Competition
What a time Australians are having in Europe at the moment. While most of the world’s media is focused on the G7 meeting in Bavaria, this was really just a side show to the main event in Germany’s south, the Lost Mills race.

The race is one of biggest on the SUP calendar so the field was stacked with some of the best paddling talent. The 18km slog was held under a blazing sun, which meant it would be a case of hanging in for many. The race format is a challenge in itself: competitors race on one lake, exit the water, run 100m with their board to an adjoining lake, paddle that, exit again, and then paddle the first lake again. These portage sections uncouple the trains that quickly develop on the flat water (watch the following drone footage to see how quickly the pelotons formed at the start).



Local favourite Sonni Honscheid maintained her winning streak in the Euro Tour with a 2 hour finish (don’t know how she stayed alive wearing that long-sleeve rashie and leggings). Angie Jackson (Australia) kept pace with Honscheid until the last portage section. French competitor Celine Guesdon rounded out the top three.

Connor Baxter (Hawaii) grabbed the Euro Tour lead by winning the race in 1:49, just pipping Titouan Puyo (New Caledonia) and Trevor Tunnington, the young Australian who burst onto the world scene over the weekend (see more below). Surprisingly, the podium finishers failed to organise a train in the final 3km drag to the finish line, instead preferring to take their own lines.

Perhaps the best thing about winning Lost Mills is the prize at the end – beer and pretzels. Who said Germans don’t know how to have a good time (even if the word fashion has no direct translation)?



The weekend’s action wasn’t limited to the distance race. The unofficial world 200m sprint championship was held as part of the event, with paddlers facing off on a dual-lane flatwater course. Tunnington, the 18-year old from the Gold Coast, revealed his fast twitch muscles are the best in the world by clocking 52.02 seconds. That was a full 2½ seconds ahead of Casper Steinfath (Denmark, 54.67) and fellow Australian Jake Jensen (54.83).

Lina Augaitis (Canadian) made it two years in a row as fastest female sprinter with 1:05.27. In a repeat of last year’s race, Angie Jackson (Australia, 1:05.86) missed out by a hair’s breadth (third time lucky, I say – I'm already celebrating your win next year Angie). There was a fantastic story about third-place finisher Manca Notar who, first of all conceded one-and-a-half-feet with her board when she recorded 1:07.44 on a 12’6” Javelin. To top it off, the Slovenian school girl was in the midst of her final exams, so her family did a ten-hour round trip to deliver her for the sprint then rushed her back to school after the prize ceremony.

Here’s a superb picture of the technique that propelled Tunnington 200m in 52 seconds. I especially like the index finger on top of the handle – it reveals a stroke that includes finesse, rather than brute strength alone. (I tried that hand placement myself over the weekend, but for the life of me couldn’t do it comfortably).



Closer to home, Ben Tardrew won the SUP category in the Great Barrier Reef Ocean Challenge held in stonking downwind conditions over 45km from Yorkeys Knob to Port Douglas. Tardrew managed to squeeze under the 4-hour mark, with 3:57. Dale Chapman placed second in 4:22 (no prizes for the type of board Dale paddled) while Rob Walton was third with 4:26.

This week’s lucky number: 95
In the heats for the 200m sprint championship, Carsten Kurmis finished in 17th place with a time of 1:03.74. Handily, Kurmis had a GoPro reverse-mounted on the front of his board and posted the following footage. www.facebook.com/starboardsupdeutschland/posts/930772370319194

I counted 95 strokes over the distance, during which he swapped sides three times. That equates to 2.1 metres per stroke and 89.4 strokes per minute. That’s what’s required to compete on the world sprint stage. See if you can maintain that stroke rate next time you’re out on the water.

Upcoming comps
Palm Beach stages the last round of the Sydney Paddling Surfing Club’s 2014-15 surf season this Sunday (don’t forget to set the alarm as it’s a 7.15 start).

It looks like Gold Coast has responded to Central Coast’s challenge at the Scotts Head 3 Day SUP contest from June 19-21. Will make for some great stoke.

Further south, the Tassie SUP Winter Classic will also be held over that weekend, just above the Antarctic Circle, for those who can’t get enough lycra in their lives.

And as if that weekend hasn’t enough SUP, the Payette River Games are being held in the US. The world’s richest SUP event (US$50k prize pool) is held at a white-water park in Idaho. The CBS network will be televising it, so the images should be top notch. Competitors are restricted to a board no longer than 11’ (in all likelihood an inflatable) and they have to use it for both races at the event: a SUP Cross (expect plenty of biff) and a Giant Slalom.

Quiver talk
The local Naish guys are currently in Hawaii checking over next season’s boards. Sounds like there will be plenty to froth about on their return.

Latest vids
While we’re on the topic of yellow, The Search for Freedom, a movie charting the rise of adrenaline junkies through the ages is released this Wednesday. Robby Naish and Kenny Lai fly the SUP flag and offer plenty of product placement.

And for those of you who love life unlimited, DJ posted a downwind session on his old girl, but couldn’t keep his rudder straight (don’t worry, it’s all above board). www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/Back-on-the-old-girl/

Inspiration point
Winner of the 14-foot category in the M2O for the last two years, Travis Baptiste is another example of the incredible younger generation of paddlers that is propelling our sport. Here’s a great insight to the dedication that’s required of a school kid to achieve what he’s done.
www.supthemag.com/features/travis-baptiste-the-average-day-of-a-teenage-race-prodigy/

Downwind bucket list
SUP Connect just published what they claim are the world’s best downwinders. supconnect.com/news/the-top-must-do-downwinders-on-your-sup

See if you agree.

Maliko Run, Maui
Maui to Molokai Run
Columbia Gorge Run, Oregon
Kihei Run, Maui
Hawaii Kai Run, Oahu
Cape Town, South Africa
Tahiti to Moorea Run, Tahiti
Fortaleza Run, Brazil
King of the Cut. Western Australia
Molokai to Oahu

I can hear that long service leave calling.


Happy paddling,
SJKJ