WA's most courageous and skilled SUP and wingfoil riders will tackle one of the world's best downwind paddle courses this Saturday from 12-6.30pm, racing the exciting 24km downwind run from Mandurah's Dawesville Cut to Secret Harbour in the Stand Up Surf Shop's 2021 King of the Cut race; which this year celebrates 10 incredible years of fierce yet fantastic competition.
Read also: King of the Cut preview and past photos
"Next level conditions" and a "world-class run" are just two of the huge testimonials this annual race receives from world champion SUP athletes, which is a consistent favourite with SUP racers thanks to the near-perfect conditions in Mandurah. Ocean enthusiasts will come from far and wide to experience the thrill and challenge of the 24km course, which is powered by the famed West Coast 'Freo Doctor' sea breeze, that creates uninterrupted runners and pushes competitors along like an endless conveyor belt, making for supreme conditions.
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This year is truly all about the 'stoke' with all downwind craft - SUPs, Foils, OCs, paddleboards and ski competing together. King of The Cut continues to promote new developments in the sport: across recent years, SUP racers have been joined by surf skis and outrigger canoes, and - in a huge new drawcard for this 10th Anniversary King of the Cut - the Wing Foiling race, which in 2020 set the world record for highest number of Wing Foils at any event. The latest global craze to sweep the seas, Wing Foiling involves handling a two-handed wing with a hydrofoil mounted on a short SUP board, generating movement by way of paddle and swell only, travelling at twice the speed of most other SUP or Ski paddlers. A strong contingent of female competitors will be ready to wow us with Wing Foil magic in the Wing Foil competition, after Jacklyn Nichol, from W.A.'s Pilbara region, paved the way last year as the sole female Wing Foil competitor.
Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic restricting the participation of many international and non-WA athletes in the 2021 event, the race has proven its resilience, and has been able to continue with strong local support and has attracted a number of interstate paddlers.
About 120 competitors will take to the seas at this year's event, and female representation across all divisions at the 2021 King of the Cut is the best it's ever been. Fans can catch some of their favourite SUP athletes in action at the event, including last year's Queen of the Cut winner, Jade Lane, who this year will race on a surf ski, as she makes her way up the rankings. This year Foil athletes range from Foil Sport legend and 2020 Foil SUP winner Marcus Tardrew, and wingfoiler Angela, a Cottesloe mum and recent wingfoiling convert, in action at the event.
Also competing will be Aussie SUP powerhouse Michael Booth, a 4x world champion and last year's winner, at the 2021 event. Booth has won just about every SUP race there is around the world, last year finishing fastest with a time of 1:44:45. The reigning King of the Cut champ hopes for similar conditions to last year which saw strong winds and swell make for a fast and challenging race.
"This is without doubt one of the best events on the calendar for SUP racers, absolutely unmissable for us with the exceptional conditions and excellent competitors," Booth said.
"If you're a downwind competitor, you'd love it. We're so lucky to have these conditions in WA. For the community, it's such a big event, with a great atmosphere in the crowd. Can't wait to race it again this year."
As well as state honours, all competitors are also vying for title honours - the King or Queen of The Cut: the KOTC Saw Blade Trophy is awarded to the first SUP paddler across the line, regardless of board class or age. The Duke of the Cut is another award presented on the day, to a paddler who shows the spirit of Duke Kahanamoku who is credited as bringing surfing to Australia and regarded as the ambassador of 'Aloha and Mahalo' (love, kindness and gratitude), someone who is a good all-round human who benefits the sport.
For those keen to get up close to the action, the recommended spectator points are at the start line along the groin at Dawesville Cut at 1pm, followed by the King of the Cut's ending, on the shore in front of the Secret Harbour Surf Life Saving Club at approximately 3pm. The presentations will also be at Secret Harbour Surf Club. In between, as the SUP-ers head out to sea, supporters on the sand can watch the races progress in real time on their mobile phones, via the Track Me live app.
With the weather forecast looking sunny, it's the perfect activity for spectators - head down to the shore and you'll experience a fun, exhilarating and action-packed Saturday.
Free entry to spectators
