The New Zealand Team has notched up their fourth medal at the 2017 ISA World Stand Up Paddle and Paddleboard Championship being held in Denmark with a silver medal going to Trevor Tunnington (Gold Coast based) in the Men’s SUP Sprint Race.
The medal sees New Zealand maintain their number one ranking at the event ahead of France, Australia and Hawaii who complete the top four.
Tunnington and Annabel Anderson (Queenstown) were the only athletes in action on the second day of the event backing up after the gruelling distance races on day one.
Tunnington, who is renowned for his sprint racing, eased his way through the heats to the final where he faced off against the best in the world. Local athlete Casper Steinfath (DEN) dominated the final by over a second leaving Tunnington to battle it out for the minor placings. Coming into the final 30m of the race, Tunnington found the power to edge past the Brazilian paddler into second place.
“It was all kind of a blur” exclaimed Tunnington post-race.
“The race hooter went off and I think I got a pretty good start. I ran my own race and just concentrated on the chop and keeping the board at the correct pitch. I didn’t pay attention to anybody else in the field. In fact I had no idea where I came at the end; luckily my teammates were keeping score for me! All I know is it was anybody’s game” he added.
Tunnington was feeling the effects of the 18km distance race the day prior where he placed tenth after losing the leading pack early on and having to put in extra effort to keep pace.
“I had absolutely no energy left after yesterday’s race and this morning I was worried about the sprints as my shoulders and lats were stiff and aching. I went for a warm up paddle with Connor Baxter before our sprint heats and he was in just as much pain. I guess it wasn’t the best thing to do right before the sprints but it was great to be involved with both races” said Tunnington.
The workload continues for the Gold Coast based athlete who now turns his attention to the SUP Surfing Discipline which kicks off at Vorupor on the 5th (local time). He will lean on the strong support of the Kiwi team to build up for the next challenge.
“It’s so great being a part of a team especially since I feel like it’s usually every man for themselves with the big events that we compete in around the world”.
“I’m up against the big boys in the surfing like Sean Poynter (USA), Mo Freitas (Hawaii) and Caio Vas (BRA) so I’m really interested to see how I fair against them and look forward to learning from their experience”.
Today, Anderson could not replicate Tunnington’s success or her gold medal performance in the distance race from the first day. Anderson was ousted in the first heat of the women’s at the hands of athletes from Brazil and South Africa finishing ninth.
Anderson also continues her campaign from the 5th September competing in the Women’s Technical SUP Races held in the waves at Vorupor.
The two athletes will be joined by seven of their team mates in competition over the next five days.
Three athletes from Gisborne will be in action including sisters Jasmine and Stella Smith in the Technical Prone and SUP Surfing as well as Sean Hovell in the Men’s SUP Surfing.
Stella Smith is joined by Kaikoura’s Lucy Te Moananui in the surfing.
Marcus Hansen (Whangarei) returns in the Men’s Technical Race and is joined by Ollie Houghton (Auckland). Penelope Strickland (Auckland) will also return to the fold to defend her title in the Women’s SUP Technical Race.
Full team in action from the 5th – 10th September:
Men’s SUP Surf – Trevor Tunnington (Gold Coast based) and Sean Hovell (Gis) – SUP Surf
Women’s SUP Surf – Stella Smith (Gis) and Lucy Te Moananui (Kaikoura)
Men’s SUP Technical Race – Marcus Hansen (Whangarei) and Oliver Houghton (Auck)
Women’s SUP Technical Race – Penelope Strickland (Auckland) and Annabel Anderson (Qtown)
Men’s Prone Technical Race – Sam Shergold (Mount Maunganui)
Women’s Prone Technical Race – Jasmine Smith (Gisborne)
Please see below for results from day 2 (3rd December local time) of the 2017 ISA World Stand Up Paddle and Paddleboard Championships being held in Denmark from the 1st – 10th September.
Men’s SUP Sprint Race Final
1, Casper Steinfath DEN 00.57.45
2, Trevor Tunnington NZL 00.58.51
3, Arthur Santacreu BRA 00.58:69
4, Lincoln Dews AUS 00.59.67
Women’s SUP Sprint Race Final
1, Manca Notar SLO 1.07.58
2, Amandine Chazot FRA 1.10.43
3, Jade Howson USA 1.11.58
4, Yuka Sato JPN 1.13.35
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.
