Fermanagh man Mark Hurst will travel to El Salvador, Central America, today (Thursday November 21) to compete in the International Surfing Association’s Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) World Championships 2019.

This is Mark’s second time to compete at the World Championships. Last year in China Mark finished 32nd in the 18km distance race in a time of 2 hours 35 minutes, only a few months after fully rupturing his Achilles tendon.

This year, he is again very proud to qualify to represent Ireland on the world stage and is hell-bent on breaking into the World’s top 30 SUP racers.

Earlier this year, Mark won the Annual Battle For The Bay SUP Race Series at Dollymount beach, Dublin and took three silver medals at the Irish Nationals in Clontarf, Dublin (in the 200m sprint, 5km technical race and 18km distance race).

Currently living in the Olympic capital of Lausanne, Switzerland, last weekend Mark won a silver medal at the 10km Geneva Lake Race in a time of 1 hour 7 mins.

This served as good last minute race preparation and momentum for Mark going into the World Champs, but he will undoubtedly face very different conditions and temperatures in El Salvador.

Mark wishes to express a big thanks to Huku Balance Boards, InnerForce Sports, First Trust Bank Enniskillen and Castle Archdale Service Station for all their support, as well as, all those that individually contributed to his crowdfunding efforts.