This year’s Paddle Round The Pier Beach Festival will be kicking off in Brighton from Saturday 5th – Sunday 6th July.

With the massive increase in popularity of Stand Up Paddle Surfing in the UK over the past year, a new event has been added to the schedule for this year. The Oxbow European Endurance Paddle Board Race will be making its debut at the UK’s biggest free charity water sports event.

The new race will see entrants paddle from Worthing Pier to the West Pier, a distance of 10 miles. The winner will walk away with a fantastic trophy plus £1,500 worth of Oxbow clothing. Runners-up will be kitted out in new threads too, with plenty of prizes on offer.

Between 8,000 and 10,000 people are expected to attend over the weekend and organisers hope to raise thousands of pounds for the three nominated charities – the RNLI, Chestnut Tree House and SurfAid International.

There are a whole host of activities on offer across the weekend, both in and out of the water. The Saturday has been named ‘Hardcore Day’, with the emphasis on races for experienced watermen and women. Sunday is ‘Family Day’, with a more laid back vibe and the world famous ‘Paddle Round The Pier’ contest.

Watch the highlights from last year’s Paddle Round the Pier festival…