Stand Up World Series Chile

The first event of the Stand Up World Series has come to a close. And what an event it was! It sounds as though the event that was held in South Chile was a great success. Here is what the Stand Up World Series had to say about the final day of competition:

Monday 18 March

Connor Baxter powers to victory in Puerto Natales, Chile

Connor Baxter (Starboard) puts every last shred of energy into a tiebreaker to claim the overall victory here at the Aragas Magallanes Paddle Challenge. With Kai Lenny (Naish) taking the win in the long distance, Connor knew that it was all or nothing on the final day of action here in Puerto Natales, and that he had to put it all on the line to take down arch rival and the reigning World Series Champion.
He went onto win the sprint racing component, forcing a tie-breaker that would prove to be one of the most nail biting yet on the Stand Up World Series. In the end, after a rail and paddle clashing duel, it was to be Connor’s day, just edging ahead of Kai to take the victory and a $9,000 check here at Stop 1 of the 2013 Stand Up World Series.

Kai Lenny remains equal first in ratings, 2nd in the event

Although both athletes receive equal points for tying at stop one of the Stand Up World Series, Kai Lenny (Naish) has to settle for 2nd place overall for the event itself. With a dramatic win in the long distance and such a close finish in the sprints and tie breaker, the young Champion has to be happy with his result here at Stop one of the Stand Up World Series.
However it is becoming clear that the Kai / Connor rivalry is only intensifying and that the Title will be to the bitter end this year as these two young Champions will will no doubt push each other to their physical and mental limits to take the Title in 2013

Casper Steinfath finishes 3rd, showing speed and stamina

Casper Steinfath put on a stellar performance here in the Aragas Magallanes Paddle Challenge, as he made his way through the fiercely contested heats in the sprints, battling with Kai Lenny, Connor Baxter and Zane Schweitzer for the lead throughout the sprints and coming in an impressive 3rd place. This coupled with his 3rd place in the long distance secured his 3rd overall – a great start to the season for this ever impressive Viking as he is continues to demonstrate staggering form this year.

Zane Schweitzer finishes 4th at stop 1 on World Series

Zane Schweitzer put on another great performance in the sprint racing in Puerto Natales: with a real strength in this discipline given his acceleration and board turning skills, Zane battled for the top spot, finishing 4th in an incredibly stacked and fast final. This has been a great start to the year for the young talent from Maui and he has demonstrated that he is a force to be reckoned with in the 2013 season in both racing and surfing.

World Series course allows for performance paddling

With the World Series Sprint racing course consisting of 3 buoys, set in front of the dramatic landscape that never ceases to amaze here in Magallanes, the sprint racing was both action packed and intense. With plenty of buoy turns and short fast legs on the course that kept the racing right on the shore, the stars rose to the top, but there were strong performances across the fleet.
After a strong finish in the long distance race on Day 1, the young Brazilian had great speed in the sprints, powering off the start lines and challenging the World’s very best. Finishing in 5th place overall, he can feel strong coming into stop 2 of the World Series that will take place at home for him, in Brazil. Also looking strong and battling to the end was Arnaud Frennet, the Belgian / Chilean resident, keeping up with the young crowd and finishing strong in the sprints and the long distance.

The Aragas Magallanes Paddle Challenge makes history

The Aragas Magallanes Paddle Challenge presented by Stand Up Latino and powered by Big Foot Adventures brought a whole new kind of ‘adventure race’ to the Stand up World Series: set against one of the most dramatic backdrops imaginable, the racing was only part of the adventure, as the athletes traveled through Magallanes and were able to experience a true taste of this unique region in South Chile.
From intimate mountain lodges in the Glaciers, journeying across country and relaxing and celebrating in the expansive luxury of the Remota Hotel, to traditional Patagonian meals served in a transformed arboretum on a quaint farm in the country, traditional music and dance and exploring uncharted territory, the event was an adventure to remember and has once again demonstrated just how far stand up paddling can go and the diversity of its applications and playing fields. The images from the event will tell a thousand stories and the adventure will remain vivid in the minds of all those who made it to Magallanes. Stay tuned for highlights and more photos of this incredible adventure right here at www.standupworldseries.com.

Aragas Magallanes Paddle Challenge an annual event

With a confirmation from the region, the authorities and the Title Sponsor for the next 2 years, it seems as though this incredible adventure will open the World Series each year in dramatic fashion. Details on next year’s Patagonian adventure will follow soon on www.standupworldseries.com.
In the meantime, a big thank you goes out to our Title sponsor, Aragas, our presenting partner Stand up Latino, our logistics partner Big Foot Adventures and our supporting sponsors LAN airlines, Remota Hotel, Sernatur, the City of Puerto Natales, Conaf, FechSurf and the Chilean Navy. We are honored to have held our World Championship Series Opener in this maginificent region in South Chile.

The Abu Dhabi All Stars Invitational up next: 3-7 April

Coming up next, the Abu Dhabi All Stars Invitational presented by the Abu Dhabi Sailing and Yacht Club and UAE SUP, in association with Wadi Adventure will provide a dramatic cultural and landscape contrast to the Glacier event, as a selection of the world’s best will journey to the United Arab Emirates for this invitational event to take place in the wave pool and in front of Abu Dhabi’s striking city skyline.
This event will be live broadcast at www.standupworldtour.com, so stay tuned for the Waterman League’s next dramatic global adventure.

Day 1 of the Stand Up World Series in South Chile definitely didn’t disappoint with the beautiful backdrops and top class racing that took place. Here is what the Stand Up World Series had to say about the first day of competition:

Aragas Magallanes Paddle Challenge sees epic start

The Stand Up World Series kicked off in style today at Day 1 of the Aragas Magallanes Paddle Challenge presented by Stand Up Latino and powered by Big Foot Adventures. Blue skies and one of the most striking and dramatic backdrops imaginable played host to a fiercely competitive long distance race that saw a selection of the world’s best battle it out on Lake Grey, in the infamous Torres del Paine National Park.

Kai Lenny is victorious in distance race on Lake Grey

Reigning World Series Champion Kai Lenny (Naish) donned the yellow jersey today and started the season as he means to continue, securing an impressive victory after a fiercely contested long distance race that saw him once again go stroke for stroke with arch rival Connor Baxter (Starboard) for the entire duration of the course.
The 13 mile course provided ample opportunity for the athletes to duel it out, but also its fair share of obstacles: from the cold emanating from the glacier, the floating icebergs and chilling though not advantageous wind, to the caliber of the competitors themselves, the long distance race was extremely challenging and fulfilling. From the outset, the leading pack stayed tight, with Kai choosing the right moment to break away and power through to the finish to take the win.

Connor Baxter battles it out, stroke for stroke with Kai

The race to victory today at Lake Grey saw another monumental battle between Connor Baxter (Starboard) and Kai Lenny (Naish), with Connor leading the pack early in the race, and then entering into an intense middle section, where he and Kai were going stroke for stroke within inches of each other. It was only in the closing stages of the race that Kai was able to break away, with Connor securing a very worthy second place.

Casper Steinfath continues phenomenal form in Chile

Casper Steinfath (Naish) from Denmark continues his staggering form this season here in Chile, battling with Connor and Kai in the leading pack for the majority of the race, only slipping back slightly in the last quarter to finish in a very worthy 3rd place. Casper seemed at home in these conditions, not a stranger to the cold and a an intense battle. Casper is looking dangerous this year on the Stand Up World Series.

Zane Schweitzer steps it up, with a great performance

The ever enthusiastic Zane Schweitzer (Starboard) from Maui was looking strong today here at the Aragas Magallanes Paddle Challenge, right on the heels of the the Top 3 and challenging for the top spot. He remained in contention throughout, finishing in 4th place.

Another stand out in a long distance race in lake Grey

Other standouts today included the young Brazilian talent, Vinnicius Martins (Starboard), who despite hitting some submerged floating ice causing him to fall into the freezing water, made it quickly back on and maintained his composure to finish in an impressive 5th place. In 6th was the Belgian / Chilean resident Arnaud Frennet (Naish/ Stand Up Latino), the first stand up paddler to have visited the region and paddled in Lake Grey.

Chilean contingents represent their country proudly

Bringing up the rear was the Chilean contingent, excited to have their home included as a stop on the World Series and the opportunity to take on the World’s best: Raphael Tapia and girlfriend Margarita Adroves, the only female competitor here in Magallanes.

Experience at the Aragas Magallanes Paddle Challenge

The whole experience in Magallanes, South Chile has been magical so far: from the breathtaking scenery that surrounds us and our wonderful hosts to the adventure that the race requires, traversing some of the most uncharted and dramatic terrain in the world, the event has already broken new ground and provided an unparalleled playing field for the world’s best and a spectacular opener for the World Series.

Up tomorrow: World Series Sprints in Puerto Natales

As we journey back out of the National Park and down to the quaint town of Puerto Natales to our host for the next 2 nights, Remota Hotel, the athletes rest up and prepare for the next leg of this adventure that will test the complete skill set of the assembled athletes through the World Series Sprint Racing format.
This final leg of the Aragas Magallanes Paddle Challenge will determine the Champion for Stop 1 of the World Series, so stay tuned to www.standupworldseries.com and to our facebook pages for the lastest news and updates from this groundbreaking event. Now we are back in the land of internet and phone connectivity, live updates will be made and posted throughout the day as history is made in Magallanes, South Chile for stop 1 of the 2013 Stand Up World Series.

A big thank you to our sponsors here in Magallanes

A big thank you goes out to our Title sponsor, Aragas, our presenting partner Stand up Latino, our logistics partner Big Foot Adventures and our supporting sponsors LAN airlines, Remota Hotel, Sernatur, the City of Puerto Natales, Conaf, FechSurf and the Chilean Navy.
For more infomation go to www.standupworldseries.com