DETAILS OF THE WEEKEND
WELCOME TO AVILA
Hosted by Pale Kai Outrigger Canoe Club and the Avila Beach Tourism Alliance, the Avila Beach Outrigger Expo is a one-of-a-kind event on California’s Central Coast that brings paddlers, families, and visitors together in the spirit of aloha.
October 9 | Early Registration & Paddler Happy Hour
October 10 | The Main Event
Early REgistration & Paddler Happy Hour
Friday, October 9
Why rush on race morning when you can kick off Expo weekend with your fellow paddlers the night before?
Join us at Local Taproom in Avila Beach on Friday, October 9, from 4:00–7:00 PM for Early Registration & Paddler Happy Hour. Stop by anytime during the evening to check in, pick up your event jersey, and get a head start on race-day logistics.
We’ll have live music, local craft beer, and plenty of paddler talk as crews from across California gather ahead of Saturday’s paddle.
Location: Local Taproom
90 San Miguel St
Avila Beach, CA 93424
THE MAIN EVENT
Saturday, Oct 10
Address: Avila Beach, Front Street, just north of Avila Pier
Look for Pale Kai check‑in tents near the beach volleyball courts. Registration begins at 8AM—arrive early to unload, rig, and enjoy the morning ocean breeze.
Schedule of Events:
7:30am: Set-up and Canoe Rigging
8:00am: Registration Opens
8:30am: Opening Ceremonies
8:40am: Steers Meeting
9:00am: Short Course to White Rock
9:15am: Raffle Opens
10:00am: Long Course to Pecho Rock
NOON: Lunch Begins
1:00pm: Raffle Closes
2:00pm: Award Ceremony
2:15pm: Raffle Winners Announced
RACE COURSE
Short Course (about 6 miles)
Avila Beach southwest to green buoy #3 (just outside the breakwater); left turn around green can #3; east to White Rock; left turn around White Rock; then northwest back to Avila Beach.
Long Course (about 12 miles)
Avila Beach southwest to green can #3 (just outside the breakwater); right turn around green can #3; northwest to Pecho Rock; left turn around Pecho Rock; then reverse course and return to Avila Beach (including a left turn around can #3.
Weather permitting.
Please note: This event is intended for experienced paddlers only. Due to the open-ocean conditions and course length, all participants should have prior race experience and be comfortable paddling 10+ miles.
Visiting Paddlers
Everyone is welcome—whether you’re coming with a full crew or just yourself.
Our expo is designed to bring the paddling community together, and that includes solo paddlers, small groups, and full clubs.
Don’t have a full crew or canoe? No problem!
For the Avila Beach Outrigger Expo, you register as an individual paddler. On expo day (Oct 10), we’ll place you in a crew and send you out on the water with new teammates—and hopefully, new friends. It’s all about building ‘ohana. Register to Paddle Here
Bringing your own canoe or crew?
Fantastic! If your club is trailering boats to the paddle site, please reach out ahead of time for parking and offloading instructions. We’ll provide details on where to unload and stage your canoes for an easy, stress-free morning.
Contact us at: hello@paddle2pecho.com
FUEL UP WITH A LUAU LUNCH PLATE
Fuel up post-paddle with a delicious Hawaiian-style lunch served beachside! Each plate features a generous portion of traditional island favorites — perfect for paddlers, spectators, and hungry beachgoers alike.
SUPPORT PALE KAI
SUPPORT PALE KAI
The Avila Beach Outrigger Expo is an annual fundraiser for Pale Kai Outrigger Club based in Avila Beach. Money raised during the event from raffle ticket sales will help fund our future paddling endeavors, student scholarships and new equipment.
FAQs
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We’re so stoked you’re interested — but this particular event is geared toward experienced paddlers only.
The Avila Beach Outrigger Exhibition includes open-ocean courses of up to 12 miles, which require a strong base of paddling experience, endurance, and comfort navigating challenging coastal conditions. For safety reasons, we ask that all participants have prior race experience and have completed long-distance paddles (typically 10+ miles) in similar conditions.
If you’re brand new to paddling or haven’t raced before — don’t worry! We’ve got plenty of opportunities throughout the season for new paddlers to train, practice, and get race-ready. Reach out to your local club (or Pale Kai!) to learn more about beginner-friendly programs and novice races.
Still want to be involved? Come cheer, volunteer, buy lunch or raffle tickets — and be part of the fun on shore!
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Absolutely! Everyone is welcome to enjoy the event. They can enjoy the beach and watch the boats launch when paddling is going down! They are welcome to participate in the raffle and lunch too. Please pre-pay to ensure there is enough food for all.
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No problem!! For our event, you register yourself, not a crew. On Sept 20th, you will find out who you will be paddling with. Hopefully you will collect some new Ohana.
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This isn’t your typical race, it’s not a race at all… We tend to mix crews up a bit. If you MUST paddle with a friend, we’ll try to accommodate you.
But this isn’t about winners and losers. There’s no podium, no prizes. We’re just here to have a fun time.
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Not necessarily, you can designate a friend or family member to collect your booty. Unclaimed prizes will be re-raffled. Will will not be able to ship raffle items. We have tons of amazing prizes...so come check it out.
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Oh yes! Avila Beach is full of hotels and vacation rentals, plus a ton of activities for you and your family to enjoy. We encourage you to stay a while and enjoy our little slice of heaven.