NY SUP Open Introduces New Divisions & All-Inclusive Event

ERICEIRA, Portugal - The New York SUP Open returns in 2019 to bring the World's very best SUP Surf and Racing athletes to New York for a week of intense world championship tour competition, competitive pro-am racing as well as amateur and entry level participation open to all. Adopting the dual venue approach, like the 2018 edition, the New York SUP Open will have its base out in Long Beach, New York (in front of the SkudinSurf facility), where the majority of the participation opportunities and competition will go down, all culminating in the spectacular race around the Statue of Liberty to take place on the final Saturday (7th September) in Manhattan.

"The New York SUP Open is without doubt the most comprehensive event in the sport of stand up paddling, bringing world tour surfing and racing, youth and open competition, together with unique festival activations and introductory experiences in one of the world's most iconic and well known cities. Moving to Labor Day Weekend out in Long Beach, the we are excited to provide an inclusive experience for people of all walks of life, all ages and all backgrounds, while bringing a spectacle like no other from the incredible professional athletes on the APP World Tour. Manhattan is then the icing on the cake on the 7th September, as paddlers embark on the 2nd annual race around the Statue of Liberty providing one of the most unique opportunities in the Sport," said Tristan Boxford, CEO of the APP World Tour.

SUP Surfing

2018 Men's World SUP Surfing Champ, Sean Poynter. | Photo Courtesy: APP World Tour

The New York SUP Open will see the return of the world's very best SUP surfers for stop #2 of the 2019 APP World Tour, as current ratings leader Poenaiki Raioha from Tahiti and Fiona Wylde from Oregon will be looking to build on their opening result from back in Sunset Beach earlier this year. However, New York will see the return of the American, Sean Poynter, the current World Champion, who missed the opening stop of the Tour in Hawaii, but will be looking to defend not only his World Title, but his event title in New York.

Fellow World Champion Iballa Moreno from the Canary Islands in Spain will also be looking for a come back to last year's glory run, where she took out the New York SUP Open win that led to her 2018 World Title despite a disappointing start to the season for her in Hawaii.

Behind these champions lie an incredible field of contenders, as we anticipate an unparalleled performance showcase in New York this year, as the hotbed of talent will step up to do battle, with victory the only objective and a chance at the World Title in their sites.

Youth Events

No matter what your age or ability, the New York SUP Open will provide THE VENUE for kids on Labor Day weekend out in Long Beach, New York (31st August - 2nd September): from hard core competitor, to fun loving newcomer, not to mention Skudin Surf's Surf For All Program providing incredible opportunities regardless of the challenges faced, the New York SUP Open will have something for kids of all ages and abilities.

Here is an overview of the various opportunities through the Labor Day weekend:

• Youth SUP Surfing Championships (multiple age groups)
• Youth SUP Racing Championships - Sprint and Distance (multiple age groups)
• Youth Clinics with World Championship Tour Competitors such as April Zilg and Zane Schweitzer
• Introductory SUP Sessions in the APP Pool with the Paddle Barbados crew
• Surf For All Paddle Race

It will be a weekend packed with fun and entertainment, coupled with the opportunity to watch the world's best in action from the APP World Tour live in Long Beach. Make sure to register today and book your trip to Long Beach for the Opening weekend of the 2019 New York SUP Open.

Open Race Divisions

Photo Courtesy: APP World Tour 

Want to come out and participate, as well as watch the World's best in action? Long Beach is the venue on Labor Day weekend (31st August - 2nd September), with racing for all levels and all ages, as well as Open Surfing competition in the creation of a true celebration of the sport. The highlight race of the weekend will be on Sunday afternoon, the signature Surf For All Distance Race running up the Long Beach Peninsula followed by a fundraising party for this incredible charity.

In addition, take advantage of clinics with the World's best, introductory sessions and SUP Yoga in the APP Pool and much more. It will all take place in Long Beach, NY for Labor Day weekend as we prepare for a weekend to remember.

Here are the Open Racing Options for Labor Day weekend:

• 6km Surf For All Distance Race
• Pro-Am Sprint & Distance Races
• 3km Open Race
• 1km Open Race
• SIC One Design Racing
• Open Trials Event for SUP Surfing

SUP Longboard Exhibition

Photo courtesy: APP World Tour

The APP is excited to integrate an all new SUP Longboarding Exhibition to the 2019 New York SUP Open that will celebrate an evolving sector of the sport that harks back to the sport's origins, but that embraces its progressive present and future. Watch out as legends such as former World Champion Longboarder Colin McPhillips and current APP World Tour athlete and longboard world tour competitor Benoit Carpentier take center stage for a new format on the APP World Tour, and a celebration of the sport's heritage.

The SUP Longboard Exhibition will take place on the Opening Weekend of the 2019 New York SUP Open, so get ready for an incredible showdown in Long Beach, NY from the 31st August - 2nd September 2019.

Elite Racing

Photo courtesy: APP World Tour

After a dramatic opening event in London that saw new faces leap frog to the top of the podium (Noic Garioud & Seychelle Webster) and familiar faces continue to make their presence felt (such as Michael Booth & Candice Appleby), the scene is set for an incredible battle in New York, with one of the most diverse and challenging playing fields on Tour.

The athletes will first be challenged with sprint racing through the surf in Long Beach on Thursday Sept. 5th, much to the delight of many of the surf inspired racers on tour, a format that provides plenty of thrills and spills. Despite the fact that the APP sets the course, Mother Nature determines the obstacles, and this unknown can often be the make or break of an athlete's ascent to the top of the leaderboard.

In 2018, radical weather created in an incredibly challenging amphitheater for the World's best, as we await to see what the 2019 storm season will deliver to the Eastern seaboard.

Meanwhile, the race around the Statue of Liberty presents a whole different set of challenges: while the Hudson is a River, the sheer volume of water flowing in and out around Manhattan with its powerful tidal cycle, coupled with the boat traffic, extremely changeable water conditions and other unexpected hazards, this race is not for the fainthearted and will bring out the best in the world's very best athletes on the APP World Tour.

In 2019, this will be a Pro only race for safety reasons, as this is certainly one of the more challenging distance races on the World Tour calendar. All Open and Pro-Am Racing will take place out in Long Beach over Labor Day weekend.

Stay tuned for the build up to the 2019 New York SUP Open and for the latest updates from the APP World Tour at appworldtour.com and across social media @appworldtour

Photo courtesy: APP World Tour

About the APP World Tour and Waterman League International

The APP World Tour is the Professional World Championship Tour for the Sport of Paddlesurfing (also known as SUP / Stand Up Paddling / Paddleboarding), officially sanctioned by the IOC recognized Federation for Surfing Sports, the ISA (International Surfing Association). Re-branded in 2017 as the APP World Tour (previously known as the Stand Up World Tour and Series) the APP has been crowning the sport’s World Champions for both Men & Women across