Yearly Round-up of SUP / 2023

British Canoeing has been formally recognised as a National Governing Body for Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) after receiving confirmation from Sport England.

It is the first time that Sport England has given ‘recognition status’ to two governing bodies in different sports for a single discipline. Surfing England is also a recognised governing body for SUP and these organisations will work alongside one another to ensure positive and safe environments for all stand-up paddlers, regardless of where they take part in the sport.

Discussions between British Canoeing and Surfing England, who will continue to be recognised for surf-related SUP activities, have led to several key focus areas being identified in a memorandum of understanding, including;

• Creating a joint authority to provide governance and development for SUP in England
• Evidence-based safety messaging for the SUP community, working with manufacturers, retailers and stakeholders to promote messaging
• Regulated standards for those coaching and leading SUP activity
• Codes of practice for SUP providers including hire, clubs and commercial operators
• A clear pathway for talent including establishing a framework for competitions that supports the development of athletes and coaches

With recognition now confirmed, British Canoeing will be looking to meet with key stakeholders, to enhance relationships and build collaborative partnerships for the benefit of the SUP community and recreational paddlers who enjoy Stand Up Paddleboarding.

James Casey dropped some pretty big news that he has joined the Code Foil team, getting this new brand up and running with his mates Marcus and Ben Tardrew and Daniel Juengling.

The Longboard SUP Revolution Bali Cosmic Experience event was held from the 7-10th April, 2023 in Bali, Indonesia. This event is solely a longboard SUP competition with boards needing to be over 9ft in length with a longboard shape. The LSR is a movement that started in Australia with a mission to promote and add a 10ft SUP longboard division to all SUP competitions throughout the country and now they have taken the initiative to Bali to showcase the best longboard SUP surfers in the world on the best waves. The event consisted of four divisions which included the Weekend Warrior and Elite categories for both men and women. The LSR Bali Cosmic Experience attracted over 50 competitors from around the world.

Beau Nixon travelled to Bali, Indonesia to compete and has done a full recap from the event. Link above. Beau brings you a recap where you’ll learn about the event and watch all the longboard SUP action from finals day.

THE EYE RACE took place in the waters of Howth Sound and Ireland’s Eye, Dublin, on 22 April 2023. Paddle hard and paddle fast was the name of the game in this inaugural SUP event. Event 7 in The Irish Winter SUP Race Series, organised by Discover SUP and hosted at Howth Yacht Club, this brand new stand up paddle boarding competitive event attracted 26 entrants from all over the island of Ireland, ranging from members of previous Irish World Championship teams to first-timers. The event consisted of two class divisions, Class 1 for touring and race boards 11ft+, Class 2 for all-round boards 11ft and less.

From early on Class 1 was led out by the current series leaders in their respective categories, Ross McGarry and Mary Dowling, as they took on their 11.5km course. In Class 2, current male series leader Paul Kiernan had a fight on his hands before he secured his lead position, while Sinead Murphy, brand new to the racing scene, took the 5.5km course in her stride as the only female in her category.

The 24th Moloka’i-2-O’ahu Paddleboard World Championships (M2O), presented by the Hawai’i Tourism Authority returned to racing today after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Racers were greeted with favorable conditions with trade winds blowing at 20 knots and wind swell at six feet. A sold out, international field of 250 men and women headed out across the Ka’iwi Channel toward the south shore of O’ahu, navigating changing tides and currents to plot their fastest route in the 32-mile downwind challenge.

Today’s champions completed the course in the solo disciplines of prone paddleboard, stand-up paddleboard (SUP), SUP foil and wing.

Prone: Charlie Verco from North Bondi, New South Wales won the unlimited category in 4 hours, 53 minutes, 26 seconds. Hayden Copping, 24, from Port Macquarie, New South Wales was the winner of the stock category (5:41:16). Katrina Madill, 32, from New Zealand claimed first place in the stock race.

SUP: Yusuke Hyogo, 36, won the men’s unlimited SUP race in 4:45:03.

SUP Foil: Australia’s James Casey, 31 from Narrabeen, New South Wales won today’s SUP Foil race in 2:19:02. Olivia Pana, 32, from France beat the former M2O champion from Maui, Annie Reikert, 22, by five minutes.

Wing Foil: The men’s wing foil race was won by 19-year-old Finn Spencer from Maui. The American figuratively flew across the Ka’iwi Channel in 1:31:29. Nani Dalene Nekoba, 46 from Kailua, HI won the women’s race in a time of 2:10:02.