Above: Jamie Mitchell on the water hatching his plan for SURVIVOR SUP

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HONOLULU - April 2, 2012 - Jamie Mitchell's diverse racing background includes Australian Surf Lifesaving races, ocean Iron Man duels, a decade of victorious Molokai Channel crossings, and a string of stand-up paddle titles. Now he brings the best elements of each to the upcoming SURVIVOR SUP race - the pinnacle event of the Quiksilver Waterman Collection Waikiki Paddle Festival, May 5 & 6 at Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Fort DeRussy, Oahu.

SURVIVOR SUP will attract the world's top stand-up paddle competitors who will compete for the $5,000 first prize as part of a total $25,000 on offer for various races throughout the weekend. In addition to the Survivor Race, there will be a downwind distance course and sprint courses for paddleboard (SUP and traditional) and outrigger canoes (1- 2- and 6-man), with prize money up for grabs for all.

"It's time to change up the formula and I wanted to come up with something that was a mix of all of the best elements of the many racing formats I've competed in over the years," says Mitchell. "Plus I think it's important to keep the action close to shore and exciting for spectators and competitors alike."

"SUP racing is still so new that we've barely touched the tip of the iceberg at this point," Mitchell continued. "There are so many exciting ways to showcase the sport and keep it challenging for the athletes and I wanted to explore that more with the Survivor race."

"I think it's going to attract all the usual suspects - Danny Ching, Travis Grant, Connor Baxter, Slater Trout... but I also wanted to design something that brought guys like Aaron Napoleon back into the fray. SURVIVOR isn't going to be just about endurance, but also about skill and fitness, so in that sense, I expect it to be a great indicator of all-around talent."

SURVIVOR SUP will be a series of elimination races done in the Le Mans style, where competitors must lineup, run and grab their board and paddle, then take to the water. The course design is based upon time, not distance, and will take paddlers through the surf as well as close to shore. The early rounds will be of approximately 30 minutes duration, and the final five rounds will be back-to-back elimination rounds of approximately 15 minutes each. Each round ends with a short sand sprint to a finish line where competitors either qualify or are eliminated based on first over the line. There will be brief rest periods between rounds before qualifiers line up and take to the water again.

In addition to the SURVIVOR SUP race, there are a variety of other paddle divisions and distances, catering to the weekend warrior and also traditional paddleboarders and 1-, 2-, and 6-man canoes.

WAIKIKI PADDLE FESTIVAL is May 5&6 at Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Fort DeRussy, Waikiki.  There will be Live music and entertainment from 11am-7pm at the beer garden.  There will be a welcome party for competitors and cool competitor goody bags.  To register and find more information visit online at: www.quiksilver.com/waterman.  The event entry fees start at $75, ($50 for military) and there will be package rates for those entering more than one division.

SURVIVOR SUP is a sanctioned WPA World Championship Qualifier for the 2012 Hennessey's WPA World Paddle Championship in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, later this year. The top 20% of the competitors in both the men's and women's Survivor Race will receive invitations to compete at the World Championship.