Category: Rider

Congratulations today to Mistral paddler’s Lena Ribeiro for her winning of the 2019 Elite Womens 220km race after 5 hard days, followed by runner up, Petronella van Malsen. We’re very proud of our two female Mistral paddlers, a division in which we have been highly successful in over recent years. Martino held onto 3rd place and could not quite over power Dutchman Joep van Bakel. Over the course today, some headwinds, which made for a tough finishing leg, but fortunately it’s the shortest day. Congratulations also to our Japanese University Students in the Team Division, who are provisional winners of their division!

MEN’S Elite TOUR
3rd: Martino Rogai (ITA) MISTRAL

WOMEN’S Elite TOUR
1st: Lena Ribeiro (BRA) MISTRAL
2nd: Petronella van Malsen (NED) MISTRAL

Again today the temperature was perfect for racing at about 22c with a light breeze for most of this Stage 4 of the event. For the paddlers, finally a day where the wind was light and continued to lessen; the current mostly favouring the paddlers, after 3 days of paddling mostly upwind, it was a welcome relief. In the Elite Men a group of 5 with Bruno, Martino, Joep, Kjell and Paulo was maintained for 10km before the finish, Bruno breaking away towards the finish, crossing the line in first place. This then broke up the pack with the remaining paddlers battling it out for places.

Martin, Paulo and Joep paddled closely together which resulted in a sprint for the finish, with Joep crossing just ahead of Mistral paddler, Martino, with Paulo in 4th. Ricardo paddling for Mistral, finished in 6th place though suffering for stomach cramps. In the Elite Women, both Lena and Petronella paddled together smoothly for the entire day until towards the finish which ended in a sprint for the finish, crossing seemingly together, the Officials giving the day to Petronella after a close fought race.

Tomorrow on the last day, it will be an challenging race between these two Elite Women to see who will win out, with Lena having a narrow 1 minute lead. For the men, Dutchman Joep has a 2 minute lead over Martino in their battle for 2nd and 3rd. Indeed it will be a case of giving everything for these paddler to see who will be the victors as they battle canal currents on the home stretch.

Introduced several years ago, today saw the 12km time trail which makes up the first stage of the day. The concept is to permit paddlers to set times without drafting to add their overall time score. It was tough today, as it was a head wind along a wide length of canal, though with sunny and warm conditions. In the Elite Womens, Lena finished 1 minute ahead of Petronella and during the second leg of the day, beginning together, Petronella finished just ahead.

Unfortunately in the time trial Petronella fell after a near miss with a boat, which lost her time and her composure. In the Elite Mens time trail, Dutch paddler Joep finished ahead of Martino by nearly 1 minute, with Bruno taking out the fastest time. When it came to the second stage, Bruno finished ahead, followed by Joep with Martino in a close second, Ricardo finished in a credible 6th when James van Drunen retired injured. The men’s racing has been a tight and tense battle for 2nd and 3rd and does not look like being settled until the final day. In the women,

Lena’s 1 minute time trial lead, gives her the edge and if nothing separates them more than this over the next few days, Lena looks on course for the win; but there’s still a long way to go. The Mistral Japanese Team continue to do well and maintained their first place position and are loving the experience and the atmosphere of the event!

In contrast to day one, light winds greeted the competitors at the race start in Workum. Blue skies and lots of sun with temperatures of around 22c, which amazed overseas visitors, in comparison to the day before.

With the mens group already split with Bruno ahead by some 20 minutes and a group racing between themselves on the previous day, Bruno, Martino, Paulo and Joep where for a long time in the lead pack on this warm second day. Meanwhile, Ricardo was with Kjell and James van Drunen in the second group in which at the finish line, Ricardo again finished in 7th place.

For most the day, the lead pack remained together and at the last ‘Bell’ – Bruno established a 1 minute lead, however Joep caught up so as both Bruno and he crossed close together, with Bruno managing the win despite having fin problems, followed by Martino in 3rd approximately 60 seconds behind, followed by Paulo a further minute behind.

In the ladies division, Petronella and Lena paddled together from start to finish without challenge, with Lena crossing ahead of Petronella making it an interesting contest between these two Champion paddlers. The Japanese Students, with Yuki paddling this 2nd stage in improved conditions from the previous day managed to hold on to their lead position.

Tomorrow the 12km time trial will be run beginning in Workum, following this and the rest stop, the course will continue to Franeker.

Day 1 of the 11 Cities SUP event, was met with 110 competitors and strong equinox winds common to September in Europe. Consequently, the course met with some changes in order to safeguard the paddlers. This was met with some initial disappointment from some seasoned paddlers and those who could not see a problem.

However with the race underway and worsening conditions, when the race was shortened and finished before heading out onto the open stretch of the exposed waters of Slotermeer Lake towards Sloten, there was a sense of relief from all paddlers after a long day of paddling. Strong winds made for short steep waves of up to 1.5m while driving rain meant that temperatures never went much above 15c, the wind and rain adding to the wind chill factor. This shortened course, lessened the days course by approximately 8km.

Mistral’s Elite Female paddlers, Lena and Petronella, dominated their division unchallenged with Lena crossing 1st followed by Petronella. Should they avoid injury or fatigue, it seems this will be a race between them for the overall win. In the meantime, they will no doubt be happy to paddle together and make use of drafting.

In the Elite Men’s Division, Bruno Haysulo dominated and by the first bridge had opened up a 6 minute lead and at this stage and due to some uncertainty with timing, his lead could be as much as 20 minutes. Meanwhile a group consisting of Italy’s Martino Rogai and Paulo Marconi (Mistral), Joep van Bakel (Holland) and James Van Drunen (UK) made up the following pack.

During the day, Martino spent a lot of time out on his own, but seemingly the others were unwilling to push him or lead, perhaps waiting for the Lake to make their move; but in the end it was not to be. Additionally, his board suffered some damage due to ‘ramming’ from a competitor. At the finish, Italian Paulo finished 2nd followed by Martino and Joep together then James some 30 seconds behind in 4th. Meanwhile our Japanese paddlers had a tough day, but managed a Win in the Team Division. Tomorrow a fresh Team of paddlers will take over.

There’s a long way to go and many unpredictable outcomes possible. Will keep you informed!

A fan of travelling, reading, kitesurfing, mountain bike riding, cross fit, eating and drinking with family and friends, Petronella is one of the Netherlands most popular stand up paddlers. She loves downwind paddling and loves challenging race and experiences.

‘For me, SUP offers me freedom to challenge myself mentally and physically while also enjoying the peace as well as the battle with the elements of nature.’

She is the current Dutch National Marathon Champion from 2016 and finished runner up to Seychelle Hattingh in the same year at the 11 Cities event and finished 1st in the Eurotour Namur Long Distance Race, 7th at the Lost Mills Eurotour Race and finished 2nd at the Battle of the Coast Zandvoort Beach Race. In 2017 she finished the 11 Cities in 2nd position behind Mistral Team Rider, Lena Guimares Ribeiro from Brazil. This year Seychelle Hattingh returns paddling for SIC, which promises to be an interesting contest.

Ricardo is an experienced paddler, outdoor and watersports person. Since a young age, he has been fascinated by water and outdoor sports. Ricardo studied Sports Science in the Netherlands and then worked as a water sports instructor for 7 years and as a guide for outdoor activities and instruction in stand up paddle, lifeguarding, swimming, snow skiing, sailing, surfing, rafting, canoeing kitesurfing. His SUP school is based at Haarlem and has delivered thousands of hours of SUP lessons from beginner to elite-advanced and downwinding for individuals to corporates to disadvantaged, at a range of locations around the Netherlands.