After the original date in February was postponed thanks to Cyclone Marcia, the 12 Towers race was held today in far more inviting conditions. This was the 4th annual running of the 12 Towers, which has become the biggest race on the paddling-rich but event-starved mecca of Queensland’s Gold Coast.

A few of the top names were missing but there was still some very strong talent in the field, including one of the fastest ocean racers in the world, Beau O’Brian and the Ironwoman Queen Karla Gilbert.

However it was a couple of upstarts that took the top two spots…

Winning the main event – the downwind/ocean race between the iconic surf breaks of Kirra and Burleigh Heads – was Michael Booth, a supremely talented surf ski/kayak racer that’s been focusing more and more on stand up the past year or two. Michael is definitely a name to watch in the future, while his performance on the weekend underscores just how frighteningly deep the talent pool runs in Australia.

Runner-up today was another fast-rising talent in Matt Nottage, who crossed the line at Burleigh Heads less than a minute after Booth to back up his strong performances at the King of the Cut last December.

Paul Jonesy was third over the line on his 14 footer, with Beau taking 4th in the line honours and 3rd in the battle of 12’6 boards.

In the depleted women’s field, Karla had it all her own way. She was always going to win so the question then become “by how much?” In the end, Karla crossed the line 14 minutes clear of runner-up Chloe Walkerdene, while she beat the vast majority of men as well.

There was also a BOP-style race held yesterday, which was taken out by king of the waves Kelly Margetts and reigning ISA champ Shakira Westdorp.

Full results from the distance race below…

#	Name	Time	Class	#	Division	#
1	Michael Booth	1:33:09	Men's 12'6	1	Elite	1
2	Matt Nottage	1:33:55	Men's 12'6	2	Elite	2
3	Paul Jonesy	1:35:53	Men's 14'	1	Open	1
4	Beau O'brian	1:36:08	Men's 12'6	3	Elite	3
5	Kelly Margetts	1:36:28	Men's 12'6	4	Elite	4
6	Timothy Cyprien	1:36:31	Men's 12'6	5	Elite	5
7	Troy Pease	1:36:51	Men's 14'	2	Open	2
8	Ben Tardrew	1:39:04	Men's 12'6	6	Elite	6
9	Dyllan Constable	1:40:37	Men's 14'	3	Open	3
10	James Melhuish	1:41:13	Men's 14'	4	Open	4
11	Dale Chapman	1:42:19	Men's 14'	5	Open	5
12	Rob Walton	1:43:41	Men's 14'	6	40-49	1
13	Karla Gilbert	1:43:55	Women's 12'6	1	Elite	1
14	Ryan Keck	1:45:01	Men's 12'6	7	Elite	7
15	Kevin Johnson	1:45:42	Men's 14'	7	50+	1
16	Alain Teurquetil	1:46:37	Men's 14'	8	50+	2
17	David Anewy	1:47:01	Men's 12'6	8	Open	1
18	Wayne Johnstone	1:47:06	Men's 12'6	9	50+	1
19	Mick Di Betta	1:47:53	Men's 14'	9	50+	3
20	Anthony Clark	1:48:37	Men's 12'6	10	Open	2
21	Johnno Walker	1:49:08	Men's 12'6	11	50+	2
22	Mark Waldeck	1:50:32	Men's 14'	10	50+	4
23	Craig Wright	1:51:40	Men's 14'	11	40-49	2
24	Brad Ridolfi	1:51:52	Men's 14'	12	Open	1
25	Andrew Hamilton	1:52:10	Men's 14'	13	50+	5
26	Paul Cribb	1:54:18	Men's 14'	14	40-49	3
27	Matt Delahunty	1:55:09	Men's 12'6	12	Elite	8
28	Shane Lynch	1:55:11	Men's 14'	15	50+	6
29	Scott Corrigan	1:56:59	Men's 12'6	13	Open	3
30	Chloe Walkerdene	1:57:15	Women's 12'6	2	Elite	2
31	Sue Dorries	1:59:39	Women's 12'6	3	40+	1
32	Paul Mitchell	1:59:58	Men's 14'	16	50+	7
33	Duncan Corbett	2:01:51	Men's 14'	17	50+	8
34	Andrew Worling	2:03:01	Men's 12'6	14	40-49	1
35	Kate Baker	2:03:27	Women's 12'6	4	Elite	3
36	Jenny Cosgrove	2:04:07	Women's 12'6	5	40+	2
37	Dave Faulkner	2:05:09	Men's 12'6	15	50+	3
38	Oliver Murphy-Kurth	2:09:51	Men's 12'6	16	Elite	9
39	Kelly Duhig	2:10:35	Men's 12'6	17	40-49	2
40	Greg Burton	2:14:44	Men's 14'	18	50+	9
41	Chris Ting	2:16:44	Men's 14'	19	40-49	4
42	Peter Dann	2:17:05	Men's 14'	20	50+	10
43	Jacqs Caldecoat	2:26:02	Women's 14'	1	Open	1
44	Douglas Adams	2:27:12	Men's 14'	21	50+	11
45	Bob Margetts	2:30:26	Men's 12'6	18	50+	4
46	Jill Wong	2:32:16	Women's 14'	2	Open	2
47	Tony Nahrung	2:34:47	Men's 14'	22	40-49	5