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UPDATE: Check out 47 Awesome Photos That Tell the Hidden Stories of the Carolina Cup for more insights

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Wow… what a race.

Titouan Puyo and Annabel Anderson have triumphed over an all-star field of paddlers to claim the 2016 West Marine Carolina Cup here in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, with the infamous Elite Graveyard Race living up to its reputation by serving competitors a challenging mixture wind, waves and currents across 13 miles of ocean and flat water racing.

With most of the world’s best paddlers on the line this was always going to be an intense race, and Carolina certainly didn’t disappoint.

After a hectic start, where 150 elite paddlers charged off the beach towards the “golden buoy” (with Chuck Glynn getting the hole shot ahead of Beau O’Brian and Travis Grant) the lead men were slowly whittled down to a pack of 14 by the 10 mile mark, while Annabel Anderson broke the top women after 3 miles and never looked back as Candice, Sonni, Fiona and Terrene formed a chase group.

Annabel surprised even herself with the five minute margin of victory, having powered through the flat of the inter-coastal waterway on her own as the next four women took turns trying to reel her in. The New Zealander, riding a brand new and very eye-catching pink board from Lahui Kai master shaper Brian Szymanski, crossed the line in 2 hours and 17 minutes to claim her fourth straight Carolina Cup title.

Behind the world number one it was a tight battle, with Candice, Sonni, Fiona and Terrene trading the lead over the closing stages. Candice was too strong in the end, pulling clear in the final few hundred metres. Sonni out-sprinted Fiona and Terrene in a race up the beach, with Shae Foudy coming home a few minutes later after a brave solo effort.

The lead pack of guys held together until the 11 or 12 mile mark, when they hit the open ocean for the one mile dash back to the start/finish line. At this point, Titou put the hammer down, seemingly milking the bumps despite paddling into a moderate headwind. Only Travis and Danny could stay with him, but even they were left battling for the minor placings as the New Caledonian triumphantly crossed the line for the biggest win of his short career.

Danny and Trav raced perfectly, sitting near the front all day but conserving energy by rarely leading. They both looked strong and relaxed coming into the final mile, but Titou simply had another gear today. These three guys were clearly on a different level. Although the top pack stayed together for most of the race, it was clear as soon as everyone rounded the rock wall that these three would battle for the win.

It’s perhaps no surprise that the top three guys all have an outrigger background – you could see their silky smooth technique was more efficient than the other guys, which meant they probably had that extra 1 or 2% left in the tank when it mattered most.

Even though he’s lost his champion’s crown, Trav will be stoked that he’s handing it over to his NSP team mate — the result gives both Team NSP and Team Quickblade a memorable 1-2 finish.

Outside the top three we saw absolutely amazing efforts from young Trevor Tunnington, who stormed home in 4th, and veteran Kelly Margetts, who rounded out the top five after racing a very smart, tactical race (Kelly was often sitting on the side wash rather than directly behind, which ensured he was always in a good spot to strike while still conserving energy).

Today’s 6th place finisher Georges Cronsteadt looked strong all the way but just couldn’t stick with the lead trio at the death. Chuck Glynn fought hard, leading early and then finding a second wind in the final kilometre to claim 8th spot just behind Connor Baxter. Chuck is one of the hardest working guys on tour, and showed today he deserves his spot on the top tier.

I spoke with Connor Baxter after the race and he said the pace was intense in the second half of the race, with paddlers jockeying for position — we often saw paddlers sitting three abreast, riding off each other’s side-wash rather than sitting in a single file draft train that we’re accustomed to. Connor finished 7th.

Mo Freitas was right there all day as well and looks to be in great early-season form, while Matt Nottage certainly proved me wrong by showing he’s a world class athlete in flat water as well as in the bumps, charging home for a top 10 finish for Australia and Team Starboard.

Speaking of Team Starboard, ultra dark horse Daniel Hasulyo looked strong in the closing stages of the race, sitting on the front of the train with 7 of the world’s top 10 athletes sitting on his tail. This guy and his brother, Bruno, are definitely names to watch in the future. Speaking of names to watch, Giorgio Gomez has officially completed the crossover from “surfer guy” to serious athlete, sticking with the front group until the pack split on final stretch home. Beau O’Brian fought hard but hit the wall in the final km, while Arthur Arutkin was just outside the top 10.

Today’s race had it all. Hectic start off the beach and around the first buoy, some carnage in the waves coming in through the inlet, flat water grind, currents, eddies, sidewind, headwind, downwind. It was a very technical race. It was also a very, very exciting race to watch up close. In all my time following this sport, I honestly can’t think of a race I’ve enjoyed watching more… Huge thanks to the race organisers, sponsors, volunteers and everyone else responsible for this fantastic event.

Oh and last but note least: Massive thank you to Hayward Newkirk, our fearless boat captain that got us right up close to the action right around the course. Even had beers on hand for us when I started losing my voice. Champion.

Full recap, photos and drone video coming soon. Scroll down for results, and scroll right down for a replay of our Facebook Live stream.

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2016 Carolina Cup RESULTS: Women’s Elite Graveyard Race
Course: 13 miles (21kms)
Conditions: Bit of everything
Boards: 12’6
“Points” are for the SUP Racer World Rankings

#	Athlete	Time	Points	Brand	Nation
1	Annabel Anderson	2:17:07	60.00	Lahui Kai	New Zealand
2	Candice Appleby	2:22:32	45.00	Infinity/Quickblade	USA
3	Sonni Honscheid	2:22:38	36.00	SIC	Germany
4	Fiona Wylde	2:22:40	30.00	Starboard/Werner	USA
5	Terrene Black	2:22:42	25.50	ECS/Quickblade	Australia
6	Shae Foudy	2:25:15	21.00	Riviera	USA
7	Lina Augaitis	2:28:39	18.00	SIC/Werner	Canada
8	April Zilg	2:29:03	15.00	Hobie	USA
9	Seychelle Hattingh	2:33:10	13.50	Mistral	USA
10	Kimberly Barnes	2:33:26	12.00	Riviera	USA
11	Lexi Alston	2:35:53	10.80	Hobie	USA
12	Erika Benitez	2:41:32	9.60	Brawner	USA/Mexico
13	Stephanie Shideler	2:41:50	9.00	?	?
14	Tracey Finlay	2:45:06	8.40	?	?
15	Kristy Morris	2:47:28	7.80	?	?
16	Kristin Thomas	2:48:28	7.20	Infinity/Werner	USA
17	Aleksandra Malinska	2:49:15	6.60	?	?
18	Sarah Weyenberg	2:51:10	6.00	?	?
19	Kim Hillhouse	2:52:52	5.40
20	Evelyn O'Doherty	2:55:17	4.80
21	Amy Clark	2:56:41	4.50
22	Sierra Groth	3:03:12	4.20
23	Kerstin Ouellet	3:11:16	3.90
24	Kristen Sheldon	3:12:23	3.60
25	Hailey Driver	3:14:22	3.30
26	Sarah Westbrook	3:22:14	3.12
27	Rachel Ferguson	3:25:49	2.94
28	Anya Yurchenko	3:26:41	2.76
29	Josette Lata	3:27:16	2.58
30	Phyllis Sanders	3:30:23	2.40
31	Jolieanne Marxen	3:30:48	2.28
32	Nicole Iacovetta	3:31:09	2.16
33	Julia Nicholls	3:31:13	2.04

2016 Carolina Cup RESULTS: Men’s Elite Graveyard Race
Course: 13 miles (21kms)
Conditions: Bit of everything
Boards: 14′
“Points” are for the SUP Racer World Rankings

#	Athlete	Time	Points	Brand	Nation	Age
1	Titouan Puyo	2:04:49	60.00	NSP/Quickblade	France	24
2	Travis Grant	2:05:12	45.00	NSP/Quickblade	Australia	33
3	Danny Ching	2:05:26	36.00	404/Hippo Stick	USA	32
4	Trevor Tunnington	2:05:41	30.00	Starboard	New Zealand	18
5	Kelly Margetts	2:05:51	25.50	Lahui Kai/Quickblade	Australia	43
6	Georges Cronsteadt	2:06:06	21.00	SIC	Tahiti	35
7	Connor Baxter	2:06:13	18.00	Starboard	Hawaii	21
8	Chuck Glynn	2:06:19	15.00	LairdSUP	USA	27
9	Mo Freitas	2:06:32	13.50	Focus/Quickblade	Hawaii	18
10	Matt Nottage	2:06:42	12.00	Starboard	Australia	20
11	Daniel Hasulyo	2:06:48	10.80	Starboard	Hungary	24
12	Arthur Arutkin	2:07:20	9.60	Fanatic	France	19
13	Giorgio Gomez	2:07:29	9.00	Infinity/Quickblade	USA	20
14	Beau O'Brian	2:07:46	8.40	Starboard	Australia	32
15	Josh Riccio	2:08:21	7.80	Rogue/Werner	Hawaii	26
16	Chase Kosterlitz	2:08:51	7.20	JP Australia/Quickblade	USA	29
17	Bullet Obra	2:09:34	6.60	Hobie	Hawaii	25
18	Martin Letourneur	2:09:42	6.00	Hobie	France	20
19	Kenny Kaneko	2:09:47	5.40	SIC	Japan	28
20	Bruno Hasulyo	2:09:49	4.80	Starboard	Hungary	21
21	Kieran Grant	2:11:01	4.50	Hovie	USA	23
22	Martin Vitry	2:11:05	4.20	BIC	France	17
23	Connor Bonham	2:11:32	3.90	BIC	USA	20
24	Larry Cain	2:12:50	3.60	Starboard/Quickblade	Canada	53
25	Martino Rogai	2:12:53	3.30	?	Italy	28
26	Garrett Fletcher	2:13:12	3.12	Yolo	USA	24
27	Rete Ebb	2:13:31	2.94	Starboard	Tahiti	24
28	Tommy Buday	2:13:56	2.76	SIC/Quickblade	Canada	40
29	Quintin Chiapperino	2:14:08	2.58	?	USA	19
30	Cyril Burguiere	2:14:51	2.40	Riviera	USA	36
31	Vinnicius Martins	2:15:26	2.28	JP Australia	Brazil	19
32	Nick Scheel	2:16:08	2.16	Riviera	USA	17
33	Belar Diaz	2:16:08	2.04	ECS	Spain	38
34	Billy Swezey Jr	2:16:17	1.92	?	?	26
35	Bill Kraft	2:16:57	1.80	Boga/Werner	USVI	47
36	Brian Meyer	2:17:12	1.68	Rogue	USA	28
37	Robert Hess	2:17:30	1.56	?	?	27
38	Ryan Helm	2:17:47	1.44	Riviera	USA	42
39	Greg Jaldon	2:17:47	1.32	?	?	55
40	Jeramie Vaine	2:18:18	1.20	Boga/Werner	USA	36
41	Jason Chew	2:19:02	1.14	?	?	41
42	Jeremy Whitted	2:19:05	1.08	?	?	41
43	Kody Kerbox	2:19:50	1.02	Naish	Hawaii	21
44	Rodney Ellis	2:21:08	0.96			42
45	Christopher Norman	2:22:19	0.90			27
46	Josh Smart	2:22:36	0.84	NSP/Werner	USA	33
47	Brent Schmidt	2:23:51	0.78			51
48	Patrick Cleveland	2:24:22	0.72			16
49	Norbert Nebucz	2:25:01	0.66			42
50	Chris Stringer	2:25:04	0.60			51
51	Bernd Roediger	2:25:55	0.00	Naish	USA	19
52	Robin Delgado	2:26:15	0.00			31
53	Sven Peltonen	2:26:19	0.00			39
54	Sam English	2:26:29	0.00			22
55	Chad Gallagher	2:26:34	0.00			42
56	Andrew Skeoch	2:26:40	0.00			43
57	Eric Bednorz	2:26:51	0.00			39
58	Jim Terrell	2:26:58	0.00	Quickblade	USA	51
59	Christian Goerloff	2:27:38	0.00			46
60	Brian Schmid	2:30:39	0.00			27
61	Andrew Dima	2:31:13	0.00			28
62	Corey Curtis	2:32:04	0.00			31
63	Russ Scully	2:32:18	0.00			46
64	Jeff Cook	2:32:21	0.00			39
65	Steven Bernstein	2:32:47	0.00			44
66	Steve Dullack	2:33:09	0.00			41
67	Jorge Quintana	2:33:29	0.00			33
68	Tom Pace	2:34:33	0.00			55
69	Zane Asselin	2:35:31	0.00			20
70	Terry Smith	2:35:47	0.00			42
71	Otto Liipfert	2:36:51	0.00			38
72	Wesley Stolp	2:36:58	0.00			38
73	Kevin Julka	2:37:19	0.00			26
74	John Sekas	2:37:36	0.00			54
75	David Dean	2:38:04	0.00			58
76	Ben Gareiss	2:38:39	0.00			27
77	Kenny Balcerski	2:39:45	0.00			52
78	Jack Martin	2:39:54	0.00			16
79	Chris Lightbound	2:40:21	0.00			60
80	Camilo Marmol	2:40:51	0.00			45
81	Derek Schrotter	2:41:01	0.00			47
82	Cristian Drado	2:41:23	0.00			36
83	William Sodano	2:41:42	0.00			48
84	Keith Merker	2:41:44	0.00			43
85	David Gould	2:42:54	0.00			24
86	Tim Burke	2:44:50	0.00			48
87	Michael Westenberger	2:45:51	0.00			41
88	Ed O'Kinsky	2:45:55	0.00			51
89	Fielding Pagel	2:46:20	0.00			29
90	Dave Schuster	2:47:03	0.00			47
91	Ricardo Chiari	2:47:50	0.00			46
92	Troy Gossard	2:48:22	0.00			41
93	Kevin Baum	2:48:22	0.00			40
94	Ed Pierce	2:48:34	0.00			62
95	Stephen Chase	2:48:49	0.00			38
96	Chris Rubacha	2:49:15	0.00			30
97	Jamie Penland	2:49:51	0.00			39
98	Kyle Ellison	2:51:22	0.00			32
99	Basil Tydings	2:51:23	0.00			46
100	Chip Boggs	2:52:08	0.00			43
101	John Heidel	2:52:33	0.00			47
102	Jereme Dees	2:52:53	0.00			40
103	Bill House	2:55:10	0.00			50
104	Anthony Galang	2:55:45	0.00			50
105	Mike Hill	2:56:06	0.00			39
106	Jake Clement	2:56:27	0.00			21
107	Kenny Lambrecht	2:57:01	0.00			61
108	James Gregorio	2:57:11	0.00			44
109	Jacob Crox	2:58:01	0.00			17
110	Daniel Willis Iii	2:58:27	0.00			43
111	Erik Kauffman	2:59:07	0.00			44
112	Willy Mendez	2:59:45	0.00			52
113	Mark Sumner	3:00:27	0.00			31
114	David Leach	3:00:43	0.00			58
115	Phil Asselin	3:01:22	0.00			47
116	Mark Herman	3:01:28	0.00			34
117	Frank Bellisario	3:01:49	0.00			48
118	David Young	3:03:46	0.00			53
119	Jeff Henderson	3:07:43	0.00			50
120	Matthew Nacy	3:09:26	0.00			52
121	Adam Boothby	3:10:28	0.00			41
122	Jeff Westbrook	3:11:44	0.00			44
123	Matt Lennert	3:11:58	0.00			44
124	Patrick Johnson	3:15:42	0.00			43
125	Mike Casey	3:15:49	0.00			50
126	Steve Mckenzie	3:41:32	0.00			59
127	Daniel Ancheta	3:42:17	0.00			39
128	Nate Waldera	3:57:29	0.00			38

Harbor Island Race (3 miles)
Money Island Race (6 miles)
Graveyard Race raw results

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You can also relive our live stream, which I hope gave you a bit of an insight into this amazing race.

Carolina Cup live stream replay – part 1

Carolina Cup live stream replay – part 2

Carolina Cup live stream replay – part 3

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