Starboard Dream Team riders started well the year taking victories at the really cold “Gla Gla race” on lake Annecy in France.
Frenchwoman and European champion 2016 Olivia Piana won the race with more than a 5 minutes advantage over the second female to cross the finish line and even ending in 18th position on the general board amongst 345 paddlers who took the start.
Leonard Nika from Italy, winner of 6 of the Euro Tour stops last year finished only one second behind French paddler Martin Letourneur on the long distance race. That same afternoon he got back by winning the Beach Race.
Bart de Zwart, the new team manager for Starboard SUP this year said about the riders performance:
“Olivia Piana winning the first big event of the of the year, the Ga Gla race is and amazing way to start 2017 and sets the tone for a good year in Starboard women racing. I am very proud to have Olivia on the team and we will hear much more from her. Also a good performance by Leonard Nika who came 2nd in the men, by only less then a second. Starboard has a stronger race team than ever, covering all the bases in the sport, from beach race, long distance, downwind, river to Ultra long distance. Stoked to have a team like this. Part of the Tiki life. Aloha, Bart”
Olivia Piana commented about her win:
“This week-end was the Glagla Race in the Annecy Lake. My first race in very cold conditions ! I use the Ace because I love this board even on flat water, even if I can’t wait to ride the 14′ x21,5″ Sprint.
I’m happy to have won this amazing race , racing with 345 competitors from 12 differents countries.”
For a complete report and results check the great recap on SUPracer.
