40 Years Deep: A Paddle, A Party, A Proper Sendoff

Friday, August 8, 2025 – 6:00 PM | Launch at 6:30 PM | Ski Beach, Mission Bay

Forty years on this planet. That’s not nothing.

So we’re doing this one right — on the water, under the sun, with the people who matter. No banquet halls. No balloons. Just paddleboards, tequila sodas, firelight, and the kind of night you’ll still be laughing about when you’re old and sore and full of stories.

We’ll launch from Ski Beach and head to the Bahia, like a slow-moving flotilla of misfits, pirates, and sunset chasers. We’ll drift in, maybe grab a drink, maybe stir up some trouble. Then we cut across the bay and hit Barefoot Bar — loud, loose, maybe a little blurry. You’ve earned a second round by then.

From there, we paddle back to where it all began. Ski Beach turns into the afterparty:

A bonfire cracking under the stars

Fire dancers lighting up the shoreline

A DJ spinning just loud enough to get you moving

And coolers packed with questionable decisions

This isn’t just a birthday — it’s a declaration. That we’re still here. Still wild. Still paddling.

Whether you’ve been part of this crew for years or just show up with your board and a grin, you’re welcome. Just bring something to float on, a drink in your hand, and a story to leave behind.

Here’s to 40. Here’s to all of you.

Let’s raise hell and ride it home.

— Gordon of Paddle Boarding SD