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Happy New Year! Let's recap some of the biggest news stories of 2022 in our yearly round-up of SUP.
United Utilities Bans SUP On 165 Reservoirs - January
United Utilities, who manage 170 waterway sites across the north west, UK, had released a statement in January 2022 banning participation in Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) in all but five of its locations. However British Canoeing, Royal Yachting Association (RYA), BSUPA and other governing SUP bodies have rallied together throughout the year to open up SUP on 11 of United Utilities reservoirs. The initial banning of SUP was due to safety concerns brought up during a sad year for deaths in 201 but with better knowledge and access to safety of our sport, the community has been able to bring back the love of SUP in the North-West UK.
Mistral Acquired By Dutch Investor NMG - February
SUP, windsurf, surfboard and wingfoil brand Mistral was acquired by Dutch equity investor NMG. The Haarlem-based investor took over 100% of the shares and will take an active role in guiding Mistral in accelerating its international growth.
With 60 worldwide employees, Mistral, founded in 1976, is active in more than 10 countries with a product collection including SUPS, windsurfboards, surfboards, wingfoils, clothing, footwear and lifestyle products. Last year it sold more than 200,000 SUPs in Germany alone.
Starboard Tiki SUP Challenge - March
Starboard invited you to participate in the global edition of the TIKI SUP CHALLENGE 10x. The challenge was simple — to paddle 10km in one session by 10.10 (October 10th, 2022). Each participant will have one mangrove planted for them and 1.1 KG of plastic removed from the coastlines of Thailand. Entering this competition is your key to taking care of our planet!
James Casey Completes World Foil Record - April
James Casey set a foiling world record! The goal was to foil over 200km in less than 123 hours. The official time was set at 11 hours 17 minutes with a total distance covered of 213km. Well done Jimmy and we can’t wait to see what is next!
Casper Steinfath Circumnavigates Denmark - May
The 28-year-old is the first ever to circumnavigate Denmark on a SUP board. He started on April 2nd in picture-perfect conditions with sun from a clear blue sky and an unusual glossy North Sea and finished after 54 days and 1,450 kilometres at the same place. When he came home, he let the emotions run in front of 300-400 people standing at the clubhouse.
“I don’t know what to say. It started as my own dream, but it ended up being many people’s dream. Thank you so much for following me. I’m so touched”
– Casper Steinfath.
Red Bull Midsummer Vikings - June
8,565 km. That is how far the 400 participants of the biggest 24-hour SUP relay event in the world, the Red Bull Midsummer Vikings in Copenhagen, Denmark, paddled this weekend under tough viking conditions! In this, the 3rd edition, 400 paddlers in 80 teams from 21 countries battled through wind and heavy rain and also had to endure a 2-hour halt of the race due to safety reasons as thunder and lightning were looming in the area.
Chris Bertish Completes TransPac Wing Project - July
The TransPac Wing Project was a mission to wing across the Pacific from California to Hawaii. Chris Bertish completed this which took 48 days, covering 2465 nautical miles. Congratulations Chris! It was an epic and challenging journey..
“It’s an unbelievable feeling to set a goal that appears insurmountable, do all that you can to achieve it, and reach the finish line far sooner than expected. The first part of the trip was super intense due to extreme weather and coming into the Hawaiian Island with Tropical storm-Darby on my heels, making for some of the most extreme and scary ocean conditions I have ever experienced. But I don’t think it was as frightening as the amount of ocean pollution I saw out in the Pacific along the journey.. I only saw five fish, but saw 67 pieces of floating polystyrene & Plastic, and that in itself tells us how much of a global crisis we really are in and how important these kind of projects are, to create awareness for these issues and stand up and be the change we want to see in the world- in law, policies and action needed to change big business practices..
– Chris Bertish
David Haze - Carbon Neutral SUP Trip - August
David Haze, a seven-time world record holding stand up paddle boarding adventurer completed the world’s first completely carbon neutral environmentally friendly expedition around the Isle of Wight in August.
Everything he used on his five day trip around the Isle of Wight from his equipment, to his clothes and food was ethically sourced, carbon neutral and environmentally friendly.
The trip did not go without difficulty as he battled gale force winds and five foot waves to raise money and awareness for a local charity. He used the challenge to raise £1000 and awareness for Surfers Against Sewage and awareness for the Big Plastic Pledge.
“The whole trip was a lot tougher than I expected. I had to sit on the beach all day Tuesday waiting for the wind to change. Wednesday I was hit by a wave and my leash snapped whilst 700m offshore, I lost the board and had to swim back. I found the board, sorted a new leash and paddled 56km the next day only to have the tides and wind change on me 5km from Cowes. When I came to the shore I realised the fin and Mount were missing, with no other choice I was going to have to leave it there but after spending a night on the beach I decided to walk the last 5km with the board attached to me through the water, it was epic. I’ve had such a great response to the point that all my future expeditions are gonna be environmentally friendly, carbon neutral. I’m off Iceland to attempt world record number eight in October, obviously I’ve got to fly there but I’m going to offset the carbon footprint by planting 70 trees in a prison. It’s just been such an educational journey for me. I’ve learned so much that, you know, I can’t, I can’t just stop here, I’ve gotta continue with this.”
– David
Source: Daily Echo
SUP 11 City Tour - September
The 2022 SUP 11 City Tour has been completed this year, with over 200 competitors battling through wind and rain to finish the 5-day, 220km Tour, plus the non-stop race event.
Bruno Hasulyo and Tanja Ecker won the mens and women’s open divisions respectively. Ella Oesterholt and Leonard Nika took the crown for the non-stop race.
Brendon Prince Completes Full UK Circumnavigation - October
Brendon Prince and The Long Paddle team completed their circumnavigation of the UK on a stand up paddle by paddling around the coastline of Northern Ireland. This was the final piece of the puzzle to paddle the entire length of the UK’s coastline after his mainland Britain circumnavigation last year. Brendon has said that this paddle wasn’t a continuous route, but paddled in sections due to the weather and time available to complete the incredible feat.
Brendon has set these challenges for himself to promote the charity Above Water which works to teach water safety and prevent drowning. There will be many more epic challenges and expeditions from Brendon in the future, so stay tuned.
Chris Bertish Releases All In! Book - November
All In, is the latest book from internationally renowned big wave surfer, ocean adventurer, multiple Guinness World Record holder, speaker and author, Chris Bertish, telling his harrowing tale of his 2017, 7500km solo SUP TransAtlantic Crossing from Morocco, Africa to Antigua in the Caribbean.
“The book tells the story of my 3months alone at sea and some of the gnarly adventures I went through to do what most people told me was completely impossible,” says Chris Bertish. “Some of the highlights include being targeted by a great white shark, towed by a giant sea squid, capsizing multiple times and surfing down 10-meter waves as challenging as anything I have faced in any Mavericks Big Wave Surfing Championships!”
Too many times, Bertish, found himself hanging on the edge of his modified SUP for dear life. He also become one with the elements, and ultimately succeeded in doing something everyone said was simply impossible.
This is the story of his incredible journey.
World Champion Athletes of 2022 - December
APP World Tour Racing: April Zilg & Connor Baxter
APP World Tour Surfing: Kaede Inoue & Benoit Carpentier
ISA World SUP Technical: Candice Appleby & Shuri Araki
ISA World SUP Sprint: April Zilg & Connor Baxter
ISA World SUP Distance: Duna Gordillo & Shuri Araki
ISA World SUP Surfing: Lucia Cosoleto & Luiz Diniz
ICF World Championships Sprint: April Zilg & Connor Baxter
ICF World Championships Technical: Melanie Lafenetre & Connor Baxter
ICF World Championships Distance: Espe Barreras & Michael Booth