Talia Gangini : photo Pashey Designs

Stand Up Paddle News

Talia Gangini is top 10 female 'Stand Up Paddle' Athletes in the World.

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 8 October, 2009 : - - Placing 8th in the most respected worldwide SUP event of the year, Rainbow Sandal’s annual Gerry Lopez 'Battle of the Paddle', held Saturday October 3rd at Doheny Beach, CA, the multi-talented Talia Gangini proves to the world that she is fast on her way to becoming one of the top athletes within the sport of women’s Stand Up Paddleboard racing.  

This was only her first time participating in the annual event and she beat most of the sport’s top competitors, many of them twice her age.  Her enthusiasm for winning, and her flare for style, was evident as she accepted her place among the best of the best SUP athletes at this year’s awards ceremony wearing her very own custom jewelry and bikini line. 

Talia said after the event "It was a very tough event, but fun. You had to keep telling yourself you can do it. People and boards were flying everywhere. It was definitely the Battle of the Paddle".
 
The event’s Elite Woman’s division race was by invite only and Talia definitely earned her way in with an impressive line up of over 5 years of major accomplishments in a variety of water sports including surfing, OC-1 racing and Stand Up Paddle racing.  At only 14 years old, in 2007, Talia became the youngest women to ever paddle the 32 mile Molokai to Oahu paddle board race on a team.

She has achieved 1st place in several of Hawaii’s top OC-1 races this year alone.  She was a top ranked surfer by the age of 11, earning firsts in top Jr. Division contests throughout Maui. Talia is a winner outside the water as well.  Her custom jewelry was recently selected for the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine’s annual swimsuit edition 2009.

Talia’s cone shell necklace can be seen on the cover model, Bar Refaeli. Gangini has been making jewelry since she was only 12. Her line, Pashey Designz, is a stunning combination of delicate sea shells and hammered silver and gold. Then in 2008, Thalia and her younger sister started a line of bathing suits called Manini Gangini Bikini.  Both her jewelry and bikinis are currently sold online and at high-end boutiques on Maui, HI. 

When asked what’s up next for the amazing designer, entrepreneur and world class athlete, she say’s "The next couple months I'll be focusing on school, jewelry line and designing new bikinis and just staying fit for the next event. There's not too many on the horizon until the beginning of next year, but I'm sure something will pop up and I’m looking forward to it.”

www.mgbikini.com.

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Team SUP - Surfersvillage