O2Y&Asian Season2025

荒木珠里メルマガvol.80（2025年7月30日）「O2Y、サマーASIAツアー終了」から引用

みなさん、こんにちは。荒木珠里です。いよいよ夏本番に入り、暑い日が続いていますが、みなさんいかがお過ごしでしょうか。僕たちは先週末の12、13日に静岡県下田市でのISA世界選手権の日本代表選考会レースを終え、O2Yから始まった怒涛の3週間が無事に終了しました。

春のユーロツアーでの5週間という長い旅から沖縄へ帰ってきて、そのまますぐO2Y本番でした。今年は去年以上に国内外からたくさんの選手が集まってくれました。6月28日土曜日には、沖縄本島北部やんばるの外洋でダウンウインドレースが行われました。ロングコースは15㎞×２セット＝約30㎞、ショートコースは15㎞、妹の夏南風も12歳最年少でショートへ参加しました。レース当日は台風の影響で陸沿いに吹く風ではなく沖から吹く風でしたので、選手全員が伴走船の漁船にボードを積んで乗り込み沖へ約15㎞上り、船からボードと一緒に海へ飛び込んで洋上一斉スタートしました。沖縄特有の灼熱の炎天下、あまりの暑さに耐えきれず熱中症になって途中棄権してしまう選手もいるなか必死に漕ぎ続けました。 僕たちプロのレースは2セットあったので、1セット目から自分の体力と向き合いながらレース運びをしなければならないうえに、最終的な順位は2セット分の合計タイムで決まるので最後まで気が抜けないレースでした。風は然程強くはありませんでしたが、世界遺産やんばるの壮大な海ならではの激しい潮流でかなり沢山サーフィンできました。それぞれオーシャンパドラーのスキルが試されるハイレベルなレース展開になりました。僕は得意のオーシャンレースなので1セット目も２セット目も始終先頭を走る続けることができましたが、２位には今回このレースに初参加、ギリシャのチャンピオン・タソスがいて、またその後ろにイギリスのチャンピオン、ブルーも追ってきていました。昨年よりさらにハイレベルの選手が集まってくれたので油断はできずとても有意義なレースをすることができました。またプロの女子の部門では、現在、女子のSUP世界チャンピオンのマリカーメンが圧倒的な力の差を披露し、なんと男子の中でも5位でゴールしとても驚かされました。彼女は他の女子選手の中でも体格は小さく、でもそんな不利なフィジカルをものともしないほどのパワーがあって、体格の小さな沢山のジュニア、また女子選手へ大きな夢を与えてくれました。今回は台湾や中国からも参加者が集まりアジアのレベルも上がってきていることを感じました。小学生の妹も暑さに苦しみながら完漕し凄かったです。たどり着いたゴール地点では仕事や家族のことなど、選手それぞれが自分自身の課題を乗り越えた達成感に溢れて素晴らしい笑顔に満ち溢れていました。来年は更にハイレベルを目指す選手の魂がぶつかり合うレースになると期待しています。

Hello everyone. This is Shuri. Summer is finally here, and the hot weather has been continuing. I hope you're all doing well. Last weekend, on the 12th and 13th, we participated in the ISA World Championships Japan National Team Trials in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture (mainland Japan), successfully completing an action-packed three weeks that began with O2Y.

After returning to Okinawa from a long, five-week trip on the Euro Tour in May, the O2Y race began immediately. This year, even more athletes from Japan and abroad gathered than last year. On Saturday, June 28th, a downwind race was held in the open ocean off the coast of Yanbaru, located in the northern part of Okinawa's main island. (The "Y" in O2Y stands for both Yanbaru and the neighboring island of Yoron.)

The long course was 15km x 2 sets (approximately 30km), and the short course was 15km. My younger sister, Kanaka (12 years old), was the youngest and participated in the short course. On race day, a typhoon caused winds to blow from off-shore to the island(on shore wind), so all competitors loaded their boards onto a fishing boat, sailed about 15km out to sea, and jumped into the ocean with their boards to start the race.

Under Okinawa's scorching sun, some athletes were unable to withstand the heat and suffered heatstroke, forcing Masuda to drop out. Everyone raced seriously. Our pro race consisted of two sets, so from the first set we had to challenge our physical strength and race accordingly. Since the final ranking was determined by the combined time of the two sets, we had to stay focused until the very end. The wind wasn't particularly strong, but the powerful currents unique to the magnificent ocean of Yanbaru, a World Heritage Site, allowed for plenty of downwind surfing.

The long course race was a high-level, testing the skills of each ocean paddler. Ocean racing is my specialty, so I was able to stay in the lead throughout both sets. In second place was Greek champion Tasos, who was participating in this race for the first time, and British champion Blue, who was close behind. In the women's division, Marie Carmen Rivera　, the current women's SUP world champion, showed off her overwhelming strength, finishing in a surprising 5th place among the men. She may be small compared to the other female competitors, but she has so much energy that she overcame her physical disadvantage, inspiring many smaller junior and Japanese female competitors to dream big.
This year, participants came from as far away as Taiwan and China, giving us a sense that the level of competition in Asia is rising. My elementary school-aged sister also finished the race despite struggling in the heat, which was amazing. When they reached the finish line, each athlete was beaming with smiles, brimming with a sense of accomplishment for having overcome their own challenges.

I hope that next year we will see even more motivated athletes gather, making for a race where you can really feel the spirit of the people competing.

On the second day, we held a fun event at Eco Sports Park in Kunigami Village, where the whole family, from children to adults, could enjoy SUP. We played SUP POLO, a three-on-three SUP soccer (or lacrosse?) game that beginners can easily enjoy. We also held a fun SUP race for beginners. My younger sister, Tiare (age 7), is now in second grade and I was so happy to see her finish with a smile. For motivated kids who have just started SUP, these fun races are a great way to motivate themselves and experience real progress. Many families gather every time, and the friendly atmosphere, like a sports day at the beach, is so fantastic!

Looking back over the two days, I believe the event would not have been a success without the cooperation of the fishing boat captains and the many volunteer staff. This Kanaka Okinawa event has been run by my parents for the past 12 years, with a consistent team of family volunteers. The open ocean downwind races my father has been running have always been at risk of fatal accidents if they are not prepared properly. That's why no one else in Japan wants to host such events. (I'm sure it's the same in other countries.) Of course, events held in shallower waters and closer to shore are safer and easier to manage, but the experience and knowledge that can only be gained from the deep sea is infinitely valuable, and these true fishermen (fishermen) understand this value and are therefore willing to cooperate with O2Y.

I've been competing in this race since I was in elementary school, and I've grown as an athlete. I can't imagine the hard work and dedication that my dad and the other members of the organizing committee put into meticulously preparing each and every event to ensure a successful, accident-free open ocean paddle race.

My dad always says, "90% preparation, 10% performance." I realized once again that I need to work hard to become the kind of person who can do that. The international elite athletes I always compete with on the Euro Tour came to Okinawa and we had training camps together before and after the race, had BBQs, and became close like family. O2Y is definitely growing little by little into an event we can be proud of as an "international competition," and it's motivating many junior athletes to aim for the world.

Once again, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who cooperated with O2Y. I would like to thank all the volunteer staff, from preparation to cleanup. What's most gratifying is that this year's event was completed without incident. Finally, a documentary packed with the O2Y story has been released on YouTube. I hope you enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of Yanbaru's majestic nature.

The week after successfully completing O2Y, I headed to Seoul, Korea, to compete in the APP World Tour. Until last year, it was held in September (autumn), but this year, the date was moved to the week after O2Y to make it more accessible to the international elite athletes attending O2Y.

At last year's APP Korea, I won the distance race but came second in the sprint. Since distance points take priority in the APP rules, I ended up winning the overall. So this year, my goal was to win both the distance and sprint races and take the overall title. The race was held on the Han River in Seoul, so the conditions were the complete opposite of the O2Y open ocean. I'd never won an APP sprint race before, so I was really excited for the first day's sprint. I turned 19 in May, and I've really felt my physical condition improving since the Euro Tour in the spring, so I was really looking forward to putting myself to the test.

I advanced smoothly from the preliminaries to the semifinals and finally made it to the final. Nikos from Greece, who also competed in the O2Y event, is the same age as me and has an incredibly fast sprint. He also performed well in the junior division at last year's World Championships. In the final, I faced Nikos head-to-head. I didn't lose power from the start, took the lead at the first buoy, quickly passed the next three buoys, and maintained that lead throughout the finish. This was my first sprint race win at the APP. I'd always stayed calm and trusted my trainer/father's words and I was so happy to finally see the results.

The next day's distance was an unusual 9km race, consisting of 6 1.5km laps with a total of 30 buoy turns. Greek champion Tason and I took turns leading the race until the fifth lap, occasionally riding the other team's undertow to conserve our energy as we negotiated. Then, in the final lap, we suddenly picked up the pace, pulled away from second place, and crossed the finish line in first place. I raced consistently while minimizing exhaustion and staying ahead, winning both days, earning me my second consecutive overall victory this year. I'd like to thank Mr.Mizutani, who transported my board the long journey to the race venue in Korea after O2Y ended, and CREZY SURFERS members.

Since I was 8 years old, I've traveled abroad and watched the world's elite paddlers compete in the APP, which really inspired me. I first competed in the APP when I was 15 years old. Since that day, I've had so many valuable experiences that have helped me get to where I am today. I still have a long way to go before I can become a true waterman, but I'll keep challenging myself so that I can give you all as many good reports as possible.

After returning from Korea, I headed straight to Haneda Airport and then drove to Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, where the Japan National Team Trials for the ISA (International Surfing Association) World Championships were held. I participated in this race last year as well, winning both races (technical and distance) to earn the right to represent Japan. However, due to graduation exams, I withdrew from the race and focused on the ICF World Championships at the end of the year.

On Day 1, the conditions were very tough, with strong winds and rough waves. We had 12km long-distance, with reefs around the cape and intense currents and wave bounce. Since I've been practicing in the open ocean with my father since I was very young, I'm comfortable in these challenging waters, so I was able to read waters and perform well.

The next day, the technical course started from the beach and took an M-shaped route. Surfing beach breaks and then cutting through the waves to get out to sea required advanced technique. That's why I tried to be as precise as possible with each movement. In the end, just like in the distance course, I finished with a large lead in the technical course.

The third event, the sprint, was a very short course: a buoy was placed 50m from the shore, and we had to go around it once and return to the beach. I aimed to fully demonstrate my sprinting ability, which has improved since last year. However, just like last year, I was not blessed with any luck and the result was disappointing.

With this, I was able to complete my busy three weeks since O2Y safely and without any injuries or illnesses. I am truly grateful to my trainer father, who supported me with everything from training to meals. I would be happy if you could watch my YouTube videos to see parts of my life on the trip and what the races were like that I can't fully convey in words.

そして下田から戻ってすぐに、タイへ海外レクチャーに出向きました。タイは決してSUPに恵まれた環境ではありません。しかしどこの地域や国にも味わえないエネルギーを感じました。沢山のやる気溢れる子供たちが目をキラキラさせて質問をしてくれ、僕とお父さんの指導を真剣な眼差しで聞いてくれていました。僕が培ってきた技術や志を世界中のジュニア選手へ伝えていけたらとても本望です。そしてこれからも未来のオリンピックへ向けて一緒に夢を追いかけていけたらどんなに幸せなことかと思います。
長文をいつも読んでいただきありがとうございます。今年のO2Y Summerも事故なく無事にイベントを終え、athleteとして主催側としてとても貴重な経験をさせていただきました。そのあとの韓国、そして下田も、自分のパフォーマンスにはしっかりと手応えを感じています。普段の練習の成果を発揮することができました。

春のユーロツアーから夏のアジアツアーとあっという間に前半戦が終わりました。そしてこれからの後半戦に向けて準備再開します。今年一番の目標は10月末に行われるICF（国際カヌー連盟）世界選手権、なんとUAEアブダビで開催されます。初めての国を訪問するので不安と期待の両方があります。上のYoutubeでも話しましたが、僕とお父さんはこれまでいつもアウェイに挑んできました。そして突き抜けてこその世界王者だと思います。

後半戦も気合を入れて突き進みます。改めまして、春・夏の世界遠征。多くの皆さまからの応援本当にありがとうございました。

keep paddling.®︎
荒木珠里 

p.s. 沖縄マツダ北谷店にて「海外遠征報告会」を開催しました。

Immediately after returning to Okinawa from Shimoda, I went to Thailand to give a lecture. Thailand is far from the ocean and is by no means blessed with an environment favorable for SUP. However, I felt an energy that is unlike any other region or country. Many enthusiastic children asked questions with sparkling eyes and listened intently to my father and me. It would be my greatest joy to pass on my skills and aspirations to junior athletes around the world. And I would be so happy if we could continue to pursue our dreams together, with a view to a future Olympic Games.

Thank you for always reading my long comments. This year's O2Y Summer event concluded without incident, providing a truly valuable experience for me as both an athlete and an organizer. I felt confident with my performance in Korea and Shimoda. I was able to demonstrate the results of my regular training.

From the Euro Tour in the spring to the Asia Tour in the summer, the first half of the year has come to an end in the blink of an eye. And now the second half is about to begin. My biggest goal this year is the ICF (International Canoe Federation) World Championships at the end of October, held in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It will be my first time visiting the country, so I'm feeling both nervous and excited. As I mentioned in the YouTube video above, my dad and I have always taken on away challenges. And I believe that it is only by overcoming difficulties that one can become a true world champion.

We will continue to push forward with enthusiasm in the second half of the season. Once again, thank you so much for all your support during our spring and summer world tour.

keep paddling.

Shuri Araki
p.s. "2025 First half competition report & supporters' meeting" was held at the Okinawa Mazda Chatan Store.