8 Award Ideas That Water Sports Athletes Will Actually Use and Appreciate

Ask any event organizer what keeps them up at night, and somewhere on the list is always the same thing: what the heck do we give out as awards and water sports giving?

Because here’s the thing. You’ve seen it happen. People grab their participant bags, take a quick peek inside, and half of what’s in there ends up in a drawer somewhere, never to see the light of day again.

But every once in a while, you see something different. Someone is actually wearing that hat months later. A car key with a little custom keychain still dangling from it. That’s when you know you got it right.

We talked to some veteran water sports athletes and club organizers about what actually works as gifts for water lovers. Here’s what they said.

1. “What kind of award best represents the glory of winning in water sports competitions?”

Let’s be honest. People say they don’t care about medals, but watch them when they win one. That moment on the podium, holding something that actually feels substantial—it matters.

The trick is making Custom Medals For Awards feel like it belongs to that specific event. Add some custom elements unique to this event, perhaps a wave pattern engraved on metal, or the outline of a paddle, to convey the message that “this is not just an ordinary race, this is our race.”

2. “Are there any small but memorable souvenirs that competitors can keep for a long time?”

Some organizers skip keychains. Too small, too cheap, they think.

But here’s what they’re missing. Every day, when that athlete grabs their keys, they see your event name. You can choose to customize different designs, adding different event elements or characters to make the custom keychains related to the event. What matters is that months later, when someone asks, “Hey, what’s that?”, they get to tell the story. And your event lives on.

3. “Water sports are intensely sunny. What water gift ideas can provide both sun protection and enhance team cohesion?” 

Truth be told, the biggest enemy in water sports isn’t the competition. It’s the sun. Hours on the water, sitting in direct sun for seven or eight hours straight—that takes a toll.

Give someone a good hat, and you’ve given them something they’ll actually use. Customize hats with your event logo, event image, or event slogan, and you’ll see a group of people gathered together, all wearing the same hat, looking like a team. That’s the kind of unity you can’t buy.

4. “With so many people and so much chatter at the competition, how do you tell who’s the competitor and who’s the staff?” 

If you’ve ever run a large event, you know the chaos. Athletes, volunteers, media, officials—everywhere. You can’t tell who’s who, and neither can anyone else.

The good Breakaway Lanyards can solve this problem. And not just any lanyard, but one with color coding or the event logo. Choose different colors: blue for participants, yellow for staff, gray for media. This way, even from fifty feet away, you can see who’s who at a glance. And this sign is moving around all day—it’s truly effective free advertising.

5. “How can we make the athletes’ team uniforms reflect the uniqueness of this competition?” 

Here’s a problem: lots of clubs already have their own gear. Give them another shirt, and it just sits in a drawer.

But a small woven label they can sew onto their sleeve? A patch they can iron onto their favorite backpack? That’s different. It’s more personalized; you can add any element you want when customizing a patch. Custom patches are not only quick to make but also of very reliable quality. It says “I was there” without taking up space. And other people who know what it means will notice.

6. “What water sports gifts can foster communication among athletes in the water sports community?”

Water sports people are collectors. Walk into any event, and you’ll see them exchanging Enamel Pins between races. Custom Enamel Pins are a great option because they’re quick, come in a variety of materials, and you can add all sorts of designs and slogans, making each event’s prize a unique souvenir.

That’s how friendships start at these things. A little piece of enamel, no bigger than a quarter, and suddenly people are talking who might not have otherwise.

7. “Limited budget but want to give all participants a souvenir, what’s the best choice?”

Tight budget? Custom wristbands come in a wide variety of colors, are comfortable to wear, and can be printed with almost anything. Safety reminders, event slogans, whatever.

Give everyone one, and when they’re all out on the water, those colors moving around? It’s a good look. Plus, they’re cheap enough that people don’t feel bad actually using them.

8. “If the event includes golf or we’re sponsoring VIP guests, what’s the most appropriate gift?”

If you’ve got VIPs or sponsors to take care of, this one’s for you. You can’t go too cheap, but you also can’t go overboard. A golf ball marker hits the sweet spot.

Small, but quality matters here. When they pull it out on the course and someone else notices, that quiet nod of recognition? That’s your event looking good without trying too hard.

So What Actually Works?

At the end of the day, athletes aren’t looking for expensive or fancy gifts. They don’t care about big brands or high prices. What they really want is something that shows you get them — something that makes them feel seen and understood.

You know they spend hours outside in the bright sun, so you give them a simple, comfortable hat to protect them. You know they love talking, laughing, and trading stories with their teammates, so you make small, fun pins they can collect and share. You know they hold onto things that have real meaning, not just cheap free stuff, so you put a little extra time and care into that simple keychain.

What’s the best gift?

When your giveaway stops feeling like a random, cheap gift and starts feeling like “hey, they actually thought about us,” that’s when you’ve done something right. It’s not about how much you spend. It’s about how much you care.

Next time you’re planning an event and wondering what to hand out, just ask yourself this simple question: If I were out there on the water all day, working hard, staying active, and spending time with my team, what would I actually want and use?

That’s the gift that will matter most.