UPDATE: Check out the full “12 Towers” Ocean Stand Up Paddle Race RESULTS

Seems like there’s been a big international SUP race every weekend the past few weeks. First it was Miami, then Perth, then San Diego.

This week it’s Australia’s Gold Coast that gets to host a bunch of the world’s fastest stand up paddlers.

The 12 Towers Ocean SUP Race is happening this Saturday (4th Feb) from Kirra to Burleigh Heads (click here to check out the 14km course map).

There’s over $6,000 in cash & prizes up for grabs and the race has attracted plenty of the world’s elite racers.

10x Paddleboard World Champion Jamie Mitchell and Battle of the Paddle Hawaii Elite Race winner Travis Grant will probably start as the favourites, but they’ll have an extremely tough battle against a bunch of local and national talent.

That includes Top 11 of 2011 #7 Kelly Margetts, Paul Jackson, Sunshine Coast young-gun Lincoln Dews, OC-1 World Champ Greg Long, Beau O’Brian, Jake Jensen, Dylan Magee, Troy Pease, Steve Walker (fresh off his Unlimited victory @ The Doctor) and plenty of local dark horses.

Talk about a stacked field!

The women’s race won’t be any easier, with Aussie guns Angie Jackson, Sondra Purser, Terrene Black, Allison Fullagar and Elyse Commerford all vying for the cash (and bragging rights).

But while the competition will be intense, the event has been designed to cater for all levels of paddlers. Organisers are hoping that up to 100 competitors will take to the ocean. Plenty of first-time racers are signing up to compete alongside some of the biggest names in the world, which is very cool to see.

The winds are looking good for the race to be a decent downwinder as well, so it should be a cracking event all round.

If you’re on the Gold Coast, come down to Burleigh Heads at noon to watch the finish. For everyone else, we’ll have the full results, pics and videos here on SUPracer.com straight after the event.

More info on the official site.