Ollie Shilston wins Ultimate Paddler competition
Posted on June 9, 2014 - Filed Under Surftech Boards | By admin
A good result this weekend after not feeling great since Nicaragua. Not only did I win the 12’6 race but beat Ryan James in the 14ft race straight after!WESUP Ultimate Paddler competition – round 5 of the UK SUP Clubs Series held at Carbis Bay, St Ives Cornwall.
I always look forward to this event each year as its on home turf and its held in my natural training environment the ocean.
The course was a W format with lots of turns and a long straight stretch at the back of the course. The conditions were pretty flat with a super strong southerly wind coming across the beach making things tricky (the photos don’t quite show that!)
12’6 Race
After missing the last few races in the series due to attending the World Champs in Nicaragua I was looking for a solid performance to get back on top of the rankings.
After an average start sliding off the side of my board when entering the water I was in second around the first buoy turn behind Paul Symons of Star Board. I sat in behind feeling pretty good before taking the lead at the end of the first lap. Between each lap we had to run about 50m around a flagged area on the beach in soft sand to add to our pain!
Having a good run I had made a gap and was clear in the lead. The next lap I worked very hard to extend the lead. The wind was gusting hard in places making difficult to keep a good paddle rhythm.
On the last lap I was just concentrating on not making a mistake to let Paul back in the race and crossed the line in 47mins 27secs with a clear lead.
14′ Race
Usually with the way the races are set out its impossible to double on the races and do the 14ft class as well but this time it was possible as they ran one race after another.
Feeling a little fatigued after just finishing the 126 race I pumped myself back up ready to race a good lineup in the 14ft class around exactly the same as the previous race.
I had a solid start turning the first buoy in second behind Ryan James with Mark Slater and Damian Warner just behind. Ryan opened up a 10meter lead going up into the wind and maintained it through to the end of the first lap. I closed the 10meters on the beach run and getting right on Ryans tail. We had now got clear of the rest of the field and half way around the second lap I took the lead trying to break clear. Ryan hung in there sitting on my wash.
On the next run on the beach I again got a small gap but Ryan Closed it heading out to the buoy turn. The last lap was a ding-dong affair with me getting few meters and then Ryan closing. With two buoy turns Ryan made a mistake and I put the pedal down with the wind behind. I must admit I was tired at this point but I dug deep with the finishing straight into such a strong head wind I had to hang on for a very pleasing win.
Ollie Shilston – Surftech Team Rider
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