2017 JAPAN CUP: CHIGASAKI

BACK-TO-BACK WINS FOR BOOTH

- By Lauren Barley

Finishing the year off in his best form is the only plan Michael Booth has, as he enters the final few races of the SUP season.

Taking home with him back-to-back wins in both the 18km Distance Race as well as the Sprint Race, at the Japan Cup, Michael feels he is finishing the 2017 season in his best form.

Michael said the racing conditions and the competition was again tough this year, with all competitors entering both of the races strong and fit.

“In the distance race, it was a very tough to make an early break, the first lap we all pretty much stayed together and it was hard to get the field off my wash despite trying to make a few breaks”.

Despite the early break away coming later than he had hoped, Michael managed to get away from the field in the second lap of the course and from then preceded the race as one man.

“Once I made a break from the others, I continued to paddle hard and thankfully remained a good lead from the rest of the field,” Booth said.

The conditions on the coast of Sagami Bay were cold, wet and windy, making the ambiance of both of the races all the more temperamental.

“The weather and the conditions this year were un-seasonal, it was definitely jackets and jumper weather”.

Michael said he felt strong in Saturdays distance race and was well-rested and recovered in preparation for the Sprint Race, which was an eliminator format held on Sunday.

“Being a survivor type format with three eliminator races, it’s always a challenge in itself trying to unveil the best way to approach each individual race one at a time”.

“I wanted to ensure I secured my spot in the next race and not hold back too much, but at the same time I tried to conserve my energy where I could, it’s always tricky before you get to the final race”.

Proving that his tactics worked, Michael highlighted his spot on the podium once again and claimed victory in both the Distance and Sprint races of the Japan Cup for 2017.

Booth will now be headed to San Francisco for the Red Bull Heavy Water event, known as one of the most intense SUP events to be held in the world.

The event window is limited, and is looking to be held next Friday the 20^th October with over 10ft waves challenging paddlers across the open course, stretching from Ocean Beach to the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco.

“The Heavy Water event is such a magnificent event, I’m just really looking forward to being apart of it,” said Booth.