Primer Nacional Stand Up Paddle Sayulita 2012

Eyes popped wide, jaws dropped.  The announcer was beside himself.  The Sunday morning crowd on the beach roared in unison.  

Fernando Stalla, who had already won both Friday’s SUP marathon (18km) and Saturday’s shorter 4.5 km technical race, once again asserted his dominance over the competition in the Primer Nacionál Stand Up Paddle Sayulita 2012.  He casually launched his Rogue squash tail into the air, paddle and all, with the same bravado as a crazed dictator launching rogue scud missiles.  Up, over and back into Sayulita’s peeling right, Stalla continued on down the line, cementing his victory in the masculine division of SUP wave surfing. 
 

Sayulita, Mexico was thrilled to play host to this event, the first ever Mexican national stand up paddle competition.  Male contestants from Colima, Jalisco, Baja, Oaxaca and other states entered this event’s surfing and racing categories in hopes of becoming the Mexican national champion, but local talent clearly had a home field advantage as the top five men all hailed from the state of Nayarit.  Most Sayulita surfing locals have for ages been completely fluent in longboard subtlety and shortboard tricks and they bring style, wave knowledge, and athleticism as they’ve crossed over to SUP.  Matching Stalla wave for wave until his magic flying act were second place Guillermo “Tigre” Cadena, Hector “Papas” Gonzalez in third, and forth, Felipe Hernandez..

“Tigre,” Pole Dancing

Hector “Papas” Gonzales hits the brakes.

The top women represented a wider geographic area of Mexican surfing prowess.  Gabriela Farías hails from Baja California Sur and impressed judges and spectators with powerful strokes and graceful rides.  Karen Jacobson brought Sayulita a second place finish with stylish surfing and a stylish look:  hoop earrings, a hat and a well cut swimsuit.  Leila Takeda will bring her third place trophy home to Oaxaca, and Alejandra Ferris from Jalisco took fourth.

Gabriela Farías, digs deep to earn the title of Mexican National Champion

Farias' face full of intensity. And sunscreen.

Karen Jacobson, Sayulita's Stylin' Homegirl

Stand-up riders of all skill levels flock to this quaint village to soak up sunshine, long waves, and even longer flat water paddles around the point in the open ocean.  The line up on Sayulita’s point break generally is frequented by some of the best SUP riders in the world getting the lion’s share of set waves, and the horizon is usually dotted with distance paddlers on longer, ocean-worthy boards.

Come to Sayuilta and enjoy the SUP scene here.  Keep an eye open for Fernando Stalla; he’s easy to find.  He’s tall, handsome, and if you have any doubt just watch the skies for a scud missile.

Stalla is Talla

Punta Sayulita, a great place to SUP.