CALENDAR SET FOR THE WORLD’S RICHEST OCEAN PADDLING COMPETITION THE 2022 SHAW AND PARTNERS AUSTRALIAN OCEAN RACING SERIES

The calendar for the world’s richest ocean paddling competition – the 2022 Shaw and Partners Ocean Racing Series – is locked in and set to go, with the Australia-wide series boasting 16 events in five states, a $350 000 plus prize pool, and a February 20 start on spectacular Sydney Harbour.

The Series features the country’s largest and most inclusive paddling events, bringing together beginner and intermediate paddlers through to the elite.  Aged from 14 to 70 plus, they compete on a variety of ocean craft from single ocean skis and SUPS, to double ocean skis, canoes and paddleboards.

With 16 races on the calendar, there’s a host of formats, distances, weather and water conditions to   test competitors’ endurance and skill, starting with round one – an 11km hit-out on spectacular Sydney Harbour, the Manly Wharf Bridge to Beach on Sunday morning February 20.

Moving on, paddlers will face everything from a 14 km dash, The Chucky, off Sydney’s Collaroy to WA’s great Rottnest adventure dubbed The Doctor – a 27km open-ocean enduro. There’s also race weekends in Forster (NSW) and the Sunshine Coast (QLD), competitions on Sydney’s northern and eastern beaches, a hit-out in Hobart and a mid-winter torture test off Adelaide.

The elite start-list brims with the legends of the ocean:  past and present Olympians, professional kayakers, canoeists and surf lifesavers, board paddlers, ironmen and ironwomen, all set for a national title chase.  But most entrants are everyday training buddies, teens having a red hot go, mums keeping fit and old sea dogs who just love paddling.  

Vying at the pointy end for the title chase in the men’s competition will be defending Australian champion and Molokai winner, South Australia’s Cory Hill; Tasmania’s paddling ace Tom Norton; and in-form competitor, Jackson Collins, winner of the 20 Beaches last December. 

In the women’s division, expect the neck-and-neck battle to continue between Central Coast’s Jemma Smith and NZ’s Danielle McKenzie, with challenges coming from the likes of Tasmania’s Georgia Laird and Newport’s Hannah Minogue.

The Series sees a roll-call of athletes from the past including four-time Olympian and dual Olympic medallist in kayaking, Danny Collins (dad of Jackson); Olympic kayaker Jim Walker; ironmen greats Guy Leech, Matt Rees and Grant Kenny all planning to race; experienced journeymen Marty Kenny and Tommy Woodriff; and from TV fame, Tom Williams and Bruce “Hoppo” Hopkins of Bondi Rescue.

Paddling has boomed during COVID, with many finding an hour training on the water the perfect way to socially distance whilst building physical and mental fitness.

Thousands have ordered ocean skis and paddle boards over the last two years, and entry lists of over 500 paddlers are expected for races on the Shaw and Partners Series.