Sports
Tight Race in Paddleboard Challenge
Australia's Jamie Mitchell defeats Beach Cities favorites in the Hennessey's-WPA Paddleboard Championships held in Hermosa Beach.
Hundreds of the world’s best paddleboarders descended on Hermosa Beach on Saturday for the Hennessey’s-WPA (World Paddle Association) SUP and Paddleboard Championships.
The men’s elite race came down to a battle between two pre-start favorites: Australia’s Jamie Mitchell and the South Bay’s very own Danny Ching, of Redondo Beach.
A little more than 25 seconds was the difference between the world’s two premier stand-up paddleboarders, with Mitchell getting the best of Ching.
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The 6.6-mile race saw Mitchell take the lead from the start—stopping the clock at 1:21:25.
Ching recorded a 1:21:53 finish to narrowly miss a victory over one of the sport’s most decorated competitors. Andrew Logreco took third at 1:23:28.
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Mitchell is largely considered the best paddleboarder in the world, and the superstar now has a 2011 Hennessey’s-WPA World Championship to add to his several international championships from previous Hennessey’s events.
Fresh off his Catalina Classic win, Redondo Beach orthopedist Brad Thomas took home second place honors in the men’s unlimited prone paddleboard race. Hermosa Beach resident and 2010 Catalina Classic winner Adam Buckley brought home fourth place honors in the same division.
After the race, hosted a traditional Hawaiian luau on Pier Plaza—a homage to the sport of stand-up paddling, which was founded by Hawaiians in the 1950s.
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