Yearly Round-up of SUP / 2025

Paddle UK has been awarded a Stand Up Paddling World Cup event following an announcement made by the International Canoe Federation (ICF) in Hangzhou, China. This is the first time that an ICF Stand Up Paddling (SUP) event of this scale has been held in the UK and the first since Paddle UK was announced as a governing body for the sport in February 2023. The event will be held from 24 to 28 June 2026 on the stunning waters of the English Riviera, Torbay, which has become a go-to spot for Stand Up Paddleboarding in England.

The five-day event is expected to attract around 200 of the World’s best athletes, as well as up to a thousand other paddlers who will take part in a festival of paddling, that will showcase the breadth of SUP from recreational paddlers to elite competition. The event will create an opportunity for everyone to get on the water and enjoy the best of the English Riviera for themselves.

SUP Twelve brings in paddlers from many different backgrounds in a gruelling 12-hour challenge, where the aim is to complete as many laps as possible. 2025 saw a choppy course, especially around high-tide where the swell reverberates off the sea wall and rocks in Paignton, making for challenging conditions.

Paddling her All-Star, Emily King was top UK female (2^nd female overall behind impressive endurance athlete Tanja Ecker from Germany). In the men’s competition, also riding a 14ft All Star, Starboard’s Paul Simmons, in the twelve-hour period came close to his 100km target, with a solid 95km (28 laps). He achieved the fastest lap of the event by over a minute and an average lap time 3min 40s faster than his nearest rival.

Charlie Head, the British endurance paddleboarder, has recently embarked on an ambitious solo expedition known as the “Vortex Crossing.” This challenge involves paddling from the north coast of Scotland to the Faroe Islands, aiming to cover a distance of approximately 150–180 km over open sea.

Unfortunately, severe weather conditions have forced the cancellation of this crossing. In response, Charlie has redirected his focus to another formidable challenge: a solo, unsupported paddleboard journey from Lerwick in the Shetland Islands to Sanday Island in Orkney. This unbroken 117 km route is believed to be the first of its kind.

Throughout his endeavors, Charlie continues to raise awareness for ocean protection and mental health, supporting causes such as Sea Shepherd Global and Dare2Express. His journey underscores the profound connection between personal endurance challenges and broader environmental and social issues.

It was a championship defined by standout performances: the women’s SUP Technical came down to a heart-stopping sprint between Juliette and Mariecarmen; the men’s prone distance saw USA athlete Lukas Pohlman lose his board mid-race when battling in second position; Shuri Araki added two more gold medals, elevating his career tally to six ISA titles; MarieCarmen Rivera captured her first ISA World Championship gold; Luiz Diniz dominated the SUP Surf division to earn his fourth ISA surfing crown; and Vania Torres stole the women’s surf final with a dramatic buzzer-beater wave that sent the crowd erupting along the shoreline.

At the conclusion of an unforgettable week, Spain emerged as the overall Team World Champion — a triumph built on consistency, depth, and medal-winning performances across every category.