OUR TEAM RIDERS

Stimo

Monica de Araujo

Dale Chapman

With a lifelong connection to the ocean, this country boy grew up in Bunbury where his love of the ocean began.  It started with crafting wooden fins into foamies to catch a few waves at his local break.  He then moved into converting surfboards to sailboards in an old shed in Applecross, WA,  only to be seen (wellnot really) belting across the river in the dark of night.  A back injury got him into supping and he has never looked back. Stimo’s surfing background has made it an easy transition into sup.  He can either be found down winding in a 30-knotter off the shores of Swannie and City beaches or surfing at his local breaks.  He loves testing his ability with sup technical racing as well as competing in Bop and Marathons frequently.  Mix this up with a bit of cross-fitting and it’s nothing but ‘Happy Days’.

Name

Gordon Stimson

Age 49

Home break 
Secret location

Rides

• DC 17’4’’Unlimited

• DC c 14’.0” Doctor Chaser Slight Dug Out

• DC 14’.0” Dug Out

• DC 16’ .0” Flat Water

• DC 12’ 6’’ Bop

• DC 8’ 2’’ Wave

• DC 8’ 8’’ Wave

• DC 7’11’’ Wave

Stance
Natural footer

Best Contest
Australian Nationals Bop Race 2015

Top Race Result
Australian Nationals, Gold Coast Marathon - 3rd place

My Inspiration
To train harder and smarter

Goals for 2016
Good results in Doctor and King of the Cut races; Requalification for 2016

Preferred Sup Breaks
North of Perth, Lennox Head NSW, Exmouth WA, Mentawis

If you were a sea animal, what would you be? 
Wahoo

Tunes that inspire me
Brooke’s playlist (my daughter)

All-time favorite drink
Corona

His passion for the sport spills over into his local sup community as an invaluable member of SUPWA and Downwinding Training Coordinator for the City Beach Drum Liners.  There isn’t a day that goes by that Stimo is not encouraging people from beginners to the elite to get involved with the local training squads and participating within events.

Stimo has been appointed team captain representing WA at Australian Titles for the last two years and leading the team to achieve excellent results.  His knowledge of surfing and supping plays a key role as a team rider with DC paddleboards. Stimo works closely with Dale on design, product research and development. Stimo is an absolute asset to our team and a valued member of the DC family.

Race Results

2014

• The Doctor O/40 – 7th place

• King of the Cut O/40 – 4th place

• Nationals O/40 Marathon – 7th place

• Nationals O/40 Technical race – 9th place

• Perth Flatwater 20km Marathon O/40 – 3rd place

2015

• Nationals O/40Marathon – 3rd place

• Nationals O/40 Technical race – 6th place

• Perth Flatwater 20km Marathon O/40 – 3rd place

• The Doctor O/40 – 3rd place

• King of the Cut O/40 – 4th place

• Battle of the Blade, Bunbury - 2nd place

• Flatwater 20 Marathon -3rd place

2016

• Noosa Surf Festival: Marathon over 40’s - 9th place

• Noosa Surf Festival: Bop over 40’s - 8th place

From a very young age, Monica learned to love and appreciate the ocean.  Coming from a windsurfing family, she would go out on her mum’s board as a young girl still wearing floaties!    Most of Monica’s childhood was spent on an Island off the coast of Brazil called Ilhabela.  At 15, she started windsurfing and this passion quickly became an obsession.  The first race Monica entered was called the Sao Paulo Windsurfing Championships, where she placed 2nd in the state.

In 2005, she packed up her life and migrated to Perth, Western Australia.  She fell in love with the city and the extremely good wind conditions. Four years later Monica was introduced to SUP by one of her windsurfing mates and she became totally hooked on the sport and has never looked back.  Whilst she had years of windsurfing experience, surfing and stand up paddling were completely foreign to her.

Name
Monica de Araujo

Age 37

Home break
Scarborough

Rides
DC custom 7’6’’ x 26’’, Volume 77

Stance
Natural

Best Contest
Australian Nationals 2015 – 4th place

Top Race Result
2nd pro women Batavia SUP Race 2015

My Inspiration
Everyone who is happy in their heart and has froth in the surf inspires me.

Goals for 2016
To compete at 2016 Nationals

Preferred Sup Breaks
Yallingup (WA), Jails (Maldives), Sanur (Bali)

If you were a sea animal, what would you be
Dolphin

Tunes that inspire me
I love electronic music.

All-time favorite drink
Mojito

This lady was not one to shy away from a challenge. Combining her passion for the ocean and skills from years of windsurfing, she picked up the skills she needed quickly and hit the water running.  Monica has paddled internationally including Hawaii, Sumatra, Maldives, Brazil and Bali and has travelled extensively across Western Australia, chasing waves. 

It was 2013 when she decided to start competing locally. The WA State Round in Mandurah, which she won. Monica backed this up in 2014, competing in WA State Rounds, she placed 1st, becoming the West Australian State Champion.  In 2015, she placed 1st.  Once again securing her position as WA State Champion.  Having the taste of success, she recently participated in a 2-month elite sup training program out of the Australian Titles. Her hard work and dedication to her training and sport secured her a 4th place finish at Australian Nationals, held in Currumbin, Queensland, 2015. 

Monica is certainly a talent to watch, her career like her paddling has taken off quickly.

Race Results

2013

• State round (Secret Harbor)- (SUP surfing open women) – 1st place

2014

• WA State Champion (SUP surfing open women)

• Bridge to Bank – 1st place

2015

• WA State Champion (SUP surfing open women)

• Toyota Australia SUP titles (SUP surfing open women) – 4th place

• Batavia Coast (SUP surfing pro women) – 1st place

• Batavia Coast (SUP Race pro women) – 2nd place

• Standup Surf Shop Rottnest Classic (SUP surfing pro women) - 2nd place

Name
Dale Chapman

Age 48

Home break
Burleigh Heads

Rides

• DC 8’6’’ x 27’.5’’ surf sup

• DC 12’6’’ x 25.5’’ flat deck race board 2015 design

Stance
Goofy Foot

Best Contest
Molokai 2012 - Over 40’s - 4th place
King of Cut - Over 40’s in 2015 - 1st place 

Top Race Result
Great Barrier Reef Hekili Ocean Challenge 48K - 1st place in the open category.  Also secured 1st place over the line in 2014
Great Barrier Reef Hekili Ocean Challenge 48K - 1st place over 40’s and second over the line in 2015
King of Cut - Over 40’s in 2015 - 1st place in 2014

My Inspiration
Joe Bark - He’s a gentleman and well-respected globally. He still competes in as many races as he can and loves his sport. He’s a true inspiration. Secondly, Jerry Lopez - I met him a couple of years ago.  He has his heart in the right race and is an unbelievable waterman.

Goals for 2016
Thinking about competing at Olukai, Hawaii this year or maybe Hood River, USA. Visiting my daughter in Canada and joining her on the slopes.

Preferred Sup Breaks
Maldives

If you were a sea animal what would you be
A dolphin - because their happy and seem to always get good waves.

Tunes that inspire me
Old rock and new tunes on my Apple playlist.

All-time favorite drink
Corona by night and a banana-smoothie by day.

One day, I was in Burleigh surfing my local break and noticed Jamie Mitchell smashing it on a surf sup. Once again, I wanted a piece of the action.

I decided to make a surf sup.  My first board was a 12’6 x 30 ‘’ with a super wide square tail. It didn’t work. So I decided to design a few 12’6’s and that’s where it all started. Travis raced on one of my boards in Hawaii, Battle of the Paddle, very early in his career and secured 2nd place. That passion then turned into a big business and I have Jamie and Travis to thank for that!

I’m stoked that I have the opportunity to shape for NSP in Thailand 3-4 times a year and I try to compete in as many races as I can to support the sport and represent both my label and DC NSP.  Hopefully in the future, I can get over to some European destinations to compete and continue to experience different parts of the world and conditions on my boards.

Race Results

2007

• Honolua Surf Co Sup Challenge, Currumbin2007 – 4th place

2010

• The Doctor WA, Open unlimited – 3rd place

2011

• Excel Open Ocean Paddle Race, Over 40’s unlimited - 2nd place

2012

• The Naish Race, Maliko, 2012 -Over 30’s – 3 rd place

• Australian Titles, Gold Coast Marathon -  2 nd place

• Australian Titles, Gold Coast BOP -  4th  place

2013

• Twelve Towers, Gold Coast. Over 30’s riding a 12’6 flat deck - 2nd place

• Maui 2 Oahu,Hawaii, Solo, Unlimited, 4th place

• Australian Titles, Gold Coast Marathon - 4 th place

• Australian Titles, Gold Coast BOP -  4th   place

2014

• Great Barrier Reef Hekili Ocean Challenge, Cairns - 1st place in the open category. Also secured 1st place over the line.

• King of Cut, WA veer 40’s riding a 14’ dugout - 1st place over 40's

• The Doctor, WA Over 40’s riding a 14’ dugout - 2nd place

• Australian Titles, Gold Coast Marathon - 2nd place

• Australian Titles, Gold Coast BOP - 2nd place

• 12 Towers, Gold Coast. Over 40’s riding a 14’ dugout – 1st place

2015

• Great Barrier Reef Hekili Ocean Challenge, Cairns - 1st place over 40’s riding a 14’ dugout. Also secured second over the line.

• Australian Titles, Gold Coast, Marathon Race - 4th place

• King of Cut, WA. Unlimited open riding 17’ 10’’ - 3rd place

• The Doctor WA. Unlimited open riding 17’ 10’’ - 4th place