目次
The 2nd Shizuoka Subaru JSUOOC SUP & Paddleboard Championship was held on Saturday and Sunday, May 20th and 21st in Izu Town and Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
This tournament also serves as a selection event for the Japanese representatives for the 2023 ISA WSUPPC, and athletes from all over the country who are aiming to compete on the world stage are participating.
On the first day, the 20th (Sat), the Distance course was a one-way course between Inatori Port and Sotoura Beach. On the second day, the 21st (Sun), the Technical and Sprint events were held at Shirahama Beach.
Nariakira Shimazu and Natsumi Baba will be competing from Team KOKUA, and Ranai Ozawa will be competing from KOKUA Generation Next.
On the first day, a strong northeasterly wind of over 10m/s blew constantly, creating tough downwind conditions. Since the race took place in the open ocean far from the shore, each competitor checked the terrain in advance and took on the one-way course, which is rare in domestic races.
On the second day, the winds had died down and the Technical and Sprint events were held on the calm waters of Shirahama Beach. Occasional settling occurred, putting the riders' techniques to the test.
Below is the player report:
[Nariakira Shimazu]
Result:
●Distance: 6th place
●Technical (Jr.Class): 1st place
●Sprint: 2nd place
Distance
I participated in a DW race on the open ocean with the FLYPRO21. It responded well to the swells and my performance couldn't keep up.
I realized that this board will allow me to perform beyond my current abilities as my performance improves.
Technical
It was a surf race in Shirahama.
I was able to go over the waves without any problems, and because I had a fast initial speed, it was easy to pick up speed after going over the waves, so I was able to paddle in the lead from the start and won the race.
Sprint
I took advantage of the board's fast initial speed and its ability to maintain speed. I missed out on first place due to my lack of skill, but the race once again demonstrated that the board is an all-around board that can also be used for sprints.
[Natsumi Baba]
Result:
●Distance: 2nd place
It was my first time racing downwind, and to be honest, the conditions were beyond my capacity. I was made to keenly feel the limits of my abilities, including the techniques, experience, and knowledge required for course selection and dealing with swells, but it was a good experience to row in conditions that I would not normally choose to row in even during practice.
I had been preparing for this downwind race with the FLY PRO 24. I was overwhelmed by the power of the swell and wasn't able to fully utilize the board's performance, but I want to improve my technique and get revenge.
I chose a course quite far out to sea, but in the second half, the approach to the finish became difficult, and I regret not having moved closer to the shore a little earlier.
I want to be able to instantly judge the sea surface conditions and adjust accordingly.
At this tournament, both Shigeaki Shimazu and Natsumi Baba earned tickets to the ISA World Championships.
Last year, Shigeaki Shimazu achieved a good result of coming second in the junior class at the same tournament. This will be Baba Natsumi's first time competing in the world championships.
I'm looking forward to seeing how Team KOKUA will perform on the world stage.
