AFTER four successful years in the Port Stephens region, the Ocean and Earth Southern Cross Stand Up Paddleboard festival will relocate to the iconic Shoalhaven beaches and waterways for the next three years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The three-day event will take place around Sussex Inlet from Friday, April 17 to Sunday, April 19.
The surfing component is set to take place on the Friday and Saturday and the racing components are to take place on the Saturday and Sunday.
“The Ocean and Earth Southern Cross SUP festival is one of the key events on the Surfing NSW calendar and we felt it was the perfect time to change locations, give all competitors a change of scenery and hopefully get them in some great waves,” Surfing NSW CEO Mark Windon said.
“We’d especially like to thank Shoalhaven City Council for all their efforts in enabling the event to be hosted in such a perfect location for stand up paddle boarding.”
On local athlete who will be competing this weekend will be Huskisson SUP club president Jason McManus.
“Securing the event for the Shoalhaven City Council is a significant achievement, considering how long it has been held in Port Stephens,” he said.
“It will bring people from all over the state to compete, which is sure to pump money into the area.
“More importantly, it raises the awareness of stand up paddle boarding in the area.
“Our club had 150 members last year and continues to grow all the time.”
McManus and his wife Melissa have been involved in SUP for more than six years, which has seen them travel all around the country.
“I have been a life long surfer and saw it on the internet a couple of years ago,” McManus said.
“As soon as I saw, being a Huskisson local, I thought it would be a great fit for the area.
“Since then, Melissa and I have traveled the country to compete in state and national titles, with varying levels of success.
“Melissa won the Merimbula classic last year for her age group, while I came second for the over 40s.
“I also won the same event three years.
“With different disciplines, such as surfing and distance events, it caters for people of all ages and areas.
“Women are very much a strong part of the sport, with plenty of hotly contested events.
“We recently returned from Canberra, where we competed on Lake Burley Griffin.
“This shows that you don’t need a beach to compete, with water bodies such as rivers or lakes suitable.
“And it doesn’t damage the body the same way running does, making it easier on the joints.”
Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Joanna Gash said she was extremely pleased to be able to welcome the prestigious NSW State Stand Up Paddle Board Titles to the area.
“The Shoalhaven is known for its picturesque waterways and coastline making it the perfect location for the Stand Up Paddle Board Titles,” said Cr Gash.
“I would like to encourage all competitors and officials to maximise their time in the Shoalhaven and spend a couple of extra days exploring all we have to offer.
“Shoalhaven City Council is extremely proud to be partnering with Surfing NSW in bringing the Ocean and Earth Southern Cross SUP Festival to the area over the next three years.”
The event acts as the NSW State Stand Up Paddle Board Titles across surfing and racing with the results of the event determining the NRMA NSW SUP Team for the 2015 Australian SUP Titles.
However, all races will be open to all national and international racers.
Surfing NSW will also host a range of educational courses as well as Surfers Rescue 24/7 during the event window.
Visit surfingnsw.com.au for more information on the event.
The Ocean and Earth Southern Cross SUP Festival is proudly supported by Ocean and Earth, Shoalhaven City Council, NRMA, Carve, Ohana Ocean Athletics, HIF, Australian Skin Cancer Clinics and Surfing NSW.
