The European SUP League completed the third event of its 2026 season on 20 and 21 June with the Big Paddle Festival, bringing the European circuit to Richterswil, on the shores of Lake Zurich, where an outstanding international field of athletes came together. Aarón Sánchez claimed both the Technical Race and the Long Distance at the third stop of the 2026 European SUP League. Alba Frey and Duna Gordillo shared the women’s victories in Richterswil.
The event combined top-level competition with the open, family-friendly and inclusive atmosphere that defines the Big Paddle Festival. Professional athletes, promising young paddlers, masters competitors and recreational watersports enthusiasts all shared a privileged setting surrounded by Alpine scenery, with the waters of Lake Zurich providing the main stage.
The European SUP League scoring competition focused on the Technical Race and Long Distance disciplines, over courses of 1.8 and 6 kilometres respectively. Both races were closely contested, especially in the Open Elite category, where the gaps came down to just a few seconds.
Aarón Sánchez Dominates the Men’s Competition
Rubén Cantoral, the leading U18 competitor, crossed the finish line in fourth overall, only five seconds behind the winner, while Donato Freens finished fifth. The first five athletes were separated by just eight seconds, highlighting the remarkable level of competition among the circuit’s leading contenders.
Alba Frey and Duna Gordillo Share the Women’s Victories
The women’s competition also delivered an intense battle for the leading positions.Alba Frey won the Technical Race after producing a strong performance, with Hungary’s Kocsis Csillag Virág finishing second and Duna Gordillo taking third place. Nuria Chiquero, the U18 winner, finished fourth overall, while Esperanza Barreras placed fifth and was the leading M40 competitor.
In the Long Distance, Duna Gordillo took her turn at the top of the podium, winning in a time of 35 minutes and 47 seconds. Alba Frey finished second, eleven seconds behind the winner, while Kocsis Csillag Virág claimed third place, crossing the line only one second behind Frey.
The victories shared by Frey and Gordillo underline the competitiveness of the women’s field and add further important results to the battle for the European SUP League overall rankings.
Strong Performances Across All Categories
In GM50, Daniele Cani won both men’s disciplines, while Emmanuelle Marcon claimed the women’s Technical Race and Switzerland’s Andrea Forrer won the Long Distance. Jorge Chiquero secured the Kahuna victory, while Enzo Ponzó and Lena Nowak were among the standout performers in U16. Tomás Blin won the U14 category, underlining the important role played by the European SUP League in promoting and developing the next generation of athletes.
Competition, Community and the Promotion of SUP
The European SUP League would like to thank the Big Paddle Festival organising team, local sports associations, institutions, sponsors, partners, officials and volunteers whose work made the event possible.