King Of the Cut SUP Race - (SUPWA / Woolacott)

Free events for community to enter at Stand Up Surf King of the Cut ?Free events for SUPWA members to enter; membership $25 ?Express Two Storey Living Djeridjinap Run, 1st December ?SUP Yoga, 2nd December ?SUPWA SUP Canal Tour, 2nd December ?New additions to train next generation of downwind racers Get involved, feel the stoke As preparations are made for Australia's most prestigious Stand Up Paddle (SUP) race and the world's fastest downwinder, the Stand Up Surf Shop King of the Cut, there's still time for SUP enthusiasts to enter the free fringe events. The governing body of SUP in Western Australia, SUPWA, has added three new events to the SUP festival surrounding the main race; the Express Two Storey Living Djeridjinap Run with Travis Grant and Terrene Black on 1st December, SUP Yoga on 2nd December and the SUPWA SUP Canal Tour also on 2nd December. For SUPWA members, those events are free to enter. Anyone can become a SUPWA member for just $25 per year. Stand Up Surf Shop King of the Cut Chairman Greg Kerr has encouraged SUP enthusiasts to take advantage of the free events. "The idea behind these events is to encourage paddlers to get involved and as we say in the SUP community, 'feel the stoke'," Kerr said. Kerr said that the events are not 'learn to SUP clinics' but aimed at those with paddling experience who would like to get more out of the sport. "The Djeridjinap Run is a great opportunity for flatwater paddlers to learn downwind techniques from two world champions, Travis and Terrene. It's a social paddle and an opportunity to gain some new skills and confidence downwinding," Kerr 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 for SUP Yoga that are wider with a softer top. "SUP Yoga is growing in popularity and it's the perfect way to limber up, plus you're outside, on the water, which adds a whole new dimension to yoga practice," Kerr said. Two 45-minute SUP Yoga sessions will be held at 8am and 9am on Saturday 2nd December on the Eastern Foreshore in Mandurah. 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 Stand Up Surf Shop King of the Cut is a 24-kilometre race will take place on Saturday 2nd December 2017 in Mandurah, set to attract about 160 top local, interstate and international competitors. The optimal weather conditions namely the powerful and consistent "Fremantle Doctor" sea breeze makes this fast event a favourite with SUP racers. Competing for world tour points or state representation, King of the Cut competitors will start at The Dawesville Cut at Port Boulevard 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, visit kingofthecut.com or supwa.com.au Stand Up Surf Shop King of the Cut ?1 - 3 December 2017, Mandurah, Western Australia ?24km from Port Boulevard to Secret Harbour ?World's fastest downwind paddle race ?Australia's richest Stand Up Paddle (SUP) race with equal prize money for men and women ?Over 160 international, interstate and local competitors

About Stand Up Surf Shop King of the Cut The Stand Up Surf Shop King of the Cut has a two-day window for the best conditions - Saturday 2 December and Sunday 4 December. The Half Cut will move from the Sunday to the Saturday if the main event is held on Sunday. Spectators are invited to watch competitors start the race at Dawesville Cut and to cheer them across the finishing line at Secret Harbour. Entry is free. Date: Saturday, 2 December (or 3 December) Location: Start at The Dawesville Cut at Port Boulevard, finish at Secret Harbour Time: 12.30pm approx. - finish time expected to be from 2.30pm Competitors: 160 approx. Craft: Stand Up Paddle Boards and outrigger canoes Distance: 24km More info: www.kingofthecut.com or www.supwa.com.au Competing for world tour points or state representation, the Stand Up Surf Shop King of the Cut competitors will paddle 24 kilometres starting at The Dawesville Cut at Port Boulevard and finishing at Secret Harbour. The King or Queen of the Cut title will be awarded to the first paddler across the line, regardless of board class or age, however, only competitors paddling 14-foot boards are eligible for prize money. The optimal weather conditions namely the powerful and consistent 'Fremantle Doctor' sea breeze makes this fast event a favourite with SUP racers. In its sixth year, the 2017 King of the Cut has some exciting additions: 1. The Express Two Storey Living Jeridjinap Run - a short 5km paddle to Central Mandurah down the Estuary. It's a great opportunity for novice paddlers to gain experience while being chaperoned along the course by professional paddlers. Finishing with a sundowner and dinner in Mandurah as a prelude to the KOTC. Exclusive clinics run by World champs Terrene Black and Travis Grant. 2. The Starboard Half Cut - a shorter 10km race. This event will be held on the Sunday, the day after the main race. This is a great opportunity for a downwind paddler of medium level to participate and experience the thrill of Western Australian Downwinding. The Oceanside run is the first half of the famous KotC run, fantastic medium to large runners to propel paddles down the Peel Coast. 3. Open Board Class For Prize Money - With the popularity of the Unlimited Class and listening to feedback from the Pro Riders, there is now a Male and Female Open Board division* for the Pro Class - the first 5 male paddlers across the line and first 3 female paddlers, regardless of board length (14' or UL) will take out the prize money. An Unlimited board has yet to win the KotC, the technical nature of the course seems to even out the board lengths. 4. Foiling Class - the KotC will open up a foiling division as a demonstration class for 2017. Whilst this division won't compete the Open Prize money (or the line honours KotC trophy), Enviroplumb has kindly sponsored a $500 cash prize for first Foiling Board across the line. 5. New Age Divisions - Female under 40 14'; Open Female Unlimited (not Pro Class); Male over 60. 6. Outriggers For The Cut - Last year, Outriggers (OC1) were invited to compete in the King of the Cut. The Outrigger community shares similar values to the SUP community and having this traditional craft involved in Australia's Premier SUP Downwind Event is a great addition. Welcome onboard Outriggers! PRIZE MONEY First prize is $4,000 second prize is $1,750 and third prize is $1,200 for male and female professional classes, as well as a first-across-the-line bonus of $500. In the male pro class, fourth and fifth placed racers will receive $800 and $600 respectively, bringing the total prize pool to $18,300, making it the largest prize purse for an SUP event in the country. Only select events in the USA offer an equal prize purse for male and female paddlers, namely the Paddle Pacific Games, Hood River, Carolina Cup and Pier Paddle.