Earlier this month, St. Croix hosted the 4th Annual Coconut Cup Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP) Festival. Amateurs and pros alike participated in the weekend of races, which coincided with the U.S. Virgin Islands Transfer Centennial. The events centered around Freedom City Surf Shop in Frederiksted.
The major races were the 5K, 10K and 12K in distance. The festival began with a flip flop fishing tournament (hand line fishing from individual boards). Every night Thursday thru Sunday ended with a bonfire.
Top 5 finishers in each race were as follows:
5K Open Race
1. Kiean Whitworth
2. Tully Keith
3. James Whitehurst
4. Ryan Burton
5. Sam Black
10K Technical Elite Course (women)
1. Fiona Wylde
2. April Zilg
3. Isabelle Picard
4. Kristin Thomas
5. Desiree Hernandez
10K Technical Elite Course (men)
1. Josh Riccio
2. Kelly Margetts
3. Mo Freitas
4. Garrett Fletcher
5. Bill Kraft
12K Downwinder / Flatwater
1. Kelly Margetts
2. Josh Riccio
3. Mo Freitas
4. Garrett Fletcher
5. Bill Kraft
Sponsors of the 2017 events included:
- AQUAMAN VIRGIN ISLANDS
- Bohlke International Airways
- Coca-Cola
- CoolestCarib.com
- Dr. Gavin Gassen
- eat @ cane bay
- Freedom City Surf Shop
- ib designs
- Island Oasis
- Isle 95
- Jack Daniel’s
- Landshark Lager
- Mt. Victory Camp EcoLodge
- N2 The Blue Scuba
- Paradise Freight
- SILVER SQUID
- St. Croix Foundation
- The Mongoose 104.9 FM
- U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism
- Villa Morales Restaurant & Guesthouse
- YOLO BOARD
One of the highlights among professional athletes visiting island for the event was 20 year old Fiona Wylde. The 2016 SUP Race World Champion is a young phenom in the sport (even more impressive while she manages type I diabetes).
