Jason KenworthyWatching a stand-up race is like watching NASCAR ... you're just waiting for a crash.

We've seen the next generation asert themselves on the ASP World Tour as of late, and now it would appear that's trickling over to standup paddling. Over the weekend 17-year-old Connor Baxter took out a heady field in the Battle of the Paddle, an event that's become the gold standard for the SUP set.

Winning would be one thing, but in outlasting 10-time Molokai champ Jamie Mitchell and last year's BOP winner Danny Ching, Baxter demonstrated that SUPing isn't just a sport for grizzled, ironman types.

"This is just the icing on the cake," said Baxter, who earlier in the week was named the first-ever Paddler of the Year at SUP Magazine's inaugural Golden Paddle Awards. "I've had a great year and just to be in the battle with Danny and Jamie means everything. I was stoked to be up there with them."

An uncharacteristic fall by Mitchell in the final turn of the race sealed the deal for Baxter on Saturday at Doheny State Beach. "I don't even know what happened," said Mitchell. "All I know is I was saying to myself 'don't fall, don't fall' and next thing I know, I'm in the water. I felt bad because I ruined any chance that Danny had of winning then, which was a real bummer.

The women's Elite Race was won with by an incredibly inform Candice Appleby for the fourth consecutive year. "This is a great day for me and I'm so happy to be here and to have my family and God with me," said Appleby. "I work hard for my sport and this is really satisfying. It means so much.