Cocoa Beach Paddle Classic to take place on September 8th – 9th
Thursday 30 August
Stand Up World Series comes to Cocoa Beach, Florida
The Cocoa Beach Paddle Classic presented by Pacifico and Starboard and in association with Maui Jim will be the next stop on the 2012 Stand Up World Series.
Taking place on the 8th – 9th September in front of the International Palms Resort, Cocoa Beach, this east coast stop on the World Series will bring together the world’s best stand up paddlers for a dramatic showdown to remember.
Featuring a long distance race from Lori Wilson Park up to Cocoa Beach Pier and back combined with a sprint course that will adopt the trademark World Series heat elimination format, the Cocoa Beach Paddle Classic will provide a complete challenge to the world’s best in the east coast’s surfing capital.
Watch the trailer for this groundbreaking event by clicking here: Cocoa Beach Trailer
Connor Baxter to defend ratings lead in Cocoa Beach
Following a win in the recent Turtle Bay Summer Paddle Challenge this month on Oahu, together with his win at Stop 1 in Fiji and 2nd place in Chicago, Connor Baxter (Starboard) is looking to defend his ratings lead at the Cocoa Beach Paddle Classic amidst strong international competition.
After a phenomenal winning streak this Summer, Connor has proved one of the hardest to beat, with the only character putting a chink in his armor so far being arch rival and fellow Mauian, Kai Lenny (Naish).
Kai Lenny looking to regain ratings lead in Cocoa Beach
Kai Lenny (Naish) has also had a phenomenal year in 2012, proving that his exceptional skill is not limited to surfing (where he has already secured two world titles. Having taken down the world’s very best at events throughout the 2012 Season, he is currently lying in 2nd overall in the 2012 ratings, right on the heels of arch rival Connor Baxter (Starboard) as tension mounts through the backend of the 2012 season.
There is no doubt that Kai will be looking to add the Racing World Title to his coveted surfing World Titles so will be going for gold at the Cocoa Beach Paddle Classic, presented by Pacifico and Starboard.
Florida Native & Maui Resident Slater Trout to excel
Slater Trout, originally from Florida, but now a Maui resident will be feeling right at home here at the Cocoa Beach Paddle Classic presented by Pacifico and Starboard, as the world’s best gather to do battle in Florida’s surfing capital.
With strong finishes at the premier stops of the World Series in 2012, Slater Trout is currently lying in 3rd place overall, so has everything to play for through the backend of the 2012 season, as these crucial stops in Florida and then at Huntington Beach in California will determine vital ranking points in the lead up to the climactic Finals at Turtle Bay Resort in October.
Slater Trout has long been titled the next big thing, and has put together a string of great results to prove it: he will be looking to assert his presence here in Cocoa Beach and further his quest for a World Title in 2012.
Eric Terrien from France to continue his great form
Eric Terrien (Bic SUP) from France will be looking to capitlize on his great form in 2012 and consistency through the year as he comes back over to the US for World Series stops in Florida, Huntington and then leading into the Finals at Turtle Bay.
After a phenomenal win at home France in the World Series component of the La Torche Pro Grand Slam, Eric then went onto a great finish in Chicago amidst the very best in the world, keeping him right up there in 5th place overall in the 2012 rankings.
Zane Schweitzer looks to capitalize on his positioning
Also proving that his skill is not reserved to surfing, Maui’s Zane Schweitzer (Starboard) will be looking to consolidate on his positioning in the World Series ranking here at the Cocoa Beach Paddle Classic.
Having suffered from a recurring illness that left him short of energy and power this past few months, Zane will be repowered and ready for action in Florida, as he looks to capitalize on the surf slalom format that he favors in Cocoa Beach to climb up the rankings and make his presence felt.
Ryan Helm and Fernando Stalla to feature in Florida
After a strong showing in Chicago earlier this summer, our friends from Mexico will be heading back up to make their presence felt in Florida and advance their Title hopes for 2012.
US native, but resident in Mexico, Ryan Helm will be looking to capitalize on his 3rd place finish in Chicago, while Fernando Stalla (Rogue) was right up there, narrowly missing out on the Top 6 positioning, but nonetheless, looking really strong as a real force to be reckoned with on the Stand Up World Series.
Hawaii presence to prove strong in Cocoa Beach Florida
Hawaii will have a strong presence in Cocoa Beach, from the ratings leaders to contenders such as Kody Kerbox, who has poured focus on his racing in 2012 to produce phenomenal result after phenomenal result, showing himself to be a force to be reckoned with on the Stand Up World Series.
Also standing out is Hawaii’s Kaeo Abby (Art in Surf), son of the legendary Clark Abby. Kaeo has an illustrious history in one man paddling, and increasingly proves himself to be a strong force in the Stand Up Paddle Community as he heads to Florida to take down the world’s best away from home. Watch out for great things from this Hawaiian.
Another contender from Hawaii is the young stand out of the year from the Stand Up World Tour and World Series, Mo Freitas from Oahu. Mo will be looking to continue his astonishing form in Florida next week, as he is consistently earning the reputation of being a giant killer at just 15 years of age. Watch out for this North Shore kid on the rise….
The Women’s fleet is headlined by Annabel Anderson
The women’s fleet will once again be headlined by New Zealand’s Annabel Anderson (Starboard), current ratings leader on the Stand Up World Series.
Annabel has proved on startling form the whole year, as she has shown herself to be not only the leading female force in all races she has entered, but has also kept up with and often beaten many competitive male athletes – a phenomenal achievement from this ever impressive athlete.
Local Heroes Awards to be introduced in Cocoa Beach
While the World Series provides a top level professional platform for the World’s very best, it also provides a unique racing environment for everyone, with an open division for the long distance, a prone paddle division, but also Local Hero awards for Local standouts competing across both disciplines of the World Series weekend of racing (Long distance and Sprints).
The Local Heroes format will be an ongoing feature at all World Series Races around the world, allowing us to celebrate athletes of all levels, ages and both genders and create more of an all inclusive atmosphere at all events.
So if you haven’t entered yet, but would like to race alongside the World’s very best for your chance to win one of the Local Heroes awards, go to register.standupworldseries.
Stand Up World Tour Surfers represent in Cocoa Beach
While the sheer level and extent of talent at Cocoa Beach is assured for the Stand Up World Series, on the morning of the 8th and 9th, Maui Jim will be presenting surf exhibitions, where World Ratings leader Sean Poynter (Starboard), 2x World Champ Kai Lenny (Naish), wild man Zane Schweitzer (Starboard) and many more of the world’s leading Stand up Paddlesurfers will take to the water to provide a glimpse of stand up surfing at its very best.
Sean Poynter will be on hand to provide ‘poynters’ towards better surfing, insight into his journey on Tour and much more at the Cocoa Beach Paddle Classic presented by Pacifico and Starboard.
At this mid way point of the year, this taste of World Tour action will be a good warm up as we look ahead to the next event on the World Tour Calendar, the Huntington Beach Pro that will run from the 2nd – 8th October.
Starboard to present the east coast stop of World Series
Starboard continue their mainland theme with their partnership of this next stop on the 2012 Stand Up World Series. Following their partnership with the inaugural stop in Chicago in early July and preceding their continued involvement with the Huntington Beach Pro that in 2012 will feature a World Series stop in addition to the World Tour event, Starboard continue to assert their presence as a global leader in SUP.
With an international Team that features some of the World’s leading stand up paddlers, from World Series ratings leader Connor Baxter, to women’s ratings leader Annabel Anderson and current World Surfing Tour ratings leader, Sean Poynter, not to mention a whole host of other leading lights in the world of Stand Up Paddling, Starboard is well represented in the global arena and has a product offering to match.
A big Mahalo to Starboard for all their support for the development and continued growth of the professional platform for stand up surfing and racing.
Maui Jim continues its patronage of the World Series
Maui Jim’s connection with the Waterman League and both World Tour and World Series suns deep, with its first partnership stretching back to the 2010 Sunset Beach Pro. In 2012, the year started right at the first World Surfing Tour event of the year once again at Sunset, and then the partnership continued onto the Oleron stop of the Stand Up World Series in France in June, then Chicago in July and now Florida in September.
As the premier eyewear brand that has become synonymous with the SUP and ‘Waterman’ culture, we are proud to continue our story with Maui Jim and perpetuate the very best in sports culture. A big Mahalo to Maui Jim for their support.
Don’t miss out on the Cocoa Beach Paddle Classic, FL
So stay tuned to www.standupworldseries.com for live updates and a single camera live feed for the sprint racing (sunday) of the Cocoa Beach Paddle Classic, presented by Pacifico and Starboard and in association with Maui Jim.
For those of you close enough to check it out and /or participate, the destination is the International Palms Resort, Cocoa Beach (http://www.
Here is the detailed schedule:
Friday 7th September: International Palms Resort, Cocoa Beach
- 2pm: Press Conference: International Palms Resort, Cocoa Beach
- Opening Ceremony and welcome drinks: Mambo’s Restaurant Bar
Saturday 8th September: Lori Wilson Park (in front of International Palms)
- 8am – 11am: Free Surf and exhibition
- 11am – 2pm: Demo opportunities for the public and fun races
- 2.30pm: Race Briefing
- 3pm: Long Distance Race to Cocoa Beach Pier
- 5.30pm: Awards at the event site
- 7pm: Event Party, Mambo’s Restaurant / Bar
Sunday 9th September: Lori Wilson Park
- 7am – 9am: Free Surf and exhibition
- 9.30: Race Briefing
- 10am – 12.30pm: Preliminary Heats for the Sprint Racing
- 12.30pm – 2.30pm: Demo opportunities and fun races
- 3pm – 5.30pm: Final Heats and conclusion of the sprint racing
- 6pm: Prize-giving and awards on beach
The Waterman League to present at Orland’s Surf Expo
The Waterman League will be presenting a detailed schedule and new look for the 2013 Stand Up World Surfing Tour and Racing Series in Orlando’s Surf Expo on Thursday 6th September at 1pm on the Main Stage.
With a compelling video presentation, words from our Champions and announcements regarding the second half of 2012, the 2013 season and beyond, this presentation promises to be a must see. Detailed information will be posted across all sites following this presentation.
A big Mahalo also to our Stand Up World Series Patrons
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