In brief: Karla Gilbert has won her sixth 12 Towers title while Lincoln Dews cemented his world number one status by vanquishing a strong pre-season field on Australaia’s Gold Coast today.
The iconic ocean race offered competitors a solid downwind run to make up for last year’s “no-winder,” with Lincoln proving too strong in the bumps for a field that included his two major sparring partners from last season, Michael Booth and Titouan Puyo. → READ MORE
Titouan Puyo showed he’s still the king of New Caledonia, but there are no shortage of heirs apparent after the tiny Pacific island nation blew away the Aussies at the SUPs Down Under event on Queensland’s Gold Coast today.
New Caledonia took four of the top five spots in the men’s race, with Titou being joined by Noic Garioud (3rd), Clement Colmas (4th) and the new downwind dark horse (or “le cheval noir”) Ben Riviere. Only runner-up Lincoln Dews managed to get in between the “Cagous” and salvage some pride for the home team, while Angie Jackson took out the women’s ahead of her ONE team mate Kate Baker. → READ MORE
Michael Booth and Yuka Sato picked up a bag full of pre-season Paddle League points on the Gold Coast this weekend, with the Starboard duo overcoming a hot field and even hotter conditions to salute at the 7th Annual 12 Towers Ocean Race.
Boothy overpowered world number two Titouan Puyo (NSP/QB) and fast-finishing Lincoln dews (DEEP/QB), while Yuka stunned the strong Aussie women led by dark horse Kate Baker (ONE) and international star Terrene Black (ECS/QB). → READ MORE
World number two Michael Booth has started Season 2017 much the same way he finished 2016, claiming this weekend’s 3-star Noosa Festival of Surfing after a see-sawing battle with Team NSP’s Titouan Puyo and the highly under-rated (and under-ranked) Lincoln Dews.
The human machine from Team Starboard lived up to his reputation as the world’s strongest distance racer by claiming Saturday’s 14km race, however Titou showed he’ll once again be a favourite in every event he enters after an impressive and somewhat unlucky performance. → READ MORE
ONE SUP has just announced the signing of top paddle athlete Jake Jensen, a major pick up for a boutique brand that’s aiming to punch above its weight and give the powerhouse brands some stiff competition.
Jake joins ONE team riders (and brand co-founders) Paul and Angie Jackson as the Australian-based squad looks to compete against the well-estsblished international race teams in season 2017. → READ MORE
