The Paddle Jam is an iconic event and a summer celebration beach party. The Paddle Jam takes place at Tahoe Waterman’s Landing Beach Club on the pristine beach of North Lake Tahoe. The Waterman’s Jam offers a 3-mile (5km) short course exclusively for SUPs and prones, a 7.5-mile (10km) long course, and a Watergrom Challenge. Enjoy a day at the Lake with music, good friends, and 6-man outrigger canoe rides.
Because there are a few little tricks that you will want to know, we want to help you reach your goals with effective and affordable options. Contact us to discuss getting a custom plan or booking a clinic with Jay Wild – Team Tahoe Waterman’s Head Coach, Quikblade, Puakea, and 404 paddle athlete.
LOCATION
The race location and start are at Tahoe Watermans Landing, Carnelian Bay, CA.
RENTALS / STORAGE
Rent your race craft, SUP, surfski, outrigger canoe, or prone paddleboard. Reserve your racecraft HERE
Paddle craft storage is available for the weekend; spaces are limited; reserve your spot upon registration.
The under-12 race is an approximately 1-mile (1.5km) effort combining swimming, prone paddleboarding, and stand-up paddleboarding. Equipment will be available for the groms, and we will send the groups in waves.
SHORT COURSE (3 miles – 5 km)
The race format includes one 3-mile (5km) buoy-marked course. Racers start in the water on their craft and finish on the water between the finish buoys. The short course is suitable for beginners and is limited to stand-up paddleboards and prone paddleboards.
LONG COURSE (7.5 mile – 10 km)
The race format includes one 7.5-mile (10km) out-and-back, buoy-marked lap on the lake to navigation buoys ( ) one mile past Dollar Point and back to Waterman. Racers start in the water on their craft and finish on the water between the finish buoys. The long course is recommended to experienced paddlers and is limited to 14+ SUP and prone paddleboards, outrigger, and surfski.
EXPERIENCE LEVEL AND CRAFT TYPES
The Paddle Jam is suitable for all levels of paddlers and paddle craft, including outriggers (OC1 and OC2), Surfski (1 and 2-person), stand-up paddleboard (SUP), and prone paddleboards. While the short course is more suitable for beginners and limited to stand-up paddleboards and prone paddleboards, the long course will feature 14-foot + SUP, prone paddle boards, outriggers, and surfski.
SPECIAL SAFETY NOTE
Additional safety measures will be emailed to you upon registration if necessary.
Lake Tahoe is an Alpine Lake at 6200 feet of elevation, and we suggest practicing smart mountain safety. Plan to check weather conditions for race day temperature and winds. Plan to dress appropriately.
Athletes rescued from the water will be dropped off at the closest convenient lake public access (unless immediate medical assistance is required), and the athletes will be responsible for their transport from that moment on.
In an emergency rescue, paddle craft could be left afloat in the lake and recuperated later.
There is free parking at the event site. Navigate to Watermans Landing, in Carnelian Bay, and along the streets in the neighborhood.
RACE FEE – RACE ALL DAY – BOTH DISTANCES FOR THE SAME FEE $65
Individual Participant | Short Course: $55
Individual Participant | Long Course Course: $55
Individual kid Participant | Grom Course: $10
2-Person Teams (OC2 or double Surfski) | Long Course: $55 per person
The event fee includes a celebration meal from Waterman’s Cafe
* Pre-registration is required to include a meal after your race.
CATEGORIES
GROM U12 – Watergrom Challenge
JUNIOR 18 and under
OPEN 19-49
MASTER 50-59
SENIOR MASTER 60-69
LEGEND 70+
AWARDS
All categories will be awarded: For each category, if five or more participants are in the respective category, the top 3 will be awarded a prize. Only the winner will be awarded a prize if four or fewer participants are in the respective category.
LIMITS OF RACE ENTRY
For safety reasons, we limit this race to 120 paddle craft on the water; Register early, as there is a good chance this race will sell out.
ABOUT US
The Paddle Jam is presented by Tahoe Waterman – a paddling community that celebrates a true love for paddle sports, health, and adventure. They inspire one another, cheer each other on, and, at the end of the day, they embrace storytelling and shared experiences.
BOARD / BOAT RENTALS
Rent your race craft, SUP, surfski, outrigger canoe, or prone paddleboard. Reserve your racecraft HERE; visit www.tahoewaterman.com
BOAT INSPECTION – Watch the video
Because we don’t want to introduce destructive snails or mussels to Tahoe, and we don’t want to transport aquatic weeds that have invaded Lake Tahoe and several of its tributaries, simply Clean, Drain, and Dry our watercraft and gear every time we haul out after use, and properly Dispose of any plants or debris we find. It’s easy to add to our regular habits, and it matters.
COFFEE, BREAKFAST, AND LUNCH
Tahoe Watermans Cafe is located on-site and offers a healthy organic menu with breakfast and lunch served all day, a coffee bar, beer, and wine, and exclusive access to a public beach, free parking, a public beach club facility, and the beach is dog-friendly (one of the only summertime “dog beaches” in the Lake Tahoe area).
REFUND
Except for wait-list transfers, entries are non-refundable and non-transferable. If we do not have paddlers on the waiting list willing to accept a race entry, then, unfortunately, we cannot offer a refund. If the race is canceled due to extreme weather, fire, or some other unforeseeable event outside of our control, WE CANNOT OFFER REFUNDS, and a credit for a future event will be issued.
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