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Photos and writeup of an annual part in the Hermosa, Manhattan and Redondo South Bay beach cities.

Welcome to the Hennessey's Paddleboard!
It's Another Fun Party Event in the South Bay

The beautiful Tais pours a big Bud for PubClub.com.

Hey South Bay – here's another event on which to hang the social hat.

It has a beer garden, a band and is held in the great outdoors under the brilliant Southern California sunshine.

It combines a true California sport of athletic achievement with a fun post-event celebration. It's not the Super Bowl 10K, Or the Ironman And it's certainly not Surfest.

Live music boosts the beer garden experience.

It's the United States Paddleboard Championships, And it's held every year – 14 of them now – off Ave I in Redondo Beach. The 2011 event is Saturday, July 9. The competition takes place in the morning and in the afternoon HT Grill at the gateway to Riviera Village turns an adjacent parking lot into a mini-block party.

And it's a party the entire South Bay can enjoy. And should enjoy. It's free, open to the public and is everything the single, young and young-minded people here love to enjoy.

It has a portable bar outside with large Budweisers and Bud Lights going for a mere $8, two bands, raffles giving away prizes that include paddleboards and music accessories, and it lasts from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Think Fiesta Hermosa without all the side vendors. And for food well, HT Grill is right there.

Plus, the paddleboarders deserve to be celebrated. This is a strong-armed sport on the ocean that requires rigorous physical abilities and a head-strong mentality. A competition such as the US Championships brings out their true spirit. Which, this being a bunch of tanned and fit beach boys and girls, also means bringing out their spirits. Just witness their "go for broke" mentality at the party, hands holding expired beer cups stacked up as conquests supporting the newest Bud or Bud Light.

Grab a Bud, have a seat and enjoy the band and beer garden fun.

"In the sport, we call it 'earning,' "explained Race Chairman Tim Ritter. "You do a few miles and earn the after party. So we cut loose.

"There's a lot of 'beer educated' people at this event."

On the beach: The event takes precedes the party at HT Grill.
Photos: Scott Petersen.

Paddleboarding may not be unique to Southern California but, like surfing and beach volleyball, it 's part of the local culture. "It used to be a subculture, but now it's getting mainstream," Ritter said. "Here at Torrance Beach is the mecca."

Such as mecca that the 2009 US Championships had nearly 700 competitors in a variety of ages, gender and classes. Comprised primarily of Californians, it also included people from Hawaii nd Florida. The event's website is HennesseysPaddleboarding.com

The various scenes at the post-paddleboard party.

Related Article: Redondo Beach Bars