With the 2015 Immerse SUP & Paddle Festival fast approaching, former International Surfing Association (ISA) medalists Jackson Close (Coolangatta, QLD) and Shakira Westdorp (Tugun, QLD) have leapt into a rigid training regime to prepare for this weekend’s Queensland SUP Surfing Titles on the Gold Coast.
Both Close and Westdorp will be vying top spots this weekend to secure their position in the Queensland State SUP Team that will compete at the Australian Titles in Currumbin later this year.
‘There’s never a dull moment when preparing for and competing at the annual Queensland State SUP Surfing Titles on the Gold Coast’, says Close.
‘With allocations in the Queensland team limited, it’s an event with weighted significance, especially for those aiming to represent Queensland at the Australian SUP Titles and than ISA there after.
‘Having previously competed at the ISA World SUP & Paddle Championships, the task is never easy obtaining a spot on the Queensland team with the states athletes equally as challenging as those who I’ve competed against from around the world.’
A new ground swell is forecasted to arrive in time for this weekend’s prestigious component of the series, which is sure to do dividends for competitors and spectators of the event.
‘It’s always exciting to see the timing of such a prestigious surfing event coincide with what’s shaping up to be a timeless swell’, says Surfing Queensland’s Event Manager Cory Roberts.
‘The SUP Surfing component of this years Immerse SUP & Paddle Festival is known for producing some of the best athletes to not only represent Queensland at the Australian Titles but also the green and gold at the International World SUP & Paddle Champions abroad so we’re excited to see who will emerge victorious this year.’
The Festivals Technical Racing and Marathon Racing component will resume in Brisbane on August 29-30.
The 2015 Immerse SUP & Paddle Festival will provide the exclusive qualification pathway for Queensland athletes aiming to compete at the 2015 Australian SUP Titles, which will also take place on the Gold Coast later this year, and subsequently the 2016 International Surfing Association (ISA) Paddleboard and SUP World Championships.
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