Gold Coast’s Jake Jensen will return home from a trip to Mandurah $4500 richer after gliding to a win in the 2017 Stand Up Surf Shop King of the Cut’s pro male division in Dawesville on Saturday.
In a record-breaking day for the stand up paddle (SUP) sport, Jensen was able to dash to the finish line posting the fastest time in the history of the race with a one hour, 41 minutes and 14 seconds effort.
“It’s amazing to finish first in a competitive field against guys like Travis [Grant], James [Casey] and Boothy [Michael Booth], and to win on my own board that our company (ONE) developed is incredible,” the 22-year-old said.
“The conditions were the best, nice bumps, really fun. Anyone who’s thinking ofcoming to WA, do it.
“I’ve done four King of the Cut events and this is my first win – it feels great.”
Jensen took out the victory ahead of 2016 champion Titouan Puyo, but was forced to come from behind with less than 10 minutes of racing left after falling off his board.
Puyo took the lead not far from the finish line, but Jensen was able to surpass the New Caledonia racer who came in second.
James Casey rounded out the podium in third, while Perth paddler and EuroTour champion Michael Booth came in fourth.
Jensen wasn’t the only Gold Coast paddler to shine in Mandurah, with Angela Jackson breaking the pro female record on her way to being crowned Queen of the Cut.
Jackson posted a time of two hours, seven minutes and 41 seconds to smash the previous record.
“I’m stoked and I had so much fun out there catching bumps the whole way,” she said.
“The conditions just got better and better and I couldn’t be happier.”
In second place was last year’s winner Karla Gilbert, a seven-time Ironman champion from Queensland, while third place went to Olympian Belinda Stowell Brett.
The King of the Cut committee introduced equal prize money and a new race professional class for unlimited boards for the 2017 race, with the stock 14-foot board racers in their own class.
“We listened to competitors and made adjustments such as introducing the unlimited class for male competitors, a separate class for the 14-footers, a 14-foot class for female professional competitors at their request as well as equal prize money for females which is an Australian first,” chairman Greg Kerr said.
Full results are available at tracking.kingofthecut.com
