TONIC | future events
Australia takes GOLD!
Travelsim Team Australia has
surged to a third straight ISA
World SUP and Paddleboard
Championship in Nicaragua.
The week-long event attracted more than
250 of the world’s best SUP and paddleboarders from 28 countries.
The surfing competition was held at La
Boquita and the racing was held on Lake
Nicaragua. With a firm grip on the trophy
heading into the final day of 5km sprint
races, Travelsim Team Australia stormed
home winning four gold medals, one silver and a bronze. It took the team’s tally for
the week to seven gold medals, including
the overall team champion gold and relay
gold, four silver medals and three bronze
medals. The team finished on 16,750
points, ahead of the USA (13,100), Brazil
(10,667) and Spain (10,501).
Having already won a bronze medal in the
SUP surfing and silver in the SUP marathon, the Gold Coast’s Shakira West-
dorp confirmed her status as the athlete
of the event by winning gold in the women’s 5km SUP sprint. Westdorp had a limited preparation following the withdrawal of another team-mate and stepped in
on late notice to take on the marathon and
the 5km race.
Australia completed the final day taking
gold in the team relay ahead of the USA
and Spain.
In the men’s SUP 5km, Lincoln Dews
(Sunshine Coast, QLD) followed his silver in the marathon by taking silver over
the shorter distance behind Denmark’s
Casper Steinmath. Gosford’s Toby Cracknell finished 10th.
Team Captain Jordan Mercer (Sunshine
Coast, QLD) completed the double winning the gold in the 5km race following
her marathon gold. The haul took Mercer’s individual ISA gold medal stash to six
from the past three events.
In the men’s prone 5km, Rhys Burrows
(Sunshine Coast, QLD) took his second
gold after winning the marathon and
Newcastle’s Rory Chapman won his second bronze.
28 – winter IssuE surfingqueensland.com.au