Please select the event your interested below from the listing below for COMPLETE race details, event location and registration.
Side Launch SUP Challenge hosted by Blu Wave Board Co.
The Ontario SUP Series returns to Collingwood as part of Side Launch Days, a harbourfront festival full of fun filled events. For a full list of activities please go to www.sidelaunchdays.ca.
For 2026 we are going back to a one day event ( of racing) with our traditional social paddle on Friday evening, for locals or anyone arriving Friday before Saturday race day. Sunday Blu Wave will be hosting our first Community Paddle Day and Harbour Clean-up, open to all paddlers, in a paddle crafts, including canoe’s, kayaks and of course SUPs.
SATURDAY RACE DAY:
With our protected harbour this event truely has a course for every paddler, from beginners to experts alike.
RECREATIONAL HARBOUR COURSE (Novice/Beginner and U18 Novice):
1 lap course around Collingwood Harbour, a perfect venue for your first race! The novice course will circumnavigate Collingwood Harbour around our race buoys, for a total of approximately 3 km. The Novice category will have reduced registration of only $20.00 to promote new racers to try their first race and all U18 NOVICE CATEGORIES WILL BE FREE! All proceeds from our Novice registrations will be donated to Georgian Bay Forever, an organization that conserves, protects, and restores the aquatic ecosystem of Georgian Bay, conducting scientific research and coordinating actionable methods of environmental preservation.
Cost: $20.00 (Novice U18 FREE)
OPEN DIVISION HARBOUR COURSE:
Our Open Division will battle it out inside Collingwood Harbour, on a 6 km course which will be two laps of our Harbour Course.
Cost: $50.00
ELITE DIVISION LIGHTHOUSE COURSE:
Our ELITE Division racers will compete on what has traditionally been our Distance Race course, an out and back from the Side Launch Basin in the Harbour, out and around Nottawasaga Island and the Nottawasaga Lighthouse and back. This course will cover approximately 13 km and racers will need to navigate the variable conditions of the open waters of Georgian Bay.
In the event that wind and water conditions make the Lighthouse Course inviable and if race organizers deem it safe to do so, we will conduct a point to point downwind race for the Elite Division racers. If a Downwind Course is conducted we will be adding a foil division (wing foil and SUP Foil).
In the event neither the Lighthouse Course or a point to point race is possible on Saturday, we will conduct a course race inside the harbour, or re-schedule the Elite Division race to Sunday (Lighthouse Course).
Cost: $50.00
SPRINT RACES:
Your race entry fees will include entry into our popular SPRINT race on Saturday afternoon. 4 racers compete head to head heats over a 150 M straightline course with the top 2 advancing to the next round. This is a very exciting format and the racers are looking forward to this event. Spectators will have ample opportunity to view the sprints along the Side Launch Basin.
Please note that Ontario SUP Series points for the overall series championships will be awarded for only the Saturday Harbour Course and Lighthouse Course. Cash prizes will be up for grabs for the sprint races as well as for the Elite Division 
Photos: Warren Won
Schedule of Events
Friday:
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Social Paddle launching from Harbourview Park at the north terminus of Birch Street. All local racers and those travelling to the area on Friday are welcome to join for a casual social paddle in the Harbour. Friends and family are encourage to join us for the social paddle, along with racers from all categories. No pre-registration required.
Directions to Birch Street Launch for Friday Social
Saturday:
9:00 – 10:30 On-site Registration and Check-in (PLEASE REVIEW PARKING SECTION BELOW FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON BOARD DROP OFF AND PARKING)
10:30 Race Meeting
11:00 Race Starts (wave starts with Elite Division going off first followed by Open and then Novice)
13:00 Kids Race (FREE) <.5 km
13:30 Foil Drive eFOIL Demonstration
14:00 Sprint Race Meeting
14:30 Sprint Races
17:00 – 19:00 Racers Reception and Day 1 Awards at SIDE LAUNCH BREWERY – We’re heading back to Side Launch Brewery for our racers social and awards. Registered racers will receive a complimentary pour courtesy of Side Launch Brewery.
Sunday:
BLU WAVE COMMUNITY PADDLE DAY AND HARBOUR CLEAN-UP
This year on Sunday of Side Launch will mark the first year of the Community Paddle Day and Harbour Clean-up. We will be calling on Southern Georgian Bay paddlers of all crafts (canoe/kayak/SUP) to pack the Side Launch Basin for the start of our community paddle around Collingwood Harbour. During the paddle, paddlers are encouraged to pick up any garbage they see floating in the harbour, or a long the shoreline, and Blu Wave will have the BLU WHALE – 6 person SUP on hard which will serve as the floating garbage barge during the paddle.
This is a family and pet friendly event, so bring the kids and your pup and join us on the Harbour for a fun community building paddle.
Board Drop Off 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM (PLEASE REVIEW PARKING SECTION BELOW FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON BOARD DROP OFF AND PARKING)
9:30 am Pre-paddle Meeting
10:00 am Community Paddle and Harbour Clean-up Start – Bring your own
11:00-11:30 am Community Paddle Finish
11:30 am FOIL DRIVE eFoil Demonstration
2:00 pm FOIL DRIVE foil assist Demonstration
12 pm -4 pm FREE SUP Demos provided by Blu Wave Board Co.
IMPORTANT!: For added convenience for our racers, the Town Of Collingwood has graciously arranged overnight security at the start/finish line. Blu Wave and Starboard tents will remain up overnight, and we have arranged for racers to have the option to leave their boards overnight on Saturday if racers are participating in the Community Paddle Day. Note that the Ontario SUP Series accepts no liability for gear left overnight, but we assure all racers that security will be on-site from 5pm on Sat to 8:00 am Sunday. Please have boards in board bag with fin(s) removed for overnight storage.
PARKING AND BOARD DROP OFF (SAT AND SUN) – Paddlers will be permitted to enter the barricaded area of Side Launch Way with their vehicle to drop their board off, and then are asked to remove their vehicle from the barricaded area, and find parking on neighbouring streets, or at Harbourview Park (2 Birch Street) and walk back to the race site. Street parking can be found on N. Pine Street.
ONLINE REGISTRATION:
REGISTRATION OPENS FRIDAY JULY 17TH, 2026:
ACCOMMODATIONS – Our official hotel sponsor for 2026 is the GEORGIAN BAY HOTEL located a short 10 min drive from the event site. Please click the link below to receive 20% off your booking (2 night minimum).
Event Host:
Event Sponsors: