The Race
El Moro to Capo Beach, 12.5 miles of open ocean.
The course
Follow the coastline
Tap any point for detail. The gold rings are the two required gates. Miss them and it doesn't count.
Start
El Moro / Crystal Cove
7:30 AM beach start off Moro Beach, south Crystal Cove (check-in opens 7:00 AM). Beach start and beach finish, regardless of conditions, a one-way point-to-point down the coast.
Race-morning conditions
A small, manageable south swell, a low tide at the start filling all morning, and light cross-shore wind.
Surf
Small · 2-3 ft+
Thigh-to-stomach and manageable at the 7:30 AM start, a mid-period S swell (~11 sec) with a touch of long-period SSW groundswell early. Building slightly through late morning as a short-period W windswell fills in.
Wind
Light · 8-9 mph
Light cross-shore out of the SSE early (~8 mph), swinging S and up to ~9 mph by late morning. Cleanest right at the start; eases to 4-6 mph by evening.
Tide
Low start, rising all morning
Bottoms out at −0.2 ft at 6:54 AM, right before the 7:30 start, then fills fast: ~0.2 ft at 8 AM, ~3.3 ft by 11 AM, up to a 4.8 ft high at 1:25 PM.
Forecast for Saturday, July 18, sampled mid-course along the Laguna coast; conditions vary point to point. Clear to partly cloudy and dry, sunrise 5:54 AM, about 70°F at the 7:30 start and into the mid-70s by midday. Always check current conditions before you paddle.
Divisions
Where you line up
- 12' StockStock 12' prone paddleboard. Women's + Men's.
- 14'14' prone paddleboard. Women's + Men's.
- UnlimitedUnlimited prone. Women's + Men's.
- SUPStand-up paddle. Women's + Men's.
Four board classes, 12' Stock, 14', Unlimited, and SUP. Each has a Women's and a Men's division, with the women seeded at the top of their class.
Entry
TBA
Same for every division. One event tee included.
- Every finish timed, full results on PaddleGuru
- A real open-ocean distance result to build your season
- Awards + a surfboard raffle (competitor-only) at the finish
Race morning
How the day runs
Add to calendar
- 7:00 AM
Pre-race check-in & beach entries begin
Receive your race number.
- 7:15 AM
Pre-race meeting
Safety discussion and course description.
- 7:30 AM
Paddle Laguna Beach begins
Beach start and beach finish only, regardless of conditions.
- ~10:00 AM
First finishers can start landing
The front of the field. Everyone else still has time.
- 11:30 AM
Race is officially over
Every racer has the full window. You are not late.
- 11:31 AM
Awards + the surfboard raffle
At the finish line. One award this year, drawn live.
This is the official race-day schedule, check-in at 7:00 AM, race starts at 7:30 AM sharp. The fastest paddlers can be in by about 10:00 AM, but the race doesn't close until 11:30 AM. Every racer has that whole window, so there's no rush to be first in.
Getting there
Parking, the return, and the finish
Start & parking
Enter through Moro Campground at Crystal Cove State Park and park near the tunnel access, public restrooms are in the lot by the event site. It's a paid state-beach lot that fills early on summer weekends, so get there early or carpool. Check-in opens at 7:00 AM.
It's one-way | plan your return
The race finishes 12.5 miles south at Capo Beach in Dana Point. Sort your ride back before the start: carpool with another paddler, stage a second car at the finish, or line up a pickup. There's no gear shuttle.
Finish & spectators
Enter through Doheny State Beach and park near the pedestrian bridge toward Capistrano Beach, public restrooms are in the lot by the event site. The beach finish is on the sand directly in front of the PCH pedestrian bridge (just NE of the harbor jetty), a great spot for family to watch. The race is officially over at 11:30 AM, with awards at the finish line at 11:31 AM.
On-water safety
Two jet skis on the course.
Two jet skis run the course all morning, one leading the field, one sweeping the rear, and they guide every paddler through the Bird Rock and Three Arch Bay gates. Blake works the start and finish, checking in racers and clocking finish times.
On the skis: Mitch Lundquist and Ian Ferrell. On-water video: Cooper Christensen. Start + finish: Blake Lundquist.
- Lead jet ski up front with the leaders
- Sweep jet ski on the back of the field
- On-water video from the course
- Check-in and finish timing at the start and finish lines
Gear & safety
Come prepared for open water
Required
- Enough water / hydration for 2.5-3.5 hours on the water.
- Registered on PaddleGuru and checked in at the start.
Strongly recommended
- A leash, not required, but smart for the beach sections at Three Arch Bay and the Capo Beach finish. A 6' leash is best so your board can't nose-dive into the sand.
- Plenty of water and glucose / energy food for 2.5-3.5 hours on the water.
- A bright cap or rashguard so support paddlers and the jet skis can spot you.
- A whistle and a phone in a waterproof pouch.
- Sunscreen, and a sense of the day's forecast, swell, and tides.
- A support / safety paddler if you want one, coordinate at sign-in.
Heads up: Headphones are welcome, plenty of paddlers ride to music. Just keep an ear out for boats, other paddlers, and the jet skis.
- Open-ocean, point-to-point race, you're responsible for your own safety and fitness.
- Carry water and a bright cap/rashguard so the jet skis and support paddlers can spot you. A leash isn't required, but a 6' leash is smart for the Three Arch Bay and Capo Beach sand sections so your board can't nose-dive.
- Conditions can get bumpy with reverb off the cliffs and points, paddle within your limits.
- Support/safety paddlers welcome; coordinate at sign-in with Sara.
Rules
- 1.Register on PaddleGuru. All competitors must be registered (better counts, communication, and safety).
- 2.Clear the Bird Rock gate, for 2026, stay on the inside of the lead jet ski (it holds a safer line a little further out than the rock, given the low morning tide). Going inside Bird Rock itself is optional this year.
- 3.Three Arch Bay isthmus, strongly encouraged and a fun part of the race: beach on the north side (the lead jet ski directs you), run ~100 ft on the sand, and relaunch past the big rock. It's optional if you truly can't do it safely; skipping the beach + relaunch adds 10 minutes to your finish time.
- 4.It's a one-way race, arrange your own return transportation / drop-off before the start.
- 5.Bring water and safety gear; know your limits in open ocean conditions.
Build your race résumé
A distance result for the big crossings.
The marquee open-ocean crossings all want to see recent distance-race results before they'll take you. At 12.5 miles of open ocean, Paddle Laguna Beach is exactly the kind of distance result these events want to see on your application, finish here, and you've got a real one on your résumé.
Catalina Classic →
32 miles, Catalina Isthmus → Manhattan Beach Pier, the oldest race in the sport. Open entrants submit paddle-race results, judged on course distance and competition.
Molokai 2 Oahu (M2O) →
32-mile channel crossing, Molokai → Oahu, the paddleboard world championships. First-time applicants submit their recent open-ocean race results for review.
Ben Did Go, “the Ben” →
30 miles, Avalon → Newport Beach Pier, honoring lifeguard Ben Carlson. Invite-only, with paddle qualifications required.
The story
From 8.7 to 12.5
The first Paddle Laguna Beach ran in 2023, 8.7 miles from El Moro to Salt Creek. In 2024 it grew into the full 12.5-mile course to Capo Beach, adding the Bird Rock gate and the Three Arch Bay isthmus run: two spots that add real skill and strategy to the course.
It's grassroots by design. Blake sets it up, Sara runs sign-in, and the field grows every year. The scenic distance race that fills the gap between LA and San Diego, it's earned its place in the SoCal prone community while keeping its community heart.
The two gates
Bird Rock gate. This year you don't have to paddle inside Bird Rock, the low morning tide makes that inside line unsafe. Stay on the inside of the lead jet ski instead; it holds a safer line a little further out. Take the inside of the rock only if you choose to.
Three Arch Bay isthmus. Everyone's encouraged to run it. It's a fun part of the race. Beach on the north side of the bay (the lead jet ski directs you where to land), run ~100 feet on the sand, and relaunch past the big rock. Timing is everything and it can get gnarly, so it's optional if you truly can't do it safely, skipping the beach and relaunch adds 10 minutes to your time. Blake films the first half of the field right there on the sand.
Ready to line up on August 1, 2026?
Start line in
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
When and where is Paddle Laguna Beach?
Saturday, August 1, 2026, with a 7:30 AM start at San Clemente Pier in San Clemente, CA, finishing at San Clemente Pier in San Clemente, CA. It's a 15-mile point-to-point paddle down the Laguna Beach coast.
How do I register, and what does it cost?
Registration runs on PaddleGuru. Entry is still being set (TBA), the same for every division, and includes one event tee. Registration opens soon — check back for the sign-up link.
Is it a good first ocean race? Can I do it on a SUP?
Yes on both. There's a SUP division alongside the prone classes, and first-timers are welcome. It is a real 12.5-mile open-ocean effort, though. Come fit, know the forecast, and consider lining up a support paddler at sign-in.
How do I get back to the start? (It's one-way.)
The race finishes 12.5 miles south at Capo Beach in Dana Point. Sort your ride before the start, carpool with another paddler, stage a second car at the finish, or arrange a pickup. There's no gear shuttle.
What's your refund / transfer policy?
Entry is non-refundable. Tees are print-on-demand, each one is made to order in the exact color and size you pick when you redeem, so there are no size swaps or exchanges. Pick carefully. For transfer questions, email blake@lundquistsurfboards.com and we'll help where we can.
Where do results post, and can family watch?
Results post on PaddleGuru and here on the Results page. Capo Beach is an easy, family-friendly finish to watch, enter through Doheny State Beach and park near the pedestrian bridge toward Capistrano Beach. The front of the field can start landing as early as 10:00 AM, but every racer has until 11:30 AM, when the race officially closes. If you're coming to watch someone finish, plan for anywhere in that window. Awards are at the finish line right after, at 11:31 AM.
Can I use this toward the Catalina Classic, Molokai, or the Ben?
Yes, the big open-ocean crossings (the Catalina Classic, Molokai 2 Oahu, and the Ben Did Go) all ask for recent distance-race results before they'll take you. A 12.5-mile Paddle Laguna Beach finish is exactly the kind of result to put on that application. Lots of paddlers use it to build their race résumé.
What can I win?
One award this year, and it's a raffle: a $750 credit toward a custom Lundquist surfboard, a shortboard or twin fin, shaped in your dimensions. Want a bigger board or a nicer finish? You just pay the difference. Every racer is entered automatically, one ticket each, and your race number is your ticket. Tickets are not for sale. You can't buy in and you can't buy more, so the fastest paddler and the last paddler have identical odds. Details at paddlelagunabeach.com/raffle.