Prior to 1981 the only boards we had to paddle on were lifeguard rescue boards that were designed as large surfboards for getting in and out of the surf. They had square rails a flat bottom and a wide tail. Those attributes are all great for their intended purpose of going through the surf, but open water paddling required new thinking and a new design. Thus, from this need, Waterman Racing Paddleboards designed and built by former Laguna Beach Lifeguard, Craig Lockwood, was created to solve those problems. Once Waterman Racing Paddleboards became available everyone wanted one since they were so much better than any other boards that were available at the time. The first Dana Point 10 Mile race in 1982 was won on the plug for the mold for Waterman Racing Paddleboards by Woody Maxwell.
CRAIG LOCKWOOD – He was a Laguna Beach lifeguard in the 1960’s and because he knew Tom Blake and Pete Peterson, he became interested in paddleboard design. Having built the Blake/Peterson paddleboard it became clear that the design could be improved upon so in 1981 he made the mold for the Waterman Racing Paddleboard. Craig raced the Catalina Classic in 1983 and was 5th overall.
WOODY MAXWELL – Paddler and now shaper of Waterman Racing Paddleboards. He started out paddling the Laguna Beach Lifeguard Dept rescue boards to stay in shape for surfing and then found he really enjoyed the distance paddling. His first major crossing was paddling during the 1981 dory race and it took 7 hours to cover 22 miles. At this point Craig Lockwood noticed him and offered to let him paddle on a Waterman Racing Paddleboard, what a relevation! A board that was fast in rough water, yet stable. 3 years later he raced the Catalina Classic Paddleboard race and won the stock class, breaking a 28 year old record. It was10 miles farther but was done an hour faster than the Dory Race adventure. He won again in 1985 and was second to Gene Rink (also on a Waterman) in 1986. For both the 1985 and 1986 races his chase boat didn’t show up so he paddled without an escort boat. That will now get you pulled from the race. Not only does he paddle Waterman Racing Paddleboards to this day, he is also shaping new boards for the next generation of distance paddlers.
DAVID SKARMAN – David started his prone career in 1987 as a form of cross training for surfing. It was Woody Maxwell that turned him on to it as a competitive watersport. He saw Woody paddling to his lifeguard job at Oak St. and tried out his paddleboard. After meeting Craig Lockwood, David started out by competing in the Bud Light Lifeguard series of sprint races , soon realizing he had a love for the grind of traditional paddling, coming from the fitness and surfing world it was a natural progression. David traveled to Hawaii with Craig as his representative for Waterman Paddleboards placing 11th overall in the Duke Kahanamoku on the south shore. In 1989 David entered his first Catalina Classic, winning the stock division and 6 overall. He continued placing 2nd in 1990 and a 4th in 1991. Trying to earn waterman status he jumped to Outrigger, joining the Newport Outrigger club just in time for the world sprints which was crossing the Catalina channel. After a hiatus from competition David decided to return to the Classic in 2017 at 55 years old, and has continued 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and looking forward to many more.