The UK's first-ever ICF SUP World Cup has wrapped up on the English Riviera, with Spain's Manuel Hoyuela Rojas and Italy's Cecilia Pampinella delivering commanding performances to sweep all three Open disciplines at a landmark weekend for stand-up paddle racing.Held alongside the Paddle UK SUPER Festival in Torquay, the event welcomed around 200 international athletes to compete across Sprint, Technical and Distance racing, while thousands of recreational paddlers and spectators joined a festival designed to celebrate every level of the sport.
Triple Crown for Hoyuela & Pampinella
The standout performances of the weekend came from Manuel Hoyuela Rojas who completed a clean sweep of the Open Men’s racing, alongside Italy’s Cecilia Pampinella who was equally dominant in the Open Women’s competition.
After qualifying through multiple rounds of Sprint and Technical racing, the pair claimed victory in all three championship disciplines:
Winning across three very different disciplines is a rare achievement, highlighting his speed, technical ability and endurance over the course of the weekend.
Strong Performances Across the Age Categories
There were several standout performances throughout the Masters divisions.
Susanne Lier completed a perfect weekend in the Women’s Over-40 category, winning Sprint, Technical and Distance.
Marie Buchanan matched that achievement in the Women’s Over-50 division with victories across all three disciplines.
The Men’s Over-40 category was one of the closest contests of the weekend. Padhraic O’Connor won both the Sprint and Distance races, while Dave Scott claimed the Technical title.
In the Men’s Over-50 class, honours were shared between three athletes, with Kiran Raval taking the Sprint, Sebastian Monserrat Orell winning the Technical race and Bruce Smith claiming victory in the Distance.
The Junior racing also produced multiple winners. Lourenço Viveiros impressed with victories in both Sprint and Technical, while Alfred Gregory claimed the Distance title.
More Than Just Racing
While elite competition was at the heart of the weekend, the Paddle UK SUPER Festival aimed to create something much bigger than a traditional race event.
Centered around Torre Abbey Sands, the festival combined international competition with community paddles, beginner sessions, trade exhibitors, live entertainment and family activities, creating an inclusive atmosphere throughout the weekend. The calm waters of Torbay provided a fitting venue for the UK’s first ICF SUP World Cup, with spectators able to watch much of the racing directly from the beach and promenade.
For Paddle UK, the event marks an important milestone in the continued growth of competitive stand-up paddling in Britain. Hosting an ICF World Cup for the first time has firmly placed the English Riviera on the international racing calendar and demonstrated the potential for combining world-class competition with a festival that welcomes paddlers of every ability.
Whether this becomes a fixture of the international calendar remains to be seen, but the inaugural edition has certainly laid a strong foundation.