Sayulita, Mexico - Standup paddle competition is fierce and getting more so by the day. Veteran racers are being put to task by previously unknown paddlers at events around the world, amping spectator interest while fueling the sport's growth.

Here in the Banderas Bay area, some of Mexico's best Stand Up Paddle (SUP) racers recently battled it out on the beaches of Sayulita during the First National Stand Up Paddle Championship competitions, in hopes of earning a ticket to represent Mexico in the International Surfing Association's SUP World Games in 2013.

Sayulita proved to be the perfect venue for participating surfers, who enjoyed three days of spectacular surf and stimulating competition. The Nayarit team stood out not only for the warm hospitality they showed to visiting competitors, but also as the best surfers.

Though Riviera Nayarit welcomed surfers from all around Mexico, including the National SUP Team, the competitions were dominated by Sayulita's own Fernando Stalla, who took first place in all of the men's contests.

Time and time again, Stalla, implementing his international experience, demonstrated why he is Mexico's leading stand up paddle board competitor. On Saturday, he won the 18 km competition, and on Sunday he took first place on the 4.5 km technical course.

The Men's Final was action-packed with three national team members competing along with some new challengers who put up a good fight. But try as they might, they couln't stand up to Sayulita SUP experts Fernando Stalla, Hector "Papas" Gonzalez, Guillermo "Tigre" Cadena, and Felipe "Bozzo" Hernandez, who joined them in the finals.

Stalla's spectacular aerials, punctuated by his power surfing skills, earned him his two previous victories, so no one was surprised when he took first place in the freestyle competition, and then just kept on winning until he had won all of the men's titles.

In the Women's Class, Baja California's Gabriela Farias won in the freestyle and 18 km races, while Nayarit's own Veronica Nava came in first on the 4.5 km technical course.

First National Stand Up Paddle Championship Results

Team
1st - Nayarit
2nd - Baja California Sur
3rd - Jalisco

Men's SUP Surfing
1st - Fernando Stalla (2011 Selective)
2nd - Guillermo Cadena (2011 Selective)
3rd - Hector Gonzalez (2011 Selective)
4th - Felipe Hernandez (Nayarit)

Women's SUP Surfing
1st - Gabriela Farias (Baja California Sur)
2nd - Karen Jacobson (Nayarit)
3rd - Leila Takeda (Oaxaca)
4th - Alejandra Ferris (Jalisco)

Men's 18k Marathon Race
1st - Fernando Stalla (2011 Selective)
2nd - Javier Jimenez (Nayarit)
3rd - Diego Martinez (Jalisco)

Women's 18k Marathon Race
1st - Gabriela Farias (Baja California Sur)
2nd - Martha Diaz (Nayarit)
3rd - Cecilia Gutierrez (Quintana Roo)

Men's Technical Race
1st - Fernando Stalla (2011 Selective)
2nd - Hector Gonzalez (2011 Selective)
3rd - Javier Jimenez (Nayarit)
4th - Julio Gonzalez (Nayarit)

Women's Technical Race
1st - Veronica Nava (Nayarit)
2nd - Cecilia Gutierrez (Quintana Roo)