**Updated with results. 

San Clemente, California (November 20, 2018) – USA Surfing’s 2018 International Surfing Association (ISA) World StandUp Paddle (SUP) and Paddleboard Championship team won the overall silver medal at the history-making event in Wanning, China November 23 – December 2 . Hundreds of the world’s best SUP racers, SUP surfers, and paddleboarders from more than 40 nations competed at Wanning’s famed Riyue Bay point break . 

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Team USA had impressive performances. Highlights include:

• Candice Appleby won gold in the SUP technical race.
• Hunter Pflueger won gold in the Paddleboard distance race and a silver medal in the technical prone race.
• Connor Baxter won the silver medal in the SUP technical race and a bronze medal in the sprint race. 
• 18-year old Ryan Funk and 16-year old Jade Howson swept the gold medals for USA in the SUP technical race junior divisions. 
• Jade Howson also won bronze in the women's SUP sprint race.
• 15-year old Kailyn Winter earned the bronze in the women's paddleboard distance race and copper in the paddleboard technical race.  

USA Surfing CEO Greg Cruse said 2018 is the first year the event was held in Asia, reflecting the exciting growth of SUP. “The rapid growth of SUP and surge in U.S. talent make it an exciting time to compete against the best elite SUP athletes from around the world. Representing Team USA on the global ISA stage will be an extraordinary privilege and experience,” Cruse said.

Riyue Bay has played host to several ISA Global Events since 2012, providing a beautiful and challenging venue for all the disciplines featured in the World Championship. For the first time, this year’s event will include a SUP technical race for male and female under 18. 

Following were Team USA’s athletes for each division:

SUP Surfing

Men

Sean Poynter – San Diego, Calif. 

Daniel Hughes – Costa Mesa, Calif. 

Women

Emmy Merrill – San Clemente, Calif. 

Candice Appleby – San Clemente, Calif. 

Prone Racing 

Distance & Technical

Men: Hunter Pflueger  – Hawaii

Women: Kailyn Winter – Santa Cruz, Calif.

SUP Racing 

Technical Men

Connor Baxter – Hawaii

Tyler Bashor – Dana Point, Calif. 

U18 SUP Technical

Men: Ryan Funk – Maui, Hawaii

Women: Jade Leilani Howson – Laguna Beach, Calif. 

Technical Women

Candice Appleby – San Clemente, Calif. 

Fiona Wylde – Hood River, Ore. 

Distance Men

Connor Baxter  – Hawaii

Tyler Bashor – Dana Point, Calif. 

Distance Women

Fiona Wylde – Hood River, Ore.

April Zilg - North Carolina

Sprint Men: Connor Baxter - Hawaii

Sprint Women: Jade Leilani Howson – Laguna Beach, Calif.

Relay: 

SUP Man: Connor Baxter – Hawaii

SUP Woman: Jade Leilani Howson – Laguna Beach, Calif.

Prone Man: Hunter Pflueger – Hawaii

Prone Woman: Kailyn Winter – Santa Cruz, Calif. 

Contact: Becky Fleischauer, 302-588-0671, becky (at) usasurfing (dot) org

USA Surfing is the National Governing Body for surfing in the United States, recognized by the International Surfing Association (ISA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). USA Surfing’s mission is to promote and grow the sport of surfing and support United States athletes of all backgrounds to achieve sustained competitive excellence in Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American competition. USA Surfing will oversee and support America’s Olympic team as surfing makes its debut in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and surfing and stand-up paddleboarding athletes compete in the 2019 Pan American Games.

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