North Lake Tahoe plays host to the oldest and longest-running paddleboard festival in the world, Ta-Hoe Nalu, being held August 9-11, 2013 in Kings Beach.

In what is becoming a flagship event for a young and fast-growing sport, and for SUP in Lake Tahoe The Quicksilver Ta-Hoe Nalu, presented by Nature's Bakery, will celebrate its 7th year this summer, and its important place as the oldest and longest running SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) race in the world.

Ta-Hoe Nalu celebrates the 'aloha spirit' and the excitement of a growing community of stand up paddle boarding (SUP) around the world and in Lake Tahoe, known as one of the best 'flat-water' paddle boarding locations in the world. The three-day event has grown from humble roots to a multi-event festival, complete with a variety of competitions, demos and clinics, board and accessory vendors, entertainment, great food, and thousands of spectators and participants.

See complete event schedule below.

Ta-Hoe Nalu grew to become what it is today from the experiences and interest of a variety of people. In the summer of 2005, founder Ernie Brassard and his good friend Rick Thomas, from San Diego, tried paddling Rick’s Surf SUP on Lake Tahoe. They immediately they realized how cool it was to paddle Tahoe's clear and calm water and explore the lake's extensive shoreline. Tahoe's amazing clarity and beauty made the paddle boarding experience even more impressive.

"We thought back then that it would be fun to get some of our fiends to bring their big boards to Tahoe and do a paddle," says Brassard.

In late 2006, Ernie acquired a new custom SUP from Bob Pearson of Arrow Surf in Santa Cruz. The two were discussing the rising interest in Stand Up Paddle surfing and Pearson mentioned that he wanted come up and paddle and do a crossing of Lake Tahoe.

Back in Tahoe, Ernie started paddling frequently. 

"I kept thinking of Rick and Bob’s idea of getting folks up to paddle the Lake," he recalls.

He met Phil Segal, owner of Tahoe Paddle and Oar in Kings Beach who was adding SUP’s to his retail store and had begun turning people on to the sport and after discussing the idea with Chris Thibaut, owner of Jake’s on the Lake restaurant in Tahoe City and friends Chris Carnevalle and Jay Valois who had both started paddling that year, he decided to look into putting on a race.

The first Ta-Hoe Nalu race was scheduled for August 8, 2007. It would be a seven mile paddle from Jake’s on the Lake in Tahoe City to Captain Jon’s restaurant in Tahoe Vista. While Brassard and Segal drummed up interest in Tahoe, Rick and Bob got the word out in Southern California and Santa Cruz. On Friday August 7, 2007, a pre-race party was hosted by Jake’s on the Lake and by Saturday morning, thirty-four folks from San Diego, Santa Cruz and Baja, and approximately nine people from Lake Tahoe competed in what would become the first ever SUP race. Dave King, of Santa Cruz and Kim Wittman from Cabo San Lucas became the first ever SUP champions.

There are now hundreds of SUP races and events across the nation and the world each year. This year's Ta‐Hoe Nalu is expected to attract up to 4000 spectators and 500 competitors from all over the the globe. Elite Athletes from Italy, Australia, France, South America, Hawaii and throughout the Unites States will compete for $10,000 in prize money. The three-day festival includes racing for all ages and skill levels, free demos and clinics for all, entertainment, exceptional food, and most of all, a vibrant community of enthusiasts - pros and amateur - that have discovered the fun and excitement of stand up paddle boarding.

The 2013 Quicksilver Ta-Hoe Nalu Stand Up Paddle Festival is presented by Nature's Bakery. All are invited to come paddle the “Big Blue” and enjoy the fun, family, friends and high sierra Aloha August 9 - ­­11, 2013 in Kings Beach, CA. Event registration is available online at www.tahoenalu.com.

Ta-Hoe Nalu Complete Schedule

Friday August 9th
    •    2-6:30pm – Registration and festivities.
    •    6:30-8:30pm - Live Concert on the beach with “Mama’s Cookin” - Kings Beach State Beach.
    •    A full service food & beverage court will be open during this time.

Saturday August 10
    •    7am – Registration for 10mile Distance Race
    •    8am – Live Web Cast (i9 Media / SUP Connect) begins
    •    8am-4pm – Exhibitor / Vendor village open from 8 to 4pm daily
    •    8am – Opening ceremony and announcements with Halau Hula
    •    ‘O Leilani traditional Polynesian dancers to open the Festival
    •    8:30am Start of 10 mile Distance Race
    •    9:30am – Start of 2 mile Beginner Race
    •    Awards & Raffle at finish of race
    •    11am- Attempt to set the World Record for the most people doing a Yoga move on a SUP.  Donations raised for sponsoring participants will be donated to the local chapter of Victims of Domestic Violence
    •    All day SUP Demos and Clinics
    •    12pm – Start of Grom Race (ages 8 & under followed by ages 9 to 12)
    •    Awards and raffle at finish of race
    •    2pm – Kids Sand Castle building contest presented by Big Brothers & Sisters.
    •    1:45pm – Relay Race meeting
    •    2pm – Start 4 person Slalom Relay Race
    •    Awards at finish of race
    •    4pm – Announcements of Local evening events and activities.

Sunday August 11
    •    7am – Registration for the 4 mile Open Race (SUP, Prone & OC-1)
    •    8am – Live Webcast (i9 Media / SUP Connect)
    •    9am – Start of the 4 Mile Open Race
    •    Awards and Raffle at finish of Race
    •    All day free SUP demos
    •    Exhibitor / Vender village open from 8 to 4pm daily
    •    11:30am – Start of Elite Race elimination sprint finals
    •    1pm – Start of Elite Race Finals for $10,000 in prize money
    •    Awards at finish of Race
    •    4pm – closing ceremony

Event registration and more information is available online at www.tahoenalu.com.