By Lookout Staff

June 6, 2011 – Summer at the pier kicks off Saturday with Santa Monica Pier Paddleboard Race and Ocean Festival, featuring paddleboard, dory and outrigger canoe races and a one-day museum of waterman's history.

The all-day fundraiser for Heal the Bay hosted by the Santa Monica Pier and the Honolua Surf Co. mixes ocean races, surf lore and live music by the FuDogs, promising fun for competitors and spectators alike.

Those who don't want to get wet can watch the competitions and check out the latest in paddleboards, accessories and clothing on the pier deck.

Or they can take in antique surfboards and lifeguard equipment including a fully restored Pete Peterson-crafted dory at the “museum for a day,” which will also feature exhibits about the history of skateboarding and the historic pier.

Paddleboard races will start and end on the sand south of the pier and cover a 5.5 mile course and a 2 mile “fun paddle.” Stand-up, prone and 4-person relay races will run throughout the day on various sizes of boards.

Area lifeguards will vie against each other, rowing fiberglass rescue boats in mile-long sprints and in three-lap dory races and members of the Lanakila Outrigger Canoe Club and Marina del Rey Outrigger Canoe Club will compete in the Polynesian outrigger canoe race.

Midway through the day, competitors and spectators alike will have an opportunity to pitch in and clean up the beach with Heal the Bay.

Paddleboard and dory competitors will recieve an event t-shirt, lunch, a drink, and a competitor swag bag. Trophies will be awarded to the top three competitors in each division. The afterparty for competitors will be hosted by Rusty's Surf Ranch on the pier.

To register for the races, go to the event's website. http://www.pierpaddle.com/#race

Volunteers are still needed, and can contact event promoters at info@pierpaddle.com

Heal the Bay and its public marine education facility, the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, will receive a portion of net proceeds from the event.