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The European SUP League launched its 2026 circuit on April 27 in Santa Pola, Spain, with the World SUP Festival, bringing together more than 200 athletes from 22 countries for one of the key events on the international SUP calendar.
Held across multiple days, the event featured sprint, technical, middle-distance and long-distance racing, alongside foil and prone disciplines. Conditions played a major role throughout the week, with strong winds and challenging weather impacting both logistics and racing. Gusts of up to 40 knots midweek forced adjustments to the schedule, but the event was successfully delivered through coordinated efforts between organisers, safety teams and local authorities.
Racing Across All Disciplines
Competition began with a demanding sprint race in strong winds, creating a dynamic and technical contest. The programme also included a 10km downwind foil race, with 12 riders competing in conditions of around 25 knots of wind and up to 1.5 metre waves.
Saturday’s schedule featured a 5.5km middle-distance race, followed by the headline 15km long-distance race around Tabarca Island. With moderate winds and ground swell, the course provided a challenging and visually striking setting, reinforcing its reputation as one of the standout races on the European circuit.
The event concluded on Sunday with the technical race, where increasing easterly winds created a highly demanding course, with multiple position changes and a high level of competition throughout the field.
Safety operations were a key part of the event, with GPS tracking systems allowing real-time monitoring and rapid response from rescue teams in coordination with the Red Cross and support boats.
Community and Festival Atmosphere
Alongside the racing, the World SUP Festival maintained a strong community focus. The weekend included children’s races, beginner SUP sessions, inclusive paddling experiences and free yoga activities, helping to broaden participation beyond the elite competition.
The event village and Feria Marinera added a cultural element, with local businesses, exhibitors and live entertainment contributing to a festival atmosphere that connected the sport with the wider community.
The awards ceremony, delayed due to weather, was held alongside the Parade of Nations, where athletes from more than 22 countries took part.
Key Results
Sprint Race (Elite)
Women: Bianca Toncelli
Men: Sergio Cantoral
Long Distance Race (Elite)
Women: Espe Barreras
Men: Shuri Araki
Technical Race (Elite)
Women: Alba Alonso
Men: Shuri Araki
The event also saw strong participation across junior, master and kahuna divisions, underlining the depth and inclusivity of the field.
Event Overview
The World SUP Festival continues to establish itself as one of Europe’s leading SUP events, combining high-level international racing with community engagement and cultural activities.
With strong organisational delivery despite challenging conditions, Santa Pola once again confirmed its position as a key stop on the European SUP League calendar as the 2026 season gets underway.