One of the pups on SUPS entrants from last year. Photos: Supplied.
The fifth Shellharbour SUP (stand up paddle boarding) Festival promises waves of excitement on and off the water from 31 October to 2 November, as pros, paddlers and even pets come together.
Festival organiser and Stand Up Paddle Boarding Shellharbour owner Rebecca Dunning said the three-day event had evolved from a pure sporting competition to a celebration of the SUP community with races, social events, live music and markets at Warilla Beach and Lake Illawarra at Reddall Reserve.
She said the festival started in 2022, with two festivals held that first year due to receiving funding.
“It’s gone from being a SUP surf sporting event to more of a festival for everyone,” she said.
“That’s how we promote it now, as a celebration of the sport so others can come along and enjoy it.
“Whether you’re a recreational paddler with a dog on the front of your board or you’re SUP surfing at a national level, we’ve catered to everyone.”
She said participants travelled from Victoria to Port Macquarie to compete in the men’s and women’s distance racing and elite SUP surfing events across multiple categories.
“The strongest contingent for the distance paddling this year is from Victoria,” she said.
However, she expected a strong number of Illawarra entrants to start registering, with $6000 in prize money up for grabs thanks to Albion Park Landscaping Supplies and a SUP surfboard on offer from Infinity Surfboards.
“We’re pretty much the only SUP surfing competition that offers prize money,” she said.
Rebecca said among this year’s highlights was the Battle of the Paddle (BOP) race, featuring a complex course in the shape of the letter M through breaking waves that will test even the most experienced paddlers.
“It’s probably the scariest race of the event,” she said.
“It’s a letter M-shaped course. You start on the beach, paddle out through the breaking waves at the beach, back halfway, turning in amongst the breaking waves, and then return out to the back of the waves and back to shore.
“Generally you do that two or three times.
“There’s a lot of carnage, because the boards that can go the fastest are the 14-foot race boards, but they don’t always handle the surf very well. It’s fun to watch.”
She said flat-water events included SUP yoga and a SUP sound bath, dress-up and inflatable novelty events, and even Pups on SUPs and Goats Afloat.
“I did a photo shoot with Chris Homer, the Mayor of Shellharbour, about four weeks ago with his baby goat,” she said.
“Whether we get more goats, I’m not sure, but it’s all about putting your favourite dog on the front of the board and having a bit of fun.”
Beyond the water sports, attendees can enjoy live music, market stalls, food trucks, and a beach bar hosted by Bass Point Brewing Company.
Warilla Bowling Club will also host a Trivia and DJ night on the Saturday to add to the festival’s community spirit.
Rebecca said the location of Warilla Beach and Lake Illawarra at Reddall Reserve were ideal for a SUP event.
“Shellharbour is like the hidden gem of New South Wales,” she said.
“It’s such a beautiful place and we want to showcase that to everyone along the east coast of Australia.
“With Warilla Beach, we’ve got about five different locations with surf spots we can choose from, and Lake Illawarra is perfect because it’s just that little lake that’s nestled between the mountains and the sea and provides that beautiful incoming tide.
“We’ve timed our events this year that it’s going to occur just after the high tide, so the current should subside.
“Early mornings are usually nice and glassy out there, so we’ll get the events done and chill out on the foreshore.”
While she said the standard of SUP surfing would reach high levels across the first two days, the biggest day of the festival would be the Sunday when everyone came together to celebrate.
“That’s something that hasn’t always happened in the sport,” she said.
“There’s usually a bit of segregation between the surfers and the distance races, and even the elite and the novices.
“That’s why we’re bringing everyone together to close those gaps and celebrate the sport, the community and the landscape we live in.”
Shellharbour SUP Festival will be held from 31 October to 2 November at various locations, including Warilla Beach and Lake Illawarra at Reddall Reserve . Register for an event via the website and learn more on Facebook.
