Starting at the Isthmus of Santa Catalina Island, three teams will race across 33 miles of open ocean to Santa Monica, CA in this spectacular paddle board relay event sponsored by the West Coast Paddle board Association. Entered in the trans-channel dash are contenders from numerous paddle board clubs of the Southland. Cups, trophies, and medals will be awarded. Pictured are Santa Monica girls, who, while they won't compete, since all contenders are men, will take part in a celebration at the finish. They are shown here standing with big boards. This photograph was captured on a historic 35MM film camera, which is part of it's beauty- so the archival look is presented well when printed, instead of ultra high-definition camera prints. Paddlegirls – Vintage Coastal Photo, Catalina Island, 1936. This black and white photograph shows a group of young women from Santa Monica posing with oversized paddleboards on the shores of Catalina Island. The photo was taken during a 33-mile paddleboard relay to Santa Monica, though the women weren’t among the official competitors. Their presence still marked something important. In an era when most races were male-only, these women stood at the edge of the sport, helping shift the cultural conversation around who belonged in the water. The image captures a turning point—both playful and pointed. This print suits interiors with coastal character or vintage energy. A strong addition to collections focused on 1930s beach photography, women’s history, or spaces where style and substance go hand in hand.
