The Portsmouth Paddle Battle will bring fun to the Elizabeth River in Olde Towne, Portsmouth, VA, on September 7. The event will feature kayak and SUP (paddleboard) racing from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., children’s activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., historic maritime re-enactors, music, food, beverages, free admission to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum, and other fun activities for all.
The Paddle Battle will be at High Street Basin located at the foot of High Street in historic Olde Towne, Portsmouth. The racecourse runs from High Street Basin to the Naval Shipyard Hammerhead Crane and back. Racers of all levels and ages from 16 and up are welcome. Race organizers believe that this is the only kayak and SUP race around where you can race among aircraft carriers and tankers.
In its inaugural year, the Portsmouth Junior Paddle Battle will feature an afternoon of free on-land and in-water kayak lessons for Portsmouth youth, ages 8-14, who do not otherwise normally have the opportunity to play on the water. The Junior Paddle Battle is sponsored by the City of Portsmouth, Department of Parks and Recreation, and staffed and funded by the Paddle Battle crew.
The event is organized by The Friends of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum, an independent 501(c)(3) which provides support to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum and the Lightship Portsmouth Museum.
Gary Bahena, President of The Friends, says “The Portsmouth Paddle Battle consistently offers a day of fun and excitement for racers and non-racers alike. We expect to have as many as 100 racers and to see the riverwalk from High Street to City Hall lined with cheering spectators. We are thrilled to see the Junior Paddle Battle come to life and to share our passion for the water.”
Portsmouth City Mayor Shannon Glover, who has raced in every Paddle Battle, added, “The Junior Paddle Battle will be such a wonderful sight… Kids who would not otherwise get to experience water sports will come together and enjoy what so many in Portsmouth enjoy every day.”
To learn more, visit friendsofportsmouthnsm.org/paddle-battle.