Water Warriors Hit The Beach In SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

By Eric Hiss | September 4, 2015 |

Camp Pendleton To Host Watersports Event Pitting Marines, Locals And Elite Tahitian Athletes Against Challenging Ocean, Beach and Marina Courses

The high-adrenaline watersports competition known as the Water Warrior Amphibious Assault is coming to the pristine beaches of the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base Saturday, September 12. Open to base personnel and civilians alike, this exciting race series presents a great opportunity to experience a section of the 20 miles of North San Diego County beaches that are normally closed to the public and home to the world’s largest amphibious assault force. Water Warrior, however, is an assault of a totally different stripe: one that includes stand-up and prone paddleboard races, outrigger canoe and surfski races, a harbor swim, vendor villages, kid races and SUP yoga classes.

SUP racers head to the beach. Image: Pendleton Races Hard Corps Series

For some exotic South Seas flavor, there will even be Tahitian dancers on-hand, celebrating the arrival of athletes from Tahiti who will be competing in the event as part of the new Air Tahiti Nui Waterman World Tour, which is making its first stop here in Southern California. Athletes who compete in this portion of the event have the chance to snag a share of $5,000 in prize money and win Air Tahiti Nui tickets to the Bora Bora Liquid Festival and IronMana, the WTT final, to be held this December in Bora Bora.

Athletes compete during the 2014 Bora Bora Liquid Festival & IronMana. Image: Tim McKenna

The final race of the day, the Amphibious Assault SUP, is like no other paddle race. If you’re an elite racer, you’ll tackle a ½ mile loop course (4 to 6 laps, depending on your category) that includes both surf and flat water while the open age-group and kid’s race is exclusively on flat water. All racers have the traditional run on the beach at the completion of each loop, but that’s where the similarity to other paddle races ends, because both water and land courses step it up with challenging obstacles.

Beach obstacles add to the challenge of the races. Image: Pendleton Races Hard Corps Series

Racers and fans are encouraged to make a weekend of it, with options including staying nearby in the beachfront town of Oceanside where a variety of accommodations are available, or camping steps from the sand on Camp Pendleton (campsites are limited to just 16 RV/tent sites).

Just the facts:

When: Saturday, September 12, 2015. Events run from 8am (1 mile ocean swim with obstacles) to 4pm (SUP Amphibious Assault and Awards Ceremony). Click here for full Water Warrior schedule .

Where: Directions to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.

Accommodations: Oceanside accommodations Camp Pendleton camping