Over 200 enthusiastic ladies came together on Saturday, 01 December 2018, to celebrate the free annual #RoxyFitness Run SUP Yoga event powered by Surf Emporium – a global initiative motivating women to get active. The event had a wonderful turnout with a diversified field of athletes from all over the country, foreign visitors and Muizenberg locals.
This year, Tracy Ann Duncan, winner of the Mrs Deaf South Africa 2018 title, attended as a special guest to create awareness for deaf athletes and all persons with disabilities as well as to bridge the gap between the deaf and hearing. In addition to Tracy attending, there were also some younger deaf ladies who participated and were a true inspiration to all. MC for the day, Roxy Davis, Surf Emporium owner and 9 times South African Surfing Champion, says the event was one of her highlight events of 2018!
The first leg of the event was a 5km fun run that took place along the Zandvlei’s water edge. Followed by the Advanced and Intermediate Stand-up Paddleboard (SUP) race and finally ending with a relaxing yoga session on the grass. Surf Emporium Muizenberg, together with their SUP partners including Red Paddle Co, RYD and Fanatic SUP, hosted over 180 ladies for a “how to SUP” session for beginners. Discovery Vitality members were also rewarded with Vitality Points for their participation in one of the three sports disciplines.
“Well done Surf Emporium Muizenberg! Your event on Saturday was truly exceptional – the organisation was smooth and seamless, you managed the flow of people into the different disciplines well, the free swag from your sponsors was EXCEPTIONAL – I have to admit that I have willingly PAID for events of a less quality in the past, where as to participate in such an awesome, well managed and fun event for FREE was a real privilege. It was wonderful to see women tapping into their confidence and ability in all levels of fitness – well done on creating a powerful event for women! A true pleasure and I will be back next year!” – C. Davidson
To continue the spirit of ladies coming together and getting active, Surf Emporium Muizenberg has rewarded all event participants with free December Surf Club membership as well as a free month of Surf and SUP Divas lessons for January 2019. Ladies can sign up online here: https://surfemporium.co.za/rsy2018/.
Today was another special day for the team and a testament to the commitment and training this team of athletes, coaches and management have put in.
Once again every member of the team put in their time and support to get behind the members participating and gave their all to deliver the best possible result.
Taking into consideration that each team member had to run fundraising campaigns to get to the worlds championships it really was an achievement to be here in the first place. Without the support of the SUP community, family, friends and the general public we would never have been able to do it. We really are truly grateful for the incredible support from everyone back home.
We unfortunately did not have a full team this year as we were short 1 Prone Paddle Board Women and 1 Long Distance Women due to funding challenges which all counts when it comes to Team points. That said South Africa still managed to move up 2 positions in the World rankings finishing 9th.
Every single Team member achieved amazing results and we are super proud to take home 3 medals for the country this year. Jadon Wessels got South Africa’s first medal when he got the copper medal in Prone Paddle-board Technical Racing, followed by Tarryn King getting the Gold Medal in the Women’s Sprint Racing and concluded by Jadon Wessels once again excelling and receiving a bronze medal in Prone Paddle-Board long distance.
Athlete Holly Henderson from Great Britain showed true sportsmanship by kindly lending Jadon her Prone board (Ruby) so that he could still compete when his board was held up in Hong Kong. This for any athlete can be their worst nightmare and thank goodness for athlete Holly and her Team Manager Dave.
Morning and evening bus trips to and from the venues were always filled with a combination of cheering laughter and a great vibe that we shared with our fellow athletes from Australia.
The ISA World Stand Up and Paddle-Board Championships has certainly been an experience to remember. I would also like to say that without our legend hostess @LeMeridian Shimei Beach Sally Su we would have been at a complete loss.
I know that each of us look forward to heading home in the morning and seeing all our family and friends. I shall stop off in Hong Kong for a small detour to see mates on route home but the rest of the team
This morning the ISA World Standup and Paddle Board Championships moved to Shenzou Penisula for the Mens and Women’s SUP sprint races.
The day consisted of 4 men’s sprint heats followed by 3 women’s sprint heats. Kimon Dos Santos started the morning with an incredible race but with only 3 men proceeding to the semi finals he narrowly missed out on making the semi finals with a fourth position.
The women’s heats then began with Tarryn King winning her heat convincingly and moving into the semi finals. Tarryn then once again won her semi final heat to proceed to the Finals.
The Women’s SUP Sprint Final finished off the day of action, with France’s 2017 Silver MedalistAmandine Chazotmatching up against Italy’sCaterina Stenta, USA’sJade Howson, South Africa’s King, Australia’sTerrene Black, and Japan’sYuka Sato.
King built a decisive lead and crossed the finish line in first place to the cheers of her team on the beach.
“I’ve put in a lot of time and a lot of training,” said King. “I am so stoked.
“To win Gold in the Sprints is a dream come true.
“It’s been quite a journey from giving birth to being World Champion. I stayed fit during my pregnancy and once I gave birth, I bounced back quite quickly. I really focused on coming to compete in the ISA and it all paid off.”
Silver, Bronze and Copper positions were too close to call with the naked eye, but upon further review Italy’s Stenta prevailed with the Silver, USA’s Howson with the Bronze, and Australia’s Black with Copper.
With two days remaining in the event, the SUP and Paddleboard Distance Races and Team Relay will round out the event, determining the 2018 Team World Champion.
Tarryn King well ahead of the competition. Photo: ISA / Pablo Jímenez
ISA President Fernando Aguerresaid:
“The SUP Sprints have been an exciting addition to the event since 2016, adding a new element of power and explosiveness.
“We are proud to continue crowning the best SUP and Paddleboard athletes World Champions, and today was no exception.
“We have two days of competition left in Wanning and the team points are heating up. We have five Gold Medals left to determine who will be Team World Champion.”
The ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship will be streamed live onwww.isasurf.orgNov 23 – Dec 2.
Tarryn King well ahead of the competition. Photo: ISA / Pablo Jímenez
ISA President Fernando Aguerresaid:
“The SUP Sprints have been an exciting addition to the event since 2016, adding a new element of power and explosiveness.
“We are proud to continue crowning the best SUP and Paddleboard athletes World Champions, and today was no exception.
“We have two days of competition left in Wanning and the team points are heating up. We have five Gold Medals left to determine who will be Team World Champion.”
The ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship will be streamed live onwww.isasurf.orgNov 23 – Dec 2.
Wanning, China, November 25, 2018 – After three days of SUP Surfing action at the 2018 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship, the stage has been set to crown the event’s first ISA SUP Surfing World Champions in Asia.
The world’s best men and women SUP surfers have arrived at the Main Event Finals in Wanning, China and will contest the Gold Medals on Monday.
Brazil’s Luiz Diniz and USA’s Sean Poynter are the past ISA World Champions that have reached the Men’s Main Event Final. They will be joined by Australia’s Harry Maskell and Brazil’s Caio Vaz, both looking for their first ISA Gold.
“I am really enjoying the competition here in Riyue Bay,” said Harry Maskell. “Everything is going smooth and it’s great that the swell has arrived too.
“All the athletes in the competition today are really high-end guys, so it was good to get a taste of the competition to come on the final day.
“I got the Silver last year, so it would mean everything to get the Gold here in China.”
Nicole Pacelli of Team Brazil, the 2013 ISA SUP Surfing World Champion, has advanced onto the Women’s Main Event Final along with New Zealand’s Stella Smith, Spain’s Iballa Ruano Moreno, and Japan’s Yuuka Horikoshi.
“I am really excited to make it to the final day,” said Iballa Ruano Moreno. “It’s been a long three days, but we had great waves and I am super happy about the conditions. It’s one of the best events that I have ever taken part of.
“There is still a long way to go, but winning the Gold would be a dream come true.”
The top two placing athletes from the Main Event Finals will secure a medal position in the Grand Final, while the bottom two will head to the Repechage Final where they get a second chance to advance to the Grand Final.
The third day of competition kicked off in a rejuvenated swell in Wanning, China with long left-hand waves peeling into Riyue Bay.
The past ISA World Champions, USA’s Sean Poynter and Brazil’s Luiz Diniz, continued to be the standout performers, respectively earning high heat totals of 16.10 and 15.8.
South Africa’s Thomas King took the high heat total honors with a 16.36 to stay alive in the Repechage Rounds.
After falling into the Repechage Rounds the previous day, Australia’s defending SUP Surfing World Champion Shakira Westdorp bounced back with vengeance and earned the three highest heat totals of the day among the women with 14.33, 14.27 and 13.37 in her Repechage heats.
Westdorp will look to scratch back into the Grand Final the hard way via the Repechage Rounds.
After the SUP Surfing Champions are crowned, the competition will transition to SUP and Paddleboard Racing, with the Technical Races to kick off the action in Riyue Bay. The SUP Sprints, Distance Races and Team Relay will cap off the week at Shenzhou Peninsula.
ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:
“The world’s best SUP surfers have been putting on a great show in excellent conditions at Riyue Bay. Tomorrow the hard work, national pride, and determination that we have witnessed all week will culminate with two World Champions.
“We have past World Champions in the mix, as well as new surfers who are looking to make a name for themselves on a global stage.
“The World Champions will write history as the first to be crowned in Asia, after the ISA has crowed champions on four continents throughout the past seven editions of the event. This will truly be a historic moment for the ISA’s development and governance of SUP.”
The ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship will be streamed live on www.isasurf.org Nov 23 – Dec 2.
