For immediate release
31st August 2017
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: International Surfing
Event: 2017 ISA World Stand Up Paddle and Paddleboard Championship
Disciplines: SUP Surfing, SUP Technical Race, SUP Long Distance. Paddleboard Technical Race, Paddleboard Long Distance Race
Date: 1st – 10th September 2017
Location: Vorupor and Copenhagen, Denmark
Websites: ISA and Surfing New Zealand #ISAWSUPPC #ISAWorlds
Dominant Kiwi Team Arrive in Denmark For World Championship on Back of Exceptional Form
The New Zealand Stand Up Paddle and Paddleboard Team has arrived in Denmark with huge momentum after team members have been successfully competing overseas in recent months.
The team of eleven athletes is competing at the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Stand Up Paddle and Paddleboard Championship which commences on September 1st (local time) with the parade of nations and sands of the world ceremony. The competition proper kicks off with the distance races for the SUP and prone athletes on September 2nd.
The New Zealand Team has already been touted as part of the ‘Big 5’ at the event alongside Australia, France, Hawaii and USA. This status is no doubt aided by the team’s bronze medal secured at the 2016 event in Fiji. However, this year, the team have brought in further title contenders with the likes of number one ranked Annabel Anderson (Queenstown) joining the team as well as returning athletes Jasmine Smith (Gis) and Ollie Houghton (Auck).
New Zealand has two defending champions in Sam Shergold (Mnt) in the Men’s Prone Distance Race and Penelope Strickland in the Women’s SUP Technical Race.
Strickland most recently shocked the SUP community with a win in one of the biggest races of the year – the 42km Molokai to Oahu Challenge, smashing the course record in the process.
In a similar manner, Strickland went into the last year’s World Championships well under the radar and came away with the gold medal. The underdog tag will be nowhere to be seen after her performances over the last 12 months.
The addition of Annabel Anderson to the team this year only bolsters New Zealand’s winning stocks, Anderson going into most international races as the athlete to beat. This year’s edition of the World Championship will be no different as she lines up for the Endurance, Technical and Sprint races.
At 15 years of age, Jasmine’s younger sister, Stella Smith (Gis), is the youngest member of the New Zealand Team. She won the National Championships in January and her impressive performances will push the best in the world in the SUP Surfing discipline.
Australia goes into the event as the defending champions while France finished second in 2016 with the highly touted Hawaiian’s in fourth.
The 2017 Denmark event is expected to attract close to 40 nations and 250 participants with ten nations expected to debut at the event.
The schedule for the event is as follows:
September 1: Opening Ceremony, Parade of Nations and Sands of the World
September 2: Men’s and Women’s SUP and Prone Distance Races
September 3: Men’s and Women’s SUP Sprint Races plus medal ceremonies (Distance and Sprint)
September 5 – 10: SUP Surf, SUP and Prone Technical Races, Team Relays, Closing Ceremony
Please see below for the full team that will compete at the 2017 ISA World Stand Up Paddle and Paddleboard Championship being held in Denmark from 1-10 September 2017.
Trevor Tunnington (AUS based) – SUP Surf, Endurance and Sprint Races
Sean Hovell (Gis) – SUP Surf
Stella Smith (Gis) – SUP Surf
Lucy Te Moananui (Kaikoura) – SUP Surf Women’s
Marcus Hansen (Whangarei) – SUP Distance and Technical Races
Oliver Houghton (Auck) – SUP Technical Race
Penelope Strickland (Auckland) – SUP Distance and Technical Races
Annabel Anderson (Qtown) – SUP Endurance, Technical and Sprint Races
Sam Shergold (Mount Maunganui) – Paddleboard Distance and Technical Races
Jessica Miller (AUS based) – Paddleboard Distance Race
Jasmine Smith (Gis) – Paddleboard Technical Race
Manager – Rosie Houghton (Auckland)
Assistant Manager – Gavin Houghton (Auckland)
Further Information
For further information on the New Zealand Stand Up Paddle and Paddleboard Team please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.
Imagery
High resolution action images of the team will be available to media free of charge upon request.
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