Fun for all at Shellharbour SUP Festival this weekend!

The Shellharbour SUP Festival is back for another year this weekend and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever. From 3-5 November, the festival runs over three days across two locations – Warilla Beach and Reddall Reserve at Lake Illawarra.

There will be an event to suit everyone from the novice to the most experienced competitor. On shore there’ll also be plenty of activity with food trucks and markets, as well as a presentation dinner on Saturday night followed by Sunday morning sunrise yoga.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding Shellharbour owner and organiser of the event, Rebecca Dunning, explains her love of SUP led her to create and develop the local SUP festivals, this year being the third.

“I wanted to celebrate SUP and showcase this amazing sport to everyone. Age, gender or ability aren’t barriers. It’s something that anyone can do from kids through to elderly adults – I have had a lady in her 80s out on a SUP and she thoroughly enjoyed it.”

There will be more than 100 competitors over the three days with the 9km distance event on Saturday attracting competitors from Sydney. It’s the big event of the festival for the serious SUP competitor, with prize money on offer.

“To my knowledge this SUP festival is the only one in Australia to offer $5000 in prize money across the events,” says Bec.

Sponsors have been generous, with Albion Park Landscaping Supplies putting up the competition prize money. Prizes will also include the ‘Wave Chaser’ fibreglass performance paddleboard, complete with carbon-fibre paddle, and the ‘Red Paddle Co’ board and paddle valued at $1600.

There will be SUP surfing events for all abilities – there is an open fancy dress obstacle course over 2km held on flat water on inflatable paddle boards for safety, as well as SUP dragon boat races.

There is also a BOP tech race at Warilla Beach (Battle of the Paddle) – a technical style of SUP racing where the course is shaped like an “M” and there’s typically chaos and carnage, says Bec, as the racers compete around buoys set within breaking waves.

Saturday night’s presentation dinner will be held at Warilla Surf Club, with catering by Warilla Beach Cafe. Dance the night away to ROCK-band Roxzon with tickets only $40, including dinner.

After the weekend’s festivities, all focus will turn to November 8's NSW Tourism Awards, where Stand Up Paddle Boarding Shellharbour has been nominated as a finalist in the Adventure Tourism category.

Best of luck, Bec!

Fast facts

Shellharbour SUP Festival is on 3-5 November at Warilla Beach and Reddall Reserve, Lake Illawarra.

For more details head to the website, Facebook or Instagram or phone 0427 667 938.