Destin Polar Bear Plunge & Paddle

Come join the Paddle Destin Crew as we support The Destin Fire Rescue Foundation for their Annual Polar Bear Plunge & Paddle on Wednesday, January 1st. Please come out and show your support and help make this the largest event to date.

Date: Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Time: Registration begins at 10am and Plunge & Paddle will begin at 10:30am
Place : The Crab Trap Restaurant - Old 98 Destin, Florida

*Donation of $20.00 will include T-Shirt

The Crab Trap will also be serving up great food and drink specials for the event so be sure and add this as your 1st event of the 2014 calendar year. Everyone is invited to attend it's just up to you whether you want to take the Plunge, Paddle or do BOTH!

This is not a race...just a fun event for the entire family supporting a great cause.

Happy New Year and Hope to see you January 1st!

Paddle Destin Christmas

Christmas is just around the corner and we've added a few NEW Paddle Destin items for you or your someone special. I really don't think paddlers are hard to buy for because as long as we're on the water.....nothing else matters :) This Christmas we've added a really nice dry bag that is always nice to keep things dry while your paddling, and also some Tie Downs and Fade Proof Rack Pads (avl. in 24" & 36"). These items can be purchased from us directly, but all of our Paddle Destin apparel and hats can be purchased from our friends at The Experience Store in Destin.



Please sent us an email to paddledestin@cox.net if you'd like to add any of these great gifts to your shopping list.

Paddle with the Manatee

Sure this is a face only a mother could love, but once you get to Paddle with the Manatee you'll fall in love with them too. This will be the 2nd Annual Paddle Destin 'Paddle with the Manatee' trip and it's a great trip for the entire family. We have friends from all over that joined us last year and are planning on joining us again this year. The dates are December 13th - 15th and we have some great hotel rates set up through the Best Western in Crystal River. Everyone arrives on Friday and we'll meet for dinner and talk about our full day of paddling with the manatee on Saturday. Saturday is definitely a full day on the water and we promise you'll get to paddle with some of the friendliest Manatee ever. What are you waiting for? Come paddle with the Paddle Destin crew today!

If you are interested in joining us for this great paddle adventure please contact us at paddledestin@cox.net.

Turkey Paddle & Food Drive

The 1st Annual Paddle Destin 'Shake Your Tail Feathers ~ Turkey Paddle & Food Drive' was a BIG success. All of the food collected will benefit Destin Harvest which is a non-profit food harvest organization that delivers directly to over 25 active feeding programs in Okaloosa and Walton County.

We couldn't have asked for better weather this time of year, and most everyone was eager to get their boards in the water to paddle with friends. Even some that couldn't make the paddle came out long enough to make a donation and we are very thankful for all of the donations received.

If you'd like to find out more about Destin Harvest please visit their website at http://www.DestinHarvest.org

Hammer Nutrition Discount

Check out the awesome products at Hammer Nutrition and receive a 15% discount on your first order when using the following link:
http://www.hammernutrition.com/products/hammer-gel.hg.html?navcat=fuels-energy-drinks&customerid=225056

We love the fact that you can purchase large containers of the Hammer Gel and keep it handy in the Hammer Flask for easy portability. They have many different products to choose from so check them out and place your 1st order today.

Paddle Destin Turkey Paddle & Food Drive

Join the Paddle Destin crew on Saturday, November 16th, for the ‘Shake Your Tail Feathers’ Turkey Paddle and Food Drive. This paddle will be to benefit one of our local charities, Destin Harvest, and to help them help the less fortunate during the holidays. Destin Harvest provides free foods to non-profit organizations that feed the hungry in North-West Florida, so everyone is asked to bring canned goods and other non-perishable items that can be distributed throughout our community.

Date: Saturday, November 16th, 2013
Time: Paddle starts at 10am, but food donations may be dropped off between 10am – 1pm
Location: Fudpuckers in Fort Walton Beach

TOGETHER let's make this the biggest community Food Drive ever!

SUP n' SIP on the Bayou

Join us and our friends at Paradise Paddleboards as they host their 1st Annual SUP n' SIP on the Bayou this Saturday,November 2, 2013. Paddle starts at 9am at LJ Schooners and there will be several stops along the way as we SUP n' SIP the day away. We should be back at LJ Schooners around 4pm and there will be a BBQ dinner available with a percent of proceeds to benefit Alaqua Animal Refuge. All paddlers are welcome to join, so come on out and show your support for Alaqua Animal Refuge!

Team Spirit Tailgate Paddle Destin

Nothing beats a day of paddling and watching football with great friends so by popular demand the Paddle Destin crew will be hosting our 1st ‘Team Spirit’ Tailgate Paddle on Saturday, October 26th, at Legendary Marine in Destin. Dress up in your favorite team colors or jersey and bring your favorite tailgate dish to share because we’ll be making a day of it so come on out and show your Team Spirit!

Date: Saturday, October 26th, 2013
Time: 12 to 5 (this could change due to game times)
Place: Legendary Marine - Destin

Fun October Weekend in Destin

What's your plans for October? Here in Destin, Florida we've got plenty of great events taking place. On Saturday, October 19th, our friends at GUSU Paddlesports will be hosting their Race Series Finale at Fudpuckers in Fort Walton Beach to benefit Autism, get there at 9am to get pre-registered and there will be a 1 mile and a 4 mile race. On Sunday, October 20th, join the Paddle Destin crew for our Annual Great Pumpkin Paddle at Legendary Marine in Destin to benefit Covenant Hospice. The Great Pumpkin Paddle is a costumed family event with lots of great activities such as sprint races, costume contest and pumpkin carving contest so get your paddle board or kayak loaded and come join us for a great weekend on the water.

Get pre-registered toady at https://paddledestin.ticketbud.com/great-pumpkin-paddle-destin to reserve your t-shirt and goodie bag!

Great Pumpkin Paddle Destin 2013

Join the Paddle Destin crew for the 2nd Annual Stand Up Paddle Board ‘Great Pumpkin Paddle’ to be held on Sunday, October 20th, at Legendary Yacht Club in Destin, FL. Prizes will be awarded for Best Costume, Best Carved Pumpkin, Pumpkin Sprints and much, much MORE! Instead of Trick-or-Treating on the streets we’ll be Trick-or-Treating on the water. Registration is $25. each and includes your ‘Great Pumpkin Paddle’ t-shirt, lunch and a great goodie bag filled with great treats from our awesome sponsors. Raffle items will also be available with proceeds to benefit one of our favorite local charities, Covenant Hospice. This great event will be FUN for the entire family so plan ahead and spend the day with your Stand Up Paddle family!

Get pre-registered TODAY at https://paddledestin.ticketbud.com/great-pumpkin-paddle-destin

Day of registration will begin at 9:00am, paddle starts at 10:00am, lunch served at 11:30am and then we can dance the day away while our favorite DJ plays our favorite tunes!

Special Thanks to Legendary Yacht Club for being our PREMIER sponsor for this years great event and to Legendary Marine Destin, Zoe’s Kitchen, GUSU Paddlesports, The eXperience, Southern Resorts, R&L Outfitters, BOTE Board, aXe Paddles, Lazy Magnolia Brewing Co., Studio E, Hungry Boards, X-1 Audio, Harry & David, Polar Bear Coolers, Vestpac, GoPro, DryCASE, Paddle Out, Misty Shells, YETI Coolers, Team Phun, GoSwype, NOW-No Opportunity Wasted, Fitness On Board, SUP Junkie, Multi Purpose SUP Strap, Premier Paddlesports, Costa, NOCQUA, Polar Bottle, RAAW Juices, Panhandle CPR, Harry T's, Fresh Market, Southern Restaurant Group, Sun Bum, MS Gulf Coast Paddle, Cotton Land Title, Sweaty Bands, Buccaneer Pirate Cruise, Skinny's Nutrition, Zone Perfect, Lucky Girl Jewelry, BICO-Dalton & Co., MTI, MOJO, The Mane Place, Little Caesars Pizza(Mary Esther, Bluewater Bay, Crestview, Ft. Walton Bch), Cablz, Gold's Gym Destin, SRB Screen Printing, Sailor Bags, Tunaskin and Miracle of Aloe for supporting our event.

If your company would like to become a sponsor or vendor please contact us at paddledestin@cox.net

Great Pumpkin Paddle Destin

Happy October everyone! We've got lot's of activities going on this month and we'd love for you to join the Paddle Destin crew for the 2nd Annual ‘Great Pumpkin Paddle’ to be held on Sunday, October 20th, at Legendary Yacht Club in Destin, FL. Prizes will be awarded for Best Costume, Best Carved Pumpkin, Pumpkin Sprints and much, much MORE! Instead of Trick-or-Treating on the streets we’ll be Trick-or-Treating on the water. Registration is $25. each and includes your ‘Great Pumpkin Paddle’ t-shirt, lunch and a great goodie bag filled with great treats from our awesome sponsors. Raffle items will also be available with proceeds to benefit Covenant Hospice. This great event will be FUN for the entire family so plan ahead and spend the day with your Stand Up Paddle family!

Day of registration will begin at 9:00am, paddle starts at 10:00am, lunch served at 11:30am and then we can dance the day away while our favorite DJ, Crab Island Mike, plays our favorite tunes!

Special Thanks to Legendary Yacht Club for being our PREMIER sponsor and hosting this years event, and to ZOES Kitchen for being our food sponsor.

*Tents will also be set up showcasing our other sponsors and their awesome products

Get registered today at https://paddledestin.ticketbud.com/great-pumpkin-paddle-destin

World Paddle for the Planet Day Florida

World Paddle For The Planet Day was founded by Bob Purdy in British Columbia. He has been Paddling For The Planet everyday, rain, snow, ice, or heat since January 1, 2011. His goal is simple. Be the Change you want to see. The challenge is to change the way we live on the planet. The planet is in critical condition, and together we can send a SUP Wave of Change Around the World!

This year's 4-day festival in Panama City Beach, FL, October 10-13, 2013, will include a summit of Planet Paddler and Planet Changers. Family Day on Friday, 10/11, will have eco-educational exhibits including live touch tanks, artists painting on site, music, food, SUP-yoga, paddle craft demos, and in the evening, Family Paddle an hour before sunset and an hour after sunset on TheNightSUP.com LED-lit paddle boards. Saturday 10/12 includes various activities in the morning following by the feature event starting at noon, the 24 hour paddle - in teams or as individuals - paddling around the clock until noon on Sunday 10/13 on beautiful coastal dune Lake Powell in Panama City Beach, Florida. The festival will wind down with a video re-cap, closing comments by Planet Paddlers Bob Purdy and Justin Riney, and the concert.

Register to paddle at https://endurancecui.active.com/event-reg/select-race?e=4174504&cmp=29-104-1 or visit www.worldpaddlefortheplanet.com for more information.

Sonic City 5000

First off we’d like to thank Liquid Surf & Sail for bringing back the Sonic City 5000 Race. The 1st one was back in 2010, and after all the hype we asked if they would please bring it back. It only took seconds for Bobby & Rhys to say ‘OK….let’s do it’, and within a few months it was race time. We have so many new people in the sport and we were all wanting something new and exciting on the race circuit.

This weekend’s Sonic City 5000 Race was epic! It all started on Friday as we waited on the final decision of which way the race should run. East or West? The East won, so we would all be on our way Saturday morning to meet in Navarre and paddle to Fort Walton Beach. Saturday morning we were all stoked for this race and couldn’t wait to hit the water. In route to Navarre the weather turned gnarly with lots of rain and wind. Would the race go on or would we be enjoying breakfast with our friends in a nice dry IHOP’s some place? To drive up to the race site and see everyone else loaded and ready just affirms how dedicated our SUP family is and how much we were all determined that ‘the Race MUST go on’. Sitting in our cars waiting on a decision and reading FB posts that maybe we should cancel and reschedule was not helping with all the race jitters amongst us. Should we stay or should we go?

Once there was a break, all boards were unloaded and that was the fastest I’ve ever seen people get in the water so we could get this paddle started….BAM….we were off! With South winds our goal was to get to the other side as quick as we could. Needless to say…some made it to the other side, and some didn’t. No big deal…as everyone’s biggest goal was just to FINISH! I can say first hand that the first 5 miles were the most BRUTAL, and I think most would agree. However the last 10 miles had it’s up and downs also….strong side winds, angry waters, rain, thunder, calm water and REPEAT! That’s right…it was a roller coaster of a ride, but well worth it in the end. As a matter of fact some of the relay teams have already said they are in for the entire 15 next year…whoop…whoop

The after party was at The Boardroom Pub & Grub, and just being able to settle down with a nice cold brew from Shipyard Brewing Co, and some good food while listening to all of the SUP talk was definitely a treat. Of course everyone was tired, but the excitement after a race like that had everyone pumped up and in a great mood…..so there was plenty of SUP talk going on and plenty of high fives!


I may be a little bias, but the racing scene in Florida is made up of the best group of people I know, and the strength, determination and love of this sport grows more every day. It’s truly a gift seeing people accomplish their goals and get excited when they do or even just to be there to cheer each other on. The love we all have for the water is pretty amazing and that’s the one thing we all have in common.

Thanks again Liquid Surf & Sail for an amazing race….this one will definitely be talk of the town and we look forward to next years race!

September SUP Races

September is a busy month for local races so mark your calendars and get registered today:

*Sept. 7 - Paddle On The Bay (Bay St. Louis, Mississippi)
*Sept. 14 - GUSU Series Race #5 (Destin, FL)
*Sept. 15 - Paddle at the Porch (Destin, FL)
*Sept. 21 - Sonic City 5000 (Fort Walton Beach, FL)
*Sept. 21 - Paddle for the Cure (Pensacola, FL)

Our friends from MS Gulf Coast Paddle always come out and support our races so I'm hoping you'll show your support and participate in their race on Sept. 7th, in Bay St. Louis, with proceeds to benefit The Ochsner NICU Foundation. Plenty of great reasons to be on the water so come on out and join us!

Busy Bee Paddle Week in Destin

The Paddle Destin crew is looking forward to another BUSY BEE week ahead:
*Monday - Training Paddle at Marler Park at 5:30 sharp
*Tuesday - Full Moon Paddle at 6pm at Legendary Marine in Destin
*Wednesday - Jimmy Lewis Board demos by Thexperience Destin (location to be announced)
*Thursday - Triple Crown of SUP Race Series Finale at Boshamps
*Saturday - GUSU Race Series Race #4 in Panama City Beach
We love having paddle options, and with all of these great SUP events in our area you have no excuse not to be on the water!

For more information on our scheduled events please follow us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/paddle.destin

Great Pumpkin Paddle Destin

Join the Paddle Destin crew for the 2nd Annual ‘Great Pumpkin Paddle’ to be held on Sunday, October 20th, at Legendary Yacht Club in Destin, FL. Prizes will be awarded for Best Costume, Best Carved Pumpkin, Pumpkin Sprints and much, much MORE! Instead of Trick-or-Treating on the streets we’ll be Trick-or-Treating on the water. Registration is $25. each and includes your ‘Great Pumpkin Paddle’ t-shirt, lunch and a great goodie bag filled with great treats from our awesome sponsors. Raffle items will also be available with proceeds to benefit Covenant Hospice. This great event will be FUN for the entire family so plan ahead and spend the day with your Stand Up Paddle family!

Day of registration will begin at 9:00am, paddle starts at 10:00am, lunch served at 11:30am and then we can dance the day away while our favorite DJ plays our favorite tunes!

Special Thanks to Legendary Yacht Club for being our PREMIER sponsor and hosting this years event.

*Tents will also be set up showcasing our sponsors and their awesome products

Register early at https://paddledestin.ticketbud.com/great-pumpkin-paddle-destin


2012 Costume Winner...Photo courtesy of Bill Myers

Stand Up Paddle Weekend in Destin

Looking for an action packed weekend or week of Stand Up Paddle Board Racing? Look no further….the Florida Panhandle has YOU covered! If you only have a weekend to get away come on down to our beautiful Gulf Coast the 2nd weekend in October and you can catch the 4 mile GUSU Race on Saturday, September 14th, and then on Sunday, September 15th stay for the Paddle at the Porch Race. However if you can come and stay a week…..then not only can you catch the two races we just mentioned but you can also add the 15 mile Sonic City 5000 Race which takes place on Saturday, September 21st. All three of these races are sure to be a hit and are all different in their own way which is something we are really looking forward too.

Curious about the 15 mile Sonic City 5000? This will be a one way track and you can even have a team of three if you’d like to share this paddle experience with some friends. Either way you can’t lose taking part in any of these races, so get to training and come visit the Paddle Destin crew on the Florida Gulf Coast.

Don’t forget to ‘LIKE’ us on Facebook, or ‘FOLLOW’ us on Twitter for more information!

Florida Stand Up Paddle Board Races and Special Events

Don't miss ALL of these great Stand Up Paddle Board Florida Races and Special Events that are planned til the end of the year. Mark your calendars TODAY to join our friends on the water!

◾August 24th - GUSU Race Series #4 (Panama City Beach, FL)
◾September 14th - GUSU Race Series #5 (Destin, FL)
◾September 15th - Paddle at the Porch (Destin, FL)
◾September 21st - Sonic City 5000 (Fort Walton Beach, FL)
◾October 12th - Paddle the Planet 24 hr Paddle Event (Panama City, FL)
◾October 13th - Second Annual Special Olympic SUP Invitational (Key West, FL)
◾October 19th - GUSU Race Series Final #6 (Destin, FL)
◾October 20th - Paddle Destin Great Pumpkin Paddle (Destin, FL)
◾October 26th - Causeway to Causeway Paddle Challenge (Cocoa Beach, FL)
◾November 9th - SUP Splash Series Race (St. Pete Beach, FL)
◾November 23rd - Paddle Destin Shake Your Tail Feathers Turkey Paddle - (Destin, FL) FOOD DRIVE
◾December 21st - Paddle Destin Jingle Bell Paddle - (Destin, FL)

Monday Training Paddles

Our Paddle Destin group takes pride in paddling as a group each week. We've been paddling on Mondays for almost 2 years now. We've tried changing it up a bit, but it's best when we stick to our original plans and destination...that way no one is confused and our out of town guests always know where to find us. Many people ask what a training paddle consists of? I'm gonna say this could be answered a 100 different ways depending on who you ask :) Bottom line is we just want people on the water having fun. We have paddlers of all different skill levels and that's what makes it great for everyone. It's a TRAINING PADDLE because we hit the water at a specific time and go to a certain point and back in race mode, and then we gather and talk SUP for a bit before heading to dinner to talk more SUP. Most of our paddlers have said they wouldn't be on the water as much if they hadn't started paddling with Paddle Destin....they feel our weekly paddles hold them accountable. I know I can certainly tell a big difference in their speeds and being on the water more often definitely plays an important role in that.

Please follow our Paddle Destin group on Facebook and if you happen to be in the Destin area please look us up as we'd love to have you join us for a paddle and dinner anytime!

We don't care what you paddle...as long as you enjoy the ride!

Paddle at the Porch Destin

On Aug. 17, the second Paddle at the Porch - The Destin SUP Cup will be held in the beautiful emerald green waters behind one of Destin's most loved restaurants, The Back Porch Seafood & Oyster House. The event features a one mile recreational race, three mile recreational race, and a six mile elite race. Come on out and bring the family for a great day at the beach and get registered today at http://beta.active.com/destin-fl/boating/paddle-at-the-porch-the-destin-sup-cup-2013
Whether you prefer racing or cheering on your favorites this is definitely an event you don't want to miss.

Full Moon Paddle Destin

Don't forget to join the Paddle Destin crew this Monday Night, July 22nd, for our monthly FULL MOON PADDLE at Legendary Marine in Destin at Mid Bay Bridge. Paddle starts at 6pm...so pack a picnic for yourself or bring a dish to share. Don't forget your PFD's and white lights for night paddling, and this is also a great location for SUP fishing so bring your gear if you want to get hooked :)

Destin National Marina Day

This Saturday is National Marina Day and our friends at Legendary Marine in Destin have invited our Paddle Destin friends to come out and paddle around their property this Saturday starting at 9am. Load your boards and come join us this Saturday for a great day on the water!

Paddle Destin T-Shirts

Summer time is almost here and what better time to roll out our NEW Paddle Destin t-shirts. I'm sure we have a design just for you so check them out and let us know which one is your favorite? Our Paddle Destin apparel can be purchased through our good friends at TheXperience a/k/a GUSU Paddlesports in Destin, Florida. We have several colors to choose from and sizes are S - XXL. Designs shown below are on the backside of shirt with Paddle Destin oval logo on the front. Please feel free to call 850-460-7300 to place your order today, and we thank you for your continued support!

Destin Shamrock Paddle

Join the Paddle Destin crew this Saturday, March 16th, and let's turn the Destin Harbor GREEN for a Pre St. Patricks Day Shamrock Paddle at Norriego Point. Paddle starts at 10am and if you want to come early at 9am for trash patrol...come on out. Bring your chairs and coolers and let's enjoy the beautiful outdoors!

Destin Full Moon Paddles

We're kicking off our 2013 Full Moon Stand Up Paddle schedule on Thursday, March, 28th, and have them planned out for the next 6 months. All paddles will take place at Norriego Point in Destin, Florida. Pack a cooler & bring a chair to enjoy the Destin Harbor with the Paddle Destin crew.

Place: Norriego Point on the Destin Harbor

Time: 5:30 PM

Dates:
* March 28th, Thursday
* April 25th, Thursday
* May 25th, Saturday
* June 23rd, Sunday
* July 22nd, Monday
* August 20th, Tuesday

***PFD's with a whistle MUST be worn while paddling the Harbor and a white light is also needed for night paddling.

We don't care what you paddle as long as you enjoy the ride ~ Paddle Destin

Please join the Paddle Destin crew this Saturday, Feb. 2nd, for a beach clean up. We'll launch from redneck beach (at the Destin Bridge) at 9am sharp and paddle west to clean up the beach. All paddlers, kayakers and boaters are welcome to join us so please invite all of your friends.