Got what it takes to be King of the Wave? Against even surfers and suppers? Then the Davenport Paddle Surf Contest is your staging ground.
The Davenport Paddle Surf Classic has been around for many years, held at legendary break about 20 minutes north of Santa Cruz. “In previous years of the contest, we’ve had waves range from small to scary big, but always competitors that demonstrate skill, style, and sportsmanship,” says organizer Matt Hoff. “We celebrate all forms of paddle surfing, with divisions of kayaks, waveskis and stand up paddle boards.”
But perhaps the event’s crown jewel is the King of the wave contest, a no-holds-barred surf-off between anything that floats.
“We have a unique category called King of the Wave, which pits all forms of paddle surf competitors together in a head to head battle, regardless of surf craft,” says Hoff. “Most competitors enter this as a second category. Every year, we have had SUP’s, kayaks and waveskis have made the finals. Scores have been close, and it demonstrates that any one of the paddle surf craft could easily be competitive with the incredible athletes that were paddling them.”