Yanks break Aussie paddlers ISA winning streak.
27 nations battled it out over the weekend, but really it was all about the Hawaiians, the Americans and the Aussies. With such a star studded lineup, Australian padders - Terrene Black, Toby Cracknell, Beau O'Brian, Jackson Close, Beau Nixon and Emma Webb had to put on the best performance of their lives – and then some, to win the event. At the end of the weekend however it didn’t come together for our Stand Up Paddling team, although they did win the team relay for another year!
Up the front of the pack in the finals it was about as exciting as Stand up paddling gets, with small runners rolling through the course either making or breaking each paddlers race. It was likened to the good old days of the Doheny Beach Battle of the Paddle! At one point in the womens final, Candice Appleby from the USA was way out in front, with a win all but in the bag. Little did she know Aussie paddler Terrene Black was on a wave with two of her mates Penelope Strickland and Lina Augaitis, coming to get her from behind! The four hit the beach running together, although Candice managed to hold onto her win by 30 seconds after one more lap. Terrene came in second place, the best stand up paddling result for an Aussie in the World Championships.
So how did Australia come second with Terrene’s being the best result of the comp? Prone Paddlers. Those guys (and girls) were on fire! Jordan Mercer and Lachie Lansdown had their feet on that podium all weekend, bringing home a huge stack of medals.
To see all the action on the final day of racing, check out the highlights reef below from the people from Rogue Sup.
Shoalhaven Heads/Sydney, NSW
