Explosive Action from Final Rounds of The Surf Competition in Long Beach!

The APP tour wrapped up its stop in New York last weekend and the final SUP surf competition was full of surprises! The event was full of dramatic action, performance strategy and excellent surfing, with a few outstanding performances during the heats. Here is the full report brought to you by the APP World Tour.

The event at Long Beach delivered. After an initial lay day due to weather and conditions, Saturday dawned hot and beautiful. The waves were clean and in the 2-3 foot range for the final rounds of both the men & women’s competition and it was a day to remember at the New York SUP Open.

Men’s SUP Surf Competition

The Men’s Surf Competiton took on a new level of performance for New York as Top Seeds such as Poanaiki Raioha, Kai Lenny, Zane Schweitzer and Sean Poytner squared off through the rounds of elimination and faced stellar performances from the ever expanding talent pool here on the APP World Tour

Finding opportunities to accelerate speed down the line, executing multiple high performance maneuvers on each wave and using power as well as clean paddle technique begain to cut these men apart from the pack.

As the day wore on, we saw multiple upsets from Sean Poynter, including the elimination of Kai Lenny in the quarters. Meanwhile, on the other side of the draw, Zane Schweitzer slashed his way through the pack to advance onto the finals, taking down young Brazilian phenom Luiz Diniz.

From Day 1, it has been clear that both Sean Poynter and Zane Schweitzer had locked into the idea of winning the Title here at the New York SUP Open. Both their ferocious talent and professionalism could be felt in every round here in Long Beach.

In the end it was to be a Tiki boy final as Zane and Sean, both Starboard SUP teammates, took to the water in the late afternoon to see who would come out on top. By then, the beach was abuzz with excitement, spectators anticipating the win and photographers on the ready.

Strategy, strategy, strategy was on the mind of Coach Ian Cairns, here in Long Beach to support Sean Poynter and Vania Torres this week.  Meanwhile, Zane’s beautiful partner in crime Kim sat by the water’s edge flying the Hawaiian flag for Zane.

These stellar athletes put on quite a show in that Final Heat.  From the initial paddle battle to get on that first wave to the final moment when these two great athletes surfed into shore together, celebrating each other in a moment of absolute camaraderie and sportsmanship, the Final Round held all the great energy and excitement of a World Class Professional Sporting Event.

In the end it was to be Sean Poynter‘s day, as he surfed an incredibly smart heat, and put together a strong performance in every respect toi take victory at Stop #1 of the 2018 APP World Tour in Long Beach, New York.

Surprise Winner in Women’s SUP Surf

For the women, the action was no less dynamic as supreme athletes such as NIcole Pacelli, Terrene Black, Izzi Gomez and Iballa Moreno battled it out through the heats to make their way through the rounds

Pacelli is super fun to watch with her aggressive surfing style and carefully planned, strategic maneuvers on every wave. Comparatively Terrene Black, advanced through her heats by knocking out world class talents such as Candice Appleby, creating momentum by being thoughtful & methodical in her wave selection, making the most of every ride.

Young Dominique Miller from Hawaii, advanced through from the ProAms to the Main Event, knocked out World Champion Izzi Gomez in one of her earlier rounds in an extreme upset that put Dominique firmly on the map here on the APP World Tour. Dominique eventually fell to Pacelli in the Semis but not before putting on a performance that cements her place on the World stage.

In that Finals Heat, it was two great women, Nicole Pacelli and Iballa Moreno surfing together to decide the champion for the New York SUP Open.

Iballa Moreno from the Island of Gran Canaria is an agressive surfer, not afraid to take chances and go for broke. Her style of surfing is extremely professional and well thought out, and her finals berth has been long awaited. 2012 World Champion Pacelli, aggressively sought out every peak she could, finding waves when she was not in priority to keep the competition intense. This was to be a strong heat.

In the end, after the two Champions going blow for blow through the complete duration ofthe 25 minute heat, it was Iballa Moreno from Gran Canaria that took victory in a closely fought out affair that brought the crowds to their feet.

Results

In an exciting wrap up here in Long Beach, NY here are your Top 4 Men who put on a performance that left NO DOUBT about the level of performance surfing, excitement and excellent sportsmanship amongst the Men on the APP World Surfing Tour.

1.  Sean Poynter (USA)
2.  Zane Schweitzer (USA)
3=  Luiz Diniz (Brazil)  & Poenaiki Raioha (Tahiti)

The Top 4 Women from the New York SUP Open, 1st Stop on the 2018 APP World Surfing Tour, made it abundantly clear that this run for the World Title has only just begun!  Stay tuned for more action ahead as the Women head over to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – home to Iballa – for Stop #2 this December.

1.  Iballa Moreno
2.  Nicole Pacelli
3=  Terrene Black & Dominique Miller