Highland Spring HIHO 2011 Recap

Stand up paddlers competed in a series of four races touring the best of the best in the British Virgin Islands. This year the internationally renowned event received participants from all over the world. See reults from SUP races.

Participants in this year's Highland Spring HIHO event pose for a group shot in the beautiful British Virgin Islands.

Click here to see a full list of SUP results.

TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands – HIHO together with SUP sponsor YOLO Board announces details of the Highland Spring HIHO 2011 event that took place in the British Virgin Islands Sunday, June 26th through Sunday, July 3rd.

Known worldwide as one of the greatest watersports adventures, the Highland Spring HIHO is a week long all-inclusive adventure vacation including inter-island sailing, windsurfing and stand up paddleboard (SUP) races, daily water-based activities, nightly parties, and accommodations aboard captained catamarans supplied by The Moorings.

Florida-based SUP Manufacturer YOLO Board joined the 2011 event as the official SUP sponsor, which included a YOLO Adventure One-Design Class and an Open Class for SUP Racers.  The Windsurfing Race division included a Techno-2 Class.

The action packed week of activities touring the best of the best in the British Virgin Islands included stops at Virgin Gorda, Prickly Pear Island, Anegada, The Baths, Scrub Island, Beef Island, The Last Resort, Peter & Norman Islands and Little Thatch.  The internationally renowned event received participants from all over the world including Brazil, South Africa, Switzerland, China, Canada, Australia, Hawaii, California, Florida, New York, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, the BVI’s, the USVI’s and the UK.

“It was another wonderful Highland Spring HIHO event,” said Andy Morrell, HIHO founder.  “Great to see SUP expanding, and we love the family-friendly turn it's taking. The YOLO One-Design class was a perfect fit with the event. The event is lots of fun.  I wish I could compete in it! We love the combination of racing, adventure and parties, plus the island-to-island tour through the BVI's.”

Stand up paddlers competed in a series of four races and windsurfers competed in a series of five races, with races held in different island locations with varying open ocean conditions. Overall winners of the Open Class for SUP Racers were Slater Trout of Hawaii, Thomas Pace of Florida and Tanner Trout of Hawaii in first, second and third respectively.

In the YOLO Adventure One-Design Class, Janette Ocampo of California finished first overall followed by Casey Trout of Hawaii in second.  There was a three-way tie for third in this class between Michael Daniels of the BVI’s, Brad Gerber of California and Jennifer Trout of Hawaii.

“We had a blast at HIHO!  It was perfect in every way—amazing location, great people, delicious food, super fun races,” added Jennifer Trout, HIHO participant and mother of SUP Star Slater Trout.  “They had competitive racing and fun family style racing so there was something for everyone and of course lots of lounging and swimming time.  The water is so beautiful you just want to be in it all the time.”

In addition to the signature windsurfing and SUP races, daily activities included snorkeling, yacht racing, beach trips, fun relay races and the much-anticipated pirate party at The Last Resort.  Keeping true to their dedication to fine cuisine and live entertainment, participants enjoyed delicious daily lunches by the New Zealand-inspired Kiwi Cuisine and excellent dinners nightly at each island stop followed by Caribbean entertainment and dancing.

“After attending the 2010 HIHO event, we knew that YOLO and HIHO would be a match made in heaven and we were right,” said John Denney, Owner of Jupiter Paddleboarding and second year HIHO participant.  “The Highland Spring HIHO 2011 proved to be an awesome event where all the competition was on a level playing field as we all paddled either the 12-foot YOLO Eco Trainer in the YOLO One-Design Class or the 14-foot YOLO Prowler in the Open Class.  The boards were a great fit - from Bari Denney to Casey Trout - they worked for one and all.  I hope the YOLO HIHO relationship will continue to grow for years to come as it made the event something special.”

Sponsors of Highland Spring HIHO 2011 included title sponsor Highland Spring, The Moorings, YOLO Board, Red Stripe and HIHO.

Next year’s HIHO 2012 event is slated for July 1st-7th.  For more information, please visit www.go-hiho.com or call 284.494.0337.  

About Highland Spring HIHO
The Highland Spring HIHO event originated in St Thomas in 1979 when a band of intrepid windsurfers set out to windsurf through the Virgin Islands with sleeping bags on their backs.  The event was an immediate hit and grew exponentially under sponsorship from Johnnie Walker Scotch Whiskey.  Current event owner Andy Morrell was the 1st place winner in the 1986 edition.  Morrell assumed ownership of the event and, following a hiatus, restarted it in 1993.  Today the Highland Spring HIHO event is the World’s most fun-filled and unique watersports adventure combining SUP, windsurfing, sailing and adventure as it charts a course through the beautiful British Virgin islands.

About YOLO Board
Founded by business partners Tom Losee and Jeff Archer in 2006, YOLO Board LLC is a locally owned stand-up paddleboard (SUP) company based in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.  Aptly named for the mantra, “You Only Live Once,” the company has quickly gained the reputation along Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast and beyond as the custom paddleboard of choice.  Rentals, lessons, corporate and team building packages and a complete array of YOLO accessories are available.  For more information, visit www.yoloboard.com or call 850.622.5760.

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