World SUP Championship Opens in Heart of Copenhagen

(ATR) Stand-up paddlers are excited to take to the canals of Copenhagen, a new and unique location for their world championship.

The World Stand-Up Paddle and Paddleboard Championship opened Friday in the heart of the Danish capital. A festive opening ceremony was staged along the banks of the Copenhagen harbor waters and adjacent to the city’s neo-futuristic Opera House.

International Surfing Association President Fernando Aguerre declared the championships open on a postcard-like, sunny afternoon with a slight breeze blowing off the Copenhagen waters.

"We are the United Nations of surfing, SUP and paddleboard, coming together in peace and finally we came to Europe, to Denmark and to beautiful Copenhagen," Aguerre said, sporting his signature bowtie and a Danish Viking helmet.

Forty-two countries and 286 SUP surfers have arrived to the water-loving Scandinavian country for the 10-day event. The number of countries competing has increased by 20 and the amount of athletes by more than 150 since last year’s championships in Fiji.

Aguerre pointed out that for the first time at an ISA competition there are an equal number of slots for men and women and is hopeful that 50-50 gender equality will be reached at the next championships.

The flamboyant surfing boss alluded to the discipline of SUP being included on the Paris 2024 Olympic program.

"These world championships are a testament to how much the sport has grown over the past decade," Aguerre said. "Our goal is 2024 Paris, SUP participation and hopefully racing in the river Seine.

"We can make it happen all together," Aguerre said, noting that SUP will be a medal sport at the 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima and the future inaugural World Beach Games.

Surfing will make its Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020, however, the SUP discipline was rejected by the IOC.

Aguerre also took a jab at the International Canoe Federation – the two governing bodies are feuding over the right to oversee the world’s fastest growing water sport.

"As for SUP and paddleboard, they were created by surfers and part of the surfing culture and lifestyle," Aguerre said. "Some people have other intentions – thinking that we are the children of canoe.

"We are not the children of canoe, we are the children of Hawaii, and of some surfers that figured out that they could paddle during time between swells."

The ISA and ICF appear to be headed towards arbitration at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Danish three-time world champion and ISA vice president Casper Steinfath proclaimed that Friday is an unbelievable day for both the sport and his country.

"Three years ago we had a crazy dream – there was no way I thought this would be possible," Steinfath said. "Thanks to the hard work of so many people this is a dream come true for me and the whole Danish nation.

"The sun is shining and the waves are on the water," he added.

Jacob Faerch, the president of Danish Surfing, said the city and organizers are well-prepared and excited to host the 280 plus surfers.

"Our ambition is to create a lasting legacy, a turning point for SUP, Denmark and the ISA," Faerch said. He added that "a high level of performance" in Copenhagen will lead to "mass participation of the sport."

One of the highlights of the afternoon was the traditional ‘Sands of the World’ ceremony, an ISA creation. Paddlers from all 42 nations, one by one, poured sand from one of their beaches into a glass tank creating a unique and diverse blend of colors and textures.

The Brazilians brought sand from Copacabana, the Greeks from Delfina, Russians from St. Petersburg, Poles from Sopot and the Americans from Hood River, Oregon.

The collaborative gesture symbolizes peace, friendship and harmony among nations.

The SUP championships are being staged for the first time in Europe, now in their sixth edition. Events will be divided between Copenhagen and Vorupør on Denmark’s northwestern coast, often referred to as ‘Cold Hawaii'.

Distance races in Copenhagen kick off on Saturday followed by those of the sprint variety on Sunday, before the championships shift to the waves of Vorupør, about 425 kilometers (265 miles) by road from the Danish capital.

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli in Copenhagen.

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