Highlights from the Santa Monica Paddleboard Race & Ocean Festival at the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday, June 10, 2017. The Santa Monica Paddleboard Races traces its roots back to the 1930’s. This year’s event offers epic competition in Fun Paddle, Long Course, Elite Race, and Tommy Bahama SUP / Paddleboard Knockout. Courses start and finish on the sand immediately south of the Pier. On the Pier Deck and beach, participants and spectators enjoyed the Ocean Festival featuring live music, Polynesian dancing, food, drinks and a one of-a-kind surf history museum.