Australia’s Michael Booth earns second Men’s ISA SUP Distance Gold; France’s Olivia Piana takes her first-ever ISA Gold
Australia’s Grace Rosato sweeps Women’s Paddleboard Golds, USA’s Hunter Pflueger earns Men’s Gold
With Team Relay Race remaining, Australia in position to win sixth Team Gold with USA trailing in Silver position
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Team Australia has catapulted into the lead with two Gold Medal performances in the 18 km SUP and Paddleboard Distance Races at the 2018 ISA World SUP Paddleboard Championship in Wanning, China.
Michael Booth earned his second ISA Distance Gold for Australia in the Men’s SUP race and Grace Rosato swept the 2018 Paddleboard categories with Gold in the Women’s Division.
The two Aussie Golds coupled with a Silver from Lachie Lansdown in the Men’s Paddleboard and a Silver and Bronze from Terrene Black and Shakira Westdorp respectively in the Women’s SUP boosted Team Australia into the overall team ranking lead ahead of Team USA.
Team USA’s Hunter Pflueger earned a Gold Medal of his own in the Men’s Paddleboard along with a Bronze from Kailyn Winter to keep Team USA close and within reach on the Final day of competition.
Team France moved up into Bronze position with Team Spain in Copper.
With one day remaining, the Team Relay Race on Sunday will determine who wins the overall Team Gold. Australia will go for their sixth Gold Medal in the event’s history, while USA will attempt to get their second.
The Men’s SUP and Paddleboard Distance Races kicked off the day of competition.
Australia’s Booth, the 2016 Gold Medalist, and USA’s powerhouse Connor Baxter separated from the pack early in the SUP discipline.
Booth eventually dropped Baxter, never taking his foot off the gas to build a commanding lead and finish ahead of the field to earn his second ISA Distance Gold.
Hungary’s Daniel and Bruno Hasulyo along with Brazil’s Vinnicius Martins started a draft train to move into medal position, passing France’s Titouan Puyo and USA’s Baxter. Bruno Hasulyo, the 2017 Gold Medalist, finished with the Silver, Martins with the Bronze and Daniel Hasulyo, who won the Men’s SUP Technical Race earlier in the week, with the Copper.
“It feels great,” said Booth. “I had a poor showing last year, but to come back this year and win it means a lot.
“I had a job to do today. I had to win this race because we are a bit behind in the team ranking. This should help us get ahead.”
India’s Sekar Patchai put on an inspirational performance as the sole representative for Team India with a 18th place finish out of 40.
“Until recently so many people were so afraid of the water in India and tanning their skin,” said Patchai. “Water sports are getting more popular in India, especially SUP and Surfing, so my participation here can help build on that.”
The Men’s Paddleboard Distance Race, which took to the course shortly after the Men’s SUP, was closely fought until the last lap.
A pack of the top five leaders stayed neck-and-neck, drafting off each other’s wake to conserve energy. On the final lap USA’s Pflueger broke the pack and sprinted ahead to the Gold Medal.
“Losing to Lachie in the Technical Race this week really fueled my fire,” said Pflueger.
“We all worked together through the first laps, but on the last lap it was time to go and I went hard.”
The 2017 Gold Medalist, Lachie Lansdown, finished next with the Silver Medal. South Africa’s Jadon Wessels earned the Bronze and Spain’s David Buil the Copper.
The Women’s SUP and Paddleboard Distance Races followed, equaling the excitement seen in the morning with the men.
Olivia Piana got off to a blazing start in the SUP race and by the second lap had built an unsurmountable lead ahead of the competition. Piana, who has earned five ISA Silver Medals in her career, finally was able to break through and earn a Gold.
Australia’s duo Black and Westdorp followed with Silver and Bronze, a strong result for Westdorp who also earned the SUP Surfing Gold, and Japan’s Yuka Sato earned Copper.
“It’s a dream to finally come through with the Gold,” said Piana. “Everything came together for me today. I loved the windy conditions.”
The Women’s Paddleboard race was even closer than the Men’s with Australia’s Technical Race Gold Medalist Rosato trading off the lead with Spain’s Judit Verges and USA’s Kailyn Winter.
Rosato managed to regain the lead and earn the Gold for Australia, a discipline that no other country has ever won. Verges earned the Silver for Team Spain, barely sprinting ahead of USA’s Winter who earned the Bronze.
Denmark’s Katrine Zinck earned the Copper Medal.
“I can’t put it into words,” said Rosato. “I am absolutely stoked that I am now a two-time World Champion. I can’t believe it.
“The ISA vibe is second to none. It’s the most amazing event I have ever experienced. I love seeing all the other countries get involved in the sport.”
ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:
“We’ve arrived at the moment that we have all been waiting for. The team ranking will come down to the Relay Race, where teamwork and camaraderie are especially crucial.
“We have seen the sport of SUP develop and grow before our eyes this week. New nations and new athletes have joined the ranks of the world’s elite, and tomorrow we will continue to write history and crown the seventh Team World Champion.”
The ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship will be streamed live on www.isasurf.org Nov 23 – Dec 2.
The remaining event schedule is the following*:
Shenzhou Peninsula
- December 2 – Relay Races, Closing Ceremony
Men’s SUP Distance
Gold – Michael Booth (AUS)
Silver – Bruno Hasulyo (HUN)
Bronze – Vinnicius Martins (BRA)
Copper – Daniel Hasulyo (HUN)
Women’s SUP Distance
Gold – Olivia Piana (FRA)
Silver – Terrene Black (AUS)
Bronze – Shakira Westdorp (AUS)
Copper – Yuka Sato (JPN)
Men’s Paddleboard Distance
Gold – Hunter Pflueger (USA)
Silver – Lachie Lansdown (AUS)
Bronze – Jadon Wessels (RSA)
Copper – David Buil (ESP)
Women’s Paddleboard Distance
Gold – Grace Rosato (AUS)
Silver – Judit Verges (ESP)
Bronze – Kailyn Winter (USA)
Copper – Katrine Zinck (DEN)
