Anna Nadolna

What started as an ambitious idea is quickly becoming one of the Baltic region’s most talked-about SUP events. At the centre of it is Ansis Dobelis – Founder of Supfit.lv and Co-Creator of the SUP King Marathon – Salaca 100 – a challenge that has rapidly built momentum, already attracting over 100 registered paddlers. Launched […]

The inaugural Koh Chang International Ocean Race: The Emerald Challenge – held on 23-24 May  in Thailand – brings together the ultimate ocean paddling experience across two days of world-class competition and breathtaking natural scenery. Featuring Surfski (25km), OC1 (25km), Kayak (15km), and SUP disciplines including Long Distance (15km), Technical (1km), and Sprints (200m), the […]

There are SUP stories I come across, often by chance, or through a kind of serendipity, that expand my understanding of the sport I write about. There’s also a distinctive trait in endurance and ultra-endurance athletes: a willingness to go deeper, to become vulnerable and to openly share the motivations behind some of the toughest […]

When SUP stands alongside canoe and kayak at a national event of this calibre, the paddling community can both acknowledge its significance and celebrate by joining in. Brought by The Ivan Patzaichin – Mila 23 Association, in partnership with the National Association of Professional Divers of Romania (ANSPSR), the second edition of the Ivan Patzaichin […]

Putting the spotlight on the next generation of SUP talent, Mario Tagarelli has transformed junior racing and athlete development in Italy. As Coach and President of SUP Academy Taranto, based at Lido Gandoli in Taranto, southern Italy, he is the mastermind behind a training programme that cultivates young paddlers and elevates clubs dedicated to developing […]

Living up to its tagline, both athletes from across the globe and organisers WENT LONG IN BORNEO. From 27 – 29 March 2026, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah made history, hosting Malaysia’s first-ever long-distance SUP race – Borneo International Stand-Up Paddle Marathon (BISM) – on the waters of the South China Sea. With paddlers flying in from […]

When covering long-distance races and endurance challenges, the goal is often to get to the core of why athletes choose the tougher, more extreme side of the sport. What stood out while working on the story with Ilze Ozolina was not just the physical challenge, but the meditative aspect of long-distance paddling. As she puts […]

At just 17, Matei Barbu is already the ICF Junior World SUP Champion and Vice World Champion in sprints (2024 Gold and 2025 Silver), representing the new generation of European paddlers emerging from a rapidly growing Eastern European scene alongside athletes from Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and beyond. Originally from Constanța, Romania, Matei […]

We caught a glimpse on social media inside the shaping process of a new custom board – where shaper Jędrzej Klafkowski spends most of his time when he’s not on the water, refining designs and pushing performance forward. This time, he had a sidekick: 16-year-old talent Jakub Kubiak from Racibórz, closely involved in the creation […]

As the new season begins to warm up, anticipation is building across the racing community. With many athletes transitioning into new age divisions, the competition is set to take on a fresh dynamic – and all eyes are firmly on the 40+, 50+, and even 60+ categories that have been fuelling conversations throughout 2025. This […]

Our sport needs people who make you want to show up – voices grounded in a deep understanding of the ocean, the disciplines of SUP and surf, and the delicate balance between its limitations and possibilities. In an era often dominated by noise and influencer culture, what truly stands out is authenticity: the raw perspective […]

The Belgian SUP Tour (BST) has released its new race calendar as the circuit enters a new chapter in its evolution, alongside the development of new international partnerships. Over the past four years, the series has grown rapidly — not only in the number of events but also in the strength of its community and […]