Get ready for the 4^th Annual Quickblade Jr Pro & Youth SupFiesta presented by Infinity SUP.  In it’s fourth year, #SupFiesta16 has outgrown a one-day event.  The new format will allow competitors to focus on one discipline each day.  On Saturday we will hold the SupFiesta Grand Prix.  The Grand Prix will feature two races:  the Flyin Mile, and the Sup Scramble.  Competitors will compete in both races with each race counting towards their final placing.

With the events starting in the afternoon, there is plenty of time for athletes, spectators, and sponsors to attend the Standup for the Cure event in the morning, then make the short drive across the bay to NAC.

The Flyin Mile will test each athlete’s sheer paddling speed and endurance over this short 1-mile course. The Sup Scramble will feature six turns which will showcase each athlete’s technical abilities and strategy.  Courses will be posted the night before the race.

Newport Aquatic Center is a perfect venue for the SupFiesta Grand Prix.  Home of many past & future Olympians, NAC has graciously allowed us to hold our races.  The fast and furious racing will be spectator friendly so make sure to bring your cameras.

“Candice and I are very excited to have the SupFiesta Grand Prix at NAC.  It is rich in tradition and will be the perfect location to host the worlds most prestigious youth only sup event,” explains Race Director Anthony Vela.

We will have a taco cart, awards, and introduce this year’s Junior Pro Invitees on Saturday as well.  Competitors will receive complimentary dinner, while spectators will be able to purchase tickets for $10.

Then on Sunday the focus will switch to Sup Surfing at Bolsa Chica State Beach.  The world’s top juniors will compete for over $5,000 equal gender prize purse in the Junior Pro Invitational.  There are also 7 age-group divisions of sup surfing that will compete for fantastic prizes donated by our generous supporters.

There are NO BEACH ENTRIES.  Registration closes Friday night May 6 at 9:00pm.  Heats for Saturday and Sunday will be posted. Check in for the Sup Fiesta Grand Prix will begin at 2:30 pm, and races will start at 4pm sharp, beginning with the Flyin Mile, and followed by multiple Sup Scramble heats.

We are honored to have Infinity SUP as our presenting sponsor.  Infinity is one of the brands that were in the industry before there was an industry.  Originally founded in 1970 by  Shaping Hall of Famer Steve Boehne and his wife Barrie Boehne, their first shop was on PCH in Huntington Beach just one mile from the competition site.  They moved shop in 1981 to Dana Point and have been there ever since.  Steve and Barrie were 3x world champion tandem surfers with Steve shaping the boards.  Once Stand Up Paddling began he was used to making bigger boards for tandem, and it was a natural progression.  Now Infinity SUP makes the most progressive sup surf and race boards in the industry.  A family run business with Dave Boehne heading up marketing and design, brother Dan helping with the shortboards and on the shaping side, while Steve continues to shape everyday and Barrie holds everything together.  Infinity SUP has been a sponsor of the SupFiesta from day 1.  This year they have stepped up their involvement.  When asked why, Dave had this to say, “the SupFiesta has quickly become THE premiere JR’s event in the world. Past JR Pro champions have gone off to be some of the best in the sport. How cool is that! We are honored to support the youth movement!”

So far, we have competitors registered from Finland, Peru, Australia, Japan, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and all over the US!  You will not want to miss this one of a kind event.

San Clemente, CA.  Performance Paddling is excited to announce the 4^th Annual Quickblade Jr Pro & Youth SupFiesta presented by Infinity.  Once again the top youth sup athletes in the world will congregate for the largest youth only sup event in the world.  This unique event is comprised of three components, a Junior Pro Invitational Sup Surfing competition, Age Group Sup Surfing contest (7 divisions), and an Age Group Sup Race (7 divisions).

Candice Appleby and Anthony Vela have once again assembled an incredible list of Junior Pro Invitees from all over the world.  These Invites will be competing for a $5000 equal gender prize purse, and the coveted “El Sombrero”.  Jr Pro Invites have been confirmed from Australia, the Basque County, Maui, Oahu and more.  Along with the Jr Pro Invitational, there will be seven Age Group divisions of SUP surfing and racing.

Mo Freitas has aged out of the event, so a new men’s champion will be crowned.  Lara Claydon has participated in the SupFiesta since it’s inception, taking her first Jr.Pro win last year.  She will be back again this year to defend her title. In it’s 4^th year the SupFiesta will see some changes in the race format, taking place Saturday evening, on a flat-water course, at the Newport Aquatic Center. Sunday will then be dedicated entirely to the sup surfing portion of the event at its original location, Bolsa Chica State Beach.  The new race format will see some close, exciting racing from the top youth sup athletes in the world.

It is an honor to announce Quickblade Paddles as the title sponsor of this year’s event.  Since the very beginning of the sport of stand up paddling Quickblade has been an industry frontrunner in many different ways.  Quickblade has been a sponsor of the SupFiesta every year, and this year it’s exciting to see their support for the youth continue to grow, as the new title sponsor.  When asked about becoming the title sponsor for this year’s SupFiesta this is what Jimmy & Lizzie Terrell had to say,

“We get so many requests to support all kinds of races and events around the globe every year, we see this event as THE event that is really focused on what it’s all about. It paves the way for these kids to have a “life-long” sport that they can grow old with and it gives kids a chance to meet other kids from around the World that they will have a close bond with for the rest of their lives.”

World Champion Candice Appleby had this to say about organizing this prestigious event, “One of my favorite parts about the event is the friendships that have been formed in the last three years among the kids and their families. It’s so fun to see how much the kids have improved year after year, and I love seeing new faces join in on the fun as well.”  She also added,  “ This year it is very special having Quickblade as the title sponsor and Infinity the presenting sponsor.  The support these two mom and pop, family run brands give to our sport is incredible.  It’s an honor to have them behind the SupFiesta in a major way.”

Follow Performance Paddling on Twitter and Instagram,  and Facebook for #SupFiesta16 updates and information

Past Jr Pro Invitation Champions

2013    Noah Yap (Maui)        Vanina Walsh (Oahu)

2014    Mo Freitas (Oahu)      Fiona Wylde (Oregon)

2015    Mo Freitas (Oahu)      Lara Claydon (Maui)

Jr Pro Alumni:  Riggs Napoleon (Oahu), Noah Yap (Maui), Giorgio Gomez (Florida), Fisher Grant (Florida), Chris Rockwood (Florida), Ridge Lenny (Maui), Yuri Daberkow (Brazil), Kristi Page (Aus), Shelby Schweitzer (Maui), Sophia DeWolf, Natalia Smith (Kauai).

Photos courtesy: Greg Mendonca, Harry Weiwel, and Jerry Jarramillo