Last weekend, the famous NorthPoint Stand Up Paddle Classics, a 1 star Europsupa event, were held at Presqu’île de Crozon in France. It was supposed to be a combined race&surf competition, but unfortunately the waves were really small and the surfing comp was cancelled.

The beach race was a BOP style race with several buoys and a running part, with 4 laps (8,5 km). The wind was really strong (30knots), so it was super challenging, sometimes the riders had to fight against the wind and chop but also had some good runs on small waves which made the race fun.
There were 46 paddlers in total. Eric Terrien (BIC) once more proved he is Europe’s undisputed #1 , he won in front of local boy Greg Closier (Hobie), Mo Freitas (Imagine) from Hawaii finished 3rd and Yoann Cornelis (Fanatic), the other local, finished 4th. For the women, Caroline Angibaud from France finished before Sophie Routaboul (winner of the 2* Eurosupa Funglisse race) and Liz Wardley from Australia. At the end everybody was exhausted but happy !!
We briefly spoke to winner Eric Terrien after the race:

Congratulations Eric, on another win at the North Point Classics! How was the race? I heard it was very windy?

“The race was a “bop style” race with bouys in the breaking waves and a run on the beach. The waves were very small and the wind was very strong, it has been a very physical and challenging race.”
Which board and paddle did you use?
“I have used a paddle Select Pro Race Small and a prototype Bic SUP 12’6”
Do you have any tips for less experienced paddlers who get caught in the wind or do their first race in wind?
“In front wind if there is no chop you just need to put lot of power in your strokes, you need to read the surface of the water and see when a lull is coming, once in the lull try to go forward as much as possible before the next gust. In front wind with heavy seas you also need to find your way in the waves to try to avoid the biggest/steepest ones and always take advantages of the moments when there’s a few meters with less chop to accelerate.”

What was your favourite race/most important title in the season so far?

“My Bronze medal at the ISA SUP World Championship has been a very important result for me. Winning the Stand up World Series at La Torche was another good one, Kai was in front of me in the last Battle of the Paddle so here in La Torche I was happy to get a win over him. “
What are your plans? Where are you headed next?
“I will be in Europe for a few more weeks competing in the most important races in France, Germany and Belgium, I will also take some time off in Fuerteventura to be with my girlfriend Anita. Afterwards I will fly to USA and Hawaii”
Thanks Eric, and good luck for your next race!
The award ceremony took place right after a fun team relay beach race and a sprint individual timing race.
Thanks to all sponsors : La mairie de Crozon, Presqu’ile Sport Cotier, Hobie SUP, Kialoa,
Howzit, Xcel and Hoalen.
Big Thanks to Michel Terrien for the permission to use his fantastic photos of the event!
FULL RESULTS
Beach Race Elite 12’6 Men :
1)Eric Terrien FRA : 1h03’08 1000pts
2)Greg Closier FRA : 1h03’43 860pts
3)Mo Freitas USA : 1h04’48 730pts
4)Yoann Cornelis FRA : 1h05’10 670pts
5)Amaury Dormet FRA : 1h05’43 610pts
6)Belar Diaz ESP : 1h06’58 583pts
7)Arthur Daniel FRA : 1h07’03 550pts
8 )Laurent Delpin FRA : 1h08’26 528pts
9)Mathieu Carpentier FRA : 1h09’07 500pts
10)Renaud Noyelle FRA : 1h09’20 488pts
11)Jeannot Gauthier FRA : 1h09’32 475pts
12)Colin Mc Phillips USA : 1h10’02 462pts
13)Seb Cattelan FRA : 1h10’04 450pts
14)Sylvain Pladys FRA : 1h10’06 438pts
15)Lulu Langlois FRA : 1h10’25 425pts
16)Benoit Carpentier FRA : 1h11’15 413pts
17)Samuel Urvoy FRA : 1h11’20 400pts
18)Yves Gondre FRA : 1h13’26 395pts
19)François Pellen FRA : 1h13’48 390pts
20)Andre Geyt UK : 1h13’57 385pts
21)John Harvey UK : 1h13’59 380pts
22)Vincent Verhoven FRA : 1h15’51 375pts
23)Seb Dechaume FRA : 1h17’55 370pts
24)Fred Istin FRA : 1h18’22 365pts
25)Ronan Botrel FRA : 1h21’10 360pts
26)Thomas Kimpflin UK : 1h21’50 355pts
27)Noah Yap USA : 1h22’25 350pts
28)Philippe Mesneur FRA : 1h31’10 345pts
29)Ildut Marzin FRA : 1h34’35 340pts
30)Loic Picot FRA : 1h45’01 335pts
Beach Race Elite 12’6 Women :
1)Caroline Angibaud FRA : 1h27’42 1000pts
2)Sophie Routaboul FRA : 1h34’55 860pts
3)Liz Wardley AUS : 1h47’11 730pts
Beach Race Open Boys Under 16 :
1)Mo Freitas USA : 1h04’48
2)Noah Yap USA : 1h22’25