Lake Ohrid SUP Crossing 2025

Get ready for the Lake Ohrid SUP Crossing 2025 on July 19-20 for this special 5th edition !

Organized by Paddle Klub, this event has become a premier gathering for stand-up paddleboarding enthusiasts worldwide. Participants can experience the unparalleled beauty of Lake Ohrid, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its pristine waters and historic significance. This year’s event introduces a new Technical Race, complementing the existing Long-Distance Race and the popular SUP Adventure, catering to both competitive athletes and recreational paddlers.

 

EVENT CATEGORIES

The Lake Ohrid SUP Crossing 2025 offers participants three distinct categories:

• Technical Race (Hardboards & Inflatables) – Saturday, July 19New to the 2025 Race Format, the Technical Race is the most anticipated addition, highly requested by paddlers from past editions. Taking place on Saturday, July 19, this race is all about maneuvering skills and precision as participants navigate through strategically placed race buoys before returning to their starting position.More than just a competition, this is the most fun and exciting category, offering both paddlers and spectators an adrenaline-fueled spectacle. Open to both hardboards and inflatables, this challenge will determine the best technical paddler of the event.Important: The Technical Race and Long-Distance Race do not start at the same location.

• Long-Distance Race (23 km) – (Hardboards & Inflatables) – Sunday, July 20
  
  Scheduled for Sunday, July 20, the Long-Distance Race is a demanding 23-kilometer challenge designed for endurance athletes. Participants will start with a standing water launch, marked by two Mistral buoys, and navigate through two checkpoints before finishing in the city of Ohrid.This race is open to both hardboard and inflatable categories. The current men’s record is held by Slovenian champion Luka Kozar, who completed the course in 2 hours, 29 minutes, and 52 seconds. The cut-off time for all participants is 5 hours.Important: The start locations for the Long-Distance Race and the Technical Race are not the same.

• SUP Adventure (26 km) – ( Recreational Paddlers ) – Sunday, July 20
  Also on Sunday, July 20, the SUP Adventure is a 26-kilometer guided group tour along Lake Ohrid’s scenic coastline, tailored for recreational paddlers. Led by Paddle Klub members, this popular format lasts between 6 to 8 hours, depending on participant numbers and weather conditions. Participation is capped at 100 paddlers, with the 2024 edition featuring enthusiasts from 14 different countries. Paddlers are required to stay within 50 meters of the shoreline, avoiding shortcuts and adhering to the route set by the organizers. Following team instructions and maintaining group cohesion are mandatory. In collaboration with the Red Cross, trained rescue and first aid personnel will accompany participants by boat throughout the event. The cut-off time for this adventure is 8 hours.Please note that the start and finish locations are different

REGISTRATION FEES 

• Early Bird Registration (September 2024 – December 2024): €40 (now closed)
• Regular Registration (January 2025 – May 2025): €70
• Last Chance Registration (June 2025): €90

Participants under 18 years of age receive a 30% discount on all registration fees.

2 RACE PACKAGE COMBO

Join your 2 favorite events and save money
> Example: Tech & Long-distance or Tech & Adventure

( September ‘2024 – December ‘2024 ): 65€ FINISHED
( January ‘2025 – May ‘2025 ): 95€
( June ‘2025 ): 115€

Attention: ‘Race Package Combos’ only apply if  you complete your registration and pay the registration fee in the same day

>>>REGISTER NOW<<<

L.O.S.C. 2025 PROGRAM JULY 19TH 2025 (SATURDAY)

Location: Kalishta (Hotel Biser)

8:30AM – 9:00AM: REGISTRATION

Registration starts early in the morning since we are expecting +100 paddlers to be registered for the 2025 edition. Participant who are using ISUPs and are planning to inflate their boards on the beach, need to arrive early and plan time for registration and preparation to enter the water.

9:10AM – 9:20AM: BRIEFING 

In case you missed the briefing from our team done the day before the event, we’ll do a 10 min briefing on the morning on the event as well.

9:25AM: PADDLERS USING HARDBOARDS ASSUMING STARTING POSITIONS 

Racers in the hardboards category are taking their position between the two MISTRAL buoys and waiting for the START of the ‘Tech Race marked by our judges. All paddlers are off their boards and are knee deep in the water, waiting for the judges to mark the Start before jumping on their boards and start attacking the tech course.

9:30AM: START FOR PADDLERS USING HARDBOARDS

Official Race Start.

10:00AM: START FOR PADDLERS USING INFLATABLES 

Have you opened a new location, redesigned your shop, or added a new product or service? Don’t keep it to yourself, let folks know.

L.O.S.C. 2025 PROGRAM JULY 20TH 2025 (SUNDAY)

Location: St. Naum Monastery Complex

5:30AM – 6:10AM: REGISTRATION
Registration starts early in the morning since we are expecting +100 paddlers to be registered for the 2025 edition. Participant who are using ISUPs and are planning to inflate their boards on the beach, need to arrive early and plan time for registration and preparation to enter the water.

6:15AM – 6:30AM: MORNING YOGA SESSION

Take advantage of this opportunity and make sure you properly stretch and calm the mind before taking on this huge challenge.

6:35AM – 6:45AM: BRIEFING 

In case you missed the briefing from our team done on Friday, we’ll do a 10 min briefing on the morning on the event as well.

6:55AM: PRO PADDLERS ASSUMING STARTING POSITION

Racers in the PRO category are taking their position between the two MISTRAL buoys and waiting for the START of the ‘Crossing’ which is marked by the bells of the Monastery of St. Naum.

7:00AM: START FOR PRO RACERS USING HARDBOARDS 

Official Race Start.

7:05AM: START FOR RACERS USING INFLATABLES 

Racer using inflatable boards are already positioned between the two MISTRAL buoys and are awaiting a whistle brown by our judges so to mark the start for their category.

7:20AM: START FOR ADVENTURERS

The START for our most popular category is marked by the PACE-MAKER and the leader of the group.

4:00PM: AWARDS CEREMONY 

The ‘Prize & Awards Ceremony’ will be held at 4pm, after the last person has crossed the finish line and had some time to rest.

RULES AND REGULATIONS 

• Use of a safety leash is mandatory throughout the crossing.
• Board length is limited to a maximum of 14 feet, regardless of construction material.
• Spare paddles are permitted.
• All racers must paddle standing up. In the event of a fall, a maximum of five paddle strokes is allowed to regain a standing position. Participants will receive two warnings before disqualification.
• Only one person per board is allowed; tandem paddling is prohibited.
• Consumption of alcohol during the crossing is strictly forbidden and will result in disqualification.
• Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian throughout the event.
  All participants engage at their own risk.
  Organizers are not liable for any personal or property damage. By registering, participants affirm their ability to swim at least 50 meters.
  The event may be modified or canceled by organizers in case of adverse weather or water conditions.
  In the event of cancellation due to force majeure, organizers are not obligated to refund registration fees.
  A 50% refund is available until December 31, 2024; no refunds will be issued after January 2025.
  For comprehensive details, including the full event schedule, accommodation information, and registration, please visit the official Paddle Klub website.

Experience an unforgettable adventure on Lake Ohrid and celebrate stand-up paddleboarding in one of the world’s most scenic regions.

>>>REGISTER NOW<<<