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HONOLUA SURF CO. 2008 OCEAN PADDLE RACE |
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Gladiators of Surf Tame Wild Seas In Honolua Ocean Paddle Race
Hayden Smith Wins Blue Ribbon Division
World Champion Left High And Dry
Gold Coast, Australia
Saturday May 31, 2008
AUSTRALIAN paddleboarding phenomenon
Jamie Mitchell (Currumbin, Aus) has been wiped-out of contention at the
second-annual Honolua Ocean Paddle Race as wild weather lashed the Gold
Coast today.
With a low-pressure system whipping up damaging winds, heavy rain and
three-metre plus seas, 30-year-old Mitchell was forced to withdraw from the
8.5 km race between Snapper Rocks and Currumbin Creek after snapping the
rudder on his paddleboard attempting to punch through the Snapper Rocks
line-up en route to the start line off Rainbow Bay.
The paddleboard powerhouse, who has been crowned the Molokai to Oahu
Paddleboard Champion an unprecedented six-consecutive times, was left high
and dry as Buderim’s Hayden Smith convincingly broke his 2007 race record
of 49 minutes and 20 seconds, crossing the line in a super-fast time of 47
minutes and 50 seconds, just ahead of Currumbin’s Nathan Henderson in 48
minutes and 42 seconds. Former Molokai to Oahu Champion Mick Dibetta
(Burleigh) finished third in a time of 51 minutes and 35 seconds.
“It was a great race in probably the best conditions that the race has had
since its inception” said Smith.
“It was pretty hard getting out at Snapper at first cause it was pretty big
on the 18-foot boards. But I managed to keep my board, get some long
runners and finish in first. I’m over the moon.”
27-year-old Smith, who regularly competes in surf lifesaving events around
Australia, said that today’s conditions were comparable to those
experienced at the Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race in Hawaii. The race is
considered the world championship of paddleboard racing.
“Things were really wild out there today,” he said.
“I’ve paddled the Molokai race three times and the runners I was getting
out there today were pretty similar.”
Paddleboards are streamlined, specialised boards that are designed to ride
open ocean swells. They are paddled surfboard style in either prone or
kneeling position on stock (12-foot) or unlimited (any size board) boards.
The race also featured a revived Hawaiian surfing style - stand up
paddleboard. This event included the use of any type of board and a paddle
for use while standing up.
Currumbin Lifeguard Kel Margetts out-paddled reigning champion James
‘Billy’ Watson (Burleigh Heads) for the unlimited title, finishing in a
time of 52 minutes and 20 seconds, while professional ironman Wes Berg
(Miami) won the stock title in 59 minutes and 46 seconds.
This style is a throwback to the Beach boys who used to surf in Waikiki,
Hawaii using canoe paddles to power themselves into the waves.
Former ironman Dwayne Thuys (Gold Coast) was a popular winner in the over
40 men’s unlimited division, netting a time of 52 minutes and 27 seconds,
whilst Ian Poole came up trumps in the over 40 men’s stock division.
Meanwhile, Shakira Westdorp (Burleigh Heads) bagged back-to-back titles,
clinching the Open Women’s unlimited division title with a time of 55
minutes and 28 seconds.
Elanora’s Matt Johnston claimed the Open Men’s stock title with a time of
52 minutes and 59 seconds, whilst Chris McGuckin was victorious in the Over
50 men’s stock division with a time 58 mins and 35 seconds.
Paul Bow rounded out today’s proceedings winning the Over 50 men’s
unlimited division.
Divisions included: Open Men (Unlimited), Open Men (Stock), Open Women
(Unlimited), Over 40 Men (Unlimited), Over 40 Men (Stock), Over 50 Men
(Unlimited), Over 50 Men (Stock), Open Stand Up (Unlimited), Open Stand Up
(Stock) and Open Women Unlimited.
The Honolua Ocean Paddle Race is proudly supported by XCEL Wetsuits,
Tooheys Extra Dry and Surfing Queensland.
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