Media Release: Surfing NZ, 16.05.2015
The New Zealand Team have jumped back into podium contention after day five of the 2015 ISA World Stand Up Paddle and Paddleboard World Championship being held in Mexico.
The team now sit in fourth place on the standings after Daniel Kereopa (Raglan) surfed to a sixth placing in the Men’s SUP Surfing and Alexis Poulter (Waihi Beach) surfed to ninth in the Women’s SUP Surfing.
USA leads the standings ahead of Australia and Hawaii. New Zealand will battle with host nation Mexico as well as Brazil, South Africa and Spain to fill the final podium spot.
There are two days of the event remaining which will comprise the male and female technical races for both the stand up and prone paddleboard disciplines.
“Today was the first day I was slightly out of sync with the waves” commented Kereopa after losing out in both is qualifying and reperchage semifinals. “Conditions were tough but I have to enjoy the moment of being at the top end of the contest” he added.
“I really wanted to make the final as it was the goal I had in mind and is what I trained for. I am very pleased to be competing against the world’s best and I am not far off the pace.”
Kereopa was eliminated by event champion Sean Poynter (USA) and home town hero Felipe Hernandez who went on to place third in the final.
“This result means I can say a big thank you to all who supported and helped me get to Mexico. I am certain the more I compete at the international level the more results will come. I am as good as the rest of world so I’m amped to prove it.”
Alexis Poulter also fell short in her final heat of the event losing a very close heat to Jenny Lee (HAW) and Emma Webb (Aus).
“I’m really happy with my result, I wanted to better last year and I feel confident I can surf as good as those top girls” said Poulter. “I did all the preparation I could so I have to be happy” she added.
Poulter returns to the side-lines to watch the rest of her team bring home the last two days of races.
“Now I am looking forward to the next few days and watching my team mates kill it in the relay and the technical races. It’s such a diverse group of athletes and I think that’s what makes the team so great. I am hoping New Zealand can make that top four and bring home a medal” said Poulter.
Day six of the event will revert back to the racing disciplines with the technical races for males and females. These races are contested over a 5.0km course. New Zealand athletes that will be in action include Armie Armstrong (Rag), Ollie Houghton (Auck), Penelope Strickland (Auck), Sam Shergold (Mnt), Cory Taylor (Mnt) and Jasmine Smith (Gis). Preliminary heats and the team relay will be contested on the penultimate day of the event with finals to be contested on Monday morning New Zealand time.
The event is being held at Sayulita, Mexico from the 10th – 17th May and a full complement of eleven Kiwi athletes are attending the event. The eight-day event includes 300 participants from 27 nations competing in ten surfing and racing disciplines.
New Zealand results from day five of the 2015 ISA World Stand Up Paddle and Paddleboard Championship held at Sayulita, Mexico today (Saturday 16th May NZT).
Overall Team Points
1 USA 12736
2 Australia 11326
3 Hawaii 11151
4 New Zealand 10548
5 Mexico 10503
6 Brazil 10376
7 South Africa 10231
8 Spain 10026
9 Peru 9554
Men’s SUP Surfing Qualify Round 5
Heat 1
Poenaiki Raioha (TAH) 14.27, 1, Antoine Delpero (FRA) 10.36, 2, Mo Frietas (HAW) 9.70, 3, Daniel Kereopa (NZL) 8.53, 4
Men’s SUP Surfing Reperchage Final
Sean Poynter (USA) 12.90, 1, Felipe Hernandez (MEX) 12.40, 2, Mo Frietas (HAW) 11.97, 3, Daniel Kereopa (NZL) 8.16, 4
Women’s SUP Surfing Reperchage Round 4
Heat 2
Jenny Lee (HAW) 9.57, 1, Emma Webb (AUS) 8.67, 2, Alexis Poulter (NZL) 8.40, 3
The remaining schedule for the event is as follows. The races will start at 9:00am on day six. Sayulita, Mexico is 18 hours behind New Zealand. All dates GMT-6. You can follow the event live via the event website.
16th May – Technical Race Qualifying (male and female) and Team Relay
17th May – Technical Race Finals, Team Relay Finals and Prize Giving
Please see below for the full team that is competing at the 2015 ISA World Stand Up Paddle and Paddleboard Championship being held at Sayulita, Mexico from the 10th – 17th May.
Daniel Kereopa (Raglan) – SUP Surf
Shayne Baxter (Christchurch) – SUP Surf
Alexis Poulter (Waihi Beach) – SUP Surf
Armie Armstrong (Raglan) – SUP Distance Race and Technical Race
JP Tobin (Auckland) – SUP Distance Race
Ollie Houghton (Auckland) – SUP Technical Race
Penelope Strickland (Auckland) – SUP Distance and Technical Race
Sam Shergold (Mount Maunganui) – Paddleboard Distance Race and Technical Race
Cory Taylor (Gisborne / Gold Coast) – Paddleboard Distance Race and Technical Race
Jasmine Smith (Gisborne) – Paddleboard Technical Race
Katrina Madill (Auckland) – Paddleboard Distance Race
Manager – Barbara Newton (Mount Maunganui)
Assistant Manager – Rosie Houghton (Auckland)
Coach and reserve – Andrew Newton (Mount Maunganui)
Further Information
For further information on the New Zealand Stand Up Paddle and Paddleboard Team please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.