Smith third in world’s toughest paddle race

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

PADDLEBOARDING

Gisborne athlete Jasmine Smith was in the medals after conquering the world’s most challenging paddleboard race — the Moloka’i2Oahu in Hawaii yesterday.

Gold Coast-based Smith placed third in the paddleboard stock female division.

She completed the gruelling 32-mile (51.2 kilometres) course across the Ka’iwi Channel, also known as “the Channel of Bones”, in 7 hours 54 minutes 5 seconds.

Smith’s category was won by Japan’s Mao Kamimura in 7:26.26.

The Moloka’i2Oahu is also the paddleboard world championships and features prone, stand-up and hydrofoil categories, and competitors from more than 20 countries.

Former men’s world surfing champion John John Florence was among the foilers.