Australian paddling star Jamie Mitchell (Currumbin, Queensland) made sure history didn’t repeat today, storming to victory in the Honolua Ocean Paddle Race on the Gold Coast.
31-year-old Mitchell, who wiped out of last year’s event after the rudder on his paddleboard snapped as he made his way out to the offshore start line, completed the eight-kilometer open ocean race from Snapper Rocks to Currumbin unscathed, crossing the line in a time of 51 minutes and 48 seconds.
The paddleboarding ace says he was stoked to take the win after an unfortunate finish in the 2008 race.
“I felt pretty good out there today,” he said.
“Last year was disappointing, but when you deal with the ocean anything can happen.”
“Towards the end, we had a few nice runners and you could really feel the board moving. It was so much fun.”
It was clear sailing for the seven times Molokai to Oahu Paddleboarding Championship title winner from the stater’s gun, shooting to an early lead before widening the gap by race end to finish almost four minutes clear of Dean Hamner (Broadbeach), who crossed the line in 55 minutes and 37 seconds.
Mermaid Beach’s Sean Campbell finished in third with a time of 56 minutes and 22 seconds.
“My plan was to go flat stick off the start,” said Mitchell.
“I figured that going as hard as possible off the start line would open up a gap for me. I just kept paddling and didn’t look back. I guessed it paid off.
Mitchell is in training for the Molokai to Oahu Paddleboarding Championship, which is regarded as the world championship of paddleboard racing.
“Today’s race was a good test for us,” he said.
“It’s a gauge for how we are going for Molokai. I felt in top form.”
A record 115-strong field started the day’s race with a fresh influx of outrigger canoe paddlers joining paddleboarders and their stand-up alternatives for the prestigious race.
The race’s status was upgraded with a prize purse of $4500, a competitor prize giveaway of two return airfares from Australia to Hawaii, plus $1000 of restaurant prizes for the Thrower Drive Restaurant precinct at Currumbin.
Gold Coast lifeguard James Watson (Burleigh Heads) scorched to victory in the unlimited open men’s Stand Up Paddle (SUP) division, finishing the race in a super-fast time of 56 minutes and 40 seconds.
Gold Coast ironmen Hayley Bateup was also in the mix today, finishing in third in the unlimited open women’s division. She was defeated by Bianca Lee (Southport – 62.26) and Kristyl Smith (63.10).
The third annual event was an outstanding success, helped by record field, great paddling conditions, and a friendly vibe.
But it wasn’t just Watson and Mitchell who impressed, with 15 other divisional winners crowned.
The festivities continued post-race with the presentation of trophies and competitor BBQ, plus the post-race function at the Boat Shed Café.
The event catered to stock boards and unlimited boards. Divisions included:
Unlimited: Open Men, Open Women, Over 40 Men, Over 50 Men, Open Men SUP, Over 40 Men SUP, Open Women SUP, Junior Men, and Junior Women.
Stock: Open Men, Over 40 Men, Over 50 men, Open Men SUP.
Outrigger: Open Men, Open Women, Over 45 men, and Over 35 Men.
The Honolua Ocean Paddle Race is proudly supported by Connecting Southern Gold Coast (CSGC), Hawaiian Airlines, Coastalwatch, XCEL Wetsuits, Dakine, and Surfing Queensland.
Results:
Stock Open Men SUP:
1st Woogie Marsh
2nd Troy Pease
3rd James Brydon
Stock O/50 men:
1st Chris McGuckin
2nd Kevin Flood
3rd Ian Brown
Unlimited Open Men:
1st Jamie Mitchell
2nd Dean Hamner
3rd Sean Campbell
Unlimited Open Men SUP:
1st James Watson
2nd Paul Jackson
3rd Kelly Margetts
Unlimited Open Women:
1st Bianca Lee
2nd Kristyl Smith
3rd Hayley Bateup
Unlimited Open Women SUP:
1st Shakira Westdorp
2nd Sue Sheard
3rd Jasleigh Geary
Unlimited 0/40 Men SUP:
1st Phil Gregory
2nd Dale Chapman
3rd Alain Teurquetil
Unlimited 0/50 Men:
1st Leo Barnathan
Junior Men:
1st Fletcher Davies
2nd Sam Burke
3rd Dominic Cormack
Junior Women:
1st Amy Elkington
2nd Kirra Wilson
3rd Maddi Stewart
Open Men Outrigger:
1st Travis Grant
2nd Paul Sloman
3rd Steven Murphy
Open Women Outrigger:
1st Liz Spooner
2nd Taryn Lavery
Over 35 Men Outrigger:
1st Matt Carter
2nd Peter Dories
3rd David Forbes
Over 40 Men Stock:
1st Nick Carroll
2nd Grahame Tate
Over 40 Men Unlimited:
1st Mick Dibetta
2nd Warwick Rose
Over 45 Men Outrigger:
1st Chris Maynard
2nd John Stewart
3rd Neville Terkelsen
Stock Open Men:
1st Nathan Henderson
2nd Jackson Maynard
3RD Michael Chan