2016 Stand Up World Tour Season Opener Only Days Away

Caroline Angibaud Wins Turtle Bay Pro 2015. | Photo Courtesy: Brian Bielmann

OAHU, Hawaii - We are less than a week away from the kick off for the 2016 World Championship season, with the girls to do battle at Turtle Bay. With less than a week to go now until the 2016 Turtle Bay Pro, tension is mounting as the World's best female athletes prepare to do battle on Oahu's Fabled North Shore at Turtle Bay Resort.

With a number of different surf breaks on offer for the event, the most likely spot is in front of the Pool Bar at the heart of the Resort, with a challenging right hand reef break providing plenty of scoring potential and a very technical wave to surf. Nicole Pacelli from Brazil was able to claim victory in years 1 & 2 and will be headed back to reclaim her title in 2016, but it was Caroline Angibaud from France who was able to clinch the win in 2015 with an emotional victory for the talented French athlete. However this year will be a sign of things to come, as the field of female talent goes from strength to strength and we anticipate breakout performances across the board.

Fiona Wylde (Werner Paddles) demonstrated skill and determination with some gutsy performances in 2015 so she will definitely be one to watch out for, as will Sophia Bartlow, Mariko Strickland (Naish) and of course the ever dangerous Shakira Westdorp (Starboard) and Iballa Moreno (Starboard). Meanwhile, the young 2x World Champion Izzi Gomez (Starboard) has been training hard in Hawaii to defend her World Title and post a solid result here at Stop #1 in Hawaii, as we also hope to see Candice Appleby (Infinity) return to Hawaii to continue her incredible roll.

One thing is for sure, the event will be action packed as we look forward to a solid forecast that is fortunately not too big to prevent action at Turtle Bay (that can close out over a certain size), but will provide its challenges to the Contenders as the World Title race will kick off once again right here on Oahu's Fabled North Shore. Join us LIVE for all the action at www.immersedtv.com

Entries are still open, so make sure to secure your spot HERE. Also, be sure to check out the preview for the event in the video below.

El Nino to deliver epic surf to Oahu's North Shore and continue the legacy of the iconic Sunset Beach Pro from the 8th - 20th February | Photo Courtesy: Waterman League

Since early January it has been a non stop barrage of Large to XL surf hitting Hawaii's shores, with record breaking sessions across all the big wave breaks, and even historic sessions along the famous North Shore breaks such as Pipeline and of course, Sunset Beach. As we look ahead at the long range forecast, there will be no shortage of swell, as a huge amount of activity deep out in the Pacific Ocean continues to swirl, continuing that run of big surf.

What this means for this year's Sunset Beach Pro is that we are looking down the barrel at another groundbreaking year of action that will provide the dramatic action that has made this iconic event what it is. Big Surf, big performances, and the ultimate showcase of performance Stand Up Paddle surfing in surf of consequence.

Watch out for 4x Sunset Beach Pro & World Champion Kai Lenny (Naish) as he will be on a mission to regain the World Title in 2016, but also the likes of Zane Schweitzer (Starboard), Mo Freitas (Focus SUP), Poenaiki Raioha (F-One), Justin Holland (Starboard) and many more, all shooting for a solid result at this World Championship Tour Opener.

However, as always, the local contingent will provide among the toughest challenge for these international Champions, as the Keali'i Mamala, Kala Alexander, Robin Johnston and Bonga Perkins all look to threaten the young guns Title aspirations at home here on Oahu's Fabled North Shore. Whatever happens, it will be an event to remember, as all the action returns to Hawaii for the 2016 Sunset Beach Pro World Tour Opener. Make sure to watch it all go down LIVE at immersedtv.com

Entries are still open, with a large Open Trials providing opportunity for aspiring athletes to take center stage at Sunset Beach. Secure your spot HERE. Watch the preview for the event in the video below.

The all new Waterman Invitational set to make history, celebrating the true multi sport athlete across shortboard, longboard & SUP. | Photo Courtesy: Waterman League

The Sunset Beach Waterman Invitational is an all new addition to the 2016 line up here at the Opening event of the season, and will celebrate the the multi-sport athletes that are fast becoming a dominant force across the complete spectrum of Ocean Sports.

From Kai Lenny (Naish), Zane Schweitzer (Starboard) and Keahi de Aboitiz (JP Australia) who are in the pursuit of excellence in big waves and small, in paddle sports, wind sports and traditional surfing, to both the older and new wave of Hawaiian Waterman such as Bullet Obra, Keali'i Mamala, Kala Alexander and Makua Rothman that are focused on the non wind powered sports, as a collective these athletes have paved the way for a new breed of athletes that can make their mark across ocean sports as a whole.

This year's Waterman Invitational will feature a selection of athletes that have crossed the boundaries of individual sport elitism, and embraced the ability to excel at whatever they ride in the Ocean. And while this tradition was born and should be celebrated first here in Hawaii, it is truly global, with athletes from Australia, Europe, South America and the South Pacific, as well as a strong field of Hawaii talent.

For the full Invite list for the inaugural edition of the Waterman Challenge, please go to www.watermanleague.com, and join us for the full LIVE broadcast from this historic event at immersedtv.com