Ta-Hoe Nalu
August 12-13, Kings Beach

SUPTa-Hoe-Nalu-KB

Ta-Hoe Nalu brings the feel of a traditional Hawaiian paddle festival to the spectacular Kings Beach on the north shore of Lake Tahoe August 12-13, 2017. Hundreds of competitors and thousands of spectators help create a party atmosphere in the High Sierra. Racing begins on Saturday morning and continues through to Sunday, with competitions in prone and stand-up paddling, as well as outrigger racing. Distances vary from the ten-mile long course event to two-mile beginner races. Throughout the weekend, attendees can check out the expo area and enjoy food and beverages.

New for the 2017 event:

  • First Stroke: a non-competitive fun guided paddle tour โ€“ no experience needed. Beginners and non-competitive paddlers welcome. Boards and paddles will be supplied for those needing them. Free entry in the 2-mile race on Sunday.
  • Ta-Hoe Nalu Sprint Elimination Challenge.
  • Free Starboardโ€™s SUP Polo (inflatable SUP Polo on water arena all day).
  • Live music & raffles at the Kona Beer Garden.

Ta-Hoe Nalu was founded in 2007 by Ernie Brassard. Brassard had seen friends playing around on stand-up paddleboards so he purchased his own from Bob Pearson at Arrow Surfboards in Santa Cruz. After paddling the clear Tahoe waters a few times, he was soon hooked on this new way to enjoy the lake.

Brassard says, โ€œPearson was joking around one time. He says, โ€˜You know, maybe we should come up and do some kind of crossing and paddle on the lake.โ€™โ€ The idea stuck. Brassard mentioned it to a few people and Chris Thibaut, owner of Jakeโ€™s on the Lake restaurant in Tahoe City, offered to throw a party on the Friday night before the paddle. Brassard and Pearson put the word out, and the race was on. They were joined by friends from Santa Cruz and Southern California, to paddle the eight miles to Captain Jonโ€™s restaurant in Tahoe Vista.

โ€œWe had so much fun that year, that we said, โ€˜Weโ€™ve got to do this again.โ€™ And thatโ€™s how it all started.โ€ says Brassard. โ€œWe never expected to be doing this ten years later.โ€

For more information on this yearโ€™s event, including how to register, visit tahoenalu.com.