach Pier at 10 a.m., then continuing until 5 p.m. at the Ocean Beach Pier parking lot.

This 17th year of the Paddle for Clean Water Festival presented by Clif Bar promises a full day of fun for everyone.  The Paddle For Clean Water Festival will feature booths highlighting environmental awareness and action, local artists; free massages from Body Mind College; free surf lessons from Pacific Beach Surf Shop, a free surfboard demo from Holeman Surf Designs and Rainbow surfboards, a kids’ fun area featuring arts and crafts activities, food, great bands and a Stone Brew beer garden for folks age 21 and over.  Local legend Chris Cantore will emcee the event and FM 94/9 will be broadcasting Brunch with Bob and Friends from the event!

The paddle around the OB Pier at 10 a.m. features all sorts of paddlecraft – surfboards, bodyboards, kayaks, outrigger canoes, etc. – in a non-competitive paddle out and around the Ocean Beach Pier to raise awareness to pollution problems along San Diego’s coastline. The event will also include breakfast for all paddlers starting at 9 a.m., along with special guest speakers, live music, a huge raffle with a Holeman Surf Designs surfboard as the grand prize, a beach cleanup, and bands all afternoon.

The decline of near-shore water quality remains one of the biggest threats to our world’s beaches and coastlines. In addition to destroying marine habitats, it poses a significant risk to the health and welfare of beachgoers. Two local issues will be highlighted at the event this year:

* Surfrider’s efforts to help Save Trestles and stop the proposed toll road through San Onofre State Park
* San Diego’s water supply and how it relates to the marine environment

Over 1,000 beach and ocean lovers took to the waters off Ocean Beach at last year’s San Diego event and 2,000 are expected for the festival this year.

“Whether you paddle or not, the Paddle for Clean Water Festival will be a fun way for people to get involved, and a great place to get the latest information on local coastal environmental issues,” said Scott Harrison, chair of Surfrider Foundation’s San Diego Chapter.
 

Schedule of events:

9am: Light breakfast is served

10am: Paddle around the OB Pier

11am: Group photo, guest speakers and raffle

11:30am: Live music begins with Shaka Buku

12:40pm: The Professors take the stage

2:00pm: One Drop takes the stage

3:20pm: Silent Comedy closes the show

5:00pm: Festival ends

Surfrider is making every effort to have the event be zero waste - from a solar powered sound stage to comprehensive recycling and analyzing what will be used at the event. Please walk, bike, take public transport or carpool to the event. Visit www.sdcommute.com or www.icarpool.com for more information.

More information about the Paddle For Clean Water Festival can be found at www.surfridersd.org or www.paddle4cleanwater.blogspot.com