Junior Cameron Tripney opened Team South Africa’s account at the ICF Stand Up Paddling world championships in the Polish city of Gdynia in spectacular fashion, winning gold in the junior boys sprint race on Thursday.
The schoolboy from Melkbosstrand in Cape Town shocked the SUP world’s with a stunning sprint final to secure South Africa’s first ICF SUP world title.
“I am lost for words at the moment, this is so surreal,” said am emotional Tripney after the medal ceremony.
“The support from everyone at home was game changing motivation for me,” he added. “Looking at my phone and seeing everyone going crazy really meant the world to me.”
Tripney celebrated the gold medal with his father, elated at the victory after three years of being the dominant SUP male paddler in South Africa, but having his chance to prove himself on the world stage thwarted by injuries and challenges funding the trip to the world championships.
It was a double A final day for Team South Africa as team captain Elmari Renecle raced into the final of the Women’s 50+ sprint race.
The ICF SUP World Champs continue on Friday with the long distance races.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
ICF SUP WORLD CHAMPS
Junior Boys Sprint Final
1 Cameron Tripney RSA 50.25
2 Sota Iwai JPN 51.98 +1.72
3 Vaic Garioud FRA 52.91 +2.66
4 Augusto Garcia ESP 53.56 +3.30
5 Sergio Cantoral ESP 55.42 +5.16
6 Vojtech Seidenglanz CZE 55.94 +5.69
7 Simon Ackermann FRA 57.21 +6.96
8 Unax Etxeberria ESP 1:00.78 +10.53
Women 50+ Sprint Final
1 Petra Pyffrader AUT 1:04.48
2 Emmanuelle Marcon FRA 1:05.71 +1.23
3 Diva Hatami ISR 1:05.75 +1.27
4 Anna Occhiogrosso ITA 1:06.80 +2.32
5 Sara Oddera ITA 1:07.26 +2.78
8 Elmari Renecle RSA 1:09.62 +5.14