It was another classic San Diego morning, that greeted thousands of participants for the 15th annual Paddle for Clean Water sponsored by the San Diego Chapter of Surfrider. The event took place Sunday September 17 on the sand by the Ocean Beach Pier.

San Diego County Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation along with local businesses helped sponsor yesterday's event in Ocean Beach, California. This popular paddle event is, held in conjunction with National Clean Water Day, was established in 1993 by the Clean Water Network, an association of over 400 environmental groups. The purpose of the annual pier paddle and the Clean Water Day is to focus public attention on the health, pollution and environmental issues threatening the world's biggest natural resource, the ocean. Hundreds of paddlers circled the Ocean Beach Pier to show their support for clean water. Everyone had a great time.

The Paddle for Clean Water is a noncompetitive, educational, proactive event that is an expression of unity among ocean and beach aficionados who are concerned about the cleanliness of the ocean. There was no charge to participate and everyone was welcome. Participants are encouraged to show up with surfboards, rafts, kayaks or any other non-motorized devices The person who had the most creative paddle-craft---and made it around the pier---won a new Holeman Surf Designs board.

Participants “Fuel Up” for Paddle Out

The event included lots of great food: “fuel” for all the paddlers. The “fuel food” was generously donated by OB Peoples Co-op, Einstein Bagels, and Whale Tails Tortilla Chips. Bill Hickman of San Diego Surfrider said “I love having Whale Tails Tortilla Chips at these events. Their company was started by two local surfers to provide funding for marine conservation and they just gave a generous donation to Magdalena BayKeepers to help with their water quality surveys in Mag Bay.”

The famous OB Geriatrics Surf Club volunteered to provide the safety team that was stationed at intervals along the pier and provided assistance to any of the paddlers that might have needed a little help. We had a great time, raised awareness of clean water and a lot of the participants signed up to became new Surfrider members.

For more information on this event and upcoming events email Surfrider Foundation's San Diego County Chapter at info@surfridersd.org