When you think of the King of the Bay (KOTB) festival, it brings to mind the vibe of Poland’s Open’er Festival – a grassroots idea that grew into a globally recognised music phenomenon. The founders of festival seem to share that same ambition: to build something local in origin, but world-class in reach. Held on […]

As the European SUP League (ESL) circuit heads to southern Italy, Lido Gandoli in Marina di Leporano will host three days of top-level stand-up paddle racing from 1-3 May. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Ionian Sea, the event will feature over €7,000 in prize money and bring together some of Europe’s best athletes. […]

The 2026 edition of Race to the Castle (R2TC) has wrapped, with the Kings & Queens of the river crowned after a demanding 40km journey from Nottingham to Newark. In the 14 ft board division, Starboard UK rider Paul “PJ” Simmons and Karis Parker—defending her title and representing the Frangipani SUP Team – set the […]

The upcoming 2026 ICF SUP Junior International Cup, taking place in Bascov, Romania, from 19 – 21 June, promises to be one of the most prominent showcases of young international SUP talent. Hosted at the state-of-the-art Budeasa Regatta Course – one of the best-equipped canoeing venues in Eastern Europe – the stage is set for […]

If there’s one SUP athlete to ask whether our sport has truly carved out its identity among other water and board sports, it’s Michael Booth – a name that carries both weight and integrity. A multiple World SUP Champion, elite waterman, Starboard Dream Team rider, coach, entrepreneur, and member of the ICF SUP Advisory Committee […]

In our last interview, what struck me most was something Rylee Walker, endurance paddler and Cystic Fibrosis advocate, said: “One of the biggest challenges I continue to face is the constant question: ‘Is what I’m doing enough?” It’s a question many of us grapple with – it can either unsettle us and make us fold […]

As the week heats up and the inaugural European SUP League (ESL) stop is about to kick off, we caught up with Maria Laura Metta – one of the founding members and advisors of SUP Academy Taranto, hosts of the European SUP League (ESL) Stop #2 in Taranto, Italy. A 23-year-old from Taranto, Maria Laura […]

With ultra-endurance and adventure paddlers, what interests us most is digging deeper  – in hope of uncovering the core why. The pull towards untouched places, the level of difficulty, the solitude and the cause that drives these challenges – whether environmental activism, specific charity or something more personal. David Haze – aka Nomadic Paddler – […]

Serendipity… it plays a big role in writing about this sport. Each discipline uncovers riders that stay with you – something strikes a chord and you find yourself following their progression without ever having met them in person. It speaks to the diversity of SUP, to the range of characters that shape its culture – […]