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PADDLEBOARD: Coldstream woman proud to represent Canada

Lina Augaitis wins third world championship medal of career in Fiji
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Coldstream’s Lina Augaitis competes for Canada at the ISA Standup Paddleboard World Championships in Fiji. The Vernon Secondary P.E. teacher won gold in the event’s newest race

Coldstream’s Lina Augaitis saved her best for last.

The standup paddleboarder won gold in the 200-metre sprints at the ISA World Champioinships in Fiji.

The sprints were a new event added for 2016 and the last event for the world championships.

“We had semifinal heats and a final with six racers,” said Augaitis, a P.E. teacher at Vernon Secondary School, who was competing in her third world championships.

“I nailed the start to finish and managed to win the sprint. In such a short distance, there is no room for error and I raced a perfect race.”

Augaitis also finished fifth in Fiji in the technical course race, which was three laps with four buoy turns and about 3.5-km long.

“It was windy, wavy and hot,” said Augaitis. “I was battling hard between third and fourth place but couldn’t quite nail it.”

Augaitis won silver in the event in the 2014 world championships in Nicaragua, and took gold that year in the distance race.

In the 18-kilometre long distance race in Fiji, she placed eighth.

“The water was fairly calm but there is a ton of movement out there with strong currents and big tides,” said Augaitis.

“We got to paddle past some amazing islands with pure white sand beaches and over some pretty spectacular reefs. I had a great start where I was leading the pack for the first 10-15 minutes. Unfortunately, my body has not quite recovered fully from having a baby and could not hold onto my speed and lead.”

Augaitis was a captain in Fiji for Team Canada, which finished 11th overall out of 26 countries.

“It was the greatest feeling being a world champion again and this time in a very different category,” she said.

“It was amazing to feel the support from all over the world. My favorite part is standing on the top of the podium waving the Canadian flag and hearing our national anthem playing. It was the best way I could have imagined finishing off the world championship event. I would like to thank everyone who helped get me there.”