Mickey Munoz Mongoose Cup 2010

DANA POINT, California – The first ever Mickey Munoz Paddle Surf Fiesta – Mongoose Cup will be held March 13, 2010 at Baby Beach, Dana Point Harbor.  Please join Mickey and his friends for a day of paddling fun, camaraderie and delicious BBQ.  The event will directly benefit the Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association (DSBIA).

As part of the Dana Point Festival of Whales, The Mickey Muñoz Paddle Surf Fiesta will begin with a Fun Paddle around Dana Point Harbor Island.  The Fun Paddle will be launched after a vital “Rules of the Road” paddling safety meeting is conducted by officials from Dana Point Harbor and the Orange County Sherriff Department’s Harbor Patrol.

“With the explosion of stand-up paddle boarding there are a lot more people paddling in the harbor.  Safety and etiquette have become much more critical. Since Dana Point has become a Mecca for paddle sports, we wanted to have an event that’s message is about the importance of water safety and paddling etiquette” says surf legend Mickey Munoz.  

“The County of Orange has always been on the cutting edge of boater safety and education and given the fact that Dana Point Harbor is a natural location for beginners on any type of human powered vessel it was obvious to us that we would introduce a common sense and easy to understand public program to ensure all the water enthusiast have the basic information to improve their safety while enjoying our Harbor and the local off shore waters." from Brad Gross, Director of Dana Point Harbor.

At the conclusion of the Fun Paddle, participants will be organized into relay teams that will race for the inaugural Mongoose Cup.  Each SUP four (4) person relay team will be required to have one female, one senior (50 & over) and either one junior (16 & under) or intermediate paddler on their respective teams.  The start and finish for the flat-water race will be at Baby Beach.  To be eligible for the Mongoose Cup teams must race 12’6” & under SUP boards.   

The Mickey Munoz Paddle Surf Fiesta – Mongoose Cup is an event open to everyone.  The Fun Paddle is open to any type of paddling craft and the Mongoose Cup will be contested solely as a stand-up paddleboard race.  The entry fee is $40 and participants will receive a commemorative Dana Point Festival of the Whales tee shirt, “Rules of the Road” safety decal, delicious BBQ lunch and chance to paddle with surf legend Mickey Munoz.  Event registration will open Saturday morning March 13 at 7:30 a.m. The Fun Paddle will start at 9:00 a.m.  Entry forms can be downloaded at dpfestivalofwhales.com and dohosurf.org.

About Mickey Munoz

Mickey Munoz, born in New York City in 1937, is an early pioneer of surfing and well-known surfboard shaper.  Once described as the “surfer’s surfer”, Mickey has been riding waves since the 1950s and has been featured in many popular surfing films and documentaries.   Winning the first professional surf contest and pioneering big wave surfing at Waimea Bay are a few of Mickey’s surfing accomplishments.  Munoz was the stunt double for Sandra Dee in the 1959 teen film Gidget and he developed an iconic surf stance that became known as the "quasimoto". Mickey currently lives in Capistrano Beach, CA with his wife Peggy and is an avid stand-up paddler (SUP).

About Dana Point Festival of the Whales

The Dana Point Festival of Whales is one of Southern California’s largest seafaring celebrations and reaches out to whale admirers around the world.  The Festival draws over 100,000 visitors each year.   Festival highlights include an opening day parade, street faire and farmers market, art exhibits, classic car exhibits, concerts on land and water, environmental activities, educational opportunities, interpretive crafts, kids activities and of course, whale watching excursions that will allure even the most steadfast landlubber out to sea.  For more information visit www.festivalofwhales.com. 


For Event information:
Event Director: Barrett Tester
Tel. (949) 276-4431x216
Email: barrett.tester@gmail.com
Website: http://www.dpfestivalofwhales.com/home.html
Website: http://www.dohosurf.org/