Five times World Champion Headlines Honolua Ocean Paddle Race

Open Stand Up Division To Be Showcased This Weekend

On Saturday, 2nd June 2007, Honolua Surf Co. is proud to host the Honolua Ocean Paddle Race – an 8.5km race starting at Snapper Rocks following the coastline north and finishing at Currumbin Creek.

Five times world paddle boarding champion Jamie Mitchell (Currumbin, Aus) is the clear favourite in the men’s open unlimited division while another hot race is expected in the women’s open unlimited division, with Shakira Westdorp (Burleigh Heads, Aus) aiming to win on home turf.

Mitchell, who has won almost every international event he has entered during the past five years, including his five straight Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Races in Hawaii (considered the world championship of long distance paddling) plus the US National Championships, will treat this weekend’s race as a training workout for his upcoming Molokai campaign.

Mitchell expects to hit the sand at Currumbin in less than 50 minutes, conditions prevailing, and will try to beat his own course record set in 2006 at 51 minutes and 25 seconds.

“It’s just another step in my training regime,” said Mitchell.

“I’ve been doing a lot of training, mainly over long distances getting ready for Molokai and the overseas races so most of the paddling I’ve been doing is around three hours at a time… So this race is going to be more of a sprint race for me.”

Adding to the event’s already high stakes is $1,500 prize money - $750 apiece for the open men unlimited and stock divisions. Competitors will also receive a free T-Shirt as well as a free BBQ at the finish line.

What’s more, the open-ocean style race will also be offering a new specialty event: stand up paddleboard. This event includes the use of any type of board and a paddle for use while standing up. This style is a throwback to the Beach boys who used to surf in Waikiki, Hawaii using canoe paddles to power themselves into the waves.

2006 world longboard champion Josh Constable (Peregian Beach, Aus) will trade his standard board for a customised paddleboard to compete in the stand up division. Constable, who recently won the stand up title at the 2007 Malfunction Surf Festival, will looking to continue his white-hot run of form when competition commences this weekend.

Also entering the stand up division will be Guy Walker - Honolua Surf Co’s Design and Marketing Manager.

“Honolua is proud to be sponsoring their first paddle boarding event as well as supporting the resurgence of the stand up approach,” said Walker.

“Stand up paddling was very much apart of the surfing scene in its formative years… So it’s great that Honolua can return to surfing’s roots along with maintaining its surf focus.”

Meanwhile, former Molokai to Oahu Champion and Burleigh Heads lifeguard Mick Dibetta will line-up in the over 40 men's unlimited division this weekend.

Divisions include: Open Men (Unlimited), Open Men (Stock), Open Women (Unlimited), Over 40 Men (Unlimited), Over 40 Men (Stock), Kids 12 and Under and Open Stand Up (Unlimited).

The race is expected to start at Snapper Rocks at 10am with the first competitors nearing the finish line at Currumbin around 45 -50 mins later.