Joshua Stretton Crowned Junior Mens SUP Surfing Champion

GOLD COAST: 

Day two of the 2018 Hyundai Australian SUP Titles presented by SAE Group has wrapped up in clean 2ft (0.6m) at Duranbah Beach. Today saw the Junior Men’s division finish up, and finalists decided for every other division including open men, open women, over 40 men, over 40 women, over 50 men and junior women.

Josh Stretton (NSW) has been crowned Junior Mens Australian SUP Surfing champion, defeating Riley Thomson (QLD), Aidan Feeley (QLD) and Louie Pantelic (NSW) respectively in the final this afternoon. Stretton showed a powerful display of speed and flow, tearing apart the clean afternoon waves at Duranbah – putting together an 8.0 and a 6.75 for a heat total of 14.75 (out of a possible 20.00). This is the first time a junior division has been added to the Australian SUP Titles, which made Stretton’s victory today all the sweeter.

“It was definitely a great day of surfing for everyone,” said Stretton. “That was a fun heat to surf in just then with the boys, they were all surfing so great. I’d like to thank Surfing Queensland for hosting a fun event and including the juniors this year.”

In the Open Women’s division, Skyla Rayner (NSW), Hannah Finlay-Jones (NSW), Shakira Westdorp (QLD) and Terrene Black (NSW) will surf in their final tomorrow morning. Current World Champion Westdorp smashed through her semi-final heat, scoring the highest heat total of the Open Women’s division with 15.35 to push her through to the final.

The swell stuck around for the Junior Women’s division, which saw Brea Wright (QLD), Isabella Olney (WA) and Sophie-May White (VIC) all progress into their final tomorrow morning.

Queenslanders Wes Fry (Yaroomba, QLD) Tim Cyprien (Helensvale, QLD) and Nic Walker (Coolum Beach, QLD) will progress through to the Open Men’s semi-finals, which will run tomorrow morning. Other names progressing to the semi-finals include last years runner-up Harry Maskell (NSW), Justin Holland (NSW), Joshua Stretton (NSW), James Casey (NSW) and Matt Takle (VIC).

In the over 40 men’s division, the final tomorrow will be made up of Justin Holland (NSW), Trafford Harris (SA), Steve Morley (QLD) and Paul Jones (QLD. Justin Holland scored the highest heat total of the division, with 14.75 – defeating Trafford Harris (SA), Andrew Cassidy (NSW) and Chris Twomey (WA) respectively in his semi-final heat.

The over 40 women’s division saw Narelle Kuppers (WA), Maleah Zanos (VIC), Dimity Faulkner (QLD) and Patrice Richardson (WA) progress through to tomorrows final. Kuppers scored the highest heat total of the division, with 9.25.

The event will see 25 national champions crowned across divisions including SUP surfing, technical racing and marathon racing. Defending champions New South Wales will be looking to go back-to-back after winning the overall victory last year, closely followed by Queensland.

“We’re incredibly excited to be hosting the Australian SUP Titles on the Gold Coast again this year,” said Surfing Queensland CEO Adam Yates. “We’re going to see Australia’s best Stand Up Paddleboarders tearing apart the surf from Saturday through to Tuesday – so we encourage our residents of the Gold Coast to come down and check out the action.”

The 2018 Hyundai Australian SUP Titles presented by SAE group provides the exclusive pathway to the International Surfing Association’s (ISA) 2019 ISA World SUP & Paddleboard Championships.

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