SUP Surge
Thursday 14 May 2015 Team South Africa hung on to hopes for a medal with more points in the men's prone and SUP long distance races at the ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championships in Mexico yesterday.
In the SUP long distance race, Team SA got 14th (Ethan Koopmans) and 30th (Joshua Robertson), while in the men's Prone race, SA bagged a 7th (Jayden Loots) and 22nd (Justin Bing).
Collectively they added 1,703 points to Team SA's 11,618 points, with all of their three teammates still in the SUP surfing (which continues today).
South Africa are placed fifth behind New Zealand (11,965 pts), Hawaii (12,343), Australia (12,768) and first-placed United States (13,146).
More than 65 of the world’s best SUP and Paddleboard Racers took on the exciting long distance course, paddling four loops just off the colorful, coastal village of Sayulita.
American Danny Ching took the SUP distance race, while Australia’s Lachie Lansdown is the new world champion in the Paddleboard race.
The SUP race was close starting with 15 elite racers leading the pack for the first three laps. Sayulita local, Javier “Bicho” Jimenez, put on an incredible performance to overtake the leader Ching. Jimenez gained a lead of about 100m with the help of a wave he caught rounding the last buoy, causing the local Mexican crowd to erupt in cheers.
With a heroic effort, Danny Ching, who made his first appearance in the ISA competition, broke away from the pack on the final lap to chase Mexico’s impressive racer. Mid-way through the final lap, Ching caught up. With precise technical turns on the final buoys, the American solidified his lead as he made his way to the finish line, earning the Gold Medal for USA.
“For a distance race it’s about as exciting as it gets. It’s just incredible to be here. The ISA puts on an amazing event that I’ve been trying to get down to for years,” said Ching.
Jimenez raced up the beach to the cheers of the Mexican spectators and the international teams. Jimenez’s Silver Medal is the first for the host country in this ISA World Championship.
Jimenez said “The only thing I was thinking with Danny Ching behind me was that he is one of the strongest racers in the world and to keep on paddling. I am happy to have finished behind him.”
The third and fourth place were also highly contested and decided by less than a second. Teammates from newcomer team, Hawaii, Connor Baxter and Zane Schweitzer, overtook multiple competitors after the final buoy turn to take the Bronze and Copper Medals respectively.
The Paddleboard Long Distance Race came down to the final stretch. The pack was tight as they fought to catch a wave into the shore. Lachie Lansdown from Australia paddled the hardest and caught a wave the rest of the pack missed, earning him the Gold Medal. The rest of the medals were decided by a sprint up the beach. USA’s Jack Bark sped ahead to win the Silver Medal and New Zealand teammates, Cory Taylor and Sam Shergold ended in a photo finish, resulting in Taylor taking the Bronze and Shergold the Silver. Click here to see the full results.
Lansdown commented, “It’s very cool to be here for the first time, representing my country. I’m super proud to do that. It was a very cool race and venue. I am looking forward to coming back next year. I think it’s good that all the countries are here and everyone is cheering each other on.”
The competition continues with the Men’s and Women’s SUP Surfing Main Event and Repechage Rounds today. Tune in to the live webcast at 3:40pm (SA Time) at www.ISAWSUPPC.com