In one of the most action-packed races of all time, defending champions Titouan Puyo and Annabel Anderson were crowned the 2017 Carolina Cup Champions.

The Carolina Cup has consistently been a major paddle boarding event that attracts both elite and amateur athletes from around the globe. Attendance records are broken year after year and the event has become the place where standup paddlers come to test their grit and compete against the best in the World. 2017 is expected to be another record-breaking year and with the caliber of athletes in attendance there will be no shortage of excitement. Here are our predictions for how the event will unfold in 2017.

After personally paddling, weighing, and thoroughly testing 70+ boards, our expert staff has selected the best stand up paddle board 2017 models. These are designated by the "A" grade and organized by categories (inflatable, all-around, touring, etc).

With just three events remaining and 498 points separating the top four, athletes in The Ultimate Waterman will spend the next day preparing for a big final weekend of competition in Southland, New Zealand.

Fiordland has turned on spectacular conditions on day four of The Ultimate Waterman, resulting in plenty of change in the overall standings after five of eight events.

Eight world-renowned international watermen were welcomed to Invercargill by Ngai Tahu tangata whenua today (Friday 31st March) marking the start of the 2017 Ultimate Waterman.

About the board: The Air Glide Flow from SIC Maui is an inflatable, all-around board, perfect for beginner paddlers and is at an affordable price point under $1,000. The board has a very clean look and takes a simplistic approach with graphics and colors. The packaging that the board comes in is stunning and has a very high-quality, premium feel to it. The board is lightweight thus making it easy to carry and has FCS II tool-less fin compatibility giving it a great value for its price. The high-quality packing and materials combined with the premium look and feel make the board merit the Supconnect “A” grade. Read more HERE.

Athletes will put preparation for the start of The Ultimate Waterman briefly on hold on Friday, March 31st, as they team up with Cystic Fibrosis New Zealand, the Mauli Ola Foundation from Hawaii, and the Southland Boardriders Club to offer a unique experience for children living with CF.

About the board: SIC Maui’s award-winning Bullet is a multi-purpose, non-inflatable board great for intermediate and advanced paddlers. The graphics are simple yet stunning and give the board a premium look. Because the board is 27 lbs it’s borderline-difficult to carry however the EZ grab handle makes carrying much easier because you’re able to fully grip the handle. The board is great for downwinders, touring and even racing, making it very versatile and fun. Premium looks and feel combined with a variety of conditions that it works in warrants the Bullet Supconnect’s “A” grade. Read more HERE.

Who is this for: If you’re looking for a very stable, non-inflatable, all-around paddle board to paddle short distances, then the Flow from SIC Maui is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the Full Carbon Innegra (FCI) construction, which is very durable and has its ups and downs. Due to its 34 inch width the board is very stable. Its construction is moderately heavy, coming in at 2.68 lbs per foot, weighing 28.1 lbs total. Its shape makes the Flow an all-around board that can be used by everyone and is designed primarily for recreation. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for short distances, around the beach or dock. Retailing at $1,349, this board is in the popular mid-tier market in terms of affordability.

After one of the more challenging days filled with heavy cloud cover, rain and challenging conditions on the opening day, the opposite was the case yesterday at the 2017 Sunset Beach Pro, with clear blue skies and groomed, beautiful surf for what was to be an epic day of competition for both Men & Women.

Eight of the world’s best will return to New Zealand in April to compete for the coveted title of The Ultimate Waterman. Now into its third year, this unique event will push the athletes to the brink as they travel and compete in some of the most challenging, yet spectacular conditions in New Zealand.