Australia was one of 27 nations to paddle it out at the 2015 World Standup Paddle and Paddleboard Championship on Mexico's east coast. While calm waters did little to trouble paddlers' technical abilities, hot and humid conditions taxed some of the world's best in what has become a hugely popular event.

Team 49 States of America (Hawaii sought individual glory) broke Australia's four-year winning streak with a six gold-medal haul, dominating nearly every SUP category: Candice Appleby x 2 (SUP distance & technical), Jack Bark (prone technical), Danny Ching (SUP distance), Izzi Gomez & Sean Poynter (women's & men's SUP surf respectively).

In no way did this detract from Australia's hard-fought spot in silver with seven medals of different hues. Jordan Mercer's class shone with dual gold in the prone distance and technical races - she's the most decorated athlete in the event's history. Lachie Lansdown also rose to the occasion with gold in prone distance and silver in the technical. Terene Black's top form was consistent throughout the event with individual silver in the SUP distance race and bronze in the technical. The Australian relay team (Toby Cracknell, Black, Landsdown and Mercer) also held off the close charging Kiwi team to claim gold.

Hawaii managed to claim their own spot on the podium - just. Connor Baxter's gold and Mo Freitas' silver in the thrilling technical race (the last of the event) secured third spot. In surfing circles, Hawaii is traditionally recognised as a separate nation, and so it was in these championships.

The championships are unusual in that fourth spot is awarded a copper medal in each category; New Zealand won this spot in the final tally. Lastly, the home ground advantage was not lost on Mexico, with the host nation securing sixth spot, ahead of expectations.