Mitchell rides huge swell to new Molokai race record

Jamie Mitchell : photo Cunninghamphotos.com

GOLD Coaster Jamie Mitchell yesterday wrote himself in Hawaiian folklore by winning a record sixth consecutive Molokai to Oahu paddleboard race, breaking his his own race record.

Mitchell, 30, set a quick early pace to be well ahead of the record at the halfway mark, and with a strong tail-wind and huge swell was able to beat his North Burleigh clubmate and training partner Bruce Taylor by 20 minutes. Hawaiian Brian Rochlea was some distance back third.

Mitchell took more than eight minutes off his record for the 51km course, finishing in four hours 48.23sec, to establish himself as the undisputed world paddleboard champion.

His training partners Mick Di Betta, a previous winner and race record holder, was fifth and Mitchell's brother Justin, 28, was sixth.

"They train on the Gold Coast during our autumn-winter then head to Hawaii and California and return home in February," said Mitchell's dad, Paul.

"Jamie said after his win he had never felt better after a race but Justin had been a bit crook before the race with headaches and couldn't eat."

Jamie won a 15km Maui race last week and in his preparation he also won the US paddleboard championship at Hermosa Beach, Los Angeles, where Justin won the 14-foot division.

"They now head off to France for a 60k race where Jamie was second last year, so he has something to prove," said Paul Mitchell.