Surfrider pauses Paddle for Clean Water this year, event may return

SAN DIEGO – For more than three decades, Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter has gathered in the fall for its annual Paddle for Clean Water event, celebrating and defending the oceans.

The annual event, a cornerstone of Surfrider, brought together surfers, paddlers, and ocean lovers to raise awareness about the urgent need to protect clean water and healthy coastlines.

However, Surfrider has decided not to hold the Paddle for Clean Water this year, pausing the event until further notice.

Times of San Diego contacted Tom Cook, Surfrider’s executive committee chair, for a Q&A about the rationale behind the organization’s canceling one of its signature events until further notice.

TOS: Why was the Paddle for Clean Water canceled?

COOK: It was a very tough decision that our staff and volunteer leadership had to make and was not taken lightly. There were a number of factors we considered, but mostly, it came down to the point that the level of effort required to put on an event of this size exceeded what we could provide.

Last year, we had to move the event due to our original venue, the OB Pier, closing and not being a viable location to host it. While we found a good alternative in moving the event to Mission Beach, it was a new level of logistics that was challenging for us, and ultimately, we decided that our efforts were best utilized in other areas.

TOS: Does the event’s cancellation have anything to do with the ongoing Tijuana sewage crisis?

COOK: Not directly. The issue with TJ/SD cross-border pollution is an ongoing public health crisis and one of the most significant environmental justice issues in the United States.

We explored the concept of a Paddle for Clean Water event at the Imperial Beach Pier and feel moving the event to IB would be impactful, given our decades-long efforts to resolve the issue. Unfortunately, the water quality and beach closures in IB are preventing us from moving the event to IB this year. We are hopeful that this could be a possibility soon.

TOS: Is this a permanent discontinuation of the event, or will it return in some form at some point? What would it take to bring the event back?

COOK: Hopefully not. Surfrider events are planned and run by a majority volunteer force. If there are folks in the community who truly miss this event and want to see it continued, we can always use their help.

I think if Imperial Beach water quality improves and we can safely have people paddle around the IB pier, we would be highly motivated to make the event happen in IB.

TOS: Can you give us a little history about Paddle for Clean Water, how/why it got started, and what its purpose is/was?

COOK: The event was started in the early 1990s as a way for local activists to show support for clean ocean water. It has always been a community-based, non-competitive event that allowed the San Diego chapter of Surfrider to showcase our programs and gather like-minded people and businesses from the community to enjoy a day at the beach. It was held at OB Pier every year except for 2024, when it moved to Mission Beach.

TOS: Tell us about how the event fits in with the overall scheme of what Surfrider is doing and seeking to accomplish.

COOK: The Paddle for Clean Water has always been a great way to introduce people to the work that Surfrider Foundation in San Diego County does.

We are primarily a volunteer-based organization, and we are always looking for ways to plug ocean activists into our local programs that include monthly beach cleanups at many beaches throughout the county; beach preservation, which monitors policy and construction impacting our coastline and beach access; Blue Water Task Force, a volunteer-run water testing, education and advocacy program; Clean Border Water Now, part of our Clean Water initiative that is focused on the TJ/SD cross-border pollution issue; Rise Above Plastics, which works with local communities as advocates for reduction of single-use plastics; Ocean Friendly Hotels and Restaurants that work with local hotels and restaurants to adopt policies committed to sustainability; and Climate Action, which advocates for climate-based policy and hosts hands-on climate-restoration events.

Each of these programs has monthly meetings that are open to the interested public. We have also been running a series of “Surfrider Open Houses” this year, with the intent of highlighting our ongoing programs and campaigns to the public.

TOS: How will you replace this event? Can it be replaced?

COOK: In addition to community building, the Paddle for Clean Water provided Surfrider with a chance to raise funds. This year, we are trying something completely new: our “Sirens of the Sea” fundraising event on Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. See sandiego.surfrider.org/sirens-of-the-sea for details.

TOS: Is this a difficult time for environmental groups like yours?

COOK: Overall, the giving environment is down, and fundraising is challenging. Some of the corporate donors that we’ve relied on for a number of years have reduced their charitable donations, and many are navigating the challenges of current federal policies. We are still recovering from the impact that COVID restrictions had on our in-person events and meetings.

Even in the face of all these challenges, Surfrider is still going strong. It is energizing to see that many people, young and old, are still inspired by the ocean, coasts, and beaches to the point that they are willing to volunteer their free time to advocate for its protection and enjoyment for all.

We invite the public to get involved in whatever way they feel comfortable and attend one of our events to meet with other like-minded folks.