This weekend on Saturday December 2, Australia’s most prestigious Stand Up Paddle (SUP) race and the word’s fastest downwinder, the Stand Up Surf Shop King of the Cut, is going down. For the first time, competitors will wear tracking devices and can be followed in real time.
In just under one month over 160 international, interstate and local competitors will be headed to Mandurah in Western Australia for the fastest downwinder on earth, the Stand Up Surf Shop King of the Cut.
The Stand Up Surf Shop King of the Cut is the first major international Stand Up Paddle (SUP) event in Australia to offer equal prize money for male and female competitors.
Over 130 international, interstate and local competitors gathered for the World’s fastest downwind paddle race, the King of the Cut Race on Sunday, December 4, 2016 in Mandurah, Western Australia. Near perfect conditions blew in for the 24-kilometre race with southerly winds at 18 to 20 knots.
After a six-week stretch of traveling for races in Asia and Europe Starboard SUP and Werner Paddles athlete Fiona Wylde decided to take a little vacation to Australia with with boyfriend and fellow professional stand up paddler Bernd Roediger (Naish) and to meet up with good friend Kai Bates (Fanatic). While there, the trio scored really fun surf and had a blast out of the water too.
It’s no secret by now that Shakira Westdorp is one of the best female SUP surfers in the world. She’s got loads of talent and a big bag of tricks. Heck, she even makes it looks easy (which it isn’t). With it being in the middle of winter in Australia, Shakira decided to escape the busy lineups in her hometown of northern New South Wales and head 100km’s south to find a couple uncrowded beach breaks. Check out the video from her little trip here.
Michael Booth is sneaking up the world rankings list and after joining Starboard SUP’s Dream Team roster he’s gained a huge support system which will likely help to transform this dark horse into a full blown threat at each and every event he enters. We caught up with Boothy (as he’s known to his friends) and asked him a few questions to learn more about his roots and where he plans on taking his SUP career. Have a look:
Congratulations to Starboard’s Michael Booth from Australia who dominated the Forster Island Paddle Festival last weekend. Michael won the BOP and the 10km race portion of the event while coming in 3rd in the 200km sprints.
Australian stand up paddler Jamien Hudson had an encounter while on his paddle board that many only dream of having. Hudson was joined by two beautiful whales for what looked like quite some time. This video has been getting quite a lot of traction and after watching you'll know exactly why. Take a look at the video and let us know what you think. Also, go an check out Hudson's Instagram (here) where you can see more coverage from this experience and his beautiful photography.
Surftech announced today that Aroona Pty Ltd will become its new distributor in Australia. Surftech is the one of the world’s largest designers and suppliers of surf and stand up paddleboards globally, manufacturing brands like BARK, Channel Islands, Robert August, McTavish and others.
Laird Hamilton, one of the best watermen in the world, has been down in New Zealand doing what he does best and has been featured as an ultimate waterman in preparation for the upcoming event.
Three-time world champion stand-up paddle boarder and SIC Maui athlete Georges Cronsteadt will compete in The Ultimate Waterman set to rock the shores of New Zealand next month, it was announced.