From an apprehensive start to a Champion Title finish, Michael Booth has certainly earned the respect of his fellow competitors following last weekend’s race results in the Paris Sein River Paddle. 

With just two nights back home in Perth, Western Australia after winning the ISA World Distance Title in China, Michael was quick to board a plane to Paris, France where he would face very different circumstances. Landing in freezing cold weather; crisp air, high wind and an extremely vast contrast to the hot and humid weather he had just come from. 

Michael tested his body and his perseverance, pushing his comfort zone to a whole new level as he braved the change of climate and focussed on the race that laid ahead. 

“China was extremely hot, humid and dehydrating last week and to then come to Paris and face freezing weather and be wearing thermals and beanie’s was definitely a bit of a shock to the body,” he said.

The Paris Open is known as the largest SUP race world-wide and will take place this weekend as the final stop of the APP World Tour.

Australian paddler Michael Booth will test his comfort zone as he takes on foreign cold weather conditions in Paris. Booth is currently chasing the APP World Tour lead of Frenchman Arthur Arutkin, sitting in second place with Connor Baxter close behind him in third. 

“This weekend is going to challenge me to a whole new level,” he said.

The format of the final leg of the APP World Tour will be a combination of man-on-man sprint races in the pool at the Paris Boat Show on Saturday. It will then be followed by a 14km distance paddle in the early morning on Sunday on the river seine with cold temperatures and strong winds predicted.

Booth says, “I would need to do something spectacular to win the overall tour, but I’m not feeling any pressure and I’m just going out there to have fun and race hard!”

Michael Booth took out his 2nd Distance Title yesterday in the ISA World Championships held in Wanning, China.

Despite not having the ‘ideal’ race preparation on his side, Booth was determined to make a good impression over in China and he certainly did not disappoint.

Booth said he felt better than ever, both mentally and physically and knew he had a job to do, one which he wasn’t going to do half hearted!

“From the first stroke I knew I felt strong. I felt like I had regained my form and if I was to do everything right, I had a great chance and a great opportunity to win”.

Michael Booth finished 5th last weekend in the Shaw and Partners Doctor race held in Perth, Western Australia, finishing just 90 seconds off the win.

With a 27km flat-water grind presenting itself early on in the race, Booth expressed it was tough early on to hold a consistent, strong pace, as there was little help from the conditions.

“It was certainly tough for the first 15km with little to no assistance, but as the race went on a 10-12 knot South-Wester blew through which made it a little easier at the tail end of the race”, he said.

Booth hit the lead early on, however towards the end felt he was really hanging on, finishing in 5th place, closely behind the leading pack and 90 seconds behind winner; Cory Hill.

“I really surprised myself after having not competed much on the ski in the last few years, to have been able to keep up with the leading guys in the sport and come away with a fairly good result, I’m really stoked!”

Michael Booth was crowned Aussie Marathon Champion for the third consecutive year on Tuesday afternoon with epic 18-20 knot southerly conditions treating the competitors to a prodigious downwind battle.

The Tech Race was run on the Monday afternoon where the course presented not only a highly competitive field, but 20 knots of cross wind and 2-3ft swell, making it a challenging race from start to finish.

Whilst Boothy spent majority of the race in the top three, swapping leads with Lincoln Dews and James Casey – the finish just couldn’t come quick enough after missing a few waves and quickly going from first to fourth and not able to return to the lead.

“It was one of those days where your race can change very quickly if you don’t pick the right line coming in and out of the break.

Whilst Michael Booth is these days profoundly recognised for his outstanding SUP racing skills, he enjoys returning to the roots of where his career first begun – on a surf ski.

That being said, last weekend Boothy did just that, taking out the win in a local ski race of 20km in his hometown of Perth, Western Australia.

Booth expressed that it felt “awesome to get back on the ski” after an extended period of time had passed since his last ski podium finish.

Booth was expecting to race in San Francisco in the Red Bull Heavy Water Event last week, however the limited swell restricted the competition from taking place.

“It was a shame to have not seen the Heavy Water take place again this year, although the competition is prestigiously known for its monstrous swell and without that component it really wouldn’t have lived up to its name”.

Michael Booth took out the win last weekend in the SUP WA 20km marathon event held at Ascot kayak Club on the Swan River, Perth.

The SUP central flat-water event is known as one of the best foundation races for paddlers to compete in prior to King of the Cut held in early December. 

Whilst Booth is at present in the stage of patiently awaiting the call up to compete in the Red Bull Heavy Water Event in San Francisco, Michael said, there has been no time to put other training on hold approaching a busy end to the season. 

“While Heavy Water is my focus and will be my next challenge, it has been important to keep my endurance and distance training up to speed for other events I have coming up towards the back-end of the year”. 

Michael Booth finished 4th overall in the Pacific Paddle Games last week which tests athletes endurance and technical skills over the two day event.

Known as the Super bowl of SUP Racing, the PPG competition brings together the world’s best paddlers to compete for victory in the prestigious race, this year seeing over 400 competitors across the elite and amateur divisions battle it out.

“The competition was really tough, and although I didn’t have my best races, I know I couldn’t have done any more on the day,” said Booth.

Michael Booth took out the win in last weekend’s Battle of the Bay held in San Francisco.

A seven-mile race in picturesque San Francisco saw Michael back in his best form, determined and ready to take out the win. 

“I was really excited about Battle of the Bay, it’s such a great race to be involved in and I absolutely love racing in San Francisco!” 

Starting in Ghirardelli Square and racing around the Golden Gate Bridge, this SUP race really is one of the special events on the world stage.. 

Whilst it may not have been the renowned results that Michael Booth had hoped for in the second stop of the APP World Tour, Booth says he will walk away having sure learnt a lot.

Prior to the race held in New York, Michael had travelled for two days and in over 12 different time zones. Hoping that he might have planned his stopovers and time differences well, however later realising he probably pushed his limits.

“Coming into the weekend, I knew it was going to be a tough one. I had been working on clinics in Dubai and Annapolis and whilst this was a great experience, I probably shouldn’t have expected to race my best off the back of these,” Booth said.

The APP World Tour presented an opportunity like no other this year, giving SUP Paddlers from all across the globe the opportunity to race in one of the world’s most iconic landmarks making it a showcase event that attracted a large crowd of both competitors and spectators.