Starboard Dream Team riders Michael Booth (Australia) & Sonni Hönscheid (Germany) both put on sterling performances once again to successfully defend their Titles at this year’s 2019 Carolina Cup SUP Race.
In the men’s 13-mile Elite Graveyard race, it was Booth and the Hasulyo brothers setting a pace early on for the rest of the high calibre SUP athletes to answer to. The Hungarian brothers exchanged the lead position with each other, first Daniel out in front at the early stages of the race, but then Bruno soon moved to the front in the flatter sections of the race, with Booth staying in contact. Bruno extended a small lead after a large boat wake disrupted the lead train, but Boothy never lost his composure and managed to real in Bruno shortly after exiting the Mason inlet. The duo took turns to draft each other, just a few yards away from the beach and within earshot of beachgoers. Booth made his move and attacked in the last 10 mins and managed to shake Bruno off his wash by going through some small breaker waves, before turning the final orange buoy and bee-lining for the finish line on the beach, and successfully reclaim his SUP Carolina CUP Title.
In the women’s race, it was Sonni Hönscheid in the lead almost all the way. Sonni executed her race strategy that we have witnessed many times in the past, taking it easy at the start and not getting too rattled through the surf & the early stages of the race and rounded the first turn in about 10th position. It didn’t take the German SUP racer to pull herself to the front of the Elite Women’s field, and soon pulled away from the field, and paddled solo to the finish line to claim her back to back title at this year’s 2019 Carolina Cup SUP Title.
“A storm came through yesterday, bringing some waves and really strong winds. Tents and boards had to be saved from flying away. This morning I woke up early, just a light offshore wind and some clean little waves were left – my board decision was made – this year I decided to race the Sprint 14 x 21.5 with my Lima LTD paddle. At the beginning of the race, I was able to catch some small glides arriving first into the inlet. From there I found my rhythm, being able to make a cap in between the other girls. Coming back into the ocean was really hard, as the wind was blowing offshore. The Sprint kept a really nice line in the water in all the conditions that this year’s Carolina Cup offered,” comments Hönscheid, “I’m really happy to win this race for the second time in a row. Congratulations to all the participants for finishing this years race – it was a hard one!”
Watch the 2019 Carolina CUP SUP Graveyard Elite Race Live feed replay:
Men’s 2019 Carolina CUP SUP Race Graveyard results:
1st: Michael Booth ?? Starboard
2nd: Bruno Hasulyo ??
3rd: Daniel Hasulyo ?? Starboard
4th: George Cronsteadt ??
5th: Titouan Puyo ??
6th: Enzo Bennett ??
7th: Ty Judson ??
8th: Travis Grant ??
9th: Mo Freitas ??
10th: Keoni Sulpice ?? Starboard (1st Junior)
Women’s 2019 Carolina CUP SUP Race Graveyard results:
1st: Sonni Hönscheid ?? Starboard
2nd: April Zilg ??
3rd: Jade Howson ??
4th: Fiona Wylde ??Starboard
5th: Laura Quetglas ??Starboard
6th: Kim Barnes ??
7th: Stephanie Shideler ??
8th: Yuka Sato ??
9th: Ginnie Betts ??
10th: Madeline Miller ??
PC: Laura Glantz
