Team Spirit: Australia reports on their SUP title

Angela Jackson © ISA/Gonzalez

Team Updates

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

Live Coverage | Results/Photos/Videos etc

Travelsim Team Australia completes gold rush at ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Champs

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 2 March, 2013 : - - TravelSIM Team Australia has claimed the 2013 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship in Miraflores, Peru, claiming two more victories on the final day of competition to finish with eight out of a possible 11 gold medals as well as the overall Team gold medal.

Australia cemented its dominance when Angela Jackson took out the women’s Technical Course SUP Race in perfect conditions, with 2-3ft (0.5-1 metre) waves and light winds greeting competitors at La Pampilla Beach. Jackson had to fight hard against France’s Olivia Piana for the win and was pushed until the final lap, but the Gold Coaster eventually broke free to add to the gold medal she won in Tuesday’s Long Distance SUP Race.
“I’m so happy to be going home with three gold medals,” said Jackson. “Team Australia rocks and super stoked to be part of such a great squad.”0

In the final of the Men’s Technical Course SUP Race, Australia had two more hopes in Kelly Margetts and Jamie Mitchell, both from Currumbin, Queensland. In an exciting race, Casper Steinfath, of Denmark, went out hard and led right up until the final turn of the final lap. That’s when Mitchell, using his surf skills and years of paddleboarding experience made a final, dramatic push for gold. Mitchell caught a set wave from out on the back leg of the course and surfed around the large turning buoy and caught up to Steinfath, who was 50 metres ahead only seconds earlier.

Mitchell and Steinfath, the top two finishers from Tuesday’s Long Distance Race, then surfed the wave all the way to the shore, high-fiving each other as they stood side by side, knowing it was to be a “best man wins” sprint to the line. Mitchell had half a metre as the two jumped from their boards but hit the soft, stoney shoreline and fell, while Steinfath had a clean exit and was able to sprint over the line for the win.

Seconds later Kelly Margetts was pipped on the line in a photo finish with Dylan Frick of South Africa, handing the Gold Coast paddler the fourth-placed copper medal. “I'm really proud of the team, the individual results are great, but it's Australia that comes first,” said team captain Mitchell. “My proudest moment all week was when we held up the team trophy.”

Earlier today the Australian SUP surfers Shakira Westdorp and Beau Nixon had to settle for the minor placings. Nixon and Westdorp were in contention for the gold and led their respective finals at one point, before a dominant performance by Sean Poynter, of the USA, stole the men’s event with Nixon finishing fourth while Nicole Pacelli, of Brazil, claimed the women’s event ahead of Westdorp.

The final day of competition at the ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship finished with the unique Team Relay race, which combined both SUP and Prone Paddleboarding. Australia was the hot favourite to claim their eighth gold medal but found stiff resistance from South Africa. Despite holding a commanding lead for much of the race, Australia was pushed to the line as Jamie Mitchell surfed a wave to the beach with South Africa’s Ryan Butcher. However, the TravelSIM Team Australia Captain made no mistakes in the sprint to the line to claim the win.

Team Championship
Australia 1,
South Africa 2,
Peru 3,
France 4,
Mexico 5

SUP Long Distance Race
Jamie Mitchell: gold
Angela Jackson: gold

Prone Long Distance Race
Brad Gaul: gold
Jordan Mercer: gold
Lincoln Dews: silver

SUP Technical Course Race
Angela Jackson: gold
Jamie Mitchell: silver
Kelly Margetts: copper

Prone Technical Course Race
Lincoln Dews: gold
Jordan Mercer: gold
Brad Gaul: silver

SUP Surfing
Shakia Westdorp: silver
Beau Nixon: copper
Team Relay
Australia: gold

Previous reports:
# 1 : Team Australia reports big Day 1 at ISA SUPs
# 2 : Aussies grab some gold at ISA World SUPs
# 3 : Mercer & Dews add to team Australia Gold