Australia reclaimed the Team Gold Medal and Waikiki-Peru World Team Champion Trophy at the fifth edition of the 2016 Fiji ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship.  Australia had won the team title at the first three editions of the event after losing to Team USA at the 2015 edition in Sayulita.

The Australians put on an excellent, well-rounded team performance. They won a total of ten medals including the Gold Medal in Women’s SUP Surfing (Shakira Westdorp), Men’s SUP Distance Race (Michael Booth), Women’s Prone Technical and Distance Race (Harriet Brown), Men’s Prone Technical Race (Matt Poole) and the Team Relay Bronze Medal.

Team France, USA and New Zealand followed far behind Australia by more than 1000 points with the Silver, Bronze and Copper Medals, respectively.

“Our goal was to take the Gold back to Australia and we did it,” said Australia’s SUP Surfing Gold Medalist, Shakira Westdorp. “Everyone represented Australia well and contributed to the team points. I am proud of the team and what we achieved today.”

ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:

“This is the end of a historic week of competition as SUP was raised to new heights and a new standard set for the sport. The epic waves of Cloudbreak and the pristine waters that run between Fiji’s tropical islands were the ideal locations to display the beauty and excitement of this sport to the world.

“I would like to give a big thanks to Tourism Fiji and all those who made this event possible. The Fijian people greeted us with their warm, contagious ‘Bula’ vibes and left a lasting impression on all of us. We will leave here as ambassadors of this country, their culture and their amazing waves.”