Red Bull Heavy Water Announces Possible Event Date for Oct 19

SAN FRANCISCO, California - The holding period for Red Bull Heavy Water is almost upon us as the World's best prepare for one of the sport's most radical challenges and richest rewards. As without a doubt the most talked about and highly anticipated races in the sport, Red Bull Heavy Water starts at Aquatic Park, in the heart of San Francisco, heads out to Golden Gate Bridge, through Fort Point, and then onwards around Lands End to Ocean Beach.

You might think that while it is likely a grueling race, especially given the caliber of the athletes, it should be manageable. This however, is certainly not the case: the final leg of the course is a zig zag in and out through the surf, with a 10ft minimum surf height required for the event to run. What does this mean? Carnage and survival of the fittest, as the athletes will have to navigate one of the most hectic beach breaks in N. America in pounding XXL conditions to come out on top and be eligible for the single largest prize-purse in the sport: $75,000. Featuring 24 men and up to 12 women in 2019, Red Bull Heavy Water will once again showcase the outer limits of the sport.

As we approach the opening of the 2019 holding period (15th October - 7th November), we are already closely monitoring a large system developing in the North Pacific that could well deliver exactly the conditions that this unique event requires. If things continue to develop as they are now, the orange light will be lit today, indicating that we could well be 7 days away from a possible start, with a green light to follow on Sunday should everything come together. If this does happen, then Red Bull Heavy Water would be a go for Friday 19th October.

A prestigious invite list of 24 Men includes the sport's major stars and Ocean Sports' legends ready to take on the toughest challenge. | Photo courtesy: Red Bull

Athlete List: Men

The 24 men stepping up to do battle at the 2019 Red Bull Heavy Water include some of ocean sport's most celebrated legends and both current and rising stars, as the event will challenge every single skillset these incredible athletes possess and then some. The environment is like no other, as XXL surf will be thundering through the race course to provide the most spectacular racing the sport has ever seen. Here are the 24 athletes set to take part in the 2019 edition:

1. Michael Booth (AUS)
2. Arthur Arutkin (FRA)
3. Casper Steinfath (DK)
4. Connor Baxter (HI)
5. Mo Freitas (HI)
6. Lincoln Dews (AUS)
7. Zane Schweitzer (HI)
8. Travis Grant (AUS)
9. Danny Ching (USA)
10. Itzel Delgado (PER)
11. Slater Trout (USA)
12. Tyler Bashor (USA)
13. Christian Anderson (DK)
14. Kai Lenny (HI)
15. Martin Vitry (FRA)
16. James Casey (AUS)
17. Bernd Roediger (HI)
18. Ryan Funk (HI)
19. Kody Kerbox (HI)
20. Fernando Stalla (MEX)
21. Kenny Kaneko (JP)
22. Riggs Napoleon (HI)
23. Chuck Glynn (USA)
24. Mark Alfaro (USA)

An incredible cast of the most respected and impressive Women in the sport will step up to do battle at Red Bull Heavy Water. | Photo courtesy: APP World Tour

Athlete List: Women

It will be exciting to see the women step up in 2019 to take on what is without doubt the most challenging race course in the world for the sport of stand up paddling. With an incredible cast of characters set to take part, we are anticipating a spectacular show at this year's Red Bull Heavy Water, as some of ocean sport's most well rounded talents step up to be counted.

Here are the women slated for the 2019 edition of Red Bull Heavy Water:

1. Yuka Sato (JP)
2. Annie Reickert (HI)
3. April Zilg (USA)
4. Terrene Black (AUS)
5. Fiona Wylde (USA)
6. Izzi Gomez (USA)
7. Annabel Anderson (NZ)
8. Jordan Mercer (NZ)
9. Andrea Moller (BRA)
10. Shakira Westdorp (AUS)

You can watch all the action unfold from wherever you are in the World, as there will be a full broadcast of Red Bull Heavy Water that will capture the blow by blow of this epic race from start to finish. Stay tuned for exact timings of this race and watch it all go down at appworldtour.com and @appworldtour

Photo courtesy: Red Bull

About the APP World Tour & 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 Racing and Surfing since 2010.