GRACETOWN stand up paddle boarder Rick Jakovich has taken out the Australian national title for the second time.
Jakovich was crowned the Over-40 Men's Australian SUP Champion in the Australian SUP Titles held from October 11-15.
The victory is Jakovich's second in as many years, making him now a multiple winner at a national level.
Rick and his brother Jack made the journey to the Gold Coast to defend their stand up paddle boarding titles.
The brothers approached the national titles with the mentality of keeping it in the family, supporting each other to represent WA against their east coast competitors.
Rick was drawn to the SUP lifestyle by the intrigue of it, giving it a go on a friend’s board.
He’s been hooked ever since, saying the introduction to SUP is always hard, but as you improve the more you enjoy it.
“That’s the incentive, once you start improving,” he said.
The pair said the sport had a wider audience, with older generations being able to embrace the style too, rather than be “hammered” by waves when surfing.
The brothers have a background in the boarding lifestyle, their father shaping boards in the South West through the 1970s.
The lighter the board is, the more they can throw it around the pair said, taking a surfing mentality to the growing sport.