San Clemente’s Emmy Merrill wins gold medal at SUP Surf World Championship in Nicaragua, Team wins silver
By Andrea Swayne
Emmy Merrill of San Clemente became the 2014 SUP Surf women’s world champion Tuesday at the International Surfing Association World Stand-up Paddle and Paddleboard Championship in Nicaragua.
Merrill turned in a string of strong performances in early rounds including posting the highest heat score of Round 2 with a two-wave combined total 11.27 points (out of 20) to advance to the finals.
In the finals she claimed the gold medal by a convincing 4.23-point lead, defeating runner-up Caroline Angibaud of France, 13.50 to 9.27, respectively. Australian Shakira Westdorp came in third place with 9.23 points and Iballa Ruano of Spain took fourth with 5.28.
This was a second title win for Merrill who was also the 2012 ISA WSUPPC gold medalist.
In men’s SUP Surf competition, San Clemente’s Colin McPhillips was eliminated in the Repechage rounds but fellow Team USA member Sean Poynter of Florida earned a copper medal. The gold medal in the men’s division went to Poenaiki Raioha of Tahiti.
The SUP Surf division kicked off the event, which ran May 3 through 11, followed by prone paddling and SUP racing divisions.
Team USA ended the competition bringing home a silver medal behind gold medalist Australia. Brazil earned the bronze medal, followed by Spain in fourth place (copper) and France in fifth.
For more information including heat-by-heat scores, photos and videos, visit www.isawsuppc.com.
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Australia – 16,750
2. USA – 13,100
3. Brazil – 10,667
4. Spain – 10,501
5. France – 9,532
comments (0)