14th – 17th of December, Gran Canaria in Playa de Mogan
European SUP Champions, Sonni Hönscheid (GER) & Moritz Mauch (GER) and CEO of the APP World Tour Tristan Boxford attended this years “Gran Canaria Pro-Am, be Cordial SUP Challenge” in the south of Gran Canaria, Playa de Mogan. Sonni had a stellar weekend of racing in which she won all three of the event categories – Downwind, Technical and Long Distance.
In this third edition of the European Championship in Gran Canaria, the participants had to cover an 18-kilometer distance between Playa de Mogán and Amadores. A race with challenging conditions, such as gusty winds and waves, made this competition even more difficult. Hönscheid with a 14-ft board managed to take the lead in the first few kilometres and completed the track in 2 hours and 19 minutes, 6 minutes ahead of, the German Moritz Mauch, who started with a 12.6-ft board. The third position in the open category went to Hawaii-based Tristan Boxford – the CEO of the Association of Paddlesurf Professionals (APP). In the category of board length up to 12.6 feet Moritz Mauch won the first place of the European Championship of men. In this way, he confirms the title, which he reached in the previous year. There were also long distance races for children, juniors and amateurs, each with adapted course length. Amateurs and kids came from Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria to demonstrate their skills on the SUP board. Events with these formats are important to secure the future of Stand Up Paddle Sports. The third edition of the “Gran Canaria Pro-Am, be Cordial SUP Challenge” in Playa de
Mogán and the coast of Gran Canaria once again demonstrated spectacular conditions for the practice of water sports in winter. Only a few places in the world can offer these sport- opportunities in the middle of December. On the three days of the event, fans on the beach of Mogán could try Stand Up Paddle Sport for free with the help of instructors from Björn Dunkerbeck’s surf schools. Dozens of people took this opportunity to try one of the fastest growing sports in Europe. Everyone agreed that it is a nice and easy way to start surfing for everyone.
No doubt, the picture of sun, beach and surfboards in the water was more typical of the summer than for the last weeks of the year.
With 114 registered participants from 10 different countries the SUP European Championship once again concludes a successful edition. Organizer and 42-times windsurfing world champion Björn Dunkerbeck is already planning the 4th edition from 13th till 16th of December 2018 with the aim of growing in the next few years.
Winner Open Ladies:
1. Sonni Hönscheid (GER) 2h 19min 43 sec (Starboard)
2. Esperanza Barreras (ESP) 2h 49min 07sec
3. Barbara Bellavila (ESP) 3h 27min 44sec
Winners Open Men:
1. Moritz Mauch (GER) 2h 25min 49 sec (Starboard)
2.Tristan Boxford (GBR) 2h 27min 24 sec
3. Carsten Kurmis (GER) 2h 46min 37 sec (Starboard)
Winner overall with fastest time: Sonni Hönscheid (GER)
You can find more pictures and full results here…
Follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/dunkerbeck.sup.challenge/
This year’s event was organized and words by Björn Dunkerbeck.
Picture Credits: Supplied
