Maui did not disappoint for day two of the 8th annual OluKai Hoʻolauleʻa three-day ocean festival with local Connor Baxter and new women’s champion Sonni Hönscheid taking home the gender equal prize purse of $15,000. The prestigious eight-mile Stand Up Paddle (SUP) race saw over 325 of the world’s elite paddlers battle it out on the famous Maliko Downwind Run on Maui’s North Shore, the highest amount of contenders in this race to date.

The 8th annual OluKai Ho’olaule’a three-day ocean festival kicks off today, Friday, April 29th, on Maui’s North Shore with the second annual ‘Demo Day,’ offering locals and visitors the opportunity to meet with the pros, gain valuable last minute race tips and an opportunity to test out the latest boards and equipment. The 2016 OluKai Ho’olaule’a is set to be the biggest yet in the event’s history bringing together around 600 of the world’s elite paddlers to race the famous Maliko Downwind Run for the largest gender equal prize purse of $15,000.

It’s been awhile since we’ve had the chance to chat with the choke stroke man himself, Mr. Connor Baxter. Connor is one of the best in the biz having won some of the biggest and most brutal races and has done so numerous times. We called up Connor just as he was arriving in North Carolina for the Carolina Cup and had a few words. Check it out…

Why did Annabel Anderson run across the finish line with the "pink panther" board from Lahui Kai when she won her 4th consecutive Carolina Cup Graveyard Race?…Because she can, thanks to the LiftSUP handle!

All of us in the Lahui Kai family would like to congratulate Annabel Anderson and Kelly Margetts on their amazing finishes at this year’s Carolina Cup. The grueling 13.2 mile, 2+ hour long paddle board race took our very own Annabel Anderson to yet another 1st place victory, securing that title again for the 4th year in a row! This girl can’t be stopped. Kelly battled hard with the world’s best paddlers and took home a strong 5th place!

With two successful previous editions, the reputation of the Air France Paddle Festival in Polynesia and abroad make it a highly expected event from all. With only days left in the registration period make sure to secure your slot at the biggest stand up paddle race in the South Pacific!

Today kicked off the first big race of the 2016 stand up paddle race season and it was more exciting than ever. With an incredible start and lead changes throughout the majority of the race the action was intense from start to finish. In the end Tituoan Puyo and Annabel Anderson both claimed the victory for the 2016 Carolina Cup.

The time has come for the best stand up paddlers in the world to come together and face off yet again at the first major stand up paddle race of 2016, the Carolina Cup. Top athletes in the sport will be there including 3x women’s winner Annabel Anderson, Travis Grant, Candice Appleby, Danny Ching, Connor Baxter, Fiona Wylde and many, many more all going head-to-head aiming to conquer the grueling Graveyard Course.

In just over a month's time, the Waterman League and World's best Stand Up Paddle racers will return to the beautiful Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan for the Opening event of the 2016 World Series, the Victoria Cup to be held at Zushi Beach, by Hayama Harbor.

News just broke that one of the most popular stand up paddle races of the year in North America, the Race the Lake of the Sky has been cancelled for 2016 and postponed until 2017 to run its 5th annual event. See the official press release from event organizers below.

Clean water is worth standing up for. On April 16, nearly 300 clean water supporters demonstrate their enthusiasm for one of our most important resources while enjoying a fun filled standup paddle board race and celebration — Stand Up for Clean Water. 2016 guests include Robert F. Kennedy, Anthony Vela, Aidan Gallagher, Erika Benitez and more!

"Yes, I can confirm that I will be back in Wrightsville Beach to have another crack at the Carolina Cup," said Annabel Anderson, three-time champion in the Cup's elite and grueling 13.5-mile Graveyard Race and top woman in the world in standup paddle board.