Situated in the renowned Orange County region of Southern California (SoCal), San Clemente is something of a best kept secret among the Californian surfing population. Located just south along the coastline from the often thronged and universally famous Laguna Beach, as well as rival surf spot Dana Point, San Clemente has the merit of being a little bit more of a low-key and less developed coastal conurbation. It doesn’t boast the buzzing nightlife of its coastal pairs, and though it lays claim to a decently sized local population, it is very much a more residential area than some of its livelier fellow seaside destinations.
That doesn’t make it any less rich in waves and challenging swells however. Quite the contrary. Indeed, San Clemente’s geographic positioning means that it is privy to both impressive northwesterly swells in the winter months and summertime southerly ones. These consistent year-round conditions, and the fact that the coastline is dotted with ideal surf spots such as San Onofre (aka “Sano”), San Clemente Pier, Riviera Beach, Threstles or Cotton’s Point, to name but a few, mean that surfers flock here in great numbers when the surf is up, and in recent times, SUP riders have begun to gravitate en masse to San Clemente as well. Indeed, the SUP culture here is thriving, with multiple manufacturers and purveyors of SUP boards and accessories taking up residence in the town. San Clemente is also a hive of activity for SUP meetups and local (along with not-so-local) enthusiasts. Hobie SUP, Brawner Boards and Brusurf are just a couple of local names that specialize in board sport accessories of all kinds, while other establishments, such as Riviera Paddle Surf and the aptly named Stand Up Paddle Board Rentals Company, more specifically focus on appealing to SUP riders in particular (though they cater to all tastes to some degree as well).
San Clemente is now teeming with SUP industry names and youth paddlers, and SUP superstar Candice Appleby even originates from the area. Having won countless national and international titles, and beyond her impressive surfing credentials, Appleby is undoubtedly one of the foremost female SUP racers of her generation. And though SUP brand par excellence Infinity SUP is headquartered in nearby Dana Point, master craftsman Steve Boehne, along with his two sons, Daniel and Dave Boehne (themselves shapers and designers), actually reside in San Clemente too.
The town is also home to numerous SUP events, which take place there throughout the year. Perhaps the most noteworthy of these is the San Clemente Ocean Festival, which emcompasses all manner of beach-based activities, from sand sculpting and concerts to art exhibits and kids’ fishing derbies. The jewel in the crown regarding the athletic component of the festival however remains the SUP Surf Championships, which are open to all. Â
14 May 2025
Will Keetley, the 20 year old standout racer from Kingsbridge, Devon (UK) repping Black Project and Infinity, has steadily grown in the GBSUP National Race Series spotlight – climbing the ranks, learning the ropes, and now showing a real appetite for high-level competition. Will’s path reflects the growing shift in the SUP world. There seems […]
8 May 2025
From May 1 to 4, 2025, the island of Crete became the meeting point for SUP Racers from around the world, with two major events of the ICF SUP World Series taking place in Sitia and Agios Nikolaos. A total of 235 athletes from 23 countries took part, making it one of the biggest SUP […]
24 Apr 2025
When Maui meets Cali, Synergy happens (pun intended). When two independent SUP innovators – Â Black Project and Infinity SUP – come together with a shared vision to redefine performance paddles and develop an exclusive line, the SUP community can expect the highest-quality and purpose-built paddles for every scenario – powered by Black Project R&D, wrapped […]
29 Mar 2025
As the SUP world prepares for an electrifying season kickoff, all eyes will soon be on Agios Nikolaos on SUP (3-4 May), stop #3 on the ICF World Ranking circuit and the Greek National Championships. Amid the excitement, we caught up with Greece’s top young talent and the 2024 ICF Vice World Sprint Champion, 19-year-old […]
15 Mar 2025
For Infinity, SUP surfing isn’t just a discipline – it’s what they derive from. The culture, the vibes, the gear – it’s all in their roots. And when Infinity gets involved and supports SUP surf events, you know there are some real hitters in the pipeline. The 34th Santa Cruz Paddlefest (28-30 March, Santa Cruz, […]
4 Feb 2025
In any sport, one rule stands firm: you’ve got to earn your spot. And Katniss Paris, former aerial circus performer turned pro SUP athlete and Infinity SUP Speed Freak, did just that by delivering a standout 2024 season and capping it off with the ultimate prize, the ICF World SUP Sprint title, claimed on home […]
20 Nov 2024
Welcome to the dedicated 2024 ICF SUP Worlds page! Here, you’ll find the latest updates on one of the year’s biggest SUP events, taking place in Sarasota, Florida, from 20 to 24 November. As the official media partner for this landmark event, TotalSUP is here to keep you updated on all the action, from thrilling […]
18 Nov 2024
When we last spoke with the SIC Maui‘s Team Rider, Soryn Preston, she was a 13-year-old grom full of promise and with over 100 races already under her belt! Now, she’s become one of those rare sports phenoms who never slowed down, pushing harder than ever to chase her dreams, claiming most recently the Bronze […]
17 Oct 2024
The Infinity Blackfish is undeniably one of the most renowned race boards in the SUP world. The all water design sparked up unmatched levels of buzz in 2018 when Kai Lenny returned to competition and dominated the APP World Tour Sprints in London. We were there to witness it first-hand! The eagerly awaited 2025 Blackfish […]
