Surfertoday on Poenaiki being the 2014 SUP world champion

Poenaiki Raioha and Emmy Merrill have been crowned the 2014 ISA World SUP Surfing champions, in Granada, Nicaragua. The young World Champions, Raioha, who is 17 years-old and the 20 year old, Merrill, who demonstrated the arrival of a new generation in the sport.

Sourcehttp://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/10338-poenaiki-raioha-is-the-2014-isa-world-sup-surfing-champion

Poenaiki Raioha: SUPer talented

Poenaiki Raioha and Emmy Merrill have been crowned the 2014 ISA World SUP Surfing champions, in Granada, Nicaragua.

The young World Champions, Raioha, who is 17 years-old and the 20 year old, Merrill, who demonstrated the arrival of a new generation in the sport.

Merrill made history in the ISA, as the first women in SUP Surfing to win two Gold Medals since the start of the ISA WSUPPC in 2012.

In one of the most exciting SUP Surfing days in history, the world’s best took advantage of La Boquita’s great waves. The surf condition improved with the best and biggest waves on the final day.

The first Grand Final in the water was the Women’s SUP Surfing, where USA’s Emmy Merrill reclaimed her Gold Medal and the World Championship after posting a total heat score of 13.50 in the Final, the second highest score of the event in the Women’s division.

Merrill took advantage of the improved afternoon conditions and earned a 5.83 and a 7.67 to become the two-time ISA World Champion. The Silver Medal went to France’s Caroline Angibaud (9.27), Bronze to Australia’s Shakira Westdorp (9.23), and Copper to Spain’s Iballa Ruano (5.28).

“I’m over the moon! It was awesome two years ago to claim the title in the first event and I was stoked about it,” said Merrill.

“Last year I couldn’t come back because I was busy with school. I was hoping it wouldn´t be too much pressure on myself to try reclaim the title, but I’m so happy I did.”

Next up was the Men’s SUP Surfing Final, the most entertaining heats of the entire contest. Continuing his stellar performances from the first two days of competition, Tahiti’s Poenaiki Raioha is the new Men’s World SUP Surfing Champion.

Raioha earned two impressive scores of 8.93 and 8.57 for a total heat score of 17.50, the highest of the entire event. The 17 year-old Tahitian kept great composure at such a young age and handled the pressure of his fellow competitors well.

The Tahitian was patient and waited for the best waves of the heat and his strategy resulted in a Gold Medal. The Silver Medal went to Australia’s Jackson Close (14.17), Bronze to France’s Antoine Delpero (14.17), and Copper to USA’s Sean Poynter (11.07).

“I’m really happy. This is my first participation in an ISA World Championship, and to be the first one, I’m very stoked!,” said Raioha.

“I needed big waves to apply big maneuvers so I was waiting for the right wave to have a good result. When I learned to surf I started with a shortboard, then I moved to a longboard and after, my father introduced me to SUP, and ever since, I’ve been practicing every day after school with my father and my grandfather.”

2014 ISA World StandUp Paddle and Paddleboard Championship (WSUPPC) Results:

Men’s SUP Surfing Results:
Gold Medal: Poenaiki Raioha (TAH)
Siliver Medal: Jackson Close (AUS)
Bronze Medal: Antoine Delpero (FRA)
Copper Medal: Sean Poynter (USA)

Women’s SUP Surfing:
Gold Medal: Emmy Merrill (USA)
Silver Medal: Caroline Angibaud (FRA)
Bronze Medal: Shakira Westdorp (AUS)
Copper Medal: Iballa Ruano (SPA)