The Erie Series

The Erie Series is a series of festival-style, paddle sports races, held at various locations along the shores of beautiful Lake Erie and her tributaries, throughout the 2019 paddling season.  Nalu Standup Paddle & Surf, in conjunction with our many race partners and sponsors, will be hosting six of these events between the months of June to September. 

ALL ARE WELCOME! We invite paddlers of all crafts – SUPs, kayaks, surfskis, canoes, OCs, and prone - the causal paddlers and the competitive paddlers, athletes from other sports (runners, cyclists, climbers), water lovers, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, who might not own a paddle craft, but would want to give it a try on a rented paddle board or kayak, and of course, area locals.  

These events are designed to be family-friendly, and inclusive to paddlers of all skill levels and all watercraft. Typically, we will offer 3 different races – a recreational race on a short course (2-4 miles), an elite race on a longer course (6-10 miles), and youth races. The race categories are determined by board/ boat size, gender and age.  We will track all race results in a series points system and will award winners at the end of the season.

All races directed by Nalu Standup Paddle & Surf will take place on weekends, followed by music/ entertainment/ bands, food and drink, awards, boat and board demos, paddle clinics, yoga, slack line, try-it activities, outdoor retailers, games, raffles, and prizes.  

Our main objectives are to bring together the adventure and paddle sports community for a fun day of friendly competition; to attract new paddlers who might not otherwise be exposed to or have access to paddle craft; to shine a positive light on Lake Erie and surrounding waterways; to promote a healthy, active, outdoor lifestyle; and to highlight the importance of clean water conservation.

Below is the 2019 schedule of events and details

June 1, 2019 - Bringing Back the Black

Presented by Lorain Port Authority in partnership with Nalu Standup Paddle & Surf

NEW LOCATION!! , Black River Landing, 421 Black River Lane, Lorain, Ohio

The focus of this race is to celebrate the restorative efforts and ecological come back of the Lower Black River. 

3-mile recreation fun race: Water start at Black River Landing, paddle upriver to the Rt 611 bridge, 180º buoy turn, paddle downriver back to Black River Landing for a water finish. Awards for top finishers in all classes.

7-mile elite distance race: Water start at Black River Landing, paddle 3.5 miles upriver to French Creek, 180º buoy turn, paddle downriver back to Black River Landing for a water finish. Awards for top finishers in all classes.

Grom (youth) races: Mini course from Black River Landing to the Black River Lift Bridge and back . Awards for top finishers in age and class.

June 22, 2019 - Blazing Paddles Standup Paddle, Canoe & Kayak Race

Presented by Share the River

Location: Merwin’s Wharf, 1785 Merwin Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113

Blazing Paddles is a standup paddleboard race, canoe & kayak celebration held on the Cuyahoga River, a historic body of water that's risen like a phoenix from its ecological low-point in 1969. You'll be on a curvy, 5.7-mile urban course that flows past a unique mix of riverfront sites where iconic pyramids of sand and stone stand in contrast to paved paths and green-spaces. The scenic course with sweeping views of downtown Cleveland will take you under 10 bridges spanning the river before you reach the turnaround point - THE location of the 1952 Cuyahoga River fire, the infamous image that's often used as a visual stand-in for the much smaller June 22, 1969 fire.

June 23, 2019 - SUPXross (SUP only)

Presented by ProWatercross

Location: Dobbins Landing, Erie, PA

WHAT IS SUPXROSS?

Simply put, it is Stand Up Paddleboard racing on a closed course... Stand-up Paddleboard (SUP) racing is typically done on a long course, most commonly occurring on rivers or along the shoreline of lakes and ocean waters. SUPcross uses the same closed course race track that is use in watercross (aka jet ski racing).

SupXross offers the most dynamic setting found on flat water…period! It bridges the extensive gap between standard “straight-line” SUP races, and the more extreme elements of whitewater SUP racing; by eliminating any unforeseen hazards, and establishing a safe, contained environment within a closed course race track, this allows paddlers (of all abilities) the “SUP-racing ride of their life”!

SupXross will push these athletes to their limits as they take sharp left and right turns, testing their agility and stamina. The closed course features a buoy-marked track that is designed to keep the competition tight and fans close to the action.  Speed, technique and determination will all come into play throughout each race, with as many as 20 paddlers negotiating a series of pivot turns and straightaways in this qualifying style of racing that include heats, semi-finals and finals. The vision for having single-lap heats, is to keep the pace as high as it could get in any sports arena. With a short-enough distance to keep the pace at peak level, yet just long enough to allow for contested lead-changes and sudden shifts in momentum, “SupXross” possesses those pivotal moments that will live on in the history of sports forever!

CASH PRIZES for top finishers*