Paddle out Sunday, August 3 at 1pm, south side of Oceanside Pier

NOTE: no smoking allowed on beaches or pier

Getting to the paddle out site: I thank all of you in advance for dealing with the traffic to get here. The earlier you can arrive the better. I plan to be at the beach no later than 9am, but the contest starts at 6:30am so there will be plenty of people there. I want all of you to make only one trip from your car to the beach since you may not be able to park close. There are lots of parking lots, and those closest fill first. Pay attention to where you park; much parking is free on Sundays, but not everywhere. Be aware that there is construction on Mission Ave and it is now one-way from just west of the freeway to Coast Highway and can get really backed up; from the north, best to exit before getting to Mission Ave.; from the south, best to exit at Oceanside Blvd. Time permitting, I will get a map out as to parking lots and best streets to use. I would love it too if those you who haven’t yet been to the California Surf Museum have time while you are here for a visit.

Dress code: Beach casual — as comfortable as you want to be when at the beach. If you plan on going on the pier, walking shoes or flip flops [it’s tough on bare feet — it’s a wooden pier]. Beach towel, beach chair and whatever else you would like to bring for how long you plan to stay. I will have plastic bins to stash our valuables in during the paddle out [will be moved to the surf club booth and be safe]. I will have food and beverages for you, and beer and more food is available in the bandshell for purchase.

Water Ceremony: The surf is predicted to be small. Those of you going in the water need to be ready to enter the water by 12:45 pm so you can enter when given the go ahead. I have decided against any stage presentation, so there will be a beach announcement as to when to enter the water and then the water ceremony. Those who are watching from the pier should start heading out about 12:40 or so to reach near the end of the pier [beyond where the waves break] by 1 or so to see everyone paddling out. We will have bags of petals for those on the pier and stemmed carnations for those in the water to take out — all will know when to release flowers and petals. No leis in the water [the string is harmful]! No plastic bags in the water!

My schedule and more: I and several family members will be in outrigger canoes — so I will not be at the beach contest site from about noon until 2:15ish since we need to depart from and return to the harbor in the outriggers. I hope y’all will wait for me to get back so we can visit! I will have your contest shirts, programs and guest book for all to sign. AND by popular demand, we will finally have Skydog logo clothing available for purchase in the surf museum booth in the bandshell — tanks, t-shirts and sweatshirts. My niece is handling this so I don’t know prices yet. We will accept credit cards, checks, cash. After this weekend, and once I get it set up, I will have these available through skydogsurfboards.com with PayPal.