Join in a worthy cause, the 32nd annual Paddle for Clean Water hosted by Surfrider Foundation’s San Diego Chapter on Sunday, Sept. 29.

The event has changed venues this year from Ocean Beach Pier, which is permanently closed. It is now being held in Mission Beach Park, just south of Belmont Park, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

This year’s event offers San Diegans the chance to come together, build community, and participate in a range of activities including morning yoga, a paddle out, a beach cleanup, guest environmental speakers, a celebration of the year’s achievements, community partner tents, and live music.

The Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit, is being joined by other businesses and partners in hosting the event including Paddle for Peace, Mitch’s Seafood, San Diego Community Power, Volunteer with Cheli, San Diego Coastkeeper, San Diego Bird Alliance, and Swell Co.

Surfrider is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves, and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network. The foundation works to protect oceans and address the dangers to them, today and in the future.

Surfrider’s Ocean Protection Initiative includes grassroots campaigns to establish and support Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), oppose new offshore oil drilling and seismic testing, participate in regional ocean planning, and ensure renewable ocean energy does not damage the oceans.

The Paddle for Clean Water has assumed broader importance over the years. “It started in the 1990s as a protest against sewage pollution,” said Joana Guerra, chapter manager for Surfrider San Diego. “It has evolved into an annual event uniting surfers, swimmers, and ocean enthusiasts in a massive display of solidarity for protecting our coastline and ocean’s water quality.”

Guerra noted the event kicks off with a light breakfast with fruit, coffee, and bagels, then continues with yoga on the beach followed by speakers including a spokesperson from the Barona Band of Mission Indians. Guest speakers will include Sarah Davidson, who manages Surfrider’s Clean Border Water Now program. “She will touch on water pollution right now happening in the South Bay and the Tijuana River Valley,” Guerra said.

After the speakers, Guerra said the ocean party would continue with live music starting at 10 a.m. The paddle-out will commence at 10:30 a.m. “The paddle out will look different because it used to go around the OB Pier, but this year it’s going to be more of a traditional paddle out, with paddlers hanging out in the water so we can get some aerials shots before everyone comes back on land,” said Guerra, noting it’s an event participants come back for year after year. “We have a lot of regular people who’ve paddled for all 32 years,” she pointed out.

At the end of the event, Guerra pointed out everyone involved assembles on the beach. “Every year, we try to capture the spirit of the paddle by having a group photo with most of the paddlers,” said Guerra. “It’s fun to see all the (surf) boards in the background and people having some signs, some posters, calling out for clean water.”

Participants can also participate in a beach cleanup, which Surfrider is perhaps best known for, which is only a small part of the organization’s overall mission.

“Events like this are dedicated to protecting and enjoying the ocean, waves, and beaches for all people,” Guerra said. “This is one of the ways how we advocate for clean water. We’ve got a new home for the paddle. We’re hoping we’ll see some new faces, some new families, as well.”

SCHEDULE

9 a.m. – Yoga Flow. Limited yoga mats are available to borrow. Or Beach Cleanup at your own pace. There will be supplies.

9:30 a.m. – Guest speakers from Clean Border Water Now, Indigenous community, and more.

10 a.m. – Live music by We The Commas.

10:30 a.m. – Paddle out to Mission Beach.

11:20 a.m. – Group photo.

12:30 p.m. – End.

For more information, visit sandiego.surfrider.org/paddle.