Channel Masters and Catalina Classic

Inaugural Channel Master Titles to Be Decided at
2026 Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race

Historic Molokai and Catalina crossings unite as athletes race for the fastest combined time

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. (August 28, 2026) The inaugural Channel Master titles will be decided this Sunday, August 30, as athletes from Hawaii, California, New Zealand, Canada and beyond take on the Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race to complete the second half of a unique new challenge connecting two of paddleboarding’s most historic crossings.

The Channel Master recognition brings together two legendary crossings that have defined prone paddleboarding for generations. With support from the United States Coast Guard, the Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships (M2O) and the Catalina Classic are connecting their iconic 32-mile channels crossings to recognize athletes who finish both races in the same season. From the formidable Kaiwi Channel between Moloka’i and O’ahu to the historic Catalina crossing into Manhattan Beach, the Channel Master award recognizes athletes willing to test themselves across two oceans, two very different courses, and more than 64 miles of open water—all in pursuit of one combined title.

Channel Master awards will be determined by the athletes’ combined finishing times from M2O and the Catalina Classic with the fastest combined time determining the Channel Master award recipients in Men’s Stock, Men’s Unlimited and Women’s Stock.

“For generations, Catalina and Moloka’i have been the two channel crossings that define paddleboarding, and for so many athletes, these races define their summers,” said Mike Takahashi, co-founder of the Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships. “They train for months, travel from around the world, and structure their season around the opportunity to take on these two legendary channels. These athletes have already crossed the Kaiwi Channel, and now they’re lining up to take on Catalina showcasing the preparation, perseverance, and love of the ocean that it takes to become a Channel Master.”

Channel Master recognizes the commitment, preparation and respect for the ocean required to take on two of paddleboarding’s most demanding crossings in a single season. The United States Coast Guard is a natural partner in that recognition, sharing the values that are fundamental to these athletes and both race communities: preparation, ocean awareness, water safety and a deep respect for the environment in which they compete. Together, the partnership celebrates not only extraordinary athletic achievement, but the responsibility and awareness that come with a life spent on the water.

The Men’s Stock competition heads into Sunday with Hawaii’s 17-year-old Toa Pere of Haleiwa holding the advantage after completing M2O in 5:03:30. New Zealand’s Lucas Forbes, 19, sits second at 5:20:52, followed by Ryder Walding of Capitola, California, at 5:43:12. With 32 miles still ahead and 14 solo athletes in contention, the race for the inaugural Men’s Stock Channel Master is far from over.

The Men’s Unlimited race is even tighter. Brent White of Haleiwa leads after a 5:51:25 crossing at M2O, but Christopher Russell of Coronado is just 34 seconds behind at 5:51:59. Sean Jasso of Huntington Beach enters Catalina third at 6:06:42, with Andrew Mathison of Ventura only 1:03 behind him at 6:07:45. Christian Stutzman of Hermosa Beach rounds out the Unlimited field.

In Women’s Stock, longtime channel paddler DJ Wilson of Manhattan Beach will complete the two-race challenge after finishing M2O in 7:37:22. At age 60, Wilson is the sole woman competing for the inaugural Women’s Stock Channel Master recognition.

When these athletes reach Manhattan Beach on Sunday, they will be completing more than another race. They will be completing a journey across two legendary channels, connecting two paddling communities and more than seven decades of paddleboard history. The only question left: Who will be crowned the first Channel Masters?

About Channel Master
Beginning in 2026, Channel Master recognizes solo prone paddleboard athletes who compete in both the Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships and Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race during the same season. Supported by the United States Coast Guard, the recognition celebrates the athletes who embrace two of the sport’s most historic and demanding open-ocean crossings and the enduring connection between the paddling communities of Hawaii and California.

About the Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race
Founded in 1955, the Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race is one of the oldest and most respected endurance paddleboard races in the world. The legendary 32-mile open-ocean crossing takes athletes from Catalina Island to the finish at the Manhattan Beach Pier, testing endurance, ocean knowledge, preparation, and perseverance. With generations of paddlers taking on the crossing, the Catalina Classic has played a defining role in the history and evolution of modern prone paddleboarding and continues to bring together an extraordinary community of athletes committed to carrying that tradition forward.

About the Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships
Founded in 1997, the Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships (M2O) is one of the world’s premier open-ocean endurance races. The legendary 32-plus-mile crossing takes athletes from Molokai to Oahu across Hawaii’s Kaiwi Channel, a powerful and unpredictable body of water known for strong currents, trade winds, and challenging ocean conditions. Bringing together the world’s best prone paddleboarders, stand-up paddlers, and foilers, M2O has become an iconic test of endurance, ocean knowledge, preparation, and perseverance while honoring Hawaii’s deep connection to the ocean and the global community that has grown around the race.