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Welcome to our collection of the biggest news and stories that have taken place in the SUP world from the previous month. Let's recap what happened in April 2026.
LONGBOARD SUP REVOLUTION - 2026
From 3–5 April 2026, the Longboard SUP Revolution Cosmic returned to Bali and was held at Oka’s Point in Sanur. Bringing together 54 riders from 12 countries, the weekend lived up to expectations — clean, stylish longboard SUP surfing and a firing finals day. Results:
- Elite Men’s Division: Zane Schweitzer (USA/Hawaii)
- Elite Women’s Division: Camille Dubrana (FRA)
- Over 60’s Division: Wayne Dean (AUS)
- Elite Weekend Warriors (Men): Marty Cole (AUS)
- Weekend Warriors Men: Pete Cox (AUS)
- Weekend Warriors Women: Jackie Nicholl (AUS)
HEAD OF THE DART SUP CHALLENGE - 2026
The Head of the Dart SUP Challenge 2026 held on 12th April had 233 paddlers lining up across race, leisure, and team categories on the tidal River Dart, UK. Fast conditions and a flowing course set the tone early, with current-assisted lines and clean water helping produce some standout times across the board. Results:
- 14’ Race Fleet Men: Donato Freens
- 14’ Race Fleet Women: Annabel Page
- 12’6 Race Fleet Men: Alistair Hughes
- 12’6 Race Fleet Women: Clare Elliott
- 1st Inflatable Men: Robert Crowshaw
- 1st Inflatable Women: Clare Elliott
- Starboard Airline Cup Men: Robert Crowshaw
- Starboard Airline Cup Women: Sophie-Rose Fanner
- Dragon Boards: Dragon Drifters
- Leisure Fleet Top Male: Rob Crookall
- Leisure Fleet Top Female: Lee-Ann Williams
- Multi-Person Board: Paddle Up Club
Event Atmosphere
As ever, the Head of the Dart balanced competition with community. From elite race boards to inflatables, dragon boards, and even fancy dress entries — won this year by Paddle Up Club’s Power Rangers — the event continues to reflect the full spectrum of UK SUP.
Fast water, tactical river racing, and a deep field made the 2026 edition another standout.
GBSUP RULEBOOK CHANGE - 2026
GBSUP has announced a significant mid-season update to its 2026 National Paddle Racing Series rulebook, removing all minimum board weight requirements from High-Performance fleets with immediate effect. The amendment follows feedback from across the paddle racing community, including athletes, retailers, and industry stakeholders.
Why the Change?
When the 2026 Master Rulebook was first introduced, GBSUP aimed to standardise equipment and raise performance benchmarks across UK racing. Minimum board weights were part of that push — designed to level the playing field and define clear equipment standards.
However, real-world conditions told a different story. Feedback highlighted that the current market — particularly across different brands and board constructions — simply isn’t consistent enough to support enforced weight limits without unintentionally excluding paddlers.
Rather than force a system that risks reducing participation, GBSUP has pivoted.