Full Results: Jake Jensen Defeats Titou, Boothy and Beau to Win The 12 Towers Ocean Race in Australia; Karla Gilbert Claims 5th Straight Title
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Jake Jensen has taken out the 6th Annual 12 Towers Ocean Race this afternoon, defeating Titouan Puyo, Michael Booth and Beau O’Brian in firing downwind conditions on Australia’s Gold Coast.
Paddling for the new ‘ONE’ race team, Jake stormed home to finish almost a minute clear of Titou (NSP), while Starboard teammates Boothy and Beau were locked in a near photo finish for third.
After sweeping West Oz Downwind Week back in December, Titou probably came into today’s race as the favourite (or at least SUP Racer’s prediction to win). But while the world number four paddled very well, Jake clearly had the local knowledge and determination to win, with the Gold Coaster surfing clear to finish the 14km course in just under an hour.
It was a dominant performance from Jake and a good sign for the international race season that’s about to begin. Jakey boy had a bit of a shocker last year but has clearly bounced back after switching to ONE in the off-season. He’ll be in action again next week (along with all of today’s other top finishers) at the Noosa Festival of Surfing before heading off to Maui for the opening stop of the APP Tour.
Though the big surprise and one of the great stories of the day came from the unheralded Noic Garioud. The New Cal youngster finished ahead of several seasoned Aussie veterans, which in itself is a big achievement, but the crazy part: Noic is just 14 years old…
While Titou has long been flying the flag for his island nation, Noic’s result highlights the strength of downwind paddling in New Caledonia; back in December, 15-year-old Clement Colmas was runner-up behind his compatriot at the King of the Cut.
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https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ86U6uBIzQ/
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Team ONE scored a 1-2 line honours finish today with their chief board designer (and highly under-rated paddler in his own right) Ben Tardrew crossing the line in between Jake and Titou on his unlimited. Ben’s brother and Sunova board designer Marcus was 6th over the line in the battle of the 14 footers, finishing just ahead of his namesake from New Zealand Marcus Hansen (NSP) and Paul Jackson (ONE).
Former queen of the surf life saving race scene Karla Gilbert was too strong in the women’s race with the Naish rider claiming her 5th straight 12 Towers title ahead of Kate Baker (ONE) and former Olympic sailor Belinda Stowell Brett.
Conditions were pretty much perfect out there today, with a howling southerly wind and 3ft swell setting up near endless runners along the course from the surfing meccas of Snapper Rocks in the south to Burleigh Heads in the north.
That was one of the funnest races I’ve ever done. Some of those glides just kept running and running…
With close to 200 paddlers on the start line (a record for this event and not far off being the biggest ever race in Australia) and beautiful sunny weather, it was a perfect day on the Gold Coast. Big thanks to Troy Pease and the organising crew for putting this event on six years running.
RESULTS: Men’s Long Course | Women’s Long Course | Short Course | Surf Ski | Prone
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Men’s Long Course Results
Women’s Long Course Results
Short Course Results
Surf Ski Results
Prone Results
