More than 1,000 canoe paddlers from around the globe are going to be competing in the 2009 Catalina Channel Crossing US Championships the weekend of September 12 and 13, 2009.

On Saturday, September 12th, the Catalina Channel Crossing US Championships Wahine and Coed Race is a 27-mile open ocean race that launches from Newport Harbor, Newport Beach and ends at Casino Point, Avalon Catalina.On Sunday, September 13th,  the Catalina Channel Crossing US Championships Kane Race is a 31-mile open ocean race that launches from Lovers Cove, Catalina Island and ends at Newport Dunes, Newport Beach. Watch as the NAC Women, NAC Coed and Quiksilver/Lanakila Men defend their titles.

Duke Kahanamoku was the Grand Marshall of the first event on September 20, 1959. Two koa wood canoes were shipped from Hawaii for the first race. The canoes were named Malia meaning calm waters and Niuhe, meaning shark. The malia team was composed of Hawaiian All Star outrigger paddlers and the California team paddled the Niuhe.