Karla Gilbert, Jackson Maynard Repeat Overall Wins At Second Annual Maui Jim® OceanFest

LAHAINA, Hawaii, June 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Australians Karla Gilbert and Jackson Maynard repeated overall victories at the Second Annual Maui Jim OceanFest this weekend on Ka'anapali Beach in Maui, Hawaii. With a total purse of $40,000, the Maui Jim OceanFest is the highest-purse ocean sports event in the world.

After scoring overall wins at the inaugural event last year, both Gilbert and Maynard returned to OceanFest this year to defend their titles. Known as "Ironmum" in her native Australia, Gilbert took home the Overall Waterwoman crown while also placing first in the Stand Up Paddle (SUP) discipline. 55-year old (and Hawaii native) Kathy Shipman amazed the crowd by placing second overall, while Costa Rica's Jennifer Kalmbach rounded out the women's top three overall finishers.

In men's competition, Australia's Jackson Maynard continued his OceanFest dominance, repeating his 2015 Overall Waterman title, while also placing first in both the Paddle Board and Swim disciplines. Fellow Australian Hayden White finished second overall with South Africa's Jasper Mocke placing third. Hawaiian Hunter Pflueger finished fifth overall despite being only 17 years old.

Maui Jim OceanFest is a unique, two-day event that showcases a variety of Hawaiian-style competitive ocean sports. With short-format races and a venue at Ka'anapali Beach that allows for racing close to shore, spectators are treated to great views of competitive and intense racing.

"Maui Jim OceanFest is one of the world's premier ocean sports events, and this year's competition certainly showed that," said Matt Dubrule, Event Director, Maui Jim Sunglasses. "With some of the best ocean athletes in the world competing in sprint-style races close to shore, the racing action was just so exciting. We want to thank all of this year's OceanFest competitors for putting on such a great show!"

Proceeds from Maui Jim OceanFest will be donated to five nonprofit charities: Hale Makua Health Services, Imua Family Services, Women Helping Women, Maui Arts and Cultural Center and the Maui County Junior Lifeguard Program.

Maui Jim OceanFest Event partners include Ka'anapali Beach Hotel, official host hotel of Maui Jim OceanFest, the Ka'anapali Beach Resort Association, Hale Makua, Maui Junior Lifeguard Association, United States Lifeguard Association, ZONE Media, Kanaka Ikaika Paddling Association, Kai Wa'a Canoes, Epic Kayaks, Rogue SUP and Ozone OC-1.

For detailed race results and event information, visit MauiJimOceanFest.com.

SOURCE Maui Jim, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.mauijimoceanfest.com