The French team, three-time world title holder, won five medals on the second day of the stand up paddle world championships, this Wednesday in Copenhagen (Denmark). Elise Daudignon and Baptiste Cochard are vice-world champions in prone paddleboard, Vaïc Garioud is bronze medalist in SUP juniors, Anaïs Guyomarch and Clément Colmas copper medalists for their fourth place in SUP open. Spain and Japan take the lead in the provisional ranking with two titles each. Thursday will be devoted to the relay.
The French team comes out frustrated from this first day because things did not go in its favor. Details, facts of the game, which prevented the French finalists of the technical race from winning a title for some, from scratching a medal for others.
On the rather punchy 3 km star-shaped course, with three land passages, the Spanish and the Japanese dictated their law. Elise Daudignon And Baptiste Cochard had victory in their grasp, but the Landaise and the Breton saw the world title slip away due to an error in the last lap. Vaic Gariouddouble junior title holder, and promised a historic triple for his last year in the youngest, seemed too soft at the first turn and was never able to catch up with the new Japanese phenomenon Kotaro Miyahira, nor with the Spaniard Lluis Peroti. Disappointment invaded the clan Garioud since his big brother, Noicfinished in 15th place in the Open final, far from the standards of the triple world champion. The two New Caledonians seem to be paying for the lack of competition, having been stuck on their island for a long time. Some Caledonians are hiding another, Clement Colmas is at the foot of the podium in Open but has his copper medal around his neck. Trapped like Garioud at the first buoy, Colmas climbed from 10th to 4th place at the cost of a considerable effort. He could not have done better given the scenario and can be proud of himself. Just like Anaïs Guyomarchwho erased her disappointment from last year in Les Sables d’Olonne (7th place) by finishing fourth this time. A satisfaction for the medical student who finished ahead of Melanie The windowfifth in the race. For her first participation, the young Ines Blin took sixth place among the juniors.
World Champion of relay Last year in Vendée, France is putting its title on the line again this Thursday in Copenhagen. Iona Rivet, Ethan Bry, Elise Daudignon and Baptiste Cochard will be lining up for the third and final day of racing at Amager Strandpark. After the transition day on Friday, the long distance (Saturday) and the sprints (Sunday) will conclude the World Championships on the Søren Kierkegaards Plads site, in the city centre of the Danish capital. Nine individual titles are still on the line and France has every chance.
Double reigning world champion, Vaïc Garioud is this time in bronze for his last junior year. (© FFSurf)
THE RESULTS
Technical race (3km)
SUP ladies
1. Duna GORDILLO (Spain) 19min19’2
2. Esperanza BARRERAS (Spain) +3.42
3. Mariecarmen RIVERA (Puerto Rico) +6.50
4. Anaïs GUYOMARCH (France) +30.14
5. Melanie LAFENETRE (France) +34.12
SUP gentlemen
1. Rai TAGUCHI (Japan) 17min20’9
2. Aaron SANCHEZ (Spain) +2.86
3. Riccardo ROSSI (Italy) +8.51
4. Clement COLMAS (France) +12.52
5. Antonio MORILLO (Spain) +13.59
…
15. Noïc GARIOUD (France) +47.83
Prone paddleboard ladies
1. Judit VERGES (Spain) 21min40’9
2. Elise DAUDIGNON (France) +1.74
3. Cornelia RIGATTI (Italy) +4.92
4. Yurika HORIBE (Japan) +7.94
5. Stella MOLS JARPØTH (Denmark) +47.49
Prone paddleboard men
1. Andrew BYATT (England) 21min00’1
2. Baptiste COCHARD (France) +5.38
3. Carlos ALONSO (Spain) +8.15
4. Oisin MCGRATH (Ireland) +12.01
5. Malthe JENSEN (Denmark) +16.08
SUP junior girls
1. Csillag-Virag KOCSIS (Hungary) 19min35’9
2. Alexia SOTO (Spain) +17.56
3. Soryn PRESTON (United States) +37.42
4. Cecilia PAMPINELLA (Italy) +49.81
5. Skadi LANGBEIN (Germany) +53.60
6. Ines BLIN (France) +1:08.61
SUP juniors
1. Kotaro MIYAHIRA (Japan) 17min33’3
2. Lluis PEROTI (Spain) +19.67
3. Vaic GARIOUD (France) +23.62
4. Nicolo RICCO (Italy) +25.01
5. Bodie VON ALLMEN (United States) +1:19.07
Anaïs Guyomarch (n.33) had a very good race and took fourth place. (© FFSurf)
THE REACTIONS
Elise Daudignon, vice-world champion
“Honestly, it was doable. I was just behind Judit (Verges, Spain) throughout the race, I managed her attacks. I wasn’t too bad. And on the last lap, on the beach, at the last flag, I lacked lucidity and instead of throwing myself to the inside, I was too far outside. I think the victory was decided on that, because at the end I had come back well. But hey, I’m honestly very happy, especially compared to last year, it’s much better! And of course it’s cool to bring home points for the team. For the relay (Thursday), it’ll be fine because these are the distances I’m used to doing. For the long distance (Saturday), let’s say I’ll do my best because I’m not used to rowing for such a long time.”
Baptiste Cochard, vice-world champion
“There is a little disappointment because I was still in front the whole race with the Englishman (Andrew Byatt), but that’s sport. I fell when I shouldn’t have, and he accelerated, he gave me a little physical blow, that’s how it is, I shouldn’t have done that at that moment. Afterwards I saw that in the sprint parts, I was going faster than him; that bodes well for the rest, especially for the relay. So there you go, a little disappointment but I still came second with some great players. I’m quite happy with my start. My arms are a little heavy but hey it’ll be fine, it’s the start, that’s normal. We’re launching the French team for the titles.”
Vaïc Garioud, 3rd in the world
“It’s a big disappointment. I’ve been in the French team for three years, I’ve won two titles and for my last year in juniors, I wanted to do better than 3rd. But the opponents were much stronger, especially the Japanese, who had a very big lead. I got a bit caught out at the bend by the Italian and the Spaniard. So that’s maybe also why I finished 3rd. But hey, I wasn’t in top form, that’s for sure. It’s still a podium!”
Clément Colmas, 4th in the world
“I’m frustrated not to do better than that. I expected to be able to play for the win so I’m a bit disappointed to finish in 4th place. We had a very good start with Noïc (Garioud) but we were outside the first buoy and we found ourselves around 10 after the first buoy and then we had to come back all the way. I managed to get back into it and come back up to 4th place. With such a short course between the buoys, we have very little time to overtake, it’s really difficult to come back. So I’m frustrated but it’s still a world championship.”
Anaïs Guyomarch, 4th in the world
“I’m very happy to be 4th, especially since the three in front are quite far away. It’s my first individual medal (fourth place receives the copper medal, editor’s note). I’m so happy! I don’t have the same amount of training with my studies and I’m all the happier with this place. I’m going to try to pick up a bit of time to be closer to them over the long distance. Unlike yesterday, I didn’t make any mistakes. I corrected my bad starts and my falls. There, I made good starts every time, I countered myself well on that, I know that’s my strong point.”
Baptiste Cochard is vice-world champion in prone paddleboard. (© FFSurf)
THE PROGRAM
Thursday September 19
Relay (1 p.m.-4 p.m.)
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
Clément Colmas finished in fourth place in SUP Open. (© FFSurf)
