Two Weeks from Today.

Here it comes.

THE trophy.

1928: Tom Blake wins first mainland surfing / paddleboard race on 120 pound board and proceeds to break every paddleboard record that previously existed.

1932: Tom Blake makes first ever Catalina Crossing and beats out paddlers Pete Peterson and Wally Burton, going 29 miles in just under 6 hours.

Early 1950′s : enters a new era of paddlers. Surfboard shapers Dale Velzy, Greg Noll and Hobie Alter refine paddleboard design and begin to stage the legendary Taplin races between city and county lifeguards.

1955: Bob Hogan founds international Paddleboard Competition from Catalina to Manhattan Beach Pier.

1961: The Catalina event is cancelled due to dangerous conditions and the sport hibernates for over 20 years, save a few like Dale Velzy who kept building boards during that time.

1982: Gibby Gibson and Buddy Bohn revive the Catalina Race for a field of 10 competitors.

1982 – 2006: Buddy and Gibby yearly bring more competitors to the Catalina Classic and raise the awareness and demand for the sport and equipment.

At the completion of the race, a picture is traditionally taken of the finishers.  Through the years...

1950's.

1980's.

2010's.