Kingscliff’s Justin Holland is joining a growing band of surfing champions after finishing second in the ISA (International Surfing Association) World Stand Up Paddle Board titles in Peru this month.
The local builder and father of two made the switch to stand up just a year or two ago and already it is paying dividends for the affable surfer.
He has just returned from Hawaii and Peru where he competed in the world stand up tour at Sunset Beach and in the ISA titles in Peru – finishing second to French surfer Antoino Delpero.
This weekend he will be one of the 160 competitors taking part in the first annual Australian Longboard Open to be held on his home break and is the defending title holder in the stand up division.
Organiser Sean McKeown said the event takes over from the Malfunction – which will be run on the Gold Coast in May and will go back to being a small local event within Australia.
McKeown said the long-board titles had attracted top surfers from all over the world and around Australia.
Local hopes will include Justin and top women’s champion Chelsea Williams, along with men’s hope Rainbow Bay surfer Dane Pioli who will come face to face with current and past world champions.
As well as the traditional longboard events, there will be nose riding and the stand up paddle boards and even a tandem display.
McKeown said the five-day event, which started yesterday and ends with finals day on Sunday afternoon, would also include movie screenings at Cinemax, activities for the kids and displays of cars
For Justin Holland it is a chance to come home and compete in front of, and against, family and friends.
The event in Peru was the first time the ISA had included stand up paddle boards and now support the sport from local events, all the way to the top, where surfers have a chance to represent their country.
“I was really proud that I could wear the green and gold – my second helped the team perform in the overall rankings to take the win,” he said.
“The sport of stand up paddle boarding is exploding and it’s for all ages.”
Justin will travel to France in early May to compete in the second leg of the world stand up tour that has six stops including Hawaii, USA, Tahiti, France and Brazil – the winner of this series is crowned World Stand Up Champion.
“I hope I do well in all the events, but I love the raw power of Hawaii and Tahiti, they are my favourite breaks.”
This weekend he will swap those two for his other favourite – here at home in Kingscliff.
