The reigning world champion in the mixed relay, the French team took third place this year in the race, the final of which was held this Thursday afternoon in Copenhagen, host city of the 10th edition of the stand up paddle world championships.
After three days of racing, the competition takes a break this Friday, before the weekend which will see the long distance (Saturday) and the sprints (Sunday) in the canals, in the heart of the Danish capital.
Halfway through the championships, the French team has slipped one place in the provisional general ranking of nations. It is now third behind Spain and Japan. The Iberians and the Japanese are fighting to dethrone the Blues, the reigning triple world champions, and win a historic first title for the two new strongholds of world stand up paddle.
Winners of the relay last year in Les Sables d’Olonne, the French were this time unable to compete with their Spanish and Japanese opponents. Leading from the first decametres of the men’s prone paddleboard, Japan went ahead alone, without ever being troubled. World champion Rai Taguchi completed the Japanese triumph.
On the French side, easy winners of the semi-final ahead of Italy and Puerto Rico, Baptiste Cochard and Iona Rivet kept the pace just behind Japan but ahead of the Spanish before they accelerated. Judit Verges, crowned the day before in prone paddleboard, dropped Elise Daudignon halfway. The last French relay runner, Ethan Bry secured the podium by looking in the rearview mirror to contain Italy’s Riccardo Rossi. Italy finally receiving a penalty, it was the United States who completed the podium.
After the transition day tomorrow Friday, and the installation on the site of Søren Kierkegaards Plads, near the Opera, the approximately 180 competitors will meet again on Saturday for the long distance (13 km), then on Sunday for the sprints (200m). There are now six individual world titles to be awarded. The French would be well advised to unlock their victory counter if they still want to hope to keep their crown which, for the moment, is above the Spanish heads.
Last relay runner, Ethan Bry allows France to climb onto the podium. (© FFSurf)
THE RESULTS
Mixed relay (prone paddleboard and stand up paddle)
Final
1. Japan in 10min37.7
2. Spain +8.89
3. France (Baptiste Cochard, Iona Rivet, Elise Daudignon, Ethan Bry) +20.81
4. United States +48.95
5. Puerto Rico +54.67
6. England +1min00.84
7. Brazil +1min13.42
8. Italy +1m25.01
Semi-final 1
1. France (Baptiste Cochard, Iona Rivet, Elise Daudignon, Ethan Bry) in 11min’04.7 (Q)
2. Italy +01.8 (Q)
3. Puerto Rico + 22.3 (Q)
4. United States + 29.4 (Q)
5. Argentina + 1min46.0
6. Netherlands + 2min.11.7
7. Canada + 3min40.8
Semi-final 2
1. Spain 10min40 (Q)
2. Japan +09.1 (Q)
3. England +50.3 (Q)
4. Brazil +59.5 (Q)
5. Denmark +1min30.6
6. Germany +2min53.9
7. Guatemala +3min00.4
8. Czech Republic +3min19.3
THE REACTIONS
Iona Rivet, bronze medal in the relay
“On the first relay (the semi-final), it was really a warm-up. It was the first time I did a relay. It was a bit stressful, with the whole team pushing behind during the race. And then, it doesn’t just depend on you. We’re an individual sport, but here we’re four, so it’s stimulating. I made a small introduction in the semi-final. And all the staff pushed me to go faster in the final because we saw that the Spanish and the Japanese were very fast. Baptiste (Cochard) had a great start, he handed over to me in second position and I fought with all my might to try to catch up with the Japanese. I didn’t succeed but I kept second place. I’m really happy with myself and our final result.”
Ethan Bry, bronze medal in the relay
“I started with a small gap on the Spaniard. So, I knew from the start that it was going to be quite complicated to catch him and I wanted to secure at least 3rd place. I knew that the Italian wasn’t very far away. So, I had moments of sprints, and moments with more rest during which I tried to make sure he didn’t catch me too much. At the end, I secured myself well by finishing third. The bronze medal? That’s really nice. It’s my first selection for the French team for the world championships. I took a bronze medal for my first race, it’s great!”
THE PROGRAM
Friday September 20
Transition Day
Saturday September 21
Long distance (1 p.m.-6 p.m.)
Sunday September 22
Sprints (12h-15h)
Awards ceremony and closing ceremony (3:30 p.m.)
DISCIPLINES
The World Championships include 6 categories in both genders + the mixed relay; that is, 13 world titles to which is added the nations ranking.
SUP technical test for men and women
SUP technical race for boys and girls under 18
Men’s and Women’s Technical Paddleboard Race
Men’s and Women’s SUP Distance Race
Men’s and Women’s Paddleboard Distance Race
Men’s and Women’s SUP Sprint Race
Team relay race
THE FRENCH TEAM
Stand up paddle race
Ladies
Mélanie Lafenêtre (24 years old, South Region, La Cigale surf club)
Iona Rivet (25 years old, Brittany, Stand Up 29)
Anaïs Guyomarch (22 years old, Brittany, Crozon Waterman Club)
Ines Blin (17 years old, Canary Islands, Melun SUP Aventure)
Gentlemen
Noïc Garioud (22 years old, New Caledonia, Big Bananas surf club)
Clément Colmas (23 years old, New Caledonia, Big Bananas surf club)
Ethan Bry (19 years old, Brittany, Crozon Waterman Club)
Vaïc Garioud (18 years old, Brittany, New Caledonia, Big Bananas surf club)
Prone paddle board
Ladies
Elise Daudignon (19 years old, New Aquitaine, The Sons of Baines)
Gentlemen
Baptiste Cochard (19 years old, Brittany, Biarritz Coastal Rescue)
Staff
Serge Lougarot: team manager/coach/CTN
Mathieu Carpentier: coach/CTN
