World Record Molokai Crossing in the M2O Paddle board race

It's over for another year

This years Molokai to Oahu race is over, but it didn't take quite as long as last year with competitors smashing the race record.

The Stand up paddle division took over the race this year, with little (well, he used to be) Connor Baxtor smashing the race record and making the crossing in just under 4 hours, 27 minutes. In fact the first three to come across the finish line were all on Stand up paddle boards - a welcome change from the usual, where the prone paddlers always won.

Speaking of prone paddlers - Jamie Mitchell (of the Gold Coast) made the crossing in just a smidge over 4 hour 30mins. This is Jamies tenth world title, and many are calling him the Kelly Slater of the paddling world. Although it wasn't exactly stand up paddling, it's an incredible feat none-the-less. There's even talk of Mitchell coming back next year on a Stand up paddle board, if he does - he's set to dominate the scene with very strong results within the year.

Australian paddlers had an incredible run this year, with several Aussies coming in the top 10 for SUP, including Coreban's very own Woogie Marsh with team mate Paul Jones coming in third in the teams division. For the Aussie women, Alison Fullager crossed the line in 6hrs 19mins and was stoked at the finish. After the finish, here's what she had to say: "Well I never expected the channel crossing to be fun, but it was great out there today! Not what you would call an epic downwinder but probably as good as the Kaiwi channel can get - hence new record times in every division!"

Some are calling this race easier than the previous years - lighter than usual winds and a very strong incoming tide towards the end of the race, meant that the paddlers enjoyed a much easier final leg than usual. It could of been the tide that influenced the fast times, but more than likely it was a combination of the incredible advances in stand up paddle board technology and training techniques over the past twelve months. All of the top stand up paddle boards were very similar in design - all in the 17 foot plus range, it's really proving that the super long, narrow boards are simply the only way to go for this kind of race.

At the moment, competitors are still recuperating after the weekend, but as everybody gets home and settled - you'll see heaps more photos, video's and reports, all on the Stand up paddling forums here.

While you wait though, have a look at Connor Baxter coming across the line first in this video.