Navarre Paddle Classic 2026
The Real Reward Isn't the Podium
The Navarre Paddle Classic, May 16–17 in Navarre, Florida, was another stacked weekend of racing on the Gulf Coast, bringing together paddlers from all over the country for two days of competition, reconnecting, and getting brutally honest feedback from the water. Organized by Michelle Feits, the annual event continues to grow into one of the strongest paddle race weekends in the Southeast. The Saturday distance races were photographed by C. Green Visions, who captured the intensity, chaos, and community that make this race what it is.
People traveled in from all over the United States to race. Some are elite competitors. Some are weekend warriors. Some are just getting started. But everyone lines up together, pushes hard, then hangs out afterward like family. One of our visitors all the way from Maryland was Ellison Smith, vice president of USA SUP. USA SUP is a nonprofit organization that supports stand-up paddle racing across the United States through regional race series, national rankings, and championship events. One of the goals of the organization is to help advance and grow the sport of Stand-up Paddle Boarding to an Olympic competition level like other water sports. The Navarre Paddle Classic was part of the USA SUP regional race series where participants can qualify for points in a national point ranking system.
One of the things I love most about this event is the diversity of the competitors. Elite racers line up alongside weekend warriors, first-time competitors, and recreational paddlers. Everyone pushes hard when the horn sounds, then hangs out afterward like family. That balance between competition and community is rare.
Racing is more than an addictive hobby. It is one of the fastest ways to find out who you really are. The water exposes every weakness, rewards every improvement, and leaves nowhere to hide. It doesn't care how hard you trained, what your goals were, or how badly you wanted the result. If you're willing to listen, the feedback is immediate and impossible to ignore.
Saturday Distance Races Plus SUP Jousting
Saturday featured a full slate of racing, including one-mile, three-mile, six-mile, and twelve-mile courses. The event welcomed everything from stand-up paddleboards and unlimited boards to OC1s, OC2s, surf skis, kayaks, prone boards, inflatables, and recreational divisions. There was even a kids division, creating opportunities for paddlers of all ages and skill levels to participate.
One thing that stood out immediately was the strength of the Flying Fish Board Co. team. Athletes, including myself, riding Flying Fish boards collected podium finishes throughout the weekend, demonstrating the growing presence of owner John Meskaukas and his board brand. Meskaukas himself finished third in the three-mile SUP 14-foot division.
The six-mile Turtle Hurdle race was fast from the start. Steve Miller took first overall with a time of 1:06:40.37, followed closely by John Batson at 1:06:56.47. Tristan Gregory finished third in 1:07:33.88.
The women’s race was equally competitive. Michelle Higdon claimed the win with a time of 1:18:36.02 after recently completing the Suwannee River 230, a grueling ultra-distance paddle race covering approximately 230 miles through Florida waterways. I finished second at 1:19:57.17, and Janis Iverson rounded out the podium at 1:20:26.94.
More important than the podium finish, the race reinforced something I've been seeing all season: the level of competition is rising. The athletes are stronger, the pace is faster, and more people are showing up willing to test their limits. Race season is only beginning, with events filling the calendar through September. If these early races are any indication, nobody will be able to coast through this year. Everyone is getting better, and that's exactly what makes the sport worth showing up for.
The action on Saturday extended well beyond the six-mile race. The twelve-mile Leatherback Loop featured both SUP and mixed-craft divisions, bringing together OC1s, OC2s, surf skis, kayaks, and prone paddlers. Gary Maddock claimed the SUP victory in 2:41:10.88, with Nea Lee finishing as the top female in 2:41:58.40. In the mixed-craft field, Paula Burks and Shannon Greenhill won the tandem division in 1:37:20.33, while Jeff Guilmain led the OC1 division with a time of 1:46:23.44.
The three-mile Loggerhead Loop drew the largest number of participants of the weekend, with 37 competitors taking the start line. Patrick Ballsch led the race in 33:33.34, followed by Matthew Stilla in 36:40.22 and Flying Fish Board Company owner John Meskaukas in 38:16.18. The day also included a one-mile fun race that welcomed inflatable boards, kayaks, youth racers, recreational paddlers, and first-time competitors. That inclusiveness is part of what makes events like Navarre special. Not every race needs to feel exclusive or elite to have value. Sometimes the future of the sport begins when someone simply decides to show up and give it a try.
Not everything at the Navarre Paddle Classic was about race times and podiums. SUP jousting returned as one of the weekend's most entertaining spectacles. Competitors paddled straight at each other, wielding padded poles and attempting to knock their opponent into the water before getting knocked off themselves. Each matchup was decided over three rounds, with the first paddler to hit the water losing. The result was a combination of athleticism, balance, strategy, and mayhem that kept both racers and spectators laughing all afternoon. If you'd like to see the action for yourself, visit my YouTube channel for videos from the event.
Sunday Tech Races and Relays
Sunday brought a new addition to the Navarre Paddle Classic and, in my opinion, the most exciting racing of the weekend. For the first time, the event expanded into a full second day featuring technical races and mixed-craft relay competition. The only thing still missing from the event weekend are sprint races. Sprints are my absolute favorite because competetors have to explode off the startline to race 400-500 meters to the finish.
Unlike the distance race, technical racing demands constant focus and strategy. There is no settling into a comfortable pace. Every buoy turn matters. Every sprint off the line matters. Positioning, timing, and board handling become just as important as fitness. Small mistakes can cost multiple places in a matter of seconds even all the way to the running finish at the end.
The format kept the pressure high throughout the day. Racers advanced through preliminary heats, a repêchage round, and final heats for both the men’s and women’s SUP divisions. Age groups were not recognized- everyone raced the same course and competed head-to-head. The tech racing was close from start to finish, with athletes battling for position at every turn.
At a lot of races, age divides the competitors into groups. The age divisions are usually juniors (teens), open (18-49), masters (50-60), and grandmasters (60+).
While official results were not posted, I won my opening heat and finished second in the women’s final. The competition was fierce, and the outcome often came down to execution rather than fitness alone.
The day concluded with mixed-craft relay races that combined stand-up paddleboards, outrigger canoes, surf skis, and prone boards into team events. The relays brought a different energy to the weekend, blending individual performance with teamwork and strategy. Our all SUP relay team took first place over the other all SUP teams, making for a strong finish to an already memorable weekend. For clarification, whether you were a mixed craft team or a same craft team, you still raced against all teams. Our team also came in second place behind the mixed craft team. Below is a video of the start of the relay races. You can watch this video and other race videos on my Get Healthy or Get Dead YouTube and TikTok channels.
A Weekend to Remember
The Navarre Paddle Classic reminded me that the real value of paddle racing is the community it creates. Throughout the weekend, athletes competed fiercely on the water and then cheered for one another on shore. Experienced racers shared advice with newcomers. First-time competitors lined up beside national-level athletes. Families, volunteers, sponsors, and race organizers all contributed to an environment that welcomed people regardless of their experience or finish time.
The podium lasts a moment. The friendships, shared experiences, and lessons learned last much longer.
This energy is what keeps me coming back. I have been paddle boarding for over 10 years. My first distance race was the last day of the SUP 11 City in The Netherlands. That 23 km I raced on a Mistral Vortex inflatable race board and that is the moment that started it all for me.
Competative SUP racing is an opportunity to challenge myself, learn from the other people around me, and be part of a community that continues to push one another to become better athletes and better people.
I’ll take the lessons, put in the work, and be ready for the next start line. 😃
If you enjoyed reading this article, consider becoming a paid subscriber. You’ll get access to in-depth content on health, wellness, movement, mindset, and performance, along with some stories from the water and life lessons that extend far beyond race day.
For less than the cost of one fancy coffee or protein shake each month, you’ll help support independent content and gain access to exclusive articles, interviews, and practical strategies to help you perform better and live healthier. You can also buy a copy of my book and workbook here. My book is a compilation of my life hacks to becoming a better and more balanced version of yourself. It is also available on Audible as an audiobook.
Are you looking to improve your health, energy, performance, and overall quality of life? Schedule a free 15-minute discovery call to learn how my personalized coaching can help jump start your own personalized health strategy.
My approach focuses on identifying the root causes behind health challenges and developing practical solutions that fit into your lifestyle. Whether your goal is better energy, improved recovery, healthier habits, or long-term wellness, we’ll create a plan together that works for you and your life—not an idealized version of it.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to share and leave a comment!