Ten Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) State Champions have been crowned under sunny skies and with pumping waves on offer, as the final event of the North Freo Stand Up Surf Shop WA SUP Titles presented by SunSmart concluded in style in Geraldton over the weekend.
The wave-rich Batavia coastline provided some of WA’s best SUP riders with two days of clean and consistent swells, as an all-star field of competitors challenged each other for the chance to qualifying for the Australian SUP Titles to be held on Phillip Island, Victoria in October.
Geraldton, a destination that has become synonymous with Stand Up Paddleboarding since hosting the Australian SUP Titles back in 2016, once again transformed into a SUP winter wonderland, with ideal waves and conditions on offer for competitors who made the pilgrimage north for this all important final event.
Rick Jakovich (Gracetown) made a welcome return to the SUP State Titles, showing his prowess to claim victory in the blue-ribbon Open Men’s division. The former State and National Champion, showed his versatility and flowed with great speed through every turn, posting an impressive two-wave total of 17.33 (from a possible 20), which included a near perfect 9.50 (from a possible 10) in the final.
“I love it up here in Geraldton,” said Jakovich. “I won an Aussie Title out here in 2016 and have always loved this location it’s perfect for riding a SUP.”
A second-place finish for Chris Twomey (Karrinyup), was enough to see him depend his Open Men’s State Championship, with former AFL football player Dave Muir (Claremont) impressing in third with youngster Sam McCullough (Melville) in fourth.
“I’m thrilled to claim the State Title,” said Twomey. “It’s been a magical weekend and I couldn’t be happier.”
Monica McNab (Karrinyup) was another impressive performer in Geraldton, surfing with poise and precision to win two SUP State Championships, with victory in the Open Women’s and Over-40 Women’s divisions.
McNab looked right at home in the conditions on offer, taking down her sister Silvia De Araujo (Scarborough), Susannah Wilson (Cottesloe) and Isabelle Olney (Spearwood) in the Open Women’s final.
“This has been an unforgettable weekend,” said McNab. “The waves and conditions have been so perfect and all the girls have been ripping, it’s been a while since I’ve won anything, so I’m stoked.”
The standard of competition remained high across all other divisions including the hotly contested Over-40 Men’s division. Darron McNab (Karrinyup) claimed his maiden SUP State Championship with a close and hard fought win. McNab was able to hold off Geoff Parsons (Coogee), Marcus Tardrew (Scarborough) and Rick Jakovich (Gracetown).
“It’s great to be part of the this awesome community of competitors and supporters who make riding a SUP in WA something special,” said McNab. “We’ve got a few trophies to take home this weekend.”
McNab and Chris Twomey (Karrinyup) had a head-to-head battle for the Over 50s State Championship. McNab was able to edge out Twomey by less than half a point when the siren sounded, but it was Crawford Olney who captured the State Title in one tightest result of the entire event.
Jamie Ralston (Bicton) proved to be the best of the big board riders, snatching an impressive double win in the rapidly expanding 10ft plus SUP divisions. Ralston was too strong for all comers on his massive craft, winning both the Open Men’s and Over 50 Men’s 10ft State Titles.
“It’s been one of those classic weekend’s that all competitors hope for,” said Ralston. “Great waves, good conditions and to walk away with multiple Titles, it doesn’t get much better than that.”
In other results from the weekend, Susannah Wilson (Cottesloe) was the best of the 10ft plus Women, taking out the State Title unopposed. Isaac Nettlebeck (Karridale) claimed the Under-18 Junior State Title over Ryder Vernon (Yallingup) who was on fire in Geraldton, while Richard Wain (Yallingup) defended his Over-60 Men’s SUP State Title in style.
Gracetown’s Rick Jakovich claimed the West Coast Suspensions Wave of the Weekend for a near perfect 9.50 (from a possible 10) in the Open Men’s final.
“I’d like to congratulate all our 2021 SUP State Champions and our event champions who impressed no end in great waves,” said Surfing WA Events Manager Justin Majeks. “Geraldton definitely turned it on and made up for some tricky conditions we experienced in Mandurah back in June. Thanks to all our competitors and supporters for a great series and I wish our WA State Team representatives the best of luck at the Australian SUP Titles.”
After two successful events in Mandurah and in Geraldton, attentions now turn towards best preparing the WA SUP Team for the upcoming National Titles, scheduled to take place in Victoria in late October.
Surfing WA acknowledges the State Government’s support through the Road Safety Commission and reminds all our traveling competitors and families of the dangers of sending a text message or using a mobile phone while behind the wheel – Remember #NoTxtNoWrecks.
For more information on this or any other WA event be sure to log onto www.surfingwa.com.au and check out all the Surfing WA social media platforms for event updates and information.
FINAL RESULTS – NORTH FREO STAND UP SURF SHOP WA SUP TITLES – RND # 2 GERALDTON
Open Men’s:
1. Rick Jakovich (Gracetown) – 17.33
2. Chris Twomey (Karrinyup) – 15.83
3. Dave Muir (Claremont) – 11.46
4. Sam McCullough (Melville) – 9.10
State Champion: Chris Twomey
Open Women’s:
1. Monica McNab (Karrinyup) – 21.90
2. Silvia De Araujo (Scarborough) – 15.7
3. Susannah Wilson (Cottesloe) – 15.13
4. Isabelle Olney (Spearwood) – 7.84
* results based off 2x finals
State Champion: Monica McNab
Open Men’s 10ft:
1. Jamie Ralston (Bicton) – 12.00
2. Mike Galvin (Cottesloe) – 9.84
3. Dave Muir (Claremont) – 8.80
4. Scott McKercher (Margaret River) – 7.87
State Champion: Jamie Ralston
Open Women’s 10ft
1. Susannah Wilson (Cottesloe) – 21.37
* results based off 2x finals
State Champion: Susannah Wilson
Under 18 Junior’s:
1. Ryder Vernon (Yallingup) – 26.73
2. Isaac Nettlebeck (Karridale) – 12.00
* results based off 2x finals
State Champion: Isaac Nettlebeck
Over 40 Men’s:
1. Darron McNab (Karrinyup) – 10.94
2. Geoff Parsons (Coogee) – 9.47
3. Marcus Tardrew (Scarborough) – 8.93
4. Rick Jakovich (Gracetown) – 0;00
State Champion: Darron McNab
Over 40 Women’s:
1. Monica McNab (Karrinyup) – 19.16
2. Silvia De Araujo (Scarborough) – 13.13
* results based off 2x finals
State Champion: Monica McNab
Over 50 Men’s:
1. Darron McNab (Karrinyup) – 28.40
2. Chris Twomey (Karrinyup) – 25.93
3. Crawford Olney (Spearwood) – 20.70
4. Jamie Ralston (Bicton) – 9.23
* results based off 2x finals
State Champion: Crawford Olney
Over 50 Men’s 10ft:
1. Jamie Ralston (Bicton) – 26.10
2. Crawford Olney (Spearwood) – 25.94
3. Richard Wain (Yallingup) – 15.43
4. Chris Twomey (Karrinyup) – 10.80
* results based off 2x finals
State Champion: Jamie Ralston
Over 60 Men’s:
1. Richard Wain (Yallingup) – 24.14
2. Peter Bevan (Fremantle) – 22.00
3. Kurt Grainger (Mandurah) – 18.59
* results based off 2x finals
State Champion: Richard Wain
About the North Freo Stand Up Surf Shop:
Stand Up Surf Shop is Australia’s biggest SUP specialist store. They have Perth’s most experienced SUP staff available to chat in store or over the phone. Plus over 200 stand up paddle boards for sale, as well as over 50 SUP boards that you can demo for free – in your own time and place. They stock major global stand up paddle board brands – Starboard, Red Paddle Co & Fanatic as well as WA designed and tested SUP boards – SMIK & Sunova. And larger Australian brands like NSP, Little Rippas and Ocean & Earth. We also have our own shop brand for great value entry SUPs. More info at: www.standupsurfshop.com.au
