🏆 SUP Frederick’s Fall & Winter Paddle Awards
- supfrederick
- Sep 22
- 4 min read
Sep 16, 2025
The Who’s Who of your local Paddle Groups & Why Frederick Locals Should Join the Fun… and go on as many paddling day trips as you can!
The stand-up paddle community in the DMV isn’t just alive in the summer, it absolutely thrives in the fall and winter. From endurance treks to holiday sparkle, there’s something happening nearly every weekend if you know where to look. And while SUP Frederick is famous for our transformative 32-Miler on the Potomac River, we also love cross-paddling with other groups, trading stories, and celebrating the leaders who make this scene so special.
So let’s kick this off with a little fun…
🏅 Paddle Superlatives
🏆 Endurance Champion: Ellison S. from the Tortilla Flotilla. Known for superb form, endless stamina, and showing up everywhere from Annapolis races to casual, fun paddling events.
🎉 Best Gear Guru: Dave H. of SUP Club MD, subscribe to his newsletter and you’ll never be out of the loop on equipment, tips, or regional events.
✨ Holiday Spirit Leader: Lindsey U. of Paddle DMV, who turns every holiday paddle into a parade worthy of the evening news (no, seriously, these fun holiday paddle parades end up on the local news station)
🌊 Distance Queen: Erica Carpenter of SUP Frederick, leading the iconic 32-Miler, where endurance meets pure paddle meditation on the Potomac River. It’s supremely camp-tastic and packed full of nature!
😂 Best Jokes & Stories: Holly M. from Lotus Paddleboarding & Yoga at the Seahorse Inn. This woman has jokes and will get you laughing the whole way to the destination! Great stories, and the laughter is contagious!
👉 Your turn: What titles would you hand out? “Best Snacks on the Water”? “Most Likely to Fall in but Laugh it Off”? Drop your nominations in the comments.
🌲 SUP Frederick’s Transformative 32-Miler
For us in Frederick, the 32-Miler down the Potomac River is more than a paddle, it’s a reset button. You start at Brunswick and finish at Violette’s Lock a changed person. Along the way: bald eagles, herons, rock formations, quiet waters dotted with anglers and party barges!
It’s challenging, yes, but it’s also deeply meditative. Some people find balance in a yoga class. For us, it’s 32 miles of river stories, telling stories of heartache, healing, frog/amphibian and wildlife lectures, and a thousand jokes drifting downstream. Laughing and chatting with a fun bunch is the soul of SUP Frederick.
🚗 Day Trips for Frederick Locals
Sometimes you just need a mini-vacation:
Annapolis Adventures: Launch from Sandy Point, paddle along the Bay Bridge, and even head to the infamous and historic lighthouse. Stay overnight, explore the restaurants, and grab a pint at an Irish pub. Bonus: sign up for the annual Bay Bridge Paddle Race if you’re feeling competitive.
Beginner Friendly: SUP Club MD’s meetups at Black Hill Lake, Boyds, MD are calm, glassy, and welcoming. Perfect for first-timers or anyone wanting to practice in a low-pressure setting.
👥 Group Spotlights
Known for reliable, recurring events: sunset paddles, holiday themes, clean-up paddles, with happy hours after. This is where Frederick paddlers can count on meeting new friends and making traditions. Highlights include:
Witches & Warlocks Paddle (costumes & laughs on the Potomac 🧙♀️)
Holiday Paddle Parade (Grinches, Santas, reindeer, keep an eye out on the news!)
Cherry Blossom Paddle (see D.C.’s blooms from the water, not the crowded sidewalk). Paddling during the peak-season is the only way we do it now, we’ve spoiled ourselves with such scenic views!
Paddle DMV makes the Potomac feel like Frederick’s second home.
A hub for knowledge, gear, and connections across Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, and even Kentucky. Dave H. runs a fantastic newsletter (supclub.org) that keeps paddlers plugged into the broader network. If you’re traveling, this is your portal to finding paddlers wherever you land.
Equal parts food, fun, and skill. You might show up expecting a floating taco party and leave inspired by everyone’s great racing form. It’s is a Maryland group and they mix themed paddles, happy hours, and camping trips with a lighthearted, welcoming vibe. The people in this group can show you where all kinds of launch points are, all scattered around the Baltimore, Annapolis, and Glen Burnie area! These party people are fun havers!
what’s up next? Paddle DMV’s Witches & Warlock Paddle
Four years strong and now a regional holiday tradition. Picture dozens of paddleboards decked out as spooky witch costumes gliding past Georgetown steps and the National Mall. Kids onshore cheer, news crews show up, and the group pictures are pure magic.
It definitely a great parade of fun, a reunion of stories, and a reminder of why we paddle: joy, togetherness, and just pure Halloween fun! Hope to see you there!
🌎 Why Frederick Should Join in on the Fun?
Frederick locals who take their first out-of-town paddle always say:
“I had no idea the paddle board community was so big, how do you know about all these events? We loved meeting so many great people! ~ Susan, from Fredrick, MD
Stay connected. Join the meetups, read the newsletters, follow the event pages. Our local paddle scene is organized, welcoming, safe, and unforgettable. All you have to do is show up with your board (and PFD).
So whether you’re chasing endurance, social connection, or holiday sparkle, there’s a paddle for you this season. And SUP Frederick is proud to celebrate with every local group that makes our community so vibrant!
See you this fall & Winter! 👋🚣♀️🌊🏄♀️🌊🏄♂️🚣♂️
✨ Which fall/winter paddle event are you most excited for? Drop your vote for “coolest paddle” in the comments, let’s crown this year’s champion together.
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