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 […]

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 – […]

The Starboard rider from Port Adriano, Mallorca, has been moving steadily up the international ranks since his 2021 junior world title, and  broke through at the highest senior level in 2025, winning the Open Men’s technical world title at the ICF Worlds in Abu Dhabi and taking silver in long distance. In a Spanish team that […]

It seems like UK paddlers often have to take the “high way” – no strangers to unforgiving conditions, they continue to put in the work, hold their own, and consistently show up – not just for races, but for endurance challenges where water and wind can (and will) be unpredictable. Touring around the UK with […]

Inside the European SUP League, a new continental circuit is taking shape with the ambition of bringing structure, visibility, and long-term growth to SUP racing. Built on collaboration between organizers, federations, athletes, and media, the ESL aims to professionalize the sport while keeping its community spirit at its core. From standardized race formats and inclusive […]

At just 19, Nicolò Ricco represents a new generation of stand-up paddle athletes – one that, despite its young age, can be defined by a more methodical approach to training and competing, dialling in every factor and optimising performance over time. A multiple Italian champion based in Bari, Italy, and the holder of several SUP […]

Both the athletes under Light Board Corp and the team – pioneers of hollow board construction and organisers of the SUP Alps Trophy series – are gearing up for one of the most anticipated stops of the season: the Lake Rocks Festival, taking place from 14 – 17 May on Faaker See in Austria, which […]