Stand up paddle (SUP) fever will hit Mandurah next week with more than 160 local, national and international paddlers taking to the water for Australia’s most prestigious race, the Stand Up Surf Shop King of the Cut.
The $18,300 feature race will see competitors dashing across a 24-kilometre stretch of water in an effort to be crowned the 2017 king and queen.
While the race remains the main attraction, it will be surrounded by a number of fringe events for the community to get involved in, put on by Stand Up Paddle Western Australia as part of a three-day festival for the race.
The downwind Djeridjinap Run will open the festival on Friday, December 1 and give intermediate paddlers a chance to get some tips from world champions Travis Grant and Terrene Black, while stand up paddle yoga sessions and a tour through the canals will kick off race day on Saturday, December 2.
King of the Cut chairman Greg Kerr encouraged SUP enthusiasts to take advantage of the free events.
“The idea behind these events is to encourage paddlers to get involved,” he said.
“We have the best conditions in the world for downwind SUP and we’d love to see more paddlers to take advantage of it.”
The Stand Up Surf Shop in North Fremantle is supplying specialist boards that are wider with a softer top for the yoga sessions, which will be held at 8am and 9am at Mandurah’s Eastern Foreshore.
The guided canal tour will take place after yoga at 10am through the picturesque Mandurah waterways.
Registration for SUP yoga and the canal tour is from 8am and membership to SUPWA is required at an annual cost of $25.
The racing of the Stand Up Surf Shop King of the Cut will follow the canal tour.
Competing for world tour points or state representation, King of the Cut competitors will start at the Dawesville Cut in Port Bouvard and finish at Secret Harbour.
The King or Queen of the Cut title and will be awarded to the first paddler across the line, regardless of board class or age.
For further information on the festival, visit kingofthecut.com or supwa.com.au