Forster Island Paddle Festival

The inaugural Forster Island Paddle Festival was held in February 2015 and was a really popular event for spectators and competitors. This event was organised by Peter Camilleri who is a well known local who has been involved in a number of sporting events around Forster and Tuncurry. A hugely successful weekend and we hope it becomes and annual event.

There were many different events held over the weekend that attracted people from all over and it was very exciting to watch. These events included:

• a surf paddle, at Forster's main beach
• an Island Challenge
• A ski paddle event - with surf skis and sea kayaks
• distance SUP races for men and women
• corporate charity challenge on inflatable SUP boards - this was a team event
• a 200 m dash for cash
• a 200 m children's race (10-16 years)

Quite a few locals turned out on both days to support the event which was also supported by the local surf shop, Jungle Surf. We spoke to several competitors who thought the facilities were great - they were really impressed with the fact that spectators could see the start and finish line of events held in Breckenridge Channel - behind the main street of Forster.

We will definitely be in Forster to support next years event.