Antoine Delpero Wins Huntington Beach Pro

SUP Connect 2011 SUP Man of the Year - Antoine Delpero

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California – Antoine Delpero wins the Huntington Beach Pro in the final day of competition on Saturday, October 1st. The fourth stop of the 2011 Stand Up World Tour brought the best of the best in stand up paddle surf to Huntington Beach, California.

The conditions for most of the competition were favorable, with modest swell and minimal wind under a bluebird sky. The final day of the Huntington Beach Pro provided waves in the 2-3 foot range, which was more than enough for the world’s best stand up surfers to prove their skill.

“Here at the Huntington Beach area, I already came for the ISA Longboard Championships so I am glad to come back,” said Delpero speaking of his experience in the Southern California surf.

The two semi-final heats, held at the south-side of the Huntington Beach pier, were stacked with talent from around the world. The first heat showcased talent from Hawaii and California, with Kai Lenny, Colin McPhillips, Aaron Napolean and Daniel Hughes representing both sides of the Pacific.

With a drop in the surf from the previous day of competition, the California locals capitalized over their Hawaiian and Tahitian counterparts, “The waves dropped down from yesterday and it was more my style, I surf this a lot,” said Huntington Beach local and dark horse entrant into the semi-finals, Daniel Hughes.

The second heat of the semi-finals resembled a United Nations summit with three different nations competing including Antoine Delpero, the 2011 SUP Connect SUP Man of the Year, from France, Leco Salazar from Brazil and both Sean Poynter and Zane Schweitzer from the U.S.

All men exhibited great skill in the mushy, knee-high surf, with 2011 SUP Grom of the Year Zane Schweitzer busting some extremely progressive moves on his stand up paddleboard, but the favorites in the competition ultimately advanced. Current Stand Up Paddle World Tour point leader Kai Lenny, Collin McPhillips, Antoine Delpero and Leco Salazar all advanced out of their semi-final heats into the final round.

With the wind picking up and the tide making its push up the beach, the final heat was held ahead of schedule. Colin McPhillips exhibited his smooth cutbacks, Leco Salazar was a 360 machine and Kai Lenny showcased his explosive style. But it was Antoine Delpero that eventually came out on top, connecting long rides from the outside rights off the pier to the inside section on his stand up paddleboard.

“That was amazing, it was fun. Everybody was ripping. I saw really good waves from all the other competitors. That was a good level during this competition,” said Delpero.

Watch for the Stand Up World Tour to continue to bring excellent stand up paddle surf to breaks around the world. With his win in the Huntington Beach Pro, Delpero gains on Kai Lenny, who currently sits at the top of the standings.

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