New Canadian stand up paddleboard race champions were crowned on June 17 and June 18 at the Tofino SUP Festival and Race.
Shannon Bell of Vancouver bested the female contenders with a win in the 4-km technical race on June 17 at South Chesterman’s Beach and a win in the 12-km distance race on June 18 at Mackenzie Beach.
“I don’t think I could have done any better,” Bell said after Saturday’s technical race. “This is my first time competing in the surf in Tofino. Honestly, it was one of the best races I’ve ever done. As far as enjoying it and just the challenge of all those different conditions.”
Bell caught a beauty wave on the second lap of the course that pushed her well ahead of second place finisher Genna Flinkman of Edmonton.
“I held it and had a clean turn and then bridged the gap there and just kept solid throughout the race,” said Bell, who had a finish time of 36 minutes and 51 seconds.
Flinkman, the reigning Canadian SUP surf champion, claimed first in the 200-metre sprint race and again, came second to Bell in the distance race.
Carmen Merkel of Deep Cove took third in all three race categories.
On the men’s side, young gun Evan Gerbrecht, 17, of Deep Cove won the technical race with a finish time of 33 minutes and 21 seconds. He crossed the finish line 19 seconds ahead of last years’ winner, Jason Bennett of Deep Cove.
Bennett cruised to the top of the podium in the open technical race and handily finished first in the 12-km distance race on a 14-foot raceboard with a time of one-hour, 25 minutes and 53 seconds.
Gary Parsons of Vancouver finished fourth overall in the distance race, and was the first competitor in on a 12-foot 6-inch raceboard.
“The twelve-six category was a qualifier for the ISA [Worlds] in Denmark so to win that category means you have the choice to go there and be on the team,” said Parsons.
The Father’s Day win for Parsons means he’ll have a couple days to decide whether he can attend the Worlds in September. His wife, Shannon Bell, is in the same boat.
“We’ll have to see what we can do. Maybe credit card it or get some sponsorship help,” said Parsons.
Denmark wouldn’t be the first International event for Bell and Parsons, as they both competed in the 2013 ISA Worlds in Peru. Bell won a bronze medal for Team Canada in the distance race.
Local SUP instructor and Tofino Paddle Surf team rider Jacob Collard was one of the only locals to enter the SUP races. Collard placed second in the open and tenth overall in the distance race.
“You don’t see many Tofitians paddling to be honest,” said Collard. “There is myself, Cath [Bruhwiler] paddles once in a while and the T’ashii boys. I’d like to see more guys out here. It’d be good for us.”
The annual Tofino SUP Festival and Race is hosted by Tofino Paddle Surf and supported by Coastline Surf and South Island SUP.
Race winners from each category qualify for the ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship in Denmark in September.