Blackfish is heading to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, from 11-13 September to support the Lowcountry PaddleFest as the event enters its eighth edition.

The Lowcountry PaddleFest 2026 is a three-day celebration of paddle sports, bringing together SUP, surfski, outrigger canoe and other paddle craft at the Rowing and Sailing Center on Hilton Head Island.

Set in the heart of South Carolina’s Lowcountry and surrounded by vast tidal salt marshes, Hilton Head offers a unique setting for paddlers, with a programme spanning long-distance racing, sprints and beach technical racing, alongside community activities and a strong environmental focus.

Peter Allen, General Manager of Blackfish Paddles, endurance paddler and racer, said: 

“We’re really excited to support this long-running event in such a unique setting and to bring Blackfish to an area where we’re looking forward to building a stronger presence. We’re also stoked to have Blackfish rider and ultra-endurance paddler Alex Zowacki on the ground with a selection of our paddles, giving participants the chance to see and experience the range first-hand.”

We caught up with John Batson, Race Director, endurance paddler and 2025 Last Paddler Standing winner, to find out more about the event, its evolution and partnership with Blackfish Paddles: 

Hi John! Now entering its eighth year, the Lowcountry PaddleFest has grown from a local paddle race into a multi-day celebration of paddle sports. How has your vision for the event evolved over the years?

We’ve really tried to take constructive criticism through the years, along with a vision of how I would like to see paddle sports recognised, and the end result is something those of us involved in the race planning are really proud of.

Individuals said it was a hard sport to watch, so we added a spectator viewing boat. We also added a professional livestream, which opened the door for sponsorship commercials and live interviews with participants and sponsors.

Those on OC boats or surfski felt the 10K was a little short, so we added our endurance paddle, which is 11 miles around Pinckney Island.

For the stand-up paddle crowd, we’re seeing the sport evolve into different disciplines - sprint, distance and technical racing - so we’ve added these and made it a multi-day event.

Add to this a great welcome party for racers, with live music and tasty beer! All of our race proceeds go to The Outside Foundation, a local non-profit that gets kids in kayaks during their middle school years and is also involved in local waterway conservation efforts.

This year, Lowcountry PaddleFest is teaming up with Blackfish Paddles. What attracted you to the brand, and what do you think the two share in terms of values and vision? 

As a race director, I’m very appreciative of brands that are willing to support our events, improving the experience for our participants. As an example, Flying Fish Board Company has consistently done this for me from the start. They promote the event, show up for the event, offer board demos, send team riders to lead clinics and help with all of the above.

Notice I did not say they sponsor the race with money.

In a similar fashion, I see Blackfish Paddles increasingly doing the same at paddle events. Good races need brand support to consistently attract paddlers of all abilities and improve the race experience. I strongly believe it will come full circle and benefit the supporting brands through product sales.

As a racer and race director, what Blackfish Paddles is doing to support the paddle community is seen, heard and appreciated. Thank you for your support of paddle events and paddlers.

How have you seen the SUP racing scene in the US evolve in recent years, and where do you see the biggest opportunities for its growth?

The COVID outdoor activity surge has mellowed, and SUP paddling, as best I can tell, has plateaued in popularity. That said, I see potential on a few fronts.

New race disciplines like 100m sprints and shorter technical races are quick, spectator-friendly and a lot more fun than longer flat-water grinds. Combine one of these with a 5K and that’s a great weekend of racing, exercise and not too exhausting for the average paddler.

I think there is great opportunity to recruit paddlers from the CrossFit, running and cycling communities. They’re already fit, and I think would love the challenge of stand-up paddling and the added fitness it provides to complement what they are already doing.

We just need to get them to try it, and the shorter races I mentioned above would be a great place to start.

Register for the event here > 

Follow Lowcountry PaddleFest on Facebook and Instagram 

Sign up for the Blackfish Paddles newsletter to get exclusive updates and insider news