Paddle Surfing and Racing Competition. The main event at the Lane has paddle surfers flocking to Santa Cruz from all over the globe to take advantage of one of Santa Cruz’s most fabled breaks. The Lane breaks along West Cliff Drive and can hold waves of double overhead plus. Steamer Lane is host to an elite surfing competition of Surf Kayaks, Stand Up Paddle Boards, and Waveskis. Each class competes separately doing dynamic maneuvers to earn points. Competitors will surf through several heats eventually leading up to the Finals Sunday afternoon.
Cowells Classic: Started a many years ago as part of the SCPF the Cowells Classic is a friendly surfing competition. Located at the tail end of The Lane paddle surfers are able to score long waves without the intense competition scene. We promote this category within our event as an intermediate class of paddlers.
SCPF 5k/10k Race: One of the first paddleboard, outrigger, and surfski races of the year, the SCPF 5k/10k Race Presented by Covewater Paddle Surf starts at Cowells Beach, heads out along the Boardwalk, and to Santa Cruz harbor. In the long course, racers will pound out a second longer lap out to the Lane, to the harbor, along Steamer Lane, and back to Cowells Beach. Photo Credit: Tom Gomes
