On Saturday 15th December 2018, the iconic Shaw and Partners 20 Beaches Ocean Classic took place in the Northern Beaches (NSW).

The 20 Beaches Ocean Classic was first run in 1990 and is the oldest ocean paddling event in Australia.  Traditionally raced from Manly to Palm Beach in a Southerly or Palm Beach to Manly in a North Easterly, the 20 Beaches Ocean Classic covers a 25 kilometre stretch and attracts the best of the World’s Ocean Surf Ski paddlers.

With a prize pool of $75,000 on offer this year, organisers received a record number of entries.  Over 300 paddlers converged on Station Beach in the early hours of Saturday to compete in the final ocean surf ski paddling event of the year.

Shaw and Partners Race Team member Cory Hill, who was in control of the race since the start, battled severe weather conditions to take out the win in 1:21:57, ahead of Jackson Collins and Tim Jacobs.

Cory’s latest victory concludes an epic year for the Australian Ocean Racing Series and adds to his already impressive run of previous results. Cory Hill is fast earning his place as one of the best and most respected ocean paddlers of our time.

Michael Booth, recently crowned Stand up Paddling World Champion in China, finished in 11th position with fellow Shaw and Partners Race Team member Mackenzie Hynard concluding in 13th.

In the women’s category, Shaw and Partners Brand Ambassador Hayley Nixon took out the win in a convincing 01:37:56, ahead of Teneale Hatton and Georgia Laird. Shaw and Partners Race Team member Rachel Clarke finished in 4th.

The 20 Beaches Ocean Classic concluded with the prize presentation at the Bavarian Café in Manly.

As proudly announced by Shaw and Partners Co-CEO Earl Evans in May at the Maui Jim Molokai Challenge earlier this year, the equal cash prize of $10k for both the winners of the men and women’s open was presented in front of a strong crowd; a milestone for gender pay equality in the sport. The presentation was also attended by Jake and Tom Trbojevic, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles players and the Sea Eagles newly appointed coach Des Hasler.

The next stops in the AORS calendar are the Great Ocean Paddle in Torquay (3 Feb) and the Manly Wharf Bridge to Beach in Sydney on the 24th of February 2019.