– to access more content and expert support, check out 
.
After the great success of last years ‘The Ultimate Waterman’ (read more here) event held in New Zealand the TUW event team have decided to make it bigger and better for 2016. This prestigious event which is invitation only invited 8 of the top Waterman to compete across 6 disciplines last year. The 2016 event will involve 2 extra disciplines and more competitors.
“The inaugural contest in 2015 was challenging enough, but we wanted to take it to the next level in 2016. This includes casting our net wider with the athletes we invite, increasing competition intensity and throwing all the toughest surfing conditions that New Zealand has to offer at them,” words Greg Townsend, chief executive of The Ultimate Waterman and Surfing New Zealand
Words below : Ultimate Waterman
The athletes confirmed to complete the 2016 event are Connor Baxter (HAW), MarkVisser (AUS), Kala Alexander (HAW), Danny Ching (USA), Manoa Drollet (PYF), Georges Cronsteadt (PYF) and 2015 winner Daniel Kereopa (NZL). A new addition to the line up is Caio Vaz (BRA)
2 new disciplines for 2016
In the Underwater Strength Run and Swim, athletes will require skills of power and endurance. Athletes jump into a pool, grab a 25kg weight and proceed to run 25m along the bottom of the pool trying not to surface for breath. They’ll drop the weight in a 1m zone at the end of the pool and then freestyle sprint swim the 25m back to the other side. If an athlete needs air, they simply drop the weight, breathe on the surface and then go down again until they get their weight to the end.
In Prone Paddleboarding, athletes will race a technical course lying down or kneeling on 10’6” boards. Waves will be a friend or foe for the paddlers, making the race an exciting spectacle when they either get hit by waves heading out, or wipe out coming in. Good technique is essential and can make a big difference in speed and efficiency.
We can’t wait for this years Ultimate Waterman event which will be held between the 12th – 20th of March 2016 and it’s great to see the 2015 Stand Up World Tour winner Caio Vaz up there in the new 2016 lineup so far. We will have the latest news as it happens but until then find out more at the ultimate waterman website.
Looking forward to this killer event! Hopefully Kai Lenny comes back again and Zane Schweitzer makes the invitee list. Two amazing waterman fo sho!