Late last year, the ICF updated their Rule Book for Stand Up Paddle competitions in 2025. There were some big announcements, notably for the Junior competitors and long distance racers. Find out more.
Rule Books are an important part of competitive stand up paddle events. They set out the guidelines and rules for each competition and it ensures that athletes compete in a fair environment. However, the newly updated ICF Rule Book for 2025 has definitely raised some eyebrows and left most of the competitors with more questions than answers. let’s dive into the biggest changes;
Long Distance Racing
The rule book now states that long distance race courses will be set at a distance between 5km and 35km. The distances will be announced 3 weeks prior to an event.
As an athlete, how does this sound? A 5km course could easily be a technical race or a 35km course is a marathon event. The difference between the two distances varies so much that athletes are questioning the ICF’s decision (mainly around the 3 week announcement prior to events). How are athletes supposed to train for a distance event when they do not know the distance and how long they will be on the water for? 3 weeks to train for a 35km course? You can see why so many athletes are up in arms about this new rule.
Junior One Design
Junior competitors must use a designated (one design) ICF hard SUP board at 14′ long.
Are the ICF trying to make all junior competitors compete on the same board? How does one train for an event, knowing they will be on a different board? The ICF argue that it will increase competitor numbers and create a more competitive environment, alongside allowing easier travel for junior competitors as they only need to travel with their paddle.
You can view the full Rule Book here, but you can see why there have been some backlash to the announcement.
Of course, the ICF and other organisations are all striving to better the sport. We would love to hear your thoughts on the new rule changes. Leave a comment below.