SUP Sensation Connor Baxter Stand Up Paddles in Holland’s SUP 11-City Tour
After competing and winning his division in the Duke Kahanamoku Oceanfest race, Starboard team rider Connor Baxter travelled to Friesland, Holland for another SUP event. In the Duke’s Oceanfest Race, Connor placed 1st in his division (19 and under) and landing 8th overall SUP – finishing in 1:24:00–only 9 minutes behind the winner–Scott Gamble.
Here’s an update from Connor’s mom, Karen Baxter, on his latest feat in Holland.
I wanted to update you on what Connor has been up to these past couple weeks.
At this moment, he is in Holland where he just finished competing in the 11-City tour event – Sept 1 – 5. Five days of paddling – 220 kilometers total, which he finished and completed in 32 hours 4 minutes!! Flat water canals, choppy lakes, headwinds of 18 + knots (for about 80 kilometers), rain, under loads of bridges (not very tall), unbelievable scenery – they had it all.
I included a bunch of photos from the Holland event. Some of the photos are not of Connor – but they give you an idea of what they paddled thru. Also, there are 4 pictures at the end, that I downloaded while Connor was competing. All the competitors had GPS’s on them, so we could track them live as they paddled 45 kilometers a day!!
Race kick-off
SUP 11-City-Tour participants
Early race stages
Connor’s day 1 in the race
Top shot of Connor on his Starboard SUP board
Paddling with the other athletes (Donna Raaphorst, Anne-Marie Reichman, Kelvin Hilgeholt and Connor Baxter)
Docking under the bridge
Connor side by side with Frank Vanleenhove
Connor Baxter up close
Anne Marie Reichman, SUP 11-City Tour organization board member
Celebrity participant and pentathlon athlete, Kelvin Hilgeholt
Tracking Connor via GPS
Live track of Connor as he paddled 45 kilometers a day!!
Race course
All photos were sent by Karen Baxter.
What an amazing feat. That’s over 136 miles of paddling, over 27 miles average for 5 consecutive days with no swell to push him. Hat’s off to Connor.