Only 5 weeks to go until the 2020 Paddle for Pedder on Saturday 29 Feb to Sunday 1 March. We now have three events on the Sunday to cater to all ages and abilities:
Paddlers and enthusiasts from across Queensland have come together to compete and have fun in a region not most known for aquatic sports – Longreach.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner visited the event yesterday (Saturday) and praised organisers for a great event. “In the Year of Outback Tourism the Longreach community has shown everyone they know how to have a good time and that this is a great place to visit,” Mr Furner said. “I hope thousands of Queenslanders will see the images of this event and come to Longreach to see for themselves.” The Outback Paddle Regatta Festival featured a series of races, as well as a charity duck race that will seem familiar to many. Some 600 ducks, previously used for events in the Brisbane River, were donated for the event by the PA Research Foundation. Funds raised will support cancer research. “Longreach’s commitment to this cause is a great example of the spirit that exists in Queensland’s outback,” Mr Furner said. “Queensland’s outback has been doing it tough with drought and other weather events, and visiting those regions is a terrific way all Queenslanders can support them.” The Year of Outback Tourism as announced by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk late last year, including a $3 million events program to help outback communities suffering from drought conditions. This week in Parliament the Premier announced another 15 events would be funded under the program, including the Curry Merry Muster Festival in Cloncurry and The Outback Food, Wine and Music Festival in Longreach. Applications for round three funding close on November 4. Visit https://events.premiers.qld.gov.au/outback Michael Booth takes victory in the distance, edges out Casper for the overall event win and takes pole position on the leaderboard
Michael Booth takes victory on the final day of action at the Osaka SUP Open presented by Remax Japan, in a thrilling distance race that thread its way through the beautiful waterways of this bustling City. Always a favorite coming into the distance race, Michael had some ground to make up after a disappointing 9th place (quarterfinal) finish in the sprint racing. As expected, the powerful talent from down under shot to an early lead, breaking away from the pack and holding the lead for the duration of the event, and resisting a heroic comeback from the New Caledonian phenom, Titouan Puyo in the closing stages of the race. Michael maintained his composure and kept his head down to come out on top, taking the distance win, and in doing so, the overall win for the Osaka SUP Open presented by Remax Japan, with ties being broken in favor of the distance result at Stop #3 of the 2019 APP World Tour. However, beyond this event victory, Michael has been able to take the lead in the Overall Rankings after Osaka, getting ahead of the current World Champion Arthur Arutkin by the smallest of margins (just 250 points), meaning that we have an incredibly exciting title race on our hands coming into the backend of the year. Make sure to check out a replay of both the sprint and distance races here in Osaka, view the full results, as well as photos and video highlights from what has been an incredible 3rd stop of the Racing Tour in 2019: you can see all this and more at appworldtour.com and @appworldtour Titouan Puyo puts on a comeback for the ages to take 2nd in the distance race, once again making his presence felt on Tour Titouan Puyo from New Caledonia came out of the gates all guns firing back at stop #1 in London, making a clear statement that he is a real threat on the APP World Tour both in distance (which we have come to expect), but also sprint racing. Using New York as his wildcard, Titouan was clearly back for more here in Osaka. However it did not start well, with a disappointing finish in the sprint racing on Day 1 that saw him exit early, followed by an early mistake in the distance that did not bode well for the New Caledonian talent. However, Titouan was able to regain his composure and pull back from what seemed to be an impenetrable lead that Michael Booth had built up, to challenge the eventual Champion all the way to the Finish Line. While his current rankings do not reflect the sheer talent and potential that Titouan has this year (currently sitting in 9th place overall, but with only 2 out of 3 results so far this year), he did secure a 5th place overall for Osaka and posted another strong distance result towards his overall ranking as he will have his eyes on Red Bull Heavy Water and Paris, still to come in 2019. Watch out for more from Titouan and check out highlights, replays, photos and full recap from the event at www.appworldtour.com and @appworldtour Arthur Arutkin continues his impressive form to finish 3rd in the distance, 3rd in Osaka, but slipping to 2nd in the overall ranking Arthur Arutkin, the current World Champion, continues to impress here on the APP World Tour, posting another strong result for the 2019 season, keeping his hopes of retaining his hard earned and well deserved World Title alive after stop #3 in Osaka. Despite slipping to #2 in the World after the Osaka SUP Open presented by Remax Japan, he is only trailing by 250 points, making it one of the most exciting Title Races yet starting to develop in the Men's fleet: with Michael in the lead, Arthur is followed by Casper Steinfath in 3rd, who while he is over 6000 points behind, is currently only counting two distance races towards his overall World Ranking. Arthur continues to look confidant and is without the most consistent and one of the most well rounded athletes on Tour, with one event win so far this season, and another podium finish here in Japan. Stay tuned for more on this developing Title Race as well as APP World Tour Racing Champion Arthur Arutkin and check out broadcast replays, highlights, photos and much more from the Osaka SUP Open presented by Remax Japan at www.appworldtour.com and @appworldtour Casper Steinfath takes victory in the Sprint Racing & does enough in the distance to take 2nd overall in Japan after a tiebreaker Casper Steinfath from Denmark once again proved that he is one of the World's very best Sprinters, if not the best, with another dominant performance at Stop #3 of the 2019 APP World Tour in Osaka. Coming off a win in the New York SUP Open Sprints, Casper transitioned to the flat water arena with ease to take the well deserved win amidst a stacked final featuring some of the sport's greatest legends. In the distance, Casper was able to do enough today to take 9th place, tying with the eventual winner Michael Booth from Australia for points, with the tie being broken in favor of the distance race here in Osaka (it was sprints in New York). Despite not taking the event win, Casper has climbed further up the leaderboard after his performance in Osaka this weekend, currently sitting in 3rd place overall behind Arthur and Michael and putting him within striking distance of the top spot. This is particularly the case given that he is missing one distance race in his overall results (he did not take part in the distance race in London due to injury). Stay tuned for more on Casper's ascent and for more from the Osaka SUP Open presented by Remax Japan by going to www.appworldtour.com and following on social @appworldtour Osaka SUP Open sees stand out performances from established legends and new faces, for a weekend of racing to remember There is no doubt that the APP World Tour Sprint Racing arena created at the Rose Garden on Nakanoshima Island not only provided some of the most exciting racing yet this season, but was also a massive hit amongst the local Osaka crowds that came to take in this World Championship Tour Event. Outside of the Top 3 overall athletes featured above, a well established legend of the sport reasserted himself in the mix at Stop #3 of the 2019 APP World Tour in Japan: Danny Ching proved that he is far from a one trick pony, putting on a sprint performance to remember in front of an ecstatic local crowd to finish 2nd in the sprints and 4th overall for the event. Multiple times World Champion Connor Baxter from Hawaii also put on a show worthy of note, coming out of the gates strong in the sprint racing and eventually finishing in 3rd behind Danny Ching and Casper Steinfath. Finally, Rai Taguchi, a young local talent proving himself truly worthy of his Wildcard, fed of the crowd's excitement and fervor, putting on an incredibly impressive performance, almost making it all the way to the finals. Rai is certainly a face to look out for on the APP World Tour moving forward and we are excited to see how he performs away from the comfort of his home crowd later in the year. There were so many more moments to remember from what has been a truly remarkable weekend of racing here in Osaka, so make sure to go back and relive it all on the Live Broadcast Replays at www.appworldtour.com and @appworldtour and through photos, highlights and much more. Osaka opens its arms to the APP World Tour and the sport of SUP is celebrated in all its glory, from all access participation to World Class competition Outside of the Pro Competition, over 200 people joined to the 2019 Osaka SUP Open presented by Remax to participate and come together as a community for an incredible weekend of competition and camaraderie. However, beyond the action on the River, the APP Pool saw non stop action, between yoga clinics, youth and adult paddle sessions and the United Sports Foundation special event that featured activites in the pool, learning about the danger and problems caused by plastics in the ocean and waterways with Sea2See, and seminars on safety in the water by Japanese water patrol. To cap all the activities off, the industry expo, athlete meet and greets, live music and hula provided a very complete experience for everyone from experienced paddlers to complete newcomers to the sport and put Osaka on the map as a phenomenal venue for the sport. As always, the hospitality in Japan has been second to none, and the APP World Tour is excited to journey back to its new found home in Osaka next year for another dramatic edition of the Osaka SUP Open. Relive it all through the live broadcast replays, highlights, photos and much more at appworldtour.com and @appworldtour. Next up, Red Bull Heavy Water: join us next month for the World's most extreme SUP Race and the next stop on the 2019 APP World Tour, with a holding period from the 15th October - 7th November. Seychelle Webster has just won both the distance race today, but also the overall event Title after a hard fought out weekend of intense competition at the Osaka SUP Open presented by Remax Japan.
It was not an easy road, and while Seychelle has exhibited formidable form throughout the season so far, the line up in the sprints was as tough as ever and Seychelle fell short of a finals berth, putting her in a precarious position for the overall event title, especially given the competition. However grit determination and a patience game played off for Seychelle, as she bode her time through the race and made her move at the right time, allowing her to take the lead in the final stages, and keep it through to the finish line to take victory in the distance race. Despite a tie with fellow American and friend, April Zilg, Seychelle came out on top, as did Michael Booth, thanks to the weighting towards the distance over the sprints in Osaka. Another strong finish for Seychelle in Osaka further solidifies her lead in the overall World Rankings after stop #3, as she continues to set her sight firmly on a maiden World Title in 2019. However, the year is far from over yet, with Red Bull Heavy Water still to come, and of course the final race of the year in Paris, where April in particular could be extremely dangerous to Seychelle's quest for the Title, and she is now well within reach. Stay tuned for this more on this intensifying Title Race and check out replays, full results, highlights and photos from a specatcular Racing stop #3 for the APP World Tour at www.appworldtour.com and @appworldtour Fiona Wylde takes an impressive 2nd place finish in the distance, 4th overall for the event and now 3rd overall after stop #3 in Japan 2016 World Champion Fiona Wylde from Oregon in the USA has still got it: despite missing out on the Finals in the Sprint Racing spectacle on Saturday, Fiona came out of the gates all guns blazing today, keeping pace with the very fastest Women in the sport and like Seychelle, biding her time before making a move in the distance race. The moment came as Seychelle made her break, as Fiona chased Seychelle all the way to the finish line, unable to overcome the formidable World #1 in this race, but pushing her to her very limits to take a very worthy second place finish. Fiona ends up in 4th overall for the event here in Japan, but moves up to 3rd overall on the APP World Tour following this all important stop #3 of the season. Fiona's renowned comfort in bigger surf, and her very complete skill set in all forms of water conditions make her a real favorite for Red Bull Heavy Water coming up next month, as she will be looking to use this wildcard event as a replacement for worse results earlier in the year in what could be Fiona's moment to really capitalize on solid form and momentum coming into the backend of the year. Stay tuned for more on Fiona and the Osaka SUP Open presented by Remax Japan by going to www.appworldtour.com and @appworldtour Yuka Sato puts on a solid performance in front of her home crowd to get a podium finish in the distance race amid an intense field Yuka Sato is always smiling, but on the water, she is a fierce competitor, and driven to strive for the top with every event, day and stroke. With an impressive track record of distance results over the past few years on the APP World Tour, it was no surprise to see Yuka right up there in the mix in the lead pack coming into the final stages of the distance race. Making a break with Fiona and Seychelle, she was able to follow on from the two leaders to secure 3rd position in the distance race, a well deserved result for this phenomenal ambassador for Japanese stand up paddling, and in front of her home crowd. While for Yuka, it was a disappointing sprint racing performance at this year's Osaka SUP Open presented by Remax Japan, it was enough to secure 5th place for her overall in the event, and establishing her as 5th overall on the APP World Tour after Stop #3. With Paris ahead of us, an event where we saw a breakout performance from Yuka last year, there is every chance that Yuka will take advantage of momentum coming into the final event of the year. Meanwhile, she is readying herself to take on the dramatic Red Bull Heavy Water, coming up next month in San Francisco, an event that can provide a very unique launch pad into the final event of the year in paris from a ratings perspective. Stay tuned for more from Yuka and relive what has been an incredible weekend of racing here in Osaka by going to www.appworldtour.com or @appworldtour April Zilg continues to put the World's best through their paces and post World Title performances in 2019, as she sets her sights on the prize April Zilg is fast becoming one of the most dominant performers on the 2019 APP World Tour, after her distance and overall win in New York, followed by an impressive performance in some of the most competitive sprint racing yet on the APP World Tour yesterday in Osaka. While she looked as though she might have been a little depleted after yesterday's sprints, April still did enough to take 5th in the distance, tying for points with the eventual event winner and World #1, Seychelle Webster. However, with the weighting in favor of the distance racing in Osaka, the result went in Seychelle's favor, making it 2:1 for Seychelle out of the 3 events so far this year and establishing April as a real Title Contender, now sitting within striking distance of Seychelle in 2nd place overall after Osaka. Watch out for more from April on the APP World Tour and check out the broadcast replays, highlights, photos and full results from the Osaka SUP Open presented by Remax at appworldtour.com and @appworldtour Annie Reickert has a breakout performance in Osaka, finishing 3rd in the distance and overall and jumping up to 4th in the world It seems as though Annie Reickert from Maui has been on the scene for quite some time, and so it is hard to believe that she is still only just 18 years old. Indeed her performance over the past few days demonstrated anything but immaturity, as she held her cool and put together an impressive performance at the Osaka SUP Open, with a 2nd place in the sprint racing yesterday and 4th place in the distance today, putting her in 3rd place overall for the event. This is quite an achievement for the young talent from Maui and is certainly a sign of things to come as we expect great things from Annie over the coming years on the APP World Tour. Now sitting in 4th overall in the Rankings after Stop #3 in Osaka, it is all to play for for Annie, and, like Fiona, she is perhaps one of the real favorites for the upcoming Red Bull Heavy Water event, being that she is no stranger to big surf and has the talent and physical conditioning to match. Watch out for more from Annie on the APP World Tour and check out the replays, highlights, photos and much more from the Osaka SUP Open presented by Remax Japan at www.appworldtour.com and @appworldtour The Osaka SUP Open creates an unmatched arena' for the World's best to deliver a dynamic and exciting sprint elimination The Osaka SUP Open presented by Remax Japan saw some formidable competition this past weekend, with the World's best on the APP World Tour stepping up to do battle like never before. Outside of the above contenders, Lina Augaitis from Canada put on a great perfomance all the way through the sprint elimination this weekend. She also led the entire course in the distance, setting the standard for the pack for the Women's division for the entirety of the race, that is until Seychelle Webster, Annie Reickert and Yuka Sato were able to take advantage and make a break for it in the last 1km of the race. Also making her presence felt in the Sprint Racing was Jade Howson from California - still at school, Jade is already a major threat on Tour, posting solid performances, particularly in the sprint racing division as we are excited to see how she evolves as a competitor on the APP World Championship Tour over the years to come. While her distance race was to let her down comparatively, the shot across the bows has been sent as we anticipate great things from this young talent from California. Check out the full recap and highlights from Osaka SUP Open presented by Remax Japan by going to: appworldtour.com and @appworldtour A big thank you to the beautiful City of Osaka for an amazing weekend of action, entertainment and World Class Competition Arriving in Osaka on Wednesday, just 3 days prior to the event, it was hard not to be scared of the prevailing forecast at that time, indicating a weekend full of rain and high winds in store for the APP World Tour this weekend. However, as we headed into the weekend, the forecast evolved, and we were to be blessed with an incredible weekend that saw both epic sprint racing and dramatic distance racing without rain or too much wind other than a shower prior to the awards after the racing on the final day. Outside of the competitive action, the APP Pool provided non stop entertainment as always, from youth clinics brought to you by Lil' RIppas, to SUP Yoga and water safety clinics providing fun and engagement for all. This programming in the pool was well complemented by music and entertainment, making for a dynamic mix of participation and entertainment for all the family, regardless of physical condition, age or gender. The APP World Tour is so thankful to the City of Osaka for opening its arms to the Tour and its athletes this past weekend, as we look forward to the continuation of a great legacy for the City of Osaka and the sport as a whole for years to come. Check out the highlights, watch the replays and view photos and highlights from this year's Osaka SUP Open presented by ReMax Japan by going to appworldtour.com and @appworldtour Relive it all through the live broadcast replays, highlights, photos and much more at appworldtour.com and @appworldtour. Next up, Red Bull Heavy Water: join us next month for the World's most extreme SUP Race and the next stop on the 2019 APP World Tour, with a holding period from the 15th October - 7th November. In the meantime, please see Osaka SUP Open Overall results for the Women below: The biggest field of athletes in more than 15 years will take to the waters of La Seu in Spain this week, with the double goal of becoming 2019 ICF canoe slalom world champion, and also earning their country a place at next year's Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
For many countries competing in Spain, the World Championships will also be part of their Tokyo selection process. Some teams, such as Germany, will finalise their athletes for the Olympics this weekend. Only Augsburg in 2003, an Olympic qualifier for the Athens 2004 Olympics, can boast a bigger world championships field of countries and competitors. 450 athletes from 63 countries are expected to compete in La Seu. The top 18 countries in both men's and women's K1, and the top 11 countries in men's and women's C1, will qualify a place at Tokyo 2020. No country will be allowed to qualify more than one athlete per event for Tokyo, meaning in some disciplines athletes who finish outside the top 20 could still earn their country a ticket to the 2020 Olympics. Every world champion from 2018 will be back to defend their title in La Seu. Hannes Aigner, the K1 title holder, has already locked away his place on the German Olympic team, and goes into this week without the pressure of worrying about Tokyo. His German teammate, Franz Anton, will not only be trying to defend his C1 world crown, but also trying to finish ahead of fellow German, Sideris Tasiadis, to secure a ticket for the Olympics. Australia's Jessica Fox, who last year won the K1/C1 world title double for a second time, will be looking for a clean sweep for a record-breaking third year. She will start favourite in the women's C1, but may have to settle for second-favouritism in the K1 behind Germany's Ricarda Funk. Funk sealed her Olympic quota in Markkleeberg last month, and is now free to concentrate on winning her first ever world title, after winning a silver and two bronze medals at her last three attempts. This weekend will also see the ICF Wildwater World Championships contested in La Seu. The slalom and wildwater world titles were successfully combined in Pau, France, in 2017, and will come together again in Spain. 35 countries will compete in wildwater, with the Czech Republic, Slovenia and France expected to once again be the toughest teams to beat. Czech Martina Satkova has been a dominant paddler in wildwater in recent seasons, and will start favourite to win both the women's K1 and C1 titles this week. Czech teammate Ondrej Rolenc won his second consecutive C1 title in Switzerland last year and will be looking to bring up a hat-trick at La Seu, while Slovenian pair Simon Oven and Nejc Znidarcic will be hard to beat in the men's K1. The 2019 ICF canoe slalom and wildwater world championships begin on Wednesday, with competition in the team events. Of most interest will be the performance of Slovakia's C1 men's team of Michal Martikan, Matej Benus and Alexander Slafkovsky. The trio will put aside their battle for their country's one available C1 Olympic position to try and win an incredible ninth consecutive team world title for Slovakia. New Zealand surfers have dominated the final event of the Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Hyundai, with Tane Bowden and Saffi Vette winning the Men's and Women's divisions at Jan Juc. Although he dropped out of the event early, NSW North Coaster Dakoda Walters had done enough in previous events to solidify himself in the top spot on the WSL Australia / Oceania JQS. Walters finaled a four events this season, taking wins at three. The stylish young natural footer will now swt his sights on the WSL World Junior Championships which will be held in Taiwan this November. "To win the WSL Australia / Oceania Junior Qualifying Series feels amazing," Walters said. "I had a really average start to the year and was struggling to even make a heat. I began to think I should not worry about doing any more events for the year and just wait till next year to see how I'd go and then I had one last shot at Cronulla and got the win. I ended up going on to win three in a row and now take the series so I'm stoked. Going to the World Junior Championships has always been a goal of mine so I'm stoked to achieve that this year. I can't wait to take on all of the dudes from around the world and I hope I can get a good result. A good result there will put me into the major QS events next year would be amazing." With a small swell on offer on the Final Day of competition, the event again shifted from Bells Beach to the backup location of Jan Juc beach, offering competitors clean head high peaks and the sand bottom beach break. Tane Bowden, a former Jan Juc resident who now lives on Queensland's Gold Coast was the form surfer of the event, securing multiple high scores on his way through the draw. After a slow start to the 2019 WSL Australasia / Oceania Pro Junior Series, Bowden won the most recent event on the calendar, the SkullCandy Pro Junior, giving himself a chance to qualify for the WSL World Junior Championships to be held in Taiwan in November. Needing to place first or second in the Final, Bowden started slowly before securing an excellent 8.85 (out of a possible 10) to redirect his momentum in the thirty-minute affair. Bowden's 15.50 two-wave total (out of a possible 20) proved too strong for his opponents, landing him the event win and a climb from 6th to second on the WSL Australasia / Oceania Pro Junior rankings, securing him a start in the WSL World Junior Titles. "To win at Lennox, then back it up here is just the perfect feeling. Exactly what I needed to do" said an elated Bowden. "I just put my head down, fought through the pressure and got it done, I'm just so stoked right now. New Zealand is the flag I surf under, but Victoria was such a special place for me to live. I used to surf here every day, so it's so awesome to win this Hydralyte Sports Pro Junior back at Jan Juc" Fifteen-year-old Marlon Harrison (QLD) performed beyond his years, dropping the Final's second-highest scoring ride, a 7.25 on his way to second position. Local Jan Juc surfer Xavier Huxtable finished third, scraping in the bare minimum requirement he needed to qualify for the WSL World Junior Titles, climb from 5th to 3rd on the overall WSL Australasia / Oceania rankings with today's finish. The fourth position went to Arch Whiteman (NSW). Saffi Vette, from Gisbourne on New Zealand's North Island, claimed victory in the Girl's Final with a score in the dying moments of the heat. Vette squared up on her backhand, dropping a 5.8 for two maneuvers to secure the win narrowly over Lily MacDonald (NSW). The ride took Vette's two-wave total to 11.45, just besting her opponents MacDonald's 11.25. "Today was the first time I've ever made a Pro Junior Final, to win was just the cherry on top for what has been an amazing couple of days for me," said Vette. "It means so much to me and my family to win today. There are lots of left-handers at home and my backhand is definitely my go-to when I saw that last wave in the Final I knew I could get the score, I'm just so stoked." Third-placed Bodhi Leigh-Jones (10.5, NSW) cemented her WSL World Junior Title aspirations, holding onto the qualifying second position on the overall WSL Australasia / Oceania rankings. Pacha Luque-Light (10.25, QLD) was unable to find the ride she was looking for, rounding out the Final in fourth place. There will be more news on the Australia / Oceania WSL World Junior Championship Qualifiers coming out in the coming weeks so stay tuned. The Hydralyte Sports Pro Junior presented by Hyundai at Jan Juc will run from September 24 - 25. For more information and results, head to www.worldsurfleague.com or download the free WSL App. The three-event Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Hyundai includes stops at the legendary Bells Beach, Cronulla, and North Stradbroke Island. The WSL sanctioned Pro Junior events, which includes 18 and under boys' and girls' divisions, form part of the 2019 WSL Australasian Junior Qualifying Series (JQS), providing the winning athletes with an opportunity to win a coveted World Title at the World Surf League Junior Championships in 2019. Proudly supported by the WSL and Surfing Australia, the Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Hyundai will provide an important event platform at a crucial point in the development of Australia's leading junior surfers. The 2019 Hydralyte Pro Junior at Bells Beach is proudly presented by Hyundai, Hydralyte, Surfing Australia, Surfing Victoria and 2XP. For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com. Alongside the thrill and excitement of Olympic qualifying and world championship racing, this week's ICF canoe slalom and wildwater world championships in La Seu, Spain, will also send out a powerful message about how the sport can be more environmentally sustainable.
The ICF and the host organisers of the world championships will be running a pilot event, showcasing how a massive event like an Olympic qualifier can reduce its environmental footprint. It will be the third pilot event, following on from similar projects in Augsburg, Germany, in 2018, and Pitesti, Romania, earlier this year. The ICF is working on guidelines it will set for all event hosts at future canoe events. In an average calendar year the ICF hosts at least 15 major events across all its disciplines, and is determined to continue its role as a world leader in presenting environmentally sustainable sporting events. "To make these pilot events work, we need to involve organisers, athletes, volunteers and spectators to ensure the message is being delivered," ICF sustainability manager, Catherine Wieser, said. "Our projects in Augsburg and Pitesti were very successful. This week is by far the biggest event where we will conduct a pilot program, so it is very exciting for the sport. "We can already say the project has been a success, based on the enthusiasm and the exciting initiatives of the local organisers. Their commitment to preserving the pristine paddling environment, and their vision for the future, is an inspiration to all of us." Surveys will be conducted throughout the event to ascertain how those involved in the sport believe canoeing can do more to help the environment. Local waste management company, MEU, will conduct a contest during the world championships to reward the team which shows exceptional commitment to protecting the environment. An environmental sustainability toolkit will be developed by the ICF later this year, based on the results of the three pilot events. The toolkit will be distributed to all national federations, and will be part of future seminars outlining the responsibilities of host organising committees. PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL AUSTRALIA - SOLD OUT SHOWS, AMAZING FILMS & A WHOLE LOT OF HAPPY PADDLE FANS9/25/2019 The Paddling Film festival hit australian shores last week, and has had a solid run of sell out shows across the country, and rave reviews from all who have seen it. The tour started in Canberra on the 19th September with an almost sold out show, followed by a hosted screening in Hawk's Nest NSW with Lazy Paddles. It was followed by sold out shows in Melbourne and Perth, and shows in Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Brisbane this week. Still to come is a range of shows in lismore, anopter sold out show in Sydney at Cremorne Theatre, Sydney (Bondio Pavillion Theatre and a show in Nambour on Queensland's Sunshine Coast and to wrap up the tour a show in one of Australia's greatest locations to paddle, Launceston Tasmania. The Paddling Film Festival is like other touring film festivals in that includes a selection of short films, however, this tour is dedicated entirely to paddle sports such as whitewater, sea kayaking, canoeing, SUP and more. The Paddling Film Festival has been running for 13 years based out of Canada and tours more than 120 cities annually around the globe. Audiences will see hairy whitewater action, sea kayakers exploring remote coastlines, northern river canoe expeditions, international river travel films, motivating environmental documentaries and gruelling kayak fishing battles. Attracting paddlers and outdoor enthusiasts, audiences can expect a fun, social and entertaining event inspired by compelling films. Tickets are still available via the link below. New rules affecting tourists recreationally fishing in Queensland came into effect this week.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said the changes were part of the Palaszczuk Government’s plan to protect fish for the future. “Our state’s fisheries belong to all Queenslanders and it is our job to protect fish for the future,” Mr Furner said. “Some of our fish stocks like scallops, snapper and pearl perch are at risk, with stock levels under the nationally recommended 20 per cent biomass level. “If we do nothing now, we will have to take more drastic steps like they are proposing in South Australia with the closure of the snapper season for three years. “Quite simply, if there are no fish, there is no fishing industry here in Queensland. “Introducing catch limits for at risk species and continuing to crack down on illegal fishing will help us rebuild numbers.” Mr Furner said almost 1 million Queenslanders went recreational fishing in the state last year. “To ensure recreational fishers can continue to catch fish, we need to have sensible limits to protect fish for the future,” he said. Changes for recreational fishers include:
Queensland Seafood Marketers Association President Marshall Betzel said the changes were just part of the overall strategic reforms that industry has been waiting for. “The QSMA is hopeful these regulation changes will play an important part in providing not just a sustainable supply of seafood products to the consumer, but also create a long-term vision for growth in the Queensland seafood industry,” Mr Betzel said. “We hope these reforms will help provide long term jobs growth in the industry as well was provide a better degree of certainty of supply for future generations of seafood consumers.” Minister Furner said introducing the changes now meant we would continue to have Queensland fish on the table, protect thousands of jobs in both the commercial and recreational sectors and protect our marine ecosystem and the Great Barrier Reef. “The Palaszczuk Government has comprehensively consulted over the past two years on these reforms,” Mr Furner said. “There has been a lot of myths about these changes and what it means for fishing in Queensland. “I encourage anyone who loves to fish to find out for themselves how the Palaszczuk government is protecting fish stocks for our children and grandchildren by visiting our website, fisheries.qld.gov.au”. Source: Pilbara News
The sun was shining and the water was calm as paddleboarders put their skills to the test over two days at the second annual North West SUP Fest. About 120 paddlers glided out onto Dampier waters to compete in a 6km distance event around Sam’s Island, 1km and 200m sprints, and dragon boat races on Saturday and Sunday. Dampier’s Jaclyn Nicholl and Exmouth’s Tom Powell were the overall champion female and male for the event in both the adult long-distance and sprint categories. Abbey Cawthray and Patrick Smyth were the junior female and male winners and Gone Troppo won the dragon boat race title. Nicholl, the event organiser and owner of Cracker Jack Paddle Sports, said the popularity of paddleboarding in the North West had reached the point where it was “about time” the region had a competitive event. “It’s just a huge sport here, people love it, and it’s really great to see people pushing their boundaries and giving competitive SUP a go because it’s a totally different level to paddling around on a nice flat day at a slow speed,” she said. “Add a little bit of speed in and it’s extremely challenging — people don’t realise that to change from a basic SUP skill level to going into competition, you need a lot of muscle strength, really good endurance, and it’s very much a mind game to be able to hold pace and continue on.” She said the dragon boat races — a new addition this year — had been a highlight, getting a wider range of people involved. Several competitors travelled from Exmouth, Hedland and Pannawonica to be part of the racing. Powell, who is also the owner of Exmouth Surf Centre, said the event had the capacity to grow involvement in paddleboarding across the North West. “You can go as easy or as hard as you want, but I think when it comes down to the people who take this at least semi-seriously, it’s a serious event,” he said. “I think the competitive side of it will grow in time and the grassroots side will also stay strong, and hopefully the people that had a go this year just as a play-around next year will come back strong and looking to be competitive.” The Vans US Open of Surfing presented by Swatch, a World Surf League (WSL) Men's and Women's Qualifying Series (QS) 10,000 event, crowned Sage Erickson (USA)and Yago Dora (BRA) its respective winners in solid, three-to-five foot (1 - 1.7 metre) swell with their awe-inspiring performances all week that culminated in massive wins.
The 2019 women's event marked a historic milestone for the QS with the first-ever QS 10,000 and equal prize money at the Vans US Open. Erickson claimed the all-California Final over defending event winner Courtney Conlogue (USA)in incredible fashion with one of the day's best performances -- a 15.43 (out of a possible 20) heat total. The Ojai native's backhand went to work while sitting in second place and smashed an excellent 8.17 (out of a possible 10) to push herself in the lead and leave Conlogue in need of an 8.90 for the remainder of the Final. "I shed a lot of tears when I came in from the water and I just want to say this is dedicated to my grandma who passed two weeks ago," Erickson said. "It's crazy how it takes someone to leave for everything they're about to really set in. A lot of the lessons and things she believed in me, I have to speak over myself here for a second for her and it's just about the people you value in your life. Whether it's your friends or your family or even the people you can make a mark on and encourage." Erickson had to deal with an all-star cast to get to the Final that truly showed the importance of this event with the competitors involved -- defeating CT veteran Malia Manuel (HAW) and former Vans US Open winner Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) along the way. "To be home in California, have a heat against Courtney and to be 10,000 -- it's more than just points," Erickson added. "It's equal pay, it's a prime, it's a lot for us women and a big shout out to Jessi (Miley-Dyer) for believing in our sport and to Sophie (Goldschmidt) leading the WSL as a strong woman." The high-flying antics of Dora came firing right out of the gates on finals day with the day's top single-scoring wave of a near-perfect 9.27 after soaring through the air and landing it smoothly. The Brasilian CT elite had to overcome one of the Vans US Open's most insatiable dark horses to date, Liam O'Brien (AUS). Dora's excellent 8.60 on yet another massive air-reverse before shooting through the pier to finish it off in the Final ultimately sealed his first-ever QS 10,000 victory. "It feels so incredible right now and I just want to thank everyone who showed up today -- it's just amazing to surf in front of a huge crowd," Dora said. "It gets me fired up to do my best and that's what I did today. I gave everything I had and it worked out for me. I just want to congratulate all the finalists and especially Liam, he's been surfing amazing." This win skyrockets Dora 46 spots to No. 4 on the QS ranks and in a position to secure his CT spot for 2020 heading into a vital back-half of 2019. The 23-year-old decimated the hopes of now QS No. 1 Jorgann Couzinet's(FRA) opportunity of separating himself from the pack in the Semifinals and surviving a scare from former CT competitor Alex Ribiero (BRA) in the Quarterfinals. Now, the Brasilian sets his eyes on Tahiti for one of the CT's most sought-after events. "We had waves for nine days which is amazing for Huntington (laughs)," Dora added. "I came out of my house with a goal to win this event and I did it. I can't even explain how happy I am right now." The women's all-American Final had the crowd roaring for hometown hero Conlogue with every turn as she hoped to claim an unprecedented back-to-back title. But, it wasn't meant to be with Erickson in dominating form throughout finals day that forced Conlogue into attempting hail mary airs toward the end of the heat. Though a runner-up was disappointing for the Santa Ana, California, native, her explosive air-reverse in Quarterfinal Heat 1 against phenom Caroline Marks (USA) started the day off in amazing fashion that carried through to the end and the recent Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame inductee can carry this momentum forward. "This week has been incredible and anytime I have the chance to perform in front of my hometown it's just very special," Conlogue said. "I'm really happy for Sage, it was really well-deserved and a fun Final. Thanks so much to everyone who came down to cheer us on." The Vans US Open can provide a platform for surfers to make their names known and Burleigh Heads, Australia's, O'Brien did just that with jaw-dropping performances. O'Brien helped eliminate event favorite, hometown hero and back-to-back defending event winner, Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) and CT competitor Jack Freestone (AUS) just two days prior before taking down Barron Mamiya (HAW) in the Quarterfinals and California's last hope Griffin Colapinto (USA) in the Semifinals today. O'Brien will now look to finish the season off competing in the QS 10,000s and currently finds himself in a qualification position. "I'm ecstatic and it still feels so surreal to be standing here, I don't even feel like I'm supposed to be here to be honest (laughs)," O'Brien said. "I'm so thankful for this opportunity and to come as far as I did and can't say thank you enough for everyone coming down. To make it through some of the heats I did, I can't believe it. I'll keep working to improve my surfing as much as I can and to be into the QS 10,000s heading is such an amazing feeling so I'm just really grateful." Alongside the surfing, the Vans US Open of Surfing also hosts skateboarding and BMX competitions alongside authentic community activations and artful entertainment in Surf City USA. Recognized as the largest professional sports competition and action sports festival in the world, the Vans US Open of Surfing presented by Swatch is currently sanctioned and operated by the World Surf League under license from IMG, the event owner. Official partners of this year's event include Vans, Swatch, Jeep, ULTRA, Red Bull, Jose Cuervo, Barefoot Wine, Hydro Flask, Harley-Davidson, Polo Blue, BF Goodrich, CLIF Bar, and Frontier Communications. Vans US Open of Surfing pres. by Swatch Women's Final Results: 1 - Sage Erickson (USA) 15.40 10,000 points 2 - Courtney Conlogue (USA) 12.93 8,000 points Vans US Open of Surfing pres. by Swatch Men's Final Results: 1 - Yago Dora (BRA) 16.03 10,000 points 2 - Liam O'Brien (AUS) 11.34 8,000 points Vans US Open of Surfing pres. by Swatch Women's Semifinal Results: SF 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 12.86 DEF. Brisa Hennessy (CRI) 11.36 SF 2: Sage Erickson (USA) 16.33 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 12.83 Vans US Open of Surfing pres. by Swatch Men's Semifinal Results: SF 1: Yago Dora (BRA) 14.77 DEF. Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 14.16 SF 2: Liam O'Brien (AUS) 13.50 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 10.77 Vans US Open of Surfing pres. by Swatch Women's Quarterfinal Results: QF 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 14.43 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 14.10 QF 2: Brisa Hennessy (CRI) 12.86 DEF. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 8.93 QF 3: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 14.16 DEF. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 11.73 QF 4: Sage Erickson (USA) 11.36 DEF. Malia Manuel (HAW) 8.83 Vans US Open of Surfing pres. by Swatch Men's Quarterfinal Matchups: QF 1: Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 13.76 DEF. Connor O'Leary (AUS) 13.20 QF 2: Yago Dora (BRA) 16.47 DEF. Jorgann Couzinet (FRA) 15.57 QF 3: Liam O'Brien (AUS) 14.67 DEF. Barron Mamiya (HAW) 13.27 QF 4: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 13.93 DEF. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 11.67 Hungary picked up five gold medals on the final day of competition to cement itself as the dominant nation as the 2019 ICF junior and U23 canoe sprint world championships came to a close in Pitesti, Romania, on Sunday.
Canada’s Sophia Jensen repeated her performance of 2018, finishing the competition with three gold medals, while there were also golds on the final day to Germany, Russia, Poland and Australia. Jensen celebrated her final race as a junior paddler by teaming with Julia Osende to defend the C2 500 title they won in Plovdiv last year. It added to the C1 200 and C1 500 gold medals she won earlier in the competition, the same medals as she won in 2018. “I thought about it more today, I’m so happy, I really don’t know what to think,” Jensen said. “I just love what I do, and love going out and doing the best I can. I’m super happy that this has all happened when I’m a junior, so I can learn how to cope with the stress and the nerves, and build on it for the seasons to come.” There was also a double gold medal on the final day for Hungary’s Emese Kohalmi, and a second gold for teammate Andras Redl. The two junior paddlers come from the same small Hungarian town of Vac, and have both tasted success in canoe marathon. Kohalmi’s gold came in the K1 junior women’s 500, and alongside Esther Rendessy in the junior K2 500. “I didn’t think I could win two gold medals today, so I am very happy,” Kohalmi said. Redl won the junior K1 500, to add to the K1 1000 he won on the opening day of competition. “This was my dream, from my childhood,” he said. “I watched big kayakers, watched them paddling fast with strong finishes. I always wanted to be a single kayaker. My dream has finally come true, it’s a very happy day for me.” The Australian men’s K4 500 combination of Riley Fitzsimmons, Tom Green, Jackson Collins and Jean van der Westhuyzen proved too strong in their final, adding to the K1 1000 gold won by green and the K2 1000 gold of Collins and van der Westhuyzen on Friday. “It was a very special day,” Fitzsimmons said. “It was just one of those races where everything came together on the day. It was a great last 200 and we managed to hold on.” After two silver medals, Hungary’s Noemi Pupp broke through for gold in the women’s K1 U23 500. She said it was the event she was most focussed on. “It was a hard weekend, there was so much pressure on me today because I really wanted to win the Olympic race,” Pupp said. “I prepared fully for the 500, it was my goal.” Germany’s Tom Maassen, Moritz Florstedt, Jochen Wiehn and Jack Gries won the men’s junior K4 500 gold medal, while the final gold medal of the competition, the women’s U23 K2 500, was won by Hungary’s Karina Biben and Olga Bako. Biben and Bako are in their first year of U23 competition, having raced in juniors in 2018. Kayak anglers are buzzing about Hobie’s exciting reveal at last week’s 2019 ICAST show in Orlando. The chatter centers on the kayak-fishing leader’s newest engineering feat—an astonishing 360-degree rotating pedal drive with Kick-Up Fins—an all-new paradigm in kayak fishing boat control. Six years in the making and complete with a nearly 100-page patent registration, the Hobie MirageDrive 360 is available on the Pro Angler 360 Series. The MirageDrive 360 the newest flagship propulsion system in the Hobie kayak fishing fleet – a broad family of craft that includes the affordable Passport with the MirageDrive Classic, versatile Outback that comes standard with the forward and reversing MirageDrive 180, stalwart Pro Angler MirageDrive 180 and 360 collections, and other models.
The International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades’ (ICAST) New Product Showcase Awards recognize the best new fishing products in multiple categories each year. Voted on by attending product buyers and members of the sportfishing media, these “Best of Category” awards represent the pinnacle of achievement in the sport fishing industry and are intensely competitive. The Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 14 with 360 Drive Technology was awarded “Best in Show: Boats and Watercraft” – no small feat considering the wealth of competition within this crowded segment. The remarkable new Hobie MirageDrive 360 propulsion system is a 360-degree rotating pedal drive that allows anglers to easily maneuver their 2020 Mirage Pro Angler 360 Series fishing kayak in every direction—backwards, forward, sideways, diagonally—or even effortlessly spin on its own axis. Upping the ante with all-new Kick-Up Fins, which automatically retract upon impact, the new MirageDrive 360 delivers precision boat control and close-quarter maneuverability that’s unrivaled by any other human-powered watercraft. With the MirageDrive 360, anglers can go where there want and fish how they want with total control and complete confidence. “We’re incredibly honored by this award,” says Philip Dow, Lead Design Engineer for Hobie. “We’re humbled by the positive response from the public and retail. We had lofty expectations, but they’ve been exceeded. From the On-the-Water demo event to talking with folks in our booth, the new MirageDrive 360 attracted nonstop crowds during the four days of ICAST.” “This award represents years of hard work, research, and development,” says Hobie CEO, Doug Skidmore. “It’s proof that Hobie is constantly innovating and seeking out solutions to problems faced by kayak anglers on a daily basis and delivering on our goal to introduce watercraft technologies that help anglers fish more easily and catch more fish.” Catch more fish it does! Anglers using MirageDrive 360 will immediately discover they spend less time positioning their boat and more time in the strike zone. Boat control is brought to an entirely new level, affording anglers the ability to surgically position themselves to make the best cast and presentation to the fish, as well as staying on top of fish once found, shallow or deep or anywhere in between. The MirageDrive 360 allows access to tighter quarters and more fishing scenarios. Imagine being able to turn on a dime and easily maneuver in every direction. Lead Design Engineer Dow says the MirageDrive 360 completely changes how anglers engage with their boat and the environment. “If you’re fishing along a shoreline or highly contoured underwater structure, you can follow those nuances exactly with boat placement. Similarly, the Kick-Up Fins afford worry-free access to additional productive waters. Shallow and structure-filled areas become far more manageable. Hobie’s MirageDrive360 completely redefines boat control.” From Bass Source. The International Canoe Federation has announced a major investment in the future of Stand Up Paddling with a development camp for athletes, coaches and technical officials ahead of this year's SUP World Championships in Qingdao, China. The ICF and the Chinese Canoe Association will fund the camp, which will run in Qingdao from October 18 until the 27th. There is space in the camp for 30 athletes, and already registrations have exceeded that number. "Within days of opening the registration site we had more athletes interested than we had spaces available," ICF vice-President Thomas Konietzko said. "It is tremendous we have so much interest from the SUP community, and we will try to accommodate as many people as we possibly can. Athletes at the camp will have access to world-class educators and fantastic facilities, so it is no surprise there is a lot of enthusiasm. "We will also run a course for international technical officials, to bring them up to speed with the latest technology and developments in SUP racing. This will obviously benefit SUP in the long term and ensure our officials continue to be the best in the world." The ICF will shortly announce several other exciting initiatives for this year's SUP World Championships, which will run from October 24 until the 27th. The official entry page will be opened shortly, and race schedules will also be finalised. "We are thrilled to have China and the city of Qingdao hosting our event, and have been very impressed by their enthusiasm and ideas," Mr Konietzko said. "There has also been a great response from the athletes, who are looking forward to taking on the world's best at a fantastic venue and competing for generous prize money. "We will also be announcing shortly fantastic accommodation deals and assistance packages to help athletes transport their equipment to China. The organisers and the ICF want to make sure the event is stress-free for athletes, officials and supporters." Brazil, Great Britain, Russia and the United States all picked up gold medals in the extreme slalom on the final day of competition at the 2019 ICF junior and U23 canoe slalom world championships in Krakow, Poland. 24 hours after winning the U23 C1 title, Ana Satila picked up her second gold medal of the competition, winning the U23 extreme slalom final in wet and windy conditions. Czech Amalie Hilgertova, who won the U23 K1 title on Friday, finished second. Satila is also the reigning world champion, having won on her home course in Rio last year. "It's amazing, I'm so happy. Today was such a long day, and I was really tired from yesterday," she said. "But it's good I was racing for my country and for myself, and to have a bit of fun in the water doing the greatest sport, I'm happy to get another medal. "It's more in the mind than anything else, I think. We spent the whole day in the sun and the rain and everything happened, and we had to stay focussed." The competition had to be delayed due to a thunderstorm, but when racing resumed it was Russia's Sergey Maimistov who provided the lightning on the water, winning the men's U23 title. He finished ahead of Austria's Matthias Weger and Slovenia's Tine Kancler. "It's really nice to be a world champion, I feel quite emotional," Maimistov said. "I don't train too much for this event, but I train enough." 15-year-old American Evy Leibfarth reached another milestone in her short paddling career, taking the gold in the junior extreme slalom. She beat Austria's Antonia Oschmautz and Czech Katerina Bekova. "I'm pretty excited, it was definitely a fight to the finish," Leibfarth said. "Extreme slalom is so much fun. Slalom I obviously love, but this is a way to be stress free and go out and have fun. "I'm definitely feeling pretty tired, but I'm excited. I'm really happy with my kayak performance this week, my C1 final didn't go as well as I hoped, but I just have more to work on for next year." Great Britain's Etienne Chappell won extreme slalom gold at the opening senior ICF world cup in Lee Valley earlier this year, and followed up with junior gold in Krakow on Sunday. He beat home Russia's Egor Smirnov, with Germany's Jakob Hein third. "It's nice after everything that has happened this week," Chappell said. "It was a good strong final, I love that. It's just a great sport. "Obviously my slalom didn't go as good as it could have done, but that's the sport." The Czech Republic won the champion team cup as the most successful nation over the world championships. The Czechs finished with six gold medals. The World Surf League (WSL) Vans US Open of Surfing presented by Swatch is pleased to welcome some of the world's top men and women surfers back to Huntington Beach, California, beginning July 27 - August 4. "Surf City USA" proudly hosts the men and women's Qualifying Series (QS), men and women Pro Junior Tour, the Vans Joel Tudor Duct Tape Invitational longboard competition and Vans Stoke-O-Rama in a weeklong frenzy of surfing action and festivities for all to enjoy. The women's QS returns to Huntington Beach for the first time since 2005 and offers 10,000 points toward Championship Tour (CT) qualification -- a first in the WSL era. Seven-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and hometown hero, and defending event winner, Courtney Conlogue will be joined by the likes of QS elite that have every intention of showing what they're capable of on a world stage. Reigning World Junior Champion and San Clemente, California's own Kirra Pinkerton comes into this event as a qualification threat, currently sitting at No. 10 on the QS rankings where the Top 6 at the end of each season join the CT. Pinkerton, 16, joins the likes of fellow North America qualification hopefuls Alyssa Spencer (Carlsbad, Calif.) and former CT competitor Sage Erickson for a shot at year-changing points though must square off with international talents such as current QS No. 1 Isabella Nichols (AUS) and No. 2, former World Junior Champion, Vahine Fierro (FRA). "Competing in Huntington is amazing since I'm pretty much surfing at home turf, it's where I had my first contest and I've surfed there so much that I'm really comfortable there," Pinkerton said. "Every contest is different and the waves may not always work for you but knowing them gives you that little bit of confidence heading into the event. Having that confidence going against the top girls is pretty key because they already have that confidence after competing for so many years. But if you show you can keep up then you end up putting a little more pressure on them than you do yourself so I'm really excited to give it my all and see what happens." With the first QS 10,000 of the men's QS in the books following Ballito, South Africa, the CT qualification picture got its first real glance at who's in the mix and now the Huntington Beach Pier arena awaits those hopefuls. Two-time defending event winner Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) is back to represent his hometown of Huntington Beach and vie for an unprecedented three-peat Vans US Open of Surfing title while taking on the likes of fellow CT competitor and QS No. 1 Jadson Andre (BRA), and an onslaught of qualification threats Jorgann Couzinet (FRA), Nat Young (USA) and Matt Banting (AUS), both former CT competitors, and many more. "I am so excited to go back home," said Igarashi. "I haven't been back to Huntington Beach since the first Championship Tour event in April. Just living out of a suitcase gets really tiring, but I am so used to it now. I cannot wait to go see my parents and to see my friends back in Huntington. To be able to compete in front of the crowd and the local fans is the best way to go back home. I am going to do whatever I can to win it. Even though it has nothing to do with the World Title or the Olympics, there is nothing more I want than to win it three years in a row." The Vans US Open also presents an opportunity to shed light on the next generation of competitors and get a glimpse of what the future holds for professional surfing. San Clemente, California's, Kade Matson comes into Huntington Beach as the current No. 1 for North America after his victory in Florida earlier this year along with newcomer No. 1 Caitlin Simmers (USA). The 17-year-old Matson is currently recovering from a torn foot ligament but he looks to be ready for an appearance in the QS 10,000 trials heat to capitalize on a big opportunity. The Hawaii contingent have claimed back-to-back wins at the US Open Pro Junior and the mainland competitors haven't claimed the title since Griffin Colapinto's (USA) win in 2015. "This is probably one of my favorite events of the year just being so close to home and I feel really comfortable in Huntington Beach," Matson said. "Confidence is everything there because it's a tricky wave and you have to have some knowledge on where to be in the lineup, and know how to approach it. Tearing ligaments in my foot made me realize I want to be at 100 percent at all times after being out for a month and a half and it's been a painful process. But, it's been important to remain positive knowing I have a long career ahead of me and this is only a month out of my life so I've got a good perspective." The Vans Duct Tape Invitational and Stoke-O-Rama also return to the surfing aspect of this year's proceedings as staple events at the Vans US Open. The Duct Tape Invitational will include both men and women once again, with Honolua Blomfield (HAW) as defending event winner and is joined by the likes of eight-time event winner, and WSL Noosa Longboard Open QS 6,000 winner, Justin Quintal (USA). "Last year was such an honor to have the women get that platform to perform and to win just felt incredible, so I'm really looking forward to coming back," Blomfield said. "I'm really thankful to Joel (Tudor) for paving the way for us and giving us the opportunity to do what we love in an arena such as Huntington Beach. The vibes are always great and there's nothing better than surfing with your friends." The Vans US Open of Surfing begins with Vans' annual Stoke-O-Rama surf celebration on opening day, July 27. Hosted by the non-profit Positive Vibe Warriors Foundation, Stoke-O-Rama is a free, kids-only surf event featuring friendly surf sessions by age division, along with fun beach activities for local families to enjoy. Stoke-O-Rama helps to raise awareness and funds for local youth water safety and ocean education programs around the world. All the proceeds from this year's Huntington Beach Stoke-O-Rama event will be donated directly to the Huntington Beach YMCA in support of community beach activities. The Vans US Open of Surfing presented by Swatch runs July 27 - August 4 at Huntington Beach Pier, Huntington Beach, California. For more information, please visit www.WorldSurfLeague.com or www.VansUSOpenofSurfing.com. A record 36 nations competing in the extreme canoe slalom competition at the weekend's junior and U23 canoe slalom world championships underlined the fantastic growth in the sport across the globe.
As expected slalom powerhouses France and the Czech Republic once again took the lion's share of the gold medals, but the rest of the world is closing in fast, led by Italy, Slovenia and Great Britain, while the emergence of the United States and New Zealand shows the Europeans are facing a strong challenge. More than 400 athletes from almost 50 countries competed in the ICF's showcase age group event, including competitors from Venezuela, Algeria, Macedonia and Nepal. The ICF's Talent Identification Program (TIP) is the envy of the global sporting community, and the continued improvement and growth in numbers from countries like Taiwan, Thailand, Mexico, Morocco and Argentina shows the popularity of the sport all over the world. Despite still being a new sport on the canoe slalom program, extreme canoe slalom once again showed it has a bright future as an international event. Four different nations won gold – interestingly France and the Czech Republic, who dominated the traditional events, where not among the gold medalists on Sunday. Instead it was Brazil, USA, Great Britain and Russia who stood on top of the podium in an event some onlookers have described as dodgem' cars on water. "After the Rio Olympics we introduced extreme canoe slalom onto our world cup program because athletes told us they wanted more competition and more chances to represent their countries," ICF canoe slalom technical committee chair, Jean-michel Prono, said. "After initially just a handful of athletes and countries taking part, the number has grown incredibly as people realise what an exciting and challenging discipline it is. "I have no doubt we will see a fantastic turn out for our extreme canoe slalom world championships in Prague in September. The passion shown by our best junior and U23 paddlers on Sunday shows it is very much a sport for the future." France with seven went home with the most gold medals from the 2019 championships, but the Czech Republic proved to be the most consistent country across the board, scooping up six gold and 18 medals in total. By contrast France won 11 medals. "Once again France and the Czech Republic have shown they have enormous depth in canoe slalom across all disciplines, but countries like Italy, Spain, Slovenia and Great Britain are quickly catching up," Prono said. "But I think what was most pleasing for us as a sport was the emergence of countries which traditionally have not been as strong in slalom. The United States, New Zealand and Russia all had a very good championship. "And then there are countries like Nepal, Algeria, Mexico and Latvia which are still very much finding their way in this sport, but showed the enormous growth potential of canoe slalom around the world." The 2020 ICF junior and U23 canoe slalom world championships will be held in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Benji Brand received a personal invitation from Mick Fanning to compete in the 2019 Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang. And on the best day of the year thus far at The Balinese Pipeline, Brand did not disappoint.
In grinding six-to-eight foot Padang Padang barrels, the rapidly ascending 23-year-old South African who cut his teeth growing up on the North Shore of Oahu, topped a field of 16 of the world's best tube riders with an electric all-day performance to claim the Cup. "I was so surprised when I heard that Mick had invited me to compete in this event," said Brand. "I've watched so many of my heroes compete out here in past years. To be recognized by them is the best prize. The all-day Padang barrels with only a couple friends out doesn't hurt too." With under four minutes remaining in the Final, Brand was sitting in second place behind Clay Marzo (HAW) and needing an 8.84. Brand clawed to the bottom of the thickest wave of the day and sealed the deal with a double spitter across the reef for a 9.67. In the end, Brand was hoisted to victory in front of a raucous crowd, followed by Marzo in second place, former WSL World No. 1 Matt Wilkinson (AUS) in third place, and the lone local Indonesian surfer to reach the Final, Raditya Rondi (IDN), in fourth. It was validation for Brand, who may have still been an underground name to some surfing fans, but not to three-time WSL World Champion Mick Fanning, who was given the honor of inviting the four surfers he most wanted to see compete in the Ultimate Tuberiding Contest. "Benji is a kid who is an incredible tube rider," Fanning said when he announced his selection of Brand. "I'd love to see him at Padang taking it to the boys." Taking it to the boys is exactly what Brand did. On his run to the title, Brand scored countless amazingly deep tubes, including a 9.67 and 9.50, the two highest wave scores on the day. At the outset, Brand and Marzo looked like the surfers to beat in the event. Brand dominated the morning heats, winning both his Round 1 and 2 heats and posting the highest combined heat total of the opening two rounds. Marzo meanwhile put together a spectacular performance, capping off multiple deep frontside drainers, including an insane layback in which he did a full horizontal limbo lean on his back foot, pointed up to the sky, and somehow emerged from a deep the spitting inside bowl, amazing the massive crowd on hand at Padang Padang and watching on the webcast. "This was my second time surfing in the Rip Curl Cup at Padang," Marzo said, who also reached the Finals in 2016 and place fourth. "I don't do contests, but I always hope I can get an invitation to return to this event. I can't tell you how much fun we all had out there today." It certainly was another epic showcase for the Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang, including eight incredible barrel rides scoring in the excellent 9-point range. It was an iconic performance by the brotherhood of the world's elite barrel riders – a brotherhood Benji Brand is now undoubtedly a member of. "Today was a dream come true," Brand said, after being chaired up the beach by his good friends from his adopted North Shore home. "The swell was still pumping on dark. Let's do it again tomorrow!" 2019 Rip Curl Cup Final Results: 1. Benji Brand (ZAF) 17.94 2. Clay Marzo (HAW) 17.10 3. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 16.16 4. Raditya Rondi (IND) 12.17 Fisheries officers from the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSWDPI) have continued to put the blowtorch on illegal crab fishing and black-market sales.
NSWDPI A/Director Fisheries Compliance, Brett Andrew, said several people including a restaurant owner are in hot water for allegedly dealing illegally in crabs. “Fisheries officers inspected a restaurant in South West Rocks on May 28 and seized a large number of crustaceans, as the owner could not provide documentation to show the product had been purchased through legal sources,” Mr Andrew said. In total, 26 mud crabs, 35 blue swimmer crabs, two coral crabs and two Balmain bugs were seized. “Mud crabs and blue swimmer crabs are quota managed species and mud crabs are a priority species under the state’s fisheries laws, attracting high penalties for contraventions,” Mr Andrew said. “A South West Rocks man has also been interviewed by fisheries officers for his alleged involvement in taking the crustaceans for sale when unlicensed, and subsequently supplying these to the restaurant.” Only licensed commercial fishers are permitted to take fish for sale in NSW. “Any activity that could potentially undermine legitimate commercial fishing and compromise the strict quota system is concerning. The alleged offenders can expect to receive court attendance notice where they could face a maximum penalty of $110,000 if convicted,” Mr Andrew said. Commercial fishing industry participants are also reminded of their regulatory obligations to ensure their catches are taken legally. The warning follows the guilty verdict of a commercial fisher from Port Stephens, who faced Raymond Terrace Court in June for illegally using traps to take mud crabs. “The commercial fisher was under surveillance by fisheries officers and observed using a grapple to retrieve five unmarked crab traps from Tilligerry Creek,” Mr Andrew said. “The court found the commercial fisher guilty of unlawfully using traps for taking fish for sale and fined him $750. The court also ordered that he pay the Department’s professional costs of $1,450.” Fisheries officers have seized 3,474 illegally used crab traps over the past three years with 1,103 of those seized last financial year alone. “We’ll continue to sustain this effort against illegal crab fishing to protect the resource and ensure it’s shared sustainably between legitimate users groups. The community is increasingly rejecting all forms of illegal fishing and we thank them for their ongoing support,” Mr Andrew said. Report illegal activityIf anyone suspects illegal fishing in NSW, they should report it to the Fishers Watch phone line on 1800 043 536 or via the online Report Illegal Activity Form. Lennox Head, NSW / AUS The Pro Junior divisions of the 2019 Skullcandy Oz Grom Open presented by Vissla kicked off in fine form yesterday with some of the world's best junior surfers going blow-for-blow in decent two-to-three foot right-handers. With a low tide changing the lineup, Lennox Chell (Avoca, NSW) opted to surf the right-handers on the southern tip of the competition area. The gamble paid off for the Central Coast goofy-footer as he found a multitude of long right-handers that allowed for a wide variety of snaps and carves and as a result, was awarded a near-perfect 9.40 wave score. "That was one of the funnest heats I've had this year," said Chell. "I could tell the tide was running out and the bank down the beach that everyone surfed all morning was beginning to look worse and worse. Thankfully I was able to find waves where I could do two-or-three turns out the back before it linked through to the inside section." Current WSL junior rankings leader Dakoda Walters (Angourie, NSW) showed the same skills that's allowed him to earn the top spot on the 2019 ratings, throwing down a handful of giant airs and innovative turns. Walters' solid approach received a decent 16.00 and allowed him to move one heat closer to claiming the 2019 Australian / Oceania Junior Title. "I had a gameplan to get the first wave out there as I knew it could be a little slow," said Walters. "Fortunately, that wave had a really nice wall on it and ran the whole way through to the inside bank. It's always nice to get those first heats out of the way and shake the nerves. Hopefully, I can keep the momentum going." International competitor Brodie Sale (USA) performed one of the biggest upsets of the event so far taking out his opening Pro Junior heat and eliminating current number three on the 2019 Pro Junior rankings, Xavier Huxtable (Jan Juc, Vic). Having notched up a massive finals performance in this event back in 2017, Sale showed how comfortable he was on Lennox Head beachbreaks, nailing a respectable 13.07 heat total and gaining the upper hand against his opposition. "The waves are really good out there," said Sale. "It's inconsistent, but when they come through, they're really good. I love coming to Australia and doing this event, the waves are good, the weather is awesome and the people are really nice. Hopefully, I can go one step further than I did in 2017." At time of distribution, Kai Tandler (Coolangatta, Qld) was able to post the highest heat total of the event, 18.50 to dominate his opening heat and cement his position into the second round. Other Boys round one standouts who posted excellent scores (eight-and-above) included: Mike Clayton-Brown (Corlette, NSW), Alister Reginato (Sunshine Coast, Qld), Zack McMahon (Evans Head, NSW) and George Pittar (Manly, NSW). Molly Picklum (Shelly Beach, NSW) edged closer to the 2019 Australian / Oceania Junior Title moving through the first round of the Girls Pro Junior. Picklum posted an excellent 8.17 wave score which allowed her to finish the heat in the runner-up position behind Ellia Smith (Sunshine Coast, Qld). "Being in the first heat of the day is always a little bit daunting," said Picklum. "If you found the right little wave then there was definitely the potential to get good scores. It would be awesome to finish the year of Pro Juniors with a bang here at Lennox Head." The six-day event will run from 12 July –17 July 2019 and will comprise of a World Surf League (WSL) sanctioned Pro Junior Qualifying Series (JQS) event as well as an elite competition for promising grommets in the 12, 14 and 16 year age divisions. In a similar vein to preceding years - where the event has attracted surfers from ten different countries - a full international field is again expected in 2019 with surfers coming from as far away as Europe, USA and Japan to make up a field of more than 220 surfers across all divisions. All event divisions will be broadcast live on skullcandyozgromopen.com.au The competition will aim to commence each day at 7:30 am with the call for the day's schedule and location confirmed via the event hotline at 6:45 am. The event hotline is 0458 247 212. The 2019 Skullcandy Oz Grom Open presented by Vissla is proudly supported by Skullcandy, Vissla, Ballina Shire Council, Le-Ba Boardriders, WSL, and Surfing NSW. Patagonia has announced the release of two films; Artifishal and Saving Martha urging for the protection of wild fish. The 80 minute feature film Artifishal explores the high cost—ecological, financial and cultural—of our mistaken belief that engineered solutions can make up for habitat destruction. They trace the impact of fish hatcheries and farms on wild fish populations, and the extraordinary amount of tax dollars wasted on an industry that hinders wild fish recovery, pollutes our rivers and waterways and contributes to the problem it claims to solve. Saving Martha is a short film about fish farms in Australia. Tasmania is regarded as one of our most pristine and wild states. However, in recent years that reputation has been tarnished by the boom of the local salmon farming industry. With environmental regulations struggling to keep pace with the industry’s growth, the marine environments that host the industry have been significantly impacted and, in some cases, have approached collapse. Increased scrutiny and criticism of the industry has forced operators to find new locations, including neighboring King Island – adjacent to the world-class waves at Martha Lavinia Beach. Saving Martha highlights the plight of the King Island community, while emphasising the negative impact the proposed farms will have on the ecology of the region. On the other side of the globe, the same battle rages. Patagonia Founder and Executive Producer, Yvon Chouinard, and Director/Producer Josh “Bones” Murphy made Artifishal – the story of fish hatcheries and fish farms from California to Norway. After witnessing the conditions of factory fish farms as well as the genetically inferior, dumbed-down salmon they churn out. The film explores the repercussions of a wrecked net pen and the underwater destruction and disease caused by an open-water fish farm. “Humans have always thought of themselves as superior to nature and it’s got us into a lot of trouble. We think we can control nature; we can’t,” notes Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia founder. “If we value wild salmon, we need to do something now. A life without wild nature and a life without these great, iconic species is an impoverished life. If we lose all wild species, we’re going to lose ourselves.” Patagonia was founded over 40 years ago by a dirtbag climber who wanted to explore wild places. The company is still in business today because it fights to protect lands and waters all around the world. The company is suing the Trump administration in an effort to protect public lands and has donated over $100 million to environmental nonprofits working on the most pressing challenges facing our planet. Artifishal is the third film in a trilogy about rivers by Patagonia, following DamNation and Blue Heart. The Artifishal trailer can be found here. You can watch Saving Martha here. The International Canoe Federation is delighted to announce the appointment of former Canadian Olympic Committee president Michael Chambers as the new chair of its ethics committee.
Mr Chambers is currently a senior partner with the Ottawa law firm Maclaren Corlett LLP, and has a long association with the Olympic movement and Olympic sports. He is also a former canoe athlete, and was president of Canoe/Kayak Canada from 1986 to 1989. "My Olympic journey started with canoeing, albeit that I never had the talent to be an Olympic canoeist, and my now deceased parents met at a canoe club back in the 1930's," Mr Chambers said. "I have a strong love of sport, and canoeing in particular, and know how important it is for the ICF to protect its image and its standing with fans, athletes and the Olympic movement. "I am also chair of ANOC's legal commission and am chair of the Panam Sports Legal Commission. I am also a representative of the International Partnership Against Corruption in Sport, so I believe I have a strong grounding for this important role with the ICF. ICF secretary-general, Simon Toulson, said he was thrilled when Mr Chambers accepted the role. "We are very conscious that it has been a challenging time for many sporting federations, but the ICF is determined to remain a leader in the fight to protect the image of sport," Mr Toulson said. "The role of chair of our ethics committee is very important, and Michael Chambers is perfect for that role. His history with canoeing, and the strong role he has played all around the world in promoting clean, corruption-free sport, should serve as a benchmark for the ICF and all other national sport federations. "Michael is one of the most astute and fair-minded people in the industry. We are really fortunate and privileged to have him in this important position." Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones has announced $4.5 million in funding for four new tourism projects aimed at attracting visitors and creating jobs.
Ms Jones said today’s announcements meant the Palaszczuk Government had invested close to $400 million in tourism projects in Tropical North Queensland. “A strong tourism industry is vital to growing the economy in Tropical North Queensland,” she said. “We’re investing in new projects that we know will attract more visitors and create jobs for locals. “This will benefit the entire industry and help to grow our share of the international tourism market.” Funding announced today includes:
“We’re working with MYAC and Tourism Tropical North Queensland to capitalise on the strong demand from China for authentic cultural experiences,” he said. “The government will work with Sunlover Reef Cruises to build new marine tourism infrastructure and create new opportunities for visitors to spend more time in Tropical North Queensland when they come to visit. “Today we’re also announcing a new partnership with the Ewamian Aboriginal Corporation to reopen the Talaroo historic hot springs – they have a UNESCO registered geo-spring near Georgetown that has huge potential to attract people inland. “These projects along with the Wangetti Trail and the government’s multi-million dollar investment in the Cairns convention centre and port are proof of our commitment to grow the tourism industry in Tropical North Queensland.” Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive Officer Pip Close welcomed the government’s announce of new infrastructure as the next step in cementing Tropical North Queensland’s position as the best place to experience Australia’s Indigenous cultures. “Indigenous tourism is one of the hero experiences of the tropical north as we have 83 Indigenous experiences with 57 of these owned by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” she said. Mandingalbay Yidinji Aboriginal Corporation (MYAC)spokesman Dewayne Mundraby thanked the State Government for its support for the East Trinity Project. “Work on this project is proposed to start this month and be completed by August 2020. MYAC anticipates the project will create 10 jobs and generate up to $10 million in increased visitation spending a year,” he said. “We look forward to expanding our capacity to grow the tourist market to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef and most importantly, deliver sustainable employment opportunities.” Yarrabah Mayor Ross Andrews commended the Palaszczuk Government’s investment in new tourism infrastructure announced today. “After recently completing YASC’s Economic Strategy 2017‑2022 and now excitingly embarking on a Tourism Strategy for Yarrabah, I welcome the investment for infrastructure growth to leverage off the Far North Queensland tourism market,” he said. “Whilst there is still more work to do, small steps can go a long way towards our participation in the local economy and a step in the right direction. “The Queensland Government funding for redevelopment works at the Yarrabah Arts and Cultural Precinct will provide a vital platform for building the foundation for growth for the Arts and Cultural Precinct as a vibrant self-sufficient community asset. “It will enhance professional artistic excellence and develop economic opportunities that will create pathways for Cultural Tourism, Small business, Employment and National and International artistic recognition.” Sunlover group General Manager Sharon Sheldrake said funding announced today would support a number of projects in North Queensland including construction of an extended pontoon at the outer reef location of Arlington Reef off Cairns and a purpose built semi-submersible vessel to provide non-swimmers the opportunity for a reef experience. “In the Whitsunday region, the Long Island jetty, pontoon and gangway will be upgraded to allow for all year access to the northern part of the island,” she said. “This infrastructure will provide a deep water access to the Happy Bay area and will allow day tourists to experience the many beautiful walks and trails on the island. “Sunlover expects these projects will support six construction jobs and 16 operational jobs with expected completion by late 2020.” The company expected these projects would attract an extra 11,800 visitors a year and contribute up to $500,000 in new visitor expenditure each year to the regions. “Once operational, these projects will provide the company with the opportunity to expand its experiences to tourists over several pristine locations,” Ms Sheldrake said. Funding for the Talaroo project will be used to build 60 new short-stay camping and caravan/RV sites, five glamping sites, a swimming pool and camp ground amenities. The infrastructure will also include access upgrades including a two-lane access road, a carpark, boardwalks, picnic shelters and landscaping. Ewamian Aboriginal Corporation Chairman David Hudson said the Talaroo Hot Springs were a world-class natural and cultural asset and the works will provide up to 15 construction jobs and seven operational jobs when it opens in 2020. “Their re-opening will significantly add to the existing tourism offerings within the Etheridge Shire and the region,” he said. “We expect the springs will generate $1.7 million a year, attracting about 7000 visitors a year during the peak season of April to September.” Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones - the Ministerial Champion for Yarrabah - said the government’s funding support would be used to work with the Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council to redevelop the Yarrabah Arts and Cultural Precinct. “This work will help locals host new art exhibitions and provide an area for open air shows” she said. “It’s about showcasing Yarrabah’s unique cultural identity and history to visitors and creating jobs and new opportunities for small businesses.” A new survey of recreational fishers and boaters gets underway this month to better understand the social and economic value of these pastimes in Victoria. Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) CEO Travis Dowling said the previous study into the value of recreational fishing and boating is now more than five years old and a more current assessment is required to inform management approaches and investment decisions. “The new survey, to be undertaken by Ernst & Young, is a partnership between the VFA and Better Boating Victoria, which was established to deliver on a commitment of the State Government’s $35 million Target One Million plan for fishing and boating,” Mr Dowling said. The new study will provide up-to-date estimates of:
Better Boating Victoria CEO Gary Gaffney said the survey will increase the knowledge base about the value boating brings to the community and help inform future boating strategies. The study will collect data on recreational fishing and boating using a secure online survey of at least 1,000 participants. The online survey will be conducted this month and next with the results to be analysed and modelled to determine the economic value of recreational fishing and boating sectors. Ernst & Young will produce three reports in spring: one for recreational fishing, one for boating, and one for recreational fishing and boating combined. All reports will be made publicly available. Submissions are welcome, particularly regarding what recreational fishing and/or boating means to you, your family, your business and your community. All submissions will be considered and assist with the final reports. Submissions can be emailed to helen.myroniuk@vfa.vic.gov.au by 16 August 2019 or for more information email dallas.d’silva@vfa.vic.gov.au |