HOW TO GLOW & PADDLE

The 5th annual Glow Paddle on California State Park's Lake Natoma is slated for this weekend, weather permitting. It will give a chance for paddlers to once again try to outdo each other, as they illuminated their canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards with colorful lights and decorations during the annual paddling event.
In the past, the unofficial Glow Paddle has been held in conjunction with the Folsom Parks & Recreation Department's annual Glow Event. The walk/ run is a family-friendly, non-competitive run/walk for all ages where participants have dressed up in costumes that glowed, blinked, sparked, and shined along the route. The neon shining walkers and runners decked out with glow sticks, glow glasses, glow necklaces lit up the trail from Folsom's Historic District, across the walk bridge over Lake Natoma, through the Negro Bar unit of the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, and back again.
However once again the Covid-19 pandemic has doused the official Glow Event for the second year in a row. Once again, the paddling community is generating the power to keep it going.
"Who knew this activity would become so popular?" Glow Paddle organizer Tim Senechal wrote on Facebook, "Two years ago we had 30 participants, then last year 150. This year one group had 400 participants take part at their glow paddle, and multiple groups seem to do evenings every week."

To help you enjoy the magical experience of a glow paddle, here are three tips to get you shining on the water.
Number 1, Lights, lights, lights, and more lights. That's right, the whole object is that lighten up your kayak or paddleboard like a Christmas tree. The more lights the better. Remember Danny DeVito in the Christmas movie Deck the Halls? He wanted to make it his house seen from space. That should be your glow goal. Now, while it might hard to make out your floating SUP from space. You should at least be bright enough to be seen from the top of the bridge while floating under it.
Forget glow sticks. They are just not bright enough. Bring plenty of battery-powered lights from any hardware store, that have a Christmas section and tape to attach them to your craft and light up the night.
Number 2, Think Safety. Safety is always first, so don't forget your PFD. That is the most important thing to be wearing when you're on the water.
It's going to be dark when you're gonna get off the water, so make sure your boat is not the only thing that glows. Bring a headlight or flashlight to help you get out of the boat when loading up. It also will help you see the beach when exiting your craft.
Number 3, Have Fun.
This is a fun social event to celebrate the paddling community. Don't plan on working out or paddling hard. Just float around and enjoy the ingenuity of the other paddler's light shows on the water.

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