Blackfish joined the eighth edition of Lowcountry PaddleFest on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina - an event deeply rooted in the region’s paddling community.

From 11-13 September, Blackfish joined the eighth edition of Lowcountry PaddleFest on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina - an event deeply rooted in the region’s paddling community.

Held at the Rowing and Sailing Center, the three-day festival brought together SUP, surfski, outrigger canoe and other paddle sports against the unique backdrop of South Carolina’s tidal salt marshes. The programme combined long-distance racing, sprints and beach technical racing with community activities and a strong focus on the environment.

For Blackfish, the weekend was about more than simply showing up with paddles. Supporting Lowcountry PaddleFest is part of a wider vision to connect with new paddling communities, support the events that bring the sport together and build a stronger presence in the region. It was also an opportunity to meet paddlers, put Blackfish paddles into their hands and experience first-hand the energy and community that make events like Lowcountry PaddleFest such an important part of the sport.

At the centre of it all was Alex Zowacki, Blackfish Rider and ultra-endurance paddler, based in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, USA, who brought both a competitive edge and first-hand experience to the weekend - racing, connecting with the community and guiding paddlers through the Blackfish paddle selection.

“The 2026 Low Country PaddleFest was an outstanding event and a great experience overall. My primary focus was the 10K race on Saturday, where I wanted to see how I compared against some of the fastest paddlers in the sport, including Eri Tenorio, Jake Portwood, and Campbell Carter.”

Alex finished 4th in the Men’s Open division, around six minutes behind third place and seven minutes behind the winner. For an endurance paddler, the 10K provided a useful benchmark against a strong field.

“As an endurance paddler, shorter races like the 10K provide a valuable benchmark to measure progress, and I came away excited about where I currently stand and motivated to continue improving for next year’s event.”

While racing provided the competitive pulse of the weekend, the demo area became a meeting point in its own right. Paddlers had the opportunity to get hands-on with the Blackfish range, putting the paddles through their paces and experiencing the differences in feel, weight and response for themselves. 

“The most common comments centered around the smooth catch and clean release, as well as the impressive lightness of the paddles - even in the adjustable demo models.”

Beyond the racing and equipment, it was the community atmosphere that really stood out.

“The community surrounding the event felt like one big family. Because Low Country PaddleFest is a three-day event, paddlers have the opportunity to spend multiple days together, which creates a stronger sense of community than you typically get at a one-day event.

The paddling community really appreciates seeing brands that actively support races and the sport as a whole. People were excited to learn more about the paddles, ask questions, and check out the different models.”

Follow Alex on Instagram

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