James Casey

James Casey, Annabel Anderson Win the M2Molokai Challenge as Team Sunova Sweeps Top Spots

posted July 11th, 2017 by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

In brief: Aussie James Casey has continued his winning ways in Hawaii, with the 2017 OluKai champ taking out the M2Molokai Challenge on the weekend as the ocean paddling world gears up for a big double header later this month.

Jimmy completed the 42km (26 mile) crossing from Maui to Molokai in a time of 3 hours, 19 minutes and 9 seconds, narrowly avoiding an upset at the hands of his Team Sunova board designer Marcus Tardrew, a lesser-known but extremely talented downwind paddler who crossed less than a minute later. Maui’s Kody Kerbox restored some pride for the home team by snagging third place.

Annabel Anderson was in a league of her own in the women’s race, claiming the win in 3:39:05, with Andrea Moller runner-up and stars-of-the-future Kali’a Alexiou and Lara Claydon enjoying a close battle for the third step on the podium. → READ MORE

World Rankings, Japan edition: Mo Freitas is the world #3 again, while James Casey returns to the top 10 in style.

posted May 7th, 2017 by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

Terrene Black, Connor Baxter Win a Rollercoaster Weekend in Japan

posted May 7th, 2017 by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

Australia’s Terrene Black has made it two from two on the APP Tour, mirroring her Maui result at the Japan Pro-Am after outlasting Fiona Wylde, Candice Appleby and Sonni Honscheid in a weekend of rollercoaster results and conditions that produced a virtual tie in the small but elite women’s field.

The result boosts Terrene into the ultra-exclusive ‘Top Five Club’ on the updated World Rankings, with the Japan Pro-Am scoring 38% on the women’s Race Index. → READ MORE

James Casey, Annabel Anderson Win the Weather-Affected OluKai ‘Beach Race’ on Maui (RESULTS)

posted April 30th, 2017 by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

World number one Annabel Anderson and Sunova’s James Casey have taken out the weather-affected OluKai Ho’olaulea race on Maui this morning, winning the modified ‘beach race’ event at Kanaha after the standard Maliko downwind run was canceled for the second time in two days following wild and unsafe conditions.

With swirling winds and stormy weather continuing to lash the Hawaiian coast, OluKai organisers wisely opted for safety over tradition, keeping the event inside the reef at Kanaha Beach Park instead of sending competitors on what would have been a somewhat-treacherous ocean paddle from Maliko Gulch. → READ MORE

James Casey and Kelly Margetts Join ‘Sunova’ as a New Race Team Is Born

posted January 29th, 2017 by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

Sunova has officially signed top international athletes James Casey and Kelly Margetts alongside designer Marcus Tardrew, with the Aussie trio helping establish a new race team and completing the long list of new year’s athlete team changes in the process.

With roots in Australia but now based in Thailand, Sunova’s entry comes as the racing scene witnesses a major shakeup, with some of the top teams dropping off while several new boutique brands quickly rise through the ranks. → READ MORE

The ‘Top 16 of 2016’ — The Best Paddlers in the World This Year

posted December 30th, 2016 by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

What a year it’s been for our sport, with great performances by incredible athletes at big events all around the world making for an exciting season of racing.

But who was the best? Who dominated all season long? Who were the standout stand up athletes this year? It’s time to reveal the Top 16 of 2016… → READ MORE

The Japan Cup, Day 2: Annabel Anderson, Mo Freitas Claim the Survivor Race

posted September 10th, 2016 by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

Annabel Anderson and Mo Freitas have claimed lucrative wins on the second and final day of the Mynavi Japan Cup here in Chigasaki.

Under grey, drizzly skies, which stood in stark contrast to Saturday’s draining hot sun, Mo surged to victory on the final, 10-man lap of the short, sharp survivor course, holding off the Aussie quartet of James Casey, Michael Booth, Toby Cracknell and Matt Nottage. Hometown hero Kenny Kaneko finished just outside the money in sixth. → READ MORE

#M2O: Post-Molokai Reflections (and Photos) from 38 of the World’s Best Paddlers

posted August 3rd, 2016 by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

The boards are back on the rack, the boats are back in the harbour and the trophies are up on the mantelpiece. Molokai-2-Oahu is done for another season, however the memories from this year’s epic will live on forever. The most prestigious race in the world certainly lived up to its hype this year, with the 20th annual crossing of the Ka’iwi Channel proving to be the fastest, most competitive and most exciting edition yet.

I could wax lyrical about this storied event, however nobody says it better than the paddlers themselves, the ones who were actually out there battling in the Channel of Bones for pride and glory. So to give you a better insight into what M2O really means, here’s a selection of post-Molokai reflections from the world’s best paddlers… → READ MORE

Post-Molokai World Rankings

posted August 1st, 2016 by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

After the epic crossing of the Ka’iwi Channel from Molokai to Oahu yesterday, we’ve updated the leaderboards on the SUP Racer World Rankings with the latest results.

The most significant moves come from the M2O champions, with Kai Lenny jumping +3 to world number four, while Sonni Hönscheid becomes the new world number two after her third-straight Molokai-2-Oahu title.

Other big movers include Jimmy Casey, who cracks the world’s top 10 for the first time following a supremely impressive fourth place finish (where he was less than a minute behind three-time Molokai winner Connor Baxter). Jimmy’s compatriot and fellow top five giant killer, Toby Cracknell, is +10 this week and becomes the highest-ranked paddler with less than the minimum five best results, meaning he could easily crack the top 20 with one more decent result.

Molokai “Preview & Predictions” — Who’s Going to Win the Most Prestigious Race of the Year?

posted July 29th, 2016 by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

We’re just over 24 hours away from the most prestigious race of the season, and what a race it’s shaping up to be. The 20th annual crossing of the Ka’iwi Channel between Molokai to Oahu is already destined for the history books, but a record level of talent and a few last-minute twists should ensure we’ll be talking about this one for many years to come.

The Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships, aka M2O or just simply Molokai, has become the ultimate event of the international stand up paddle racing season. The race has taken on an almost mythical status over the years, and it’s surely one of the toughest trophies in the sport to get your hands on. Becoming a Molokai champion makes you an instant hero, while many paddling legends have built their reputations by conquering this epic, dangerous, thirty-two mile stretch of open ocean between these two imposing Hawaiian islands. → READ MORE

WATCH: Insights and Highlights from the Maui2Molokai Race

posted July 19th, 2016 by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

Just in case you couldn’t make it to Hawaii on the weekend, here’s a great clip from Saturday’s big Maui2Molokai race, aka M2M, featuring some insightful athlete interviews and plenty of endless downwind glides.

The 7th annual channel crossing from Maui to Molokai saw Connor Baxter extend his record winning streak — he has, quite incredibly, won every single edition of this event — while Devin Blish claimed her second crown in the space of 24 months. → READ MORE

Connor Baxter Outlasts Travis Grant and Matt Nottage to Win Seventh Straight Maui2Molokai; Devin Blish Claims Women’s Title

posted July 16th, 2016 by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

Connor Baxter has won a record seventh-straight Maui 2 Molokai (M2M) title, narrowly edging out Travis Grant in one of the fastest ever channel crossings, and setting up a mouth-watering clash at the major Molokai 2 Oahu (M2O) showdown later this month.

Connor finished in a time of 2:58:51, less than two minutes ahead of Travis, with conditions firing in the middle part of the course but stormy weather preventing it from being an all-time downwinder. → READ MORE

Da Hui Race: Aussies James Casey and Terrene Black Claim the Opening Round of Hawaii’s Downwind Month

posted July 5th, 2016 by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

In brief: Australia’s James “Jimmy” Casey has made it a winning start to Downwind Month in Hawaii, taking out the Da Hui Independence Day Race on Oahu’s North Shore.

Jimmy led home a flotilla of Aussies, with Kelly Margetts finishing runner-up ahead of fellow Green & Gold Toby Cracknell. North Shore local Andrew Logreco was the top Hawaiian in 4th, followed by Bullet Obra who scored 5th overall on his 14 footer. → READ MORE

James Casey, Sonni Hönscheid Win the Wet & Wild Bluesmiths Paddle Imua Benefit Race on Maui

posted May 7th, 2016 by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

Fresh of her victory at the big OluKai race last weekend, Sonni Hönscheid has taken out the 5th Annual BLUESMITHS Paddle Imua charity race on Maui, as heavy rains turned the usual sunny downwinder into a bit of a grind. Australian James Casey, who also finished on the OluKai podium, took out the men’s race ahead of local expert Jeremy Riggs. → READ MORE

WATCH: Aerial View of the 2016 OluKai Ho’olaule’a on Maui

posted May 2nd, 2016 by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

Check out this awesome aerial footage from the 8th Annual OluKai Ho’olaule’a, which was held Saturday on Maui and from which Connor Baxter and Sonni Hönscheid emerged victorious against an all-star field.

The OluKai Ho featured another massive turnout this year, with over 300 paddlers once again hitting the world famous Maliko downwind run on Maui’s north shore. Connor once again claimed the title (for a record fifth year in a row), while Sonni claimed her maiden win. → READ MORE

RESULTS: Connor Baxter Wins 5th Straight ‘OluKai’ Crown, Sonni Hönscheid Claims Women’s Title

posted April 30th, 2016 by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

Connor Baxter has won his 5th straight OluKai title, defeating an all-star cast of the world’s best downwind paddlers in near-perfect conditions on Maui this afternoon.

After going into the race as red hot favourite – Connor has won every edition of this event stretching back to 2012 – the world number one relished the excellent downwind bumps on the famous Maliko run to finish in a time of 47 minutes, 41 seconds, while Mo Freitas put in a commanding performance to claim the runner-up spot. → READ MORE

The Dark Horses: 16 Paddlers to Watch in 2016

posted April 17th, 2016 by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

These are exciting times for the world of stand up paddle racing, with fresh faces and new names set to energise the sport and shake up the world rankings this year.

With dozens of world class athletes crossing over from other sports and a new generation of hungry juniors eager to prove themselves, I believe we’re on the verge of a new wave of elite paddling talent. So with the first major race of the season just six days away, it’s time for a bit of crystal ball gazing to predict who will make the biggest leap up the leaderboard in 2016. → READ MORE

Michael Booth Wins Yet Again in Australia, Defeating James Casey and Toby Cracknell in Terrigal

posted April 4th, 2016 by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

In brief: Michael Booth has won yet again, taking out the latest race in Australia to cement his rising reputation as the name to watch on the international scene this year.

Boothy took out both the course race and the downwinder at the Terrigal Haven SUP Classic, an event that was seemingly organised last minute but still attracted a few of Australia’s finest talents. Finishing runner-up in each race was Saucy Jack Classic champion James Casey, while Team Australia’s Toby Cracknell picked up a couple of thirds. → READ MORE

RESULTS: James Casey, Angie Jackson Show Promising Early Season Form to Win the Saucy Jack Classic

posted March 24th, 2016 by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

James Casey and Angie Jackson took out the 2016 Saucy Jack Classic in New South Wales, Australia last weekend, defeating an elite field to show they’ll be real contenders on the international circuit this season.

The Saucy Jack weekend (formerly “Harry’s Paddle”) was split into three separate races this year: The BOP race, the knockout sprints, and the 10k “Harbour Hustle” distance race. Points were combined from each to produce the overall event standings, and with seven of the world’s top 35 ranked men on the start line, including four of the top 15, it was always going to be a tough one to win. → READ MORE

2016 Molokai 2 Oahu Start List Revealed, Set to Be Most Competitive Channel Crossing Ever

posted March 10th, 2016 by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

The start list for the 2016 Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard World Championships has just been revealed, with the men’s solo stand up paddle division attracting the most competitive field in the event’s 20 year history.

Top ranked athletes including three-time champ and world number one Connor Baxter, two-time champ and world number two Travis Grant, number three Danny Ching, and number four Kai Lenny will be racing across the Ka’iwi Channel (aka the “Channel of Bones”) on Sunday, July 31st. → READ MORE