Great Place Paddle Race March 20th at Owens Beach in Pt. Defiance Park FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Shannon Serrano-Gerritzen Email: sserrano@surfrider.org Phone: 253-905-3478 Come join in the fun and celebrate the first day of spring with the Surfrider Foundation at the 2nd Annual Great Place Paddle Race. The South Sound Chapter in partnership with Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Commission will host this year’s race at Tacoma’s Owens Beach. Thanks to Tacoma Metro Parks for their continued support of the event. This paddle race is a family friendly event with heats for all ages and abilities. The event's near 7-mile course is open to all paddlers, such as but not limited to standup paddlers, kayakers, and prone paddlers. There will also be a kids' heat that is a shortened half-mile distance. Do not forget your personal floatation device (PFD’s), as they are required to be with you while in the water; youth must wear them. We are also requiring wetsuits for all prone and stand-up paddlers due to the water temperature in March. Visit www.surfrider.org/southsound <http://www.surfrider.org/southsound> and follow the links to the Great Place Paddle Race for more information. There will be onsite vendors and plenty of space at this year’s new location to try out the demo boards. Registration opens at 8:30AM under the Surfrider tent on the grass. Registration per division is $35 non-members, $25 for Surfrider members, and $15 for ages 15 years and younger (an additional $5.00 for a chapter t-shirt). This event benefits Surfrider Foundation's South Sound Chapter's Blue Water Task Force water quality lab and the Puget Sound Stormwater Education and Defense Campaign. Be sure to come by and learn about why you should Get PSSED in Tacoma. PSSED is focusing on stormwater issues in the Sound and helps make the connection for citizens about how their everyday habits influence this slow oil spill taking place in our recreational waters. We will also have ways for people to take direct action around current legislation addressing this very issue. Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) is Surfrider Foundation’s water quality monitoring, education, and advocacy program. BWTF is primarily a citizen science water-testing project, although we have partnered with various scientists and groups in Washington. We are testing for Enterococcus bacteria. Enterococcus is a type of fecal bacteria that can indicate the presence of more dangerous microorganisms and viruses. About Surfrider Foundation The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches. Now in its 26th year, the Surfrider Foundation has grown from a small group of dedicated surfers in Malibu, California to a global movement made up of over 50,000 members and 90 chapters worldwide. For more information visit us at www.surfrider.org <http://www.surfrider.org>.