Previewing the 2014 ICF Junior & U23 World Championships Canoe Slalom April 23-27

 

The Penrith Whitewater Stadium, the venue of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, will play host to what will now be the third ICF Junior & U23 World Championships on April 23-27. The competition will feature over 300 athletes from 31 different countries.

This year's team features a mix of internationally experienced athletes, and new-comers looking to mark. First-year Junior Team member Tyler Smith (Charlotte, NC) says the realities of competing in his first major international race are now beginning to set in, "We have one short training session left and then nothing until race day. Though I'm a little nervous, I'm also very excited to represent the U.S. here in Australia and hopeful to place well in both the K1 and C1 events." Other Junior Team members making their international debut include K1W Teegan Johnson (Lyons, CO), K1M Jordan Sherman (Rockville, MD), and K1M Tyler Westfall (Darnestown, MD), while K1W Evelyn VanHorn (Bellefonte, PA), C1M/C2 William Coggan (Boulder, CO), and C1M/C2 Gabe Machado (Louisville, CO) will look to build on their previous results.

Racing In Lanes At The Australian Flatwater SUPfest | SUPracer.com

The automatic starting gates are definitely a novel addition to the world of SUP racing

(photo credit: Angie Jackson)

One of the more interesting races on the calendar is happening right now down in Adelaide, South Australia. The 2014 Australian Flatwater SUPfest has drawn some of the country’s finest to the Westlakes Aquatic Centre, a location usually reserved for canoe, kayak and rowing races. In the tradition of San Diego’s Silver Blade Regatta, the Aus SUPfest will see competitors racing in separate lanes, complete with automatic starting gates and all.

So while 99.9% of SUP races are “mass start” events, the SUPfest will see each paddler racing on their own stretch of water. This format is exactly the same thing you’d see in Olympic canoe and kayaking races and should provide a novel point of difference to the usual stand up paddling events. More; [UPDATED RESULTS] Racing In Lanes At The Australian Flatwater SUPfest | SUPracer.com

ASP Australasia Junior Qualifying Series Prepares For French Polynesian Leg - ASP

The best junior (under 21) surfers from the Asia Pacific region are preparing for one of the toughest tests of the 2014 ASP Australasia Junior Qualifying Series, with back-to-back events in French Polynesia. The aspiring professional surfers will get a taste of the big leagues as they pack their bags and prepare to compete in world-class, powerful polynesian surf. This year's French Polynesian leg also sees the inclusion of an ASP 1-Star Qualifying Series (QS) event, the first in the region since the late and great Andy Irons won the Black Pearl Pro Teahupo'o in 1997.

The first event is the Rangiroa Pro Junior, held on a small atoll in the Tuamotu islands in French Polynesia, the surfers will compete at a powerful right-hand reef break that's capable of producing intense tube rides as it breaks over live, razor sharp coral.

The Sydney sessions - 35th America's Cup

Photos, videos and stories from Sydney, where ORACLE TEAM USA and Team Australia are training, are coming online.

ORACLE TEAM USA sailing team manager and tactician Tom Slingsby is enthusiastic about his team's first days on the harbour.

“It’s a great venue. Sailing AC45s in Sydney Harbour hasn’t been done before and it’s an amazing backdrop. We’ve had a couple of great days of training against the new Australian team and it’s been going well.”

Team Australia skipper Mathew Belcher says having an opportunity to train with ORACLE TEAM USA will help the team get off to a running start.

“We’re slowly building our team up,” Belcher says. “There 10 days with Oracle will really give us a chance to get as many sailors into the boat as possible and for myself to come into the team and find out exactly where we are.”

Slingsby says ORACLE TEAM USA has three training camps scheduled over the coming months. “It keeps the team active and sailing together and coming to a place like Sydney Harbour is pretty easy to get motivated for.”

We’ll have more from Mat Belcher and Tom Slingsby as well as some other sailors, over the coming days.

Photos from both team photographers can be seen here

ORACLE TEAM USA has put up a profile of the team’s newest sailor, Andrew Campbell, here

Team Australia’s launch story is here

Hamilton Island Yacht Club sets sail on the Australian challenge for the 35th America's Cup - Team Australia

Hamilton Island Yacht Club (HIYC) has today set sail on its four-year Australian Challenge for the 35th America's Cup in 2017, with the announcement of Olympic Gold Medallist and ISAF Rolex Sailor of the Year, Mathew Belcher as its skipper and the christening of Team Australia’s AC45 catamaran.

 

Val Oatley, Bob Oatley’s wife, unveilled the AC45 wingsail catamaran, dubbed the ‘little sister with attitude’ to the AC72, previously showcased at the 34th America’s Cup in 2013, at a christening at Team Australia’s Sydney base.  The AC45 can go faster than the Manly Ferry at three-four times the wind speed.

Sandy Oatley, Chairman of Challenger - Hamilton Island Yacht Club, said, ‘Today is another milestone in our America’s Cup journey. We’re incredibly proud to put forward this Australian challenge and hope all Australians come together and rally behind us. There is a great sense of pride in Australia striving to win the America’s Cup.  Importantly, it’s over thirty year’s since we won it. Our time is now, it’s time to get back in the ring and bring back the Cup.’

Dimity Stoyle Spoils Surfest Hopes for Stephanie Gilmore at HunterPorts Women's Classic Today

Today was ladies day at Surfest Newcastle as the Hunter Ports Women's Classic ran through Rounds 3 and 4 of competition, leaving just 12 surfers in contention for the coveted event title. The surf was small, but offering clean sections for explosive turns for the surfers brave enough to take on the Merewether rock shelf.

Dimity Stoyle (Sunshine Coast, QLD/AUS) sent a warning shot to her fellow competitors that she's hungry to defend her Hunter Ports Women's Classic title. Winning this event last year set Stoyle up for the biggest competitive year of her life and by year's end she qualified for the elite ASP Women's World Championship Tour and will make her debut on the Gold Coast in less than two weeks. Stoyle posted the event's highest wave score 9.90 (out of a possible 10), and backed that up with a 9.27 and topped off her near-perfect heat by eliminating 5-time ASP Women's World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS).

"I'm really bummed that Steph (Gilmore) is out of the event, she's my favourite surfer." Stoyle said. "I went out and I wanted to get the best waves of the heat, I felt a little greedy. At the start of the heat I made sure that I sat where I wanted to and a good wave came. I was so happy that it worked, I paddled back out and the same thing happened again. It's hard to find the waves out there so I felt bad for everyone else in my heat, but I'm really happy to be through to the next round."

Pauline Ado (FRA) is in sizzling form at the Hunter Ports Women's Classic, posting excellent scores in every heat executing fast and critical turns. Ado has now advanced into the last round of competition before the Quarterfinals where she will face Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) and Alessa Quizon (HAW).

"It's been really cold and hard to train at home in France," Ado said. "It's great to be here in the warm sun and only wear a light wetsuit. It took me a while to get into a rhythm in that heat. I posted some big scores and then I felt confident, but towards the end Paige (Hareb) and Alana (Blanchard) started to get some good scores and then I started to stress again, but it all worked out. I would love to win this event, but right now I'm focussed on my next heat."

Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) used her powerful backhand attack to post two scores in the 8-point-range and claim an easy victory in Round 4 today. While some surfers struggled in the small surf conditions, Buitendag powered through her turns, to be one of the eight ASP Women's WCT surfers left in the 12 woman draw.

"Even though there's a bit of swell it's broken up by the wind, you really have to be in the right place at the right time," Buitendag said. "As you progress the rounds get more critical so it's good that there's swell coming. This is my third year at this event and I really enjoy it, I'm starting to recognise the roads and places I go. We're staying with a family just across the road, it's very cool, I feel very comfortable here."

For more information, live webcast and photos log on towww.surfest.com

ORACLE TEAM USA to open spring training in Australia

ORACLE TEAM USA, the America’s Cup champion, will begin its sailing program in Sydney, Australia next month.

The team has scheduled practice against Team Australia, representing the Hamilton Island Yacht Club, the Challenger of Record for the 35th America’s Cup.

ORACLE TEAM USA has shipped one of its AC45 catamarans to Australia for spring training before the sailing team returns to the United States later in the year.

“This training session on Sydney Harbour is the first of a series of trials and training sessions for our sailing team and will be the first time our sailors have been together since the America's Cup,” said sailing team manager Tom Slingsby.

“We’ll welcome back some old faces and introduce some new blood as we look for the right crew combination for the sailing team for the 35th America’s Cup.

"These sessions will be coordinated with Team Australia and we're looking forward to sailing against this new Cup team.”

ORACLE TEAM USA has already announced Jimmy Spithill, the skipper, and Slingsby, the strategist and sailing team manager, will both be returning to lead the sailing team.

Further sailing crew announcements are expected before the summer.

Australians Crowned Hobie 16 World Champions / ISAF/ World Sailing

Australia's Gavin Colby and Josie Mark have been crowned 2014 Hobie 16 World Champions at Jervis Bay, Australia after a challenging week of racing.

Race 11

In what was a somewhat challenging day of stops and starts the winds picked up and the boats went out on schedule for the first race of the day. The 12 knot northerly dropped off toward the end of the race but not before Cam Owen and Suzzi Ghent picked up a strong opening result.

The West Australians gave it everything they had and lead wire to wire taking victory followed by Jason Hess and Irene Abascal from Guatemala in second and fellow Aussies Stephen Watt and Arbi Watt from New South Wales picking up third.

The drop in wind put a hold on racing but the sailors' enthusiasm was not left wanting and they were back on the water at 14:00 for the second race of the day.

Race 12

That enthusiasm was evident as Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin from New South Wales, Australia threw themselves at the line taking the lead and holding it all the way to the finish. The pair narrowly beat Jason's parents Rod and Kerry Waterhouse also from New South Wales. Coming in third were Koreans Byeongki Park and Haekwang Youn.

The real shake up of race 12 though was current Hobie World Champion Jerome Le Gal's Black Flag Disqualification (BFD) placing him 57th for the race and ultimately costing him the title and changing the game for the other competitors in the field.

Race 13

Waterhouse and Darmanin again took the top spot in what was a fantastic days racing for the pair as winds freshened and the boats got to stretch their legs giving the sailors some pressure for the last race of the day. Second and third were picked up by Tim Shuwalow and Nina Curtis from Sweden and Daniel Bjornholt-Christensen and Lachlan White respectively.

Gavin Colby and Josie Mark gave it their all and placed fourth. Unaware of Jerome Le Gal's BFD the pair unknowingly sealed up the event to ultimately be crowned Hobie 16 World Champions.

Five for 35 – Names to look for in the 35th America’s Cup / America’s Cup

The 34^th America’s Cup opened up opportunities for a new breed of America’s Cup sailor. Fitter, younger, new to the game, but bursting with accomplishments in dinghy classes where going fast, and sailing on the edge were the daily routine.

Plenty of young sailors played prominent roles in this America’s Cup, including Kyle Langford, at 24 the youngest sailor in the event, who was thrust into a starring role as the wing trimmer on ORACLE TEAM USA.

Langford (AUS) will be sought after as teams begin recruiting for the next Cup. And here are five other names to look for as teams start assembling talent for the 35^th America’s Cup:

Australia’s Hamilton Island Yacht Club confirmed as Challenger of Record / America’s Cup

Hamilton Island Yacht Club (HIYC), located on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia, has challenged for the 35th America’s Cup. HIYC’s challenge has been accepted by the Golden Gate Yacht Club, which remains the Defender and Trustee of the world’s oldest international sporting trophy after its team, ORACLE TEAM USA owned by Larry Ellison, won the 34th America’s Cup in San Francisco last Wednesday.

For the past three decades HIYC has run Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, which has become the largest annual regatta in Australia with some 200 offshore yachts competing in recent years.
HIYC is led by Australian winemaker and sailing legend Bob Oatley, whose succession of yachts named Wild Oats have dominated ocean racing in Australia for years, including having won six of the last eight Sydney-Hobart races. An Australian team led by Mr. Oatley won the last Admiral’s Cup, widely regarded as the world’s top prize in ocean racing.

Rolex Sydney Hobart: New Clipper yachts mark 25 entries - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2013

The fleet for the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s 69th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, which starts on December 26, has been bolstered early with the addition of the 12 brand new Clipper 70 yachts racing in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

The Swiss Clipper 70 entry. Credit Matt Dickens, onEdition

 

Having started the 40,000 nautical mile Clipper race on September 1, from London, the Clipper fleet will arrive in Sydney from Albany, Western Australia, on the fourth of its eight leg race.

In announcing the Clipper fleet was to take part in CYCA’s world-famous race, Commodore Howard Piggott commented: “We are very pleased the Clipper fleet will be joining our race to Hobart this year. The Clipper 70’s and the crews that sail them will create great interest and dimension to our race.”

Brannew wins Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race - Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2013

Sydney yachtsman Chris Bran has won his first major ocean race, late this afternoon being declared the winner of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s 384 nautical mile Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race shortly after 5.30pm this evening.

Brannew has been declared the overall winner of the 28th Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

www.sailpix.com.au

Bran, from the host club in Sydney, sailed his one year-old Beneteau First 40 cruiser/racer in the more often than not fickle and variable conditions to its optimum. He finished the slow race this afternoon at 1.40.59pm, but had to wait a few hours until it became impossible for Roger Hickman’s vintage Farr 43, Wild Rose, or others, to beat him.

His two other main challengers were Phil Molony’s A40 cruiser/racer, Papillon and Andy Kearnan’s Summit 35, L‘Altra Donna, which have provisionally finished second and third overall. Wild Rose is likely to claim fourth place overall.

Surfer knocked unconscious by whale's tail / Surfer Today

Bishan Rajapakse was sharing waves with a friend when a 15-metre humpback whale flicked him off his surfboard, at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia.  More; Surfer knocked unconscious by whale's tail:

Lincoln Dews, Karla Gilbert Dominate Queensland State Titles | SUPracer.com

Carnage in the Technical Course race… (photo © Pieter Plooy/SUP World Magazine)

 

Take a look at the results from the 2013 Queensland State SUP Titles, which were held on the Gold Coast this past weekend. Young gun Lincoln Dews dominated the men’s racing, taking out both the 17km Distance Race and the BoP-style Technical Race ahead of his new Lahui Kai racing team manager Kelly Margetts. Meanwhile Ironwoman Queen Karla Gilbert was similarly impressive in the women’s, claiming both races and booking a spot in the Aussie Titles later this year.  More; [RESULTS] Lincoln Dews, Karla Gilbert Dominate Queensland State Titles | SUPracer.com

Thorzt Australian Ocean Racing Series Wrap Up | Ocean Paddler | Home of Australian Ocean Paddling

In a season that lacked serious wind, Manly Wine King of the Harbour at Manly kicked off this year’s national series with small following conditions.

The first across the line were the SUPs who raced over a shorter course. Local favourite Dave Kissane held off the fast finishing Jake Jensen from the Gold Coast and Wind Surf n Snow’s Sam Parker rounding out the top three. The ladies saw the Newcastle pair of Neelie Brown and Terrene Black finish in that order from local Di Morrison. More;Thorzt Australian Ocean Racing Series Wrap Up | Ocean Paddler | Home of Australian Ocean Paddling

Kailis' King of the Point Presented By the City of Stirling

Epic waves greeted competitors on the final day of the Kailis' King of the Point presented by the City of Stirling at Trigg Beach today.

Jake Paterson © Surfing WA/Woolacott

With light winds and a bump in the swell overnight, clean sets rolled through Trigg Point all morning. The action in the water was red hot as contestants battled it out for a spot in the finals and to ultimately be crowned 'King of the Point' to go home five thousand dollars richer.

 

Rusty team-rider Jay Davies (Yallingup) and Margaret River's Dave Delroy-Carr put on a stellar show against their counterparts in the semi-finals but were unable to match the power and style of former ASP World Tour competitor Jake Paterson (Yallingup) and multiple Margaret River Classic winner Tom Innes (Dunsborough), who battled it out in the man-on-man final in front of a building crowd.

 

Despite a south westerly change creating some unwanted lump and bump on the waves, Yallingup surfer Jake Paterson powered through the afternoon conditions to prove he is still a dominant force in competitive surfing.

Adriano de Souza Wins Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach

BELLS BEACH, Victoria/AUS (Tuesday, April 2, 2013) – Adriano de Souza (BRA), 25, has claimed the 2013 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford over ASP Dream Tour rookie
Nat Young (USA), 21.

Adriano de Souza (BRA), 25, 2013 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Champion!

 



Taj Burrow (AUS), 34, perennial ASP World Title threat, continued his blistering Bells Beach run this morning against compatriot Kai Otton (AUS), 33, in the Quarterfinals before coming up short to Young in their Semifinal bout.

“It’s a hard one to take but you can’t give anyone an inch on tour these days,” Burrow said. “Nat (Young) has been surfing so well. He’s a rookie, but he’s really polished and really dangerous. I’ll take a 3rd though and refocus for Brazil.”

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 25, was one of the form surfers at Bells Beach throughout the event window, consistently notching up high-scoring rides. The powerful South African’s run was ended, however, in the Semifinals at the hands of De Souza.

“Definitely disappointed that the score didn’t come in for me at the end,” De Souza said. “I really wanted to ring that Bell and felt like I’ve been surfing well all week. Congrats to Adriano (de Souza) though. He’s been ripping. Everyone’s been ripping and there have been some interesting results. Makes the year interesting. I’ll take the momentum into Brazil.”

Women's Final Daily Highlights - Rip Curl Women's Pro Bells Beach 2013

Carissa Moore (HAW) has claimed the 2013 Rip Curl Women's Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford over Tyler Wright (AUS), in clean three to five foot (1 - 1.5 metre) waves today in front of a capacity crowd at Bells Beach. Moore opened the final with a 9.57 and then survived a twenty-five minute lull as both competitors anxiously waited for the ocean to cooperate. With two minutes remaining Moore secured a back up score of 5.83 with a combined heat total of (15.40) to be crowned the 2013 Rip Curl Women's Pro Champion.

 

 The next stop on the 2013 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT) will be the TSB Bank NZ Surf Festival in New Zealand from April 3 – 7, 2013.

RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO BELLS BEACH FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Carissa Moore (HAW) 15.40
2 – Tyler Wright (AUS) 8.00

CURRENT ASP WOMEN’S WCT TOP 5 (Following Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach):
1. Carissa Moore (HAW) 26,500 pts
2. Tyler Wright (AUS) 26,000 pts
3. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 19,700 pts
4. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 18,200 pts
5. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 16,900 pts

 

Source; Rip Curl / ASP Media

Slater and Parkinson Fall Amidst World-Class Performances at Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach

BELLS BEACH, Victoria/AUS (Monday, April 1, 2013) – Pristine three-to-five foot (1 – 1.5 metre) waves rolled through the aquatic amphitheater of Bells Beach today as the world’s best surfers battled through three electric rounds of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford.

Nat Young (USA), 21, 2013 ASP Dream Tour rookie, into the Semifinals of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach

Stop No. 2 of 10 on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach recommences the hunt for this year’s world surfing crown and the unprecedented array of high-performance surfing at Bells Beach today yielded some incredible upsets and astonishing surfing action.

Kelly Slater (USA), 41, 11-time ASP World Champion and current ASP WCT No. 1, suffered a shock elimination this morning at the hands of injury replacement Willian Cardoso (BRA), 27.

“You never want to lose and especially in clean waves in the bowl,” Slater said. “I tweaked my back a few days ago and am nowhere near 100% so I have to go get an MRI on it. That said, Willian (Cardoso) smoked me. Plain as that. He was surfing really well and really powerful so congrats to him. We’ll just have to see what happens during the rest of the event with the other top guys. It’s a long year though.”

Carissa Moore Claims 2013 Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach, Takes ASP WCT Lead

BELLS BEACH, Victoria/AUS (Monday, April 1, 2013) – Carissa Moore (HAW), 20, has claimed the 2013 Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford over Tyler Wright (AUS), 19, in clean three-to-five foot (1 – 1.5 metre) waves today in front of a capacity crowd at Bells Beach.
 Today’s win vaults the young Hawaiian back into the lead on the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT) ratings for the first time in over a year.

Carissa Moore (HAW), 20, 2013 Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach champ and current ASP Women’s WCT No. 1.

“To win Bells is a dream,” Moore said. “As a little kid, you always looked forward to watching it and reading about it. The history and the prestige and the people who have won it are really legendary. To be a part of it now is really special.”

After opening the heat with a 9.57 on her first wave, Moore survived a psychologically-draining 25-minute lull in action before she and Wright battled it out in a final exchange in the dying moments.

“It wasn’t an easy heat,” Moore said. “I was fortunate to get a good score to start, but Tyler (Wright) is really powerful and a really fierce competitor. If she got the waves, it was going to be a challenge. We had a really long lull during the heat and then a little flurry at the end.”