Weekend race schedule
The published weekend schedule places sprint racing on Friday, Sept. 18; distance racing on Saturday, Sept. 19; and the technical course on Sunday, Sept. 20, when Gig Harbor will host the 2026 USA SUP National Championships. Organizers expect more than 100 competitors from multiple states, according to Gig Harbor Now. USA SUP and the Gig Harbor Canoe & Kayak Racing Team are organizing the championships, according to USA SUP and the event site.
The competition includes kayak, surfski, stand-up paddleboard and other watercraft races, with sprint, endurance and technical-course events. Qualifiers will represent the United States at the 2026 ICF Stand Up Paddling World Championship in Sabaudia, Italy, according to USA SUP and the Tacoma News Tribune.
A separate race shares the weekend
The Narrows Challenge is running alongside the national championships but remains a separate competition. It is open to open-water watercraft and follows a route from the Gig Harbor Lighthouse toward Point Fosdick and back, according to the News Tribune. The event site lists 5K, 10K and 20K Saturday courses and identifies the Gig Harbor Canoe & Kayak Racing Team and USA SUP as organizers: narrowschallenge.com.
Water-use guidance
For people using Gig Harbor Bay and other recreational waters, the Washington State Department of Ecology says it monitors water quality at popular marine beaches around Puget Sound and along the coast from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The cited guidance does not provide a specific recent result for Gig Harbor Bay; it advises avoiding swimming for 24 to 48 hours after heavy rainfall or anywhere discharge pipes are visible, according to the Washington State Department of Ecology.
Downtown planning
Visitors should allow extra time and use caution downtown as traffic, crowds and parking demand are expected to increase, especially near Skansie Park and Old Ferry Landing Park. Gig Harbor Public Works Director Jeff Langhelm provided the guidance reported by the News Tribune and Yahoo Sports.
The event is not expected to require road closures. Two local churches are making their lots available for attendee parking, and police will be on-site for safety, according to the News Tribune and Yahoo Sports. More than half of the USA SUP competitors are traveling from out of state, and many plan to stay in Gig Harbor for the weekend, Gig Harbor Now reports.
Saturday evening activities
Saturday’s program also includes food trucks, vendors and a Peninsula School District drone performance. The event site lists a concert from 5 to 9 p.m. featuring Bards of Paradise and The Profits; the same entertainment lineup was reported by the News Tribune and Gig Harbor Now.
