This past weekend saw over 200 SUP racers, professional and amateur, descend on the Lake Annecy in Talloires, France for the 2021 French Paddleboard Championships. German Dream Team rider Sonni Hönscheid took the win on the Women’s Elite category while New Caledonian rising star Clément Colmas battle it out with fellow French riders to finish in 4th place on the Elite Men’s podium.
This year’s French Champs was organised by Alpine Lakes Tour and was set the same famous venue where they host the annual GlaGla race, in the snowy and cold conditions of winter. This years course was set on a challenging 20km course, with mother nature throwing everything at them to test who’s got the most grit and ultimately take the title. Unfortunately, Sonni doesn’t hold a French passport so, therefore, does not take the Frech Title, but still very happy to have the win in very challenging conditions amongst a tough field of riders.
“It’s the same place where the famous “Gla Gla” race is held. It was definitely the most challenging race course I have done in a while. It was a long 20km route around Lake Annecy, some flatwater, and mixed in a lot of upwind, sidewind & downwind stretches.
Around 200people at the start line ready to give it all!! The beautiful background made it a little easier – the colours of the Autumn combined with the first snow on the mountains. I was really happy to have the chance to race against some of the best paddlers in France and to win the long distance.
I was using the 14″ Sprint and the Lima paddle which worked great, even in very mixed up conditions.”
~ Sonni Hönscheid
“I got the 4th place at the french championship long distance. I used the new 2021 Sprint 2021 19,75 from Samuel Vauthier. The board is just amazing I love the glide, it’s acceleration ability and how it is impressively stable for such a narrow board.
The race was long and tough 20km. The race mix flat water, upwind, side wind and downwind with brisk 3 degrees Celsius conditions.
I was leading with Matin Vitry, Noic Garioud, Titouan Puyo and Ludovic Teulade. After the downwind Titouan and Noic got 200 ~ 300 meters in front of me. I couldn’t come back on them on the flat water and the side wind. In the last upwind Ludovic Teulade came back onto my draft, and then after a tough battle at the line, he beats me just at the final sprint.”
~ Clément Colmas
Women’s Elite Results:
TBA
Men’s Elite Results:
1st Titouan Puyo
2nd Noic Garioud
3nd Ludovic Teulade
4th Clément Colmas – Starboard
5th Martin Vitry
