Paddleboard News

Coolangatta Gold Champion Hayle Bateup Chases Hennessey's Title Paddleboarding Debut for Ky Hurst

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 24 October, 2006 : - - The withdrawal of world champion paddleboarder Jamie Mitchell (Currumbin, Aus) has left the door wipe open in the race for the supremacy at the Hennessey’s International Paddleboard Championships, a 17-km open-ocean race from Southport Spit to Burleigh Heads on Saturday 28th October, 2006.  

In the absence of the paddleboard ace, former Australian Ironwoman champion Hayle Bateup (Gold Coast) will enter the event as a clear favourite in the Wahine’s (women’s) open division, while former Gold Coast ironman Aaron Bitmead (Nth Burleigh, Aus) has staked his claim for a title in the blue ribbon men’s open unlimited division (greater than 12ft). 

Earlier this month, 26-year-old Bateup celebrated back-to-back Coolangatta Gold victories after crossing the line ahead of Northcliffe team-mates and archrivals Kristy Harris (Gold Coast) and Elizabeth Pluiners (Gold Coast) in the grueling surf lifesaving event. 

No stranger to a paddleboard, Bateup raced the exhausting Molokai last year and has posted several impressive results, including winning the open unlimited women’s division at the U.S. Championships in both 2003 and 2005. 

Bateup agrees that riding a paddleboard is as physically demanding as her standard ironwoman craft. Adding fuel to the fire, four times Australian Ironman champion Ky Hurst will make his paddleboarding debut.

Currently in training for swimming’s World Championship trials, 25-year-old Hurst will trade his exhausting swimming schedule for the chance to tackle an unlimited 12ft plus paddleboard in the championships. 

Ironically, Hurst’s first attempt at riding a paddleboard was less than a week ago. Likewise, it coupled as his first paddle on an ocean-based surf-craft in more than two years.nThe laid-back paddleboarding rookie appears to be unconcerned with the high expectation placed upon him approaching the inaugural event.

“Realistically, I’m aiming for a top ten finish,” said a composed Hurst.  “I love paddling and the sport is without doubt developing at a fast rate. I really just want to jump in and get a feel for it.” 

Former Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard champion and seasoned campaigner Mick Dibetta (Burleigh Heads, Aus) is dark horse to win the men’s 40-49 unlimited division following a year plagued by injury. The 43 year-old lifeguard was hospitalized with a broken tibia and a “smashed” tibia plateau after a freak tow-surfing accident during the huge swells at the Quiksilver Pro in March this year and the injury put his paddling career in doubt. 

The race also marks the arrival of world-renowned paddlers Bryan Szymanski (California, USA), Dave Yester (Hawaii) and Jane Cairns (California, USA). Szymanski, who took 1st place in the stock class at this year’s Catalina Classic, a division restricted to a 12-foot board or smaller, is sure to be a contender regardless of race day conditions. 

Yester, a longtime Waimea Lifeguard, is a seasoned performer at all levels of paddleboarding, whilst waterwoman Cairns was a long distance swimmer before she started paddleboarding and is the reigning U.S. Championships women’s division champion.  

There is a $15,000 total prize pool for the top finishers in the unlimited, stock and wahine divisions overall, with $1400 awarded to the blue ribbon open men’s unlimited winner.  What's more, top finishers from Team California, Team Hawaii, Team New Zealand and Team Australia will accumulate points for an overall team world champion.  

The race is expected to commence at Southport Spit at 11am with over 100 competitors taking part. Top finishers are expected to hit the finish line at Burleigh Heads within two hours. In race tradition of Hennessey’s Taverns, an awards banquet and dinner will follow the race complete with live entertainment, awards ceremony, dinner and raffle.  

The Hennessey’s International Paddleboard Championships is proudly presented by Hennessey’s Paddleboard Festivals.

Divisions: 

Men's Unlimited 18-29 years
Men's Unlimited 30-39 years
Men's Unlimited 40-49 years
Men's Unlimited 50-59 years
Men's Unlimited 60 years + (no stock)
Men's Stock 18-29 years
Men's Stock 30-39 years
Men's Stock 40-49 years
Men's Stock 50-59 years
Wahine (Women) open unlimilted (no stock)
Big Brudda (90kg+)

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Jake White

Paddleboard - Surfersvillage