Hayama Pro in Japan, Day #1, Long Distance Men (Full report, Video, Results)

Connor Baxter Wins the Long Distance Race on Day #1 of the Victoria Cup Hayama Pro in Japan, Stop #2 of the 2015 Stand Up World Series.

Connor Baxter (Starboard) puts on another stellar performance in today’s long distance race to take the win on Day 1 here in Japan, but not without a serious battle. Connor led through the first lap, but on the upwind leg on lap 2, Kai Lenny (Naish) was able to battle back to take the lead coming into the top buoy. Uncharacteristically, Kai falls on the outside buoy, but like Kai, he is straight back up and going within seconds. However, the slip up was enough for Connor to just take the lead, pole position that he would hold through to the finish line to take the win, despite a major surge from Kai in the closing 100m that led to an exciting finish, who was forced to settle for second.

©supworldmag.com/ waterman league

In 3rd place, we saw another impressive performance from the young French talent Arthur Arutkin (Fanatic), who broke away from the the solid 12 person deep pack that led through the first lap along with Connor, Kai, Mo Freitas (Focus SUP) and Kody Kerbox (Naish), and was able to maintain his position to secure a well deserved 3rd place.

©supworldmag.com/ waterman league

Mo Freitas, last year’s Champion here in Japan was also in the leading pack throughout the race and was able to maintain throughout, battling for pole position at one point, and securing an extremely credible 4th place in the end, after a well fought out battle. In 5th place, Leonard Nika (Starboard) from Italy fought back after trailing Maui’s Kody Kerbox (Naish) and Casper Steinfath (Naish) for much of the race, to just get the edge in a sprint to the finish.

A great result from all the athletes here in a challenging and hot long distance race, but a course that allowed for some great downwind racing for the World’s best. Noteworthy performances also from the leading Japanese athletes Kenny Kaneko and Tomoyasu Murabayashi (Starboard) who finished in 7th and 13th respectively.

Here is the Official Top 12 from today’s racing:

Connor Baxter (Starboard)
Kai Lenny (Naish)
Arthur Arutkin (Fanatic)
Mo Freitas (Focus SUP)
Leonard Nika (Starboard)
Casper Steinfath (Naish)
Kenny Kaneko
Kody Kerbox (Naish)
Zane Schweitzer (Starboard)
Paul Jackson
Dylan Frick (Starboard)
Jake Jensen (Fanatic)

Here are the full results from today’s racing including times. Make sure to stay tuned for tomorrow’s Sprint Racing from the Victoria Cup Hayama Pro Japan.

Tags: 2015 waterman league, connor baxter, Japan, kai lenny, starboard