Sprint and Marathon Paddlers Expected to Contest First SUP World Championships

Organisers are confident several of the world’s best canoe sprint and canoe marathon paddlers will take the opportunity to compete in the inaugural International Canoe Federation Stand-Up Paddling World Championships in Portugal later this year.

The SUP World Championships will be held at Esposende and Viana do Castelo in Portugal, beginning August 30 and finishing on September 2, and falls between the Canoe Sprint and the Canoe Marathon World Championships, also both being held in Portugal.

The event will feature long distance races of 19.5 kilometres, 200 metre sprints, and a three kilometre technical race.

Entries for the event are still open, but ICF President Jose Perurena said early indications show the event will be well supported.

"National canoe federations around the world have been hosting their own SUP events for many years, always with strong support," he said.

"This year we have responded to the wishes of these federations, and the athletes, to host a World Championships, and what better place to do this than Portugal?

"The ICF SUP World Championships will be held during a very exciting ‘Festival of Canoeing’ in Portugal, making it the place to be for any athlete or spectator that enjoys canoeing."

Organisers are encouraging athletes competing in the canoe sprint or the senior or masters canoe marathon world championships to take the opportunity to race the best stand-up paddlers in the world.

"We already know that many of our very best sprinters and marathon paddlers are proficient at stand-up paddling," Perurena said.

"Now they will have a chance to test themselves. It should add a fascinating angle to what is already shaping to be an exciting event."

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