Kai Lenny Wins Stand Up Paddlesurfing Title at Huntington Beach

Event photo courtesy The Waterman League/ Stand Up World Tour.

By Wendy Osher

Maui’s Kai Lenny claimed the title for the fourth stop on the Stand Up World Tour, held Friday in Huntington Beach, California, contest officials announced.

With just one stop to go on the 2014 Stand Up World Tour, Lenny is in the running for the championship title which will be determined during a final event at the La Torche Pro in France, scheduled to take place Oct. 25 to Nov. 2.

Lenny posted two 9+ scores in the final heat at Huntington Beach against Poenaiki Raioha, coming out 6.93 points ahead for the win, according to The Waterman League contest results.

In the current 2014 Stand Up World Tour rankings, Brazil’s Caio Vaz is in the lead, followed by Maui’s Kai Lenny.  Zane Schweitzer, also of Maui is currently listed fifth in the world tour rankings.

Other Hawaiʻi athletes ranked on the 2014 World Tour include #7 Mo Freitas, #9 Kody Kerbox, #16 Connor Baxter, #21 Noa Ginella, #24 Robin Johnston, #25 Kekoa Auwae, #26 (tie) Ikaika Kalama, #26 (tie) Bernd Roediger, #29 Kala Alexander, #35 (tie) Aaron Napoleon, #35 (tie) Bullet Obra, #58 Riggs Napoleon, #67 (tie) Noland Keaulana, #67 (tie) Pomai Hoapili, and #67 (tie) Kainoa Hauanio, according to data compiled by The Waterman League.

In the 2014 Stand Up World Series rankings Lenny is also listed at number two, and is among an elite list of three Mauians who make up the top tier with Conner Baxter in the lead and Zane Schweitzer listed at number three.  The World Series wraps up on Oʻahu at Turtle Bay, scheduled to take place Oct. 10 to 12, 2014.

In the women’s division contest officals announced Izzy Gomes secured her first ever world title and claimed her second consecutive Huntington Beach Pro title.

The Stand Up World Tour was established in 2009 as the Official World Championship Tour for the sport of Stand Up Paddlesurfing.

Full details and live streaming of Stand Up Word Tour events are available at The Waterman League website.