Event Summary «Gran Canaria Pro/ Am- Costa Mogan SUP race» 2016
2nd Edition “Gran Canaria Pro/Am- Costa Mogán Stand Up Paddle race”
European Championship by Waterman league
From the 15th until the 18th of December, Costa Mogán hosted the second edition of the Gran Canaria Pro/Am- Costa Mogán Stand Up Paddle race, with points counting towards the overall result for the Spanish and Canarian official Championships and for the Long Distance European Championships sanctioned by the Waterman League.
The event had 70 participants hailing from the Canary Islands and the rest of Europe. A special mention goes to the 31 young competitors under the age of 18, which makes us think that the future generations are here to stay. During the days of the competition the organizers set up a free test for all visitors to the beach in Mogán who wanted to try Stand Up Paddle. BD Surf School organized 20 boards and paddles and 2 monitors for this initiative. More than 50 people tried the sport and we are sure that most of them are now hooked on SUP as they experienced perfect December Mogán weather, 25C and sunny and calm days, showing Europe what winter can be like in Gran Canaria.
The first day, Friday the 16th, saw the competitors get ready for the downwind competition. This modality is a race with the wind on your back as you paddle, to help you plane with your board over the rolling waves of the open ocean. The athletes left the harbour in Mogán by boat and arrived in Arguineguin, which is a little village north of Mogán. Once there, they started the race from the beach and paddled towards Mogán. After more than one hour of racing the results were: 1st Martino Rogai (IT), 2nd Moritz Mauch (GER), 3rd Stano Hubacek (CZ) & 1st female: Susanne Lier (GER),
On Saturday, the 17th we had the technical races on the beach of Mogán, which showed all the public on the beach how much fun SUP can be. Starts and finishes on the beach made the different races a great show for the visitors. We saw some great “battles” on the water as the riders in this discipline were fighting for the last points of the Canarian and Spanish Championships. Winner 14ft: Martino Rogai (IT) with only 36:39 min, Winner 12,6ft: 1st Esteban Medina (ESP/ in 39:02 min) 2nd Jaran Rodriguez (ESP/ in 40:54 min), 3rd Eduardo Diaz (ESP/ in 42:08 min), Female: 1st Susanne Lier (GER/ in 42:40 min), 2nd Esperanza Barnera (ESP/ 44:32 min), 3rd Ana Maria Ojeda (ESP/ in 46:46 min)
For the last day of the event, Sunday the 18th, the organization had everything ready for the main discipline, the European Long Distance Championship. A hard discipline that demands the maximum effort from all the riders. After more than 16Km paddling and fighting with the ocean and the other riders, the Italian SUP racer Martino Rogai showed why he is the champion and managed to arrive at the finish line with a very confortable lead. He won the overall race and the 14ft category in only 1:46:43h. The winners of the 12.6ft category were: 1st Moritz Mauch (GER/ in 1:52:17h), 2nd Esteban Medina (ESP/ in 1:58:28h), 3rd Jaran Rodriguez (ESP/ in 2:06:26h). Female: 1st Susanne Lier (GER/ in 2:08:46h), 2nd Esperanza Barnera (ESP/ in 2:14:19h), 3rd Ana Maria Ojeda (ESP/ in 2:28:28h)
The event was a success and all riders and public in general confirmed that they will be back next year again for the 3rd edition. Amazing atmosphere and surroundings, warm waters and sunny weather make of Costa Mogán one of the best places for SUP racing. We would like to thank our sponsors for their help and we look forward to seeing you next year. Next year’s dates will be published soon on our social media channels.
Thanks to the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Red Bull, Be Cordial Hotels, Puerto de Mogán, Costa Mogán, Juice Plus+, Side Shore Bungalows, GoPro, Carneceria Gustavo Perez & E11-Dunkerbeck Eyewear who made this great event happen.
