Introducing Glide Score: Get Rewarded for Exploring New Paddle Spots

There's something special about discovering a new place to paddle — that first glide across unfamiliar water, the quiet stretch of coastline you didn't know existed, the hidden lake a friend mentioned in passing. With PaddlePal's newest feature, Glide Score, those moments of discovery now count toward something bigger.

What is Glide Score?

Glide Score is an exploration points system built into PaddlePal. Every time you paddle at a new spot, you earn points. The more places you explore, the more you earn — with increasing rewards as your collection of discovered locations grows. Complete a planned route and you'll earn bonus points on top.

It's a simple idea: paddle somewhere new, get recognised for it.

How It Works

Every unique paddle spot you visit earns you Glide Score points. As you rack up discoveries, you'll progress through 10 bands — starting at Paddler and climbing all the way to Odyssey Legend. Each band requires more exploration than the last, giving you a long-term goal to work toward throughout the season and beyond.

You can also earn bonus points by completing community routes. Head to Paddle Finder in the app or browse routes at finder.paddlepal.net to find planned routes near you. Completing one not only gives you a great paddle — it boosts your Glide Score too.

Track Your Progress

Your current band and points total are shown on a dedicated card right on the home screen, so you always know where you stand. Tap into it and you'll see a winding trail visualisation that maps your journey through all 10 progression bands, complete with animated progress as you level up.

There's also a full collection view where you can browse every spot you've discovered — a growing log of everywhere your board has taken you.

A "How it works" panel inside the feature explains exactly how points are earned, so there's no guesswork involved.

Why We Built It

We noticed that many paddlers tend to stick to the same one or two spots. There's nothing wrong with having a favourite launch point, but some of the best experiences on the water come from trying somewhere different. Glide Score is our way of encouraging that — a gentle nudge to check out the spots your fellow paddlers have been sharing in Paddle Finder and the community routes library.

Whether you're planning a trip to a new area or just looking for a different after-work paddle, Glide Score gives you a reason to branch out.

Available to Everyone

Glide Score is free for all PaddlePal users — no subscription required. Update to the latest version and you'll find it on your home screen straight away.

Ready to start exploring? Download PaddlePal from the App Store and see how many spots you can discover this season.