"32 Miles" Is A Documentary Worth Watching

 

I just rediscovered prone paddling on June 7th (2025), when a friend talked me into signing up for R10 Race hosted by the South Bay Boardriders Club (SBBC). The race has two courses and 8 mile course for the more experienced paddlers and a 2 mile course for newbies like me. I finished first in division in the 2 Mile R10 race and was immediately hooked.  I signed up for the next race the South Bay Paddle and again hosted the SBBC. There was a 15 mile course and another 2 mile course. I did the 2 mile course and again placed first in my division. I got a relay team and did the Rock to Rock, then the Velzy-Stevens 2 mile, then the 2 mile Catalina Cup.

I swept the season and got first in every 2 mile race in my division (12' stock adult male). Over the season I became friends with so many prone paddlers. I took lessons with Kurt and DJ at Oceans Prone. I try to learn something from every paddler I met, even new paddlers had insights that I found incredibly useful. Right after the Catalina Cup race I stayed on the beach at the Manhattan Beach pier and watch amazing athletes finish the Catalina Classic, their 32 miles. I kept running into friends and telling them they are my hero for finishing those 32 miles. 

A few weeks later I got a call from Tom Horton, the president of the SBBC and was invited to go watch a film about Paddling the Catalina Classic.  The film 32 Miles was showing at the Mann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood as part of the Silicon Film Festival. We all met up in El Segundo and took a party bus to downtown. It was awesome! The conversations, the vibes, the whole trip there was so comfortable and fun that I almost wished the drive was longer. 

Watching the film on the big screen was a sight worth seeing. I really felt like I was there in the water on this 32 mile journey with my friends. The story unfolded and it was a wild ride. Everything from the ocean conditions, the pain and joy. I'll admit that on more than one occasion my eyes teared up. I have a deep respect for the men and women that have slayed the 32 miles from Catalina to Manhattan pier. The film 32 Miles really showcases what prone paddling is about, its deep history and its beautiful future. 

So here you go, check out the film here and get inspired to get in the ocean and experience what it's like to prone paddle.

32 Miles

Black Line Logo

"32 Miles" is a documentary that intertwines two compelling narrative arcs, showcasing the resilience and determination of athletes and organizers alike. In one narrative, viewers are thrust into the heart of the action as athletes gear up and tackle the legendary Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race. Spanning 32 miles from Catalina Island to the iconic Manhattan Beach Pier, this grueling race is the ultimate test of endurance for paddlers from across the globe. Through breathtaking cinematography and intimate interviews, audiences witness the physical and mental challenges these courageous competitors face as they battle fierce ocean currents and unimaginable fatigue to reach the finish line. Simultaneously, the film delves into the behind-the-scenes effort of the South Bay Boardrider's Club and the City of Manhattan Beach to honor the rich history and legacy of the Catalina Classic. With meticulous attention to detail, the organizers navigate bureaucratic hurdles and logistical obstacles to erect a monumental bronze statue at the base of the Manhattan Beach pier. As they confront numerous setbacks, their unwavering commitment to preserving the spirit of the race and celebrating its participants shines through. As both storylines converge, "32 Miles" captures the essence of perseverance in the face of adversity. Whether battling the unforgiving waters or bureaucratic red tape, the protagonists of this documentary demonstrate the power of passion, teamwork, and sheer determination to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. Ultimately, the film serves as a tribute to the indomitable human spirit and the enduring legacy of the Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race.

2 Surf Trips

I woke up thinking about going on a surf trip. I didn't have a destination in mind, but these two videos have really shared somethings to think about. Check these out.

Can an AVERAGE surfer get BARRELLED at the World's deadliest wave?

Max & Occy

Join me on a surf trip with the boys as we try our luck getting tubed at Teahupo'o in Tahiti, which is renowned as one of the heaviest & most deadly waves in the world! 🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬. 

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Thanks Steve: Tyler Warren and Ian Gottron pay homage to the traditional Fish

Kelly Foote

This episode of Not By Chance, "Thanks Steve" follows as California shaper, surfer, and artist Tyler Warren pays homage to surfing history by creating his own rendition of a traditional fish model. Along with his long-time friend and up-and-coming charger Ian Gottron, the two set out to surf their childhood dream: the holy grail of right-hand point breaks, Jeffrey's Bay in South Africa. Their goal is to fulfill their nostalgic dreams and see how the traditional fish still stands today.

2025 SBBC 22 Mile Rock 2 Rock on a 4 Person Relay Team

 

Two months ago (in May), if you would’ve asked me if I wanted to be on prone paddleboard team and race across the 22 miles from Catalina to Cabrillo, I would’ve said ‘no way, no how!’ But a month ago, in June, I started prone paddling. Actually, my first time on a 12 foot stock was on a board a borrowed from a friend to use in a 2 mile race in June. In June I got 60 miles of time in the ocean. 30 miles of Surfing plus 30 miles of prone paddling on a variety of prone paddleboards. I even took up lessons with DJ and Kurt from Oceans Prone. I was loving it and I felt like I was getting in the best shape of life. I got first place in my division in both of the 2 mile Paddle races hosted by the South Bay Boardriders Club. The next race was set for 7/13/25 and it was the 22-mile Rock 2 Rock.

 

LZ designed the trophies for the 22 Mile Rock 2 Rock paddleboard race. When Matt Walls picked them up, I mentioned I’d like to do the race on a relay team and asked if he knew of anyone looking for people to join a team. He said he did and would get me in touch with them. Next thing I knew I was on a team with a few of the SBBC board members. Jani Lang was also on my team, and I thought that was super cool because we were on the Redondo High surf Team together years ago. There was a group text with the two teams of four people where we all coordinated where to sleep on Catalina the night before the race. I got the sofa on one of the boats. 

Saturday around noon LZ and meet up at Jani’s house to pick up him, Cam and Steve. Then LZ dropped us off at the San Pedro Catalina Express. We caught the afternoon boat ride over to Two Harbors. The ride over was quick and we all chatted about the race cracked jokes and told stories. When we got to Catalina, we checked into the race got our race numbers written on the back of our hands and headed for the bar. 

The place was packed, and everyone was drinking the local Buffalo Milk (I’m not much for dairy so I just had beer). As the evening progressed, I meet more of the racers and learned that our race boat broke down. Luckily our friends said we could share their boat with them. That worked best for me since I was already sleeping on their sofa, so I didn’t have to worry about hitching a ride over to them early in the morning. 

 

The race started at 7 am on the dot. Jani was starting the race of our team Coors Lightning and Steve was starting for his team Prone To Win. Right after the racers cleared the harbor, we picked up the rest of our team members and headed out to find Jani and Steve. We finally located the guys about 2.7 miles out to sea and did a racer swap. Cam went next for our team, then I was after him, and then Ed was up.

When it was my turn, I jumped off the boat, swam over to the board and started paddling hard. The other team did a racer swap at the same time, but Dave couldn’t catch me! The conditions were near perfect. The water was surprisingly comfortable for me in the overcast skies. The wind was calm, and I felt strong and comfortable out there. I tried to keep my speed between 4.2 and 4.5 MPH or faster. I did a quick 3 miles and then swapped with Ed.

Ed was an animal out there! He was passing people left and right. The problem was he was so fast that the boat had a hard time keep up with him and the other racer from our boat. Eventually he was so far ahead that he got tired and just sat on the board for 10 minutes waiting for the boat to come so he could swap with Jani. 

 

 

It was agreed that me and Steve would end the race since we had family waiting at the finish line. Jani, Cam and Ed would paddle again and then I would finish up the race. With all the back and forth their team Prone to Win had a 5-minute head start on my last leg of the race. But I wasn’t going to give up, I wanted to catch Steve and pass him. I sprinted towards the tall white building closest to Cabrillo beach. The water temp dropped by nearly ten degrees and the wind picked up and make the ocean surface choppier. 

Still, I kept paddling hard, looking up every once in a while, to maintain my course and look for Steve. I finally spotted a racer off to my left and as I got closer, I could see it was Steve. I caught up to him, asked how he was doing and wished him good luck as I continued to sprint the last mile towards the finish line. As I got closer to the coast, I hit some patches of seaweed but managed to get through it without losing momentum.

Finally, it was the home stretch! I made it around the last orange buoy, caught a little wave onto the shoreline. Then it was the last run up the sand bank to cross the finish line! Our team got 2^nd in our division and our friends got 3^rd in our division! It was an amazing feeling being part of a team that paddled 22 miles across the channel from Catalina Two Harbors to Cabrillo beach. Any way you look at it this race was an adventure of a lifetime. It was filled with obstacles, opportunities, laughter and new friendships. 

What Are Judges Looking For In A Longboard Surf Contest?

 

Here are a few longboard surf contest videos that will give you a good idea of what the judges are looking for these day. Check these out:

Some more HIC Hawaiian Pro longboard contest 2024

mitsu surfboard designs

There're mo better actions and waves but I didn't video all day long. Sorry for the shaking too. I need a better tripod and battery for this old handy cam.

Nelson III Ahina (HIC Haleiwa PRO longboard 2024)

mitsu surfboard designs

Nelson has back to WSL contest....

Kai Sallas Adds Prestigious The Hawaiian Islands HIC Haleiwa Pro Longboard Win to his Resume

World Surf League

A sensation Final performance from the 2023 WSL Longboard Champion Kai Sallas accrued a 17.65 heat total in a heavily-contested bout to claim the inaugural event victory.

Every Excellent Wave From The 2023 Original Sprout Malibu Longboard Championships Top 8

World Surf League

Featuring Taylor Jensen, Kai Sallas, Edouard Delpero, Kaniela Stewart, Ben Skinner, Chloe Calmon, Honolua Blomfield, Rachael Tilly, Alice Lemoigne, Mason Schremmer, Soliel Errico, Kelis Kaleopaa, Declan Wyton, and Rogelio Jr Esquievel. Malibu is the most iconic and revered break in all of longboard surfing. Housed in history, it’s the perfect spot to host the deciding event on tour - the Original Sprout Malibu Longboard Championships pres by Tractor Beverage Co. With the title on the line, the top eight men and eight women descend on First Point for a one-day battle to decide the 2023 Longboard World Champions.

Incredible nose riding at the Malibu Longboard Championships

Daily Dose of Surfing

The top long boarders were in Malibu for the 2022 Malibu Longboard Championships and were putting on an absolute show. Subscribe for daily surfing content Thanks for watching the Daily Dose of Surfing.

Taylor Jensen vs Kai Sallas | Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships - Title Matches

World Surf League

The Top 8 format is back to determine who walks away with the 2024 WSL Longboard World Titles at the pristine point break of El Sunzal.

Bonga Perkins Packs Pipe @ Backdoor Shootout Longboard Contest | Mananalu Chandler Wins Final

Off Da Lip

On this day of the Backdoor Shootout, the contest was anticipating a rising swell that would start with overhead conditions and end the day with consistent 3rd reef bombs. The Longboard division ran during the early hours of the contest day, with conditions that had just enough size to allow Bonga Perkins, Mananalu Chandler, Dino Miranda, and Scotty Fong to display their expert barrel riding skills. As the heats progressed, you could tell that Mananalu Chandler has spent the most time in the Pipe lineup as he was able to pick off the best nuggets and ride them to completion, which is no easy task on a longboard. After the win, he got chaired up the beach in typical victory form. Not a bad way to start the day for a 15 year old, eh?

USA Surfing Championships Oceanside Harbor

EpicSurfNews

North Jetty Longboarding, SUP, and Para Wave were on tap for this Oceanside surfing contest. USA Surfing hosted world class surfers at the North Jetty of the Oceanside Harbor.

RAW DAYS | Mexi Log Fest 2024 Highlights | Longboard Surfing Festival in Mazatlan, Mexico

NobodySurf : Surfing Videos

Highlights of Mexi Log Fest 2024. Mind surf trip to the beautiful waves in Mazatlan, Mexico, with the world's stylish longboarders. "RAW DAYS" is a NobodySurf Original video series featuring a day in the world's best surf spots, raw and unedited. Find more about Mexi Log Fest: http://www.mexilogfest.com/   / mexilogfest  

Highlights From Finals Day Of The Huntington Beach Longboard Classic

World Surf League

The world’s best longboarders answered the call for Finals Day performances with the event’s best showcases going down to close out action in Huntington Beach as Rachael Tilly and Taylor Jensen emerged victorious. Dominant displays from proven elite, the new guard showing they’re up for the task in 2024, and commanding wins from Tilly and Jensen upped the anty toward the World Title hunt. Now, competition shifts gears from style and grace to high octane action for the world’s top Challenger Series contenders looking for Championship Tour qualification points in Surf City USA.