Race 8 of the State Beach Series lured hundreds of competitors, dressed for the festive season, onto Takapuna Beach. Snowflakes lined up alongside santas and elves and some with even less on, braved the water and sand for the last event of 2011.
Annabel Anderson, ranked No 2 in the world on the Stand Up Paddle was in a class of her own. Being fresh off an international flight earlier in the day made little difference to her performance out on the water, leading the women's 3km event home three and a half minutes ahead of her nearest rival. Anderson has made a spectacular rise up the rankings in the 14 months she's been involved in the sport and is home for a short spell for some summer training ahead of another busy international race schedule in 2012. In the last month she's been competing in major ocean racing events in Fiji, Hawaii and Australia.
Jeremy Stephenson led the men's race home 12 seconds ahead of the chasing Troy McAsey.
Steven Kent has made the most of his month on the Gold Coast training under Glenn Baker, head coach of the Southport Olympic Swim Team. He was quick to let everyone know he was back and serious, comfortably winning the 1km ocean swim nearly a minute ahead of Jackson Cropp who's won the last three races in Kent's absence. Kent is looking to qualify for the 2012 OIympics and has put in around 80-100km a week along with gym training to help build towards his goal.
The women's race was a three way battle with Kirsty Wannan first to the line, 2 seconds ahead of Brenda Russell with Nicole Rosewarne 4 seconds back in third.
On the 5km beach run Stephen Lett was the first runner home in the men's event while Tara La Grange made it eight from eight in the women's.
And Travis Mitchell was in top form in the 5km Surf Ski Paddle beating off Ben Fouhy for first place with Oskar Stielau back in third. Rachael Dodwell won the women's race.
