Mercer & Dews add to team Australia Gold

Lincoln Dews © ISA/Tweddle

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International Surfing Association
Club Waikiki Miraflores, Lima Peru
24 February - 2 March 2013

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Jordan Mercer & Lincoln Dews add to Team Australia Gold Haul at ISA World SUP Champs

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 1 March, 2013 : - - TravelSIM Team Australia claimed two more gold medals on Day 5 at the ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship in Peru to keep its winning streak alive and cement a commanding lead in the overall points table. Led by Jordan Mercer, Australia increased its haul to six gold and two silver medals, with the team still undefeated heading into tomorrow’s final day of competition.

The two gold medals on offer today were in the Prone Paddleboarding Technical Course Race, with ironwoman star Mercer starting the hot favourite in the women’s and Molokai-2-Oahu World Champion Brad Gaul the top pick in the men’s.

Mercer started the women’s final strongly but a few uncharacteristic mistakes opened the door for South Africa’s Anna Notten, with the two side by side halfway through the final lap. Mercer was eventually able to use her superior surf knowledge to break free, crossing the line 50 metres in front and taking her second gold of the week.

“I had fun surfing soap bars today,” said Mercer, clearly relieved to have held on for victory. “That was some seriously nerve wracking racing. I was a bit worried I was going to ruin the team’s unbeaten streak and have to paddle back to Australia.”

In the men’s race it was all green and gold, as team mates Lincoln Dews and Brad Gaul set the pace right from the start. Gaul was the clear favourite after winning the Distance Race gold medal on Tuesday, but young Dews refused to follow the script and went out hard off the line. After being side by side for much of the race, Gaul caught a rail while surfing a wave and lost priceless ground to Dews, who went on to claim the gold.

“I’m lost for words,” was all an exhausted Dews could mutter on the finish line as he proudly wrapped himself in the Australian flag. Earlier in the day the Australian SUP surfers had mixed results; Justin Holland missed a spot in tomorrow’s final by just 0.23, while Beau Nixon and Shakira Westdorp progressed after surviving the repechage round.

Westdorp was forced into the sudden-death round after an early morning loss, before posting a solid 13.5 out of 20 to book a place in the final and keep her gold medal hopes alive. “I’m stoked to make the final but there’s still a lot of work to do,” said Westdorp, who won the silver medal in this event 12 months ago.

Beau Nixon also had to surf through the final repechage round and despite posting a solid 14.94 only narrowly qualified for the final. Both Australian men were in the same, sudden-death heat, with Nixon taking first on a score of 14.94 while Holland had to settle for third despite a combined total of 14.27.

The event concludes tomorrow, with TravelSIM Team Australia looking very strong to defend their overall championship title from 12 months ago. There are still five more gold medals up for grabs in the SUP surfing, SUP racing and Team Relay events, and Australia has a genuine chance in every event.

Previous reports:
# 1 : Team Australia reports big Day 1 at ISA SUPs
# 2 : Aussies grab some gold at ISA World SUPs
# 3 : Coming Soon
# 4 : Coming Soon