Steve Pike

STANDUP paddling looks set for another giant leap into the future in the turquoise waters of Fijian island Tavarua at the world championships starting today.

The rapid growth of the sport has fuelled a phenomenal evolution in skill levels and equipment.

Not that many years ago, most SUP wave riders would not have been too stoked about having to tackle the tubing reef break waves of Cloudbreak that crack along razorsharp coral.

But the 2016 Fiji ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship puts those fears firmly to bed, for most athletes on the island at the moment anyway.

First- timers India and Fiji join 24 national SUP and paddleboard teams at the championship, with 244 athletes competing in SUP surfing, SUP racing and Paddleboard racing disciplines over the next 10 days.

The opening ceremony kickoffs today in Port Denarau, with Team South Africa part of a parade and the “Flags of the World” ceremony.

The tradition normally features a container into which each national captain pours a bit of sand from their country.

However, Fiji doesn’t allow foreign sand in. Instead, the ceremony will feature a container with all the flags in a symbolic act of unification.

South Africa has a strong team, comprising eight athletes. Some of them are expected to perform well, particularly SUP surfer Thomas King, who is absolutely ripping at the moment, as is Brandon Ribbink, while in the women’s section, Roxy Davis, has been training hard.

Dylan Frick is South African SUP racing champion and is ranked in the top 10 in the world but feels his training this year has been the best ever, and he aims “to be on the podium with Connor this year.”

Frick is talking about American Connor Baxter, who pretty much wins most SUP races he competes in. The US has a strong team with the famous Kai Lenny, known for his crazy SUP sessions in giant Jaws.

Last year, Team USA took gold for the first time in the event’s history, breaking Australia’s three- year winning streak.

In the women’s racing disciplines, Anna Notten, prone distance racer, is a multiple medallist and is looking in peak form, while Tarryn King is a tough competitor who doesn’t give up.

The first event to be run will be the SUP surfing, which takes place tomorrow at Cloudbreak.

Check out the live stream at www.isaworlds.com

The 2017 championship takes place in Denmark, with the racing taking place in the country’s capital of Copenhagen and the surfing at Klitmoller – known as Cold Hawaii – on the country’s west coast.

Jaws Open

EARLY this morning, a big wave champion from Jaws in Hawaii will have been crowned. The Peahi Challenge in north Maui was put on green alert as a 30-foot swell bore down on the islands last night. South Africans Grant Twiggy Baker and Tammy-Lee Smith will be surfing in the event. Smith, also from Durban, was on the alternate list but got into women’s event, the first time women have been invited to compete.

In addition to the Peahi Challenge, the first event of the WSL Triple Crown is expected to begin this weekend with the Hawaiian Pro at Sunset Beach. Check out www. worldsurfleague.com

Share the Stoke

THE Share the Stoke Western Cape Outreach Games takes place tomorrow at Muizenberg with more than 70 surfers from 10 outreach projects joining in tag-team events. There will be lucky draws and lots of festivity, starting at 9am. Winners will take home the Share the Stoke Trophy, cash prizes and seven Fire Wire surfboards.

Adaptive Funding

JORDY SMITH and Shaun Tomson have thrown their weight behind a crowd-funding initiative to get the South African team to the Adaptive World Surfing Championships in California in December.

Head over to www.generosity.com and pledge a few bucks. Every little bit helps.

Weather Tip

Strong summer strength southerlies blow this weekend. Today, it’s pretty much straight out of the south, blowing a steady 20kts, while tomorrow it swings slightly more SSE and really blows, peaking at near-gale force in the afternoon.

Today the swell 3-4’ while tomorrow, a big 10-12’ SSW groundswell t hunders through, but the winds are uncomfortable.

False Bay is a write- off both days, with tomorrow looking particularly wild and woolly.

WHAT’S SUP? South Africa’s Thomas King shows off his paddle-surfing skills.