Get Ready for the 2023 ISA World SUP & Paddleboard Championship: 10 Key Insights You Need

The 2023 ISA World StandUp Paddle and Paddleboard Championship (WSUPPC) is set to gather the world’s best SUP Surf, SUP race and Paddleboard athletes in Les Sables d’Olonne, France from September 24 – October 1. Don’t miss one of the biggest events on the planet this year. Here are 10 things you need to know before next week’s action!

1. ISA World SUP & Paddleboard Championship venue: Les Sables d’Olonne

All eyes will be on the spectacular West coast of France, with SUP Surfing set to be hosted at the stunning Plage du Tanchet, and the SUP Racing and Paddleboard divisions held at Les Sables d’Olonne’s La Grande Plage, widely renowned as one of Europe’s most beautiful beaches.

2. The 2023 ISA World SUP & Paddleboard Championship on Instagram

– Follow the new ISA SUP account @isasupok for event content and live updates! Use hashtags #wsuppc #wsuppc2023
You can also follow the ISA’s main Instagram account on @isasurfing

– Follow @TotalSUP on Instagram for behind-the-scenes stories, video interviews, results and more!

3. Where to Watch

– The live webcast will be streamed on www.isasurf.org from September 24 – October 1. Visit isasurf.org for results, team rosters, photos, videos, and news pertaining to the competition.

– As official media partner, TotalSUP will also broadcast the live webscast on our Facebook page and publish daily results, highlights, Stories and interviews on www.totalsup.com, Instagram and Facebook.

4. 2 x World Champions and current title holder Team France are paddling at home!

After years of dominance from Australia and the United States, France won the Team Gold Medal at the two last ISA World StandUp Paddle and Paddleboard Championships in Puerto Rico (2022) and El Salvador (2019). With a team that includes four former gold medalists, could this be the host nation’s chance to make it three-in-a-row on home grounds?

5. Returning World Champions

The competition promises to be intense, with multiple gold medalists returning, including Justine Dupont (FRA), Titouan Puyo (FRA), Julen Marticorena (FRA), Claudio Nika (ITA), Michael Booth (AUS), Christian Andersen (DEN), Esperanza Barreras (ESP), and Tarryn King (RSA), along with defending 2022 World Champions Lucia Cosoleto (ARG), Shuri Araki (JPN), Judit Verges (ESP), Duna Gordillo (ESP), Yurika Horibe (JPN), Vaic Garioud (FRA), and Cecilia Pampinella (ITA).

6. The Disciplines

The World Championship features eight medal-awarding disciplines, including:

– Men’s and Women’s SUP Surfing
– Men’s and Women’s SUP Technical Race
– Boy’s and Girl’s Under-18 SUP Technical Race
– Men’s and Women’s Paddleboard Technical Race
– Men’s and Women’s SUP Distance Race
– Men’s and Women’s Paddleboard Distance Race
– Men’s and Women’s SUP Sprint Race
– Team Relay Race

7. The Races

The World Championship will feature four separate race courses for the Technical Race, Distance Race, Sprint Race and Team Relay Race. The courses are designed to challenge world-class athletes with various conditions while displaying the beauty of the coast of France.

8. 30 Confirmed Teams – 200 athletes

1. Argentina
2. Australia
3. Belgium
4. Brazil
5. Canada
6. Channel Islands
7. Costa Rica
8. Czech Republic
9. Denmark
10. El Salvador
11. England
12. France
13. Germany
14. Greece
15. Hungary
16. Iran
17. Italy
18. Japan
19. Netherlands
20. New Zealand
21. Peru
22. Poland
23. Portugal
24. Puerto Rico
25. Saudi Arabia
26. South Africa
27. Spain
28. Switzerland
29. USA
30. Venezuela

Total Individual Athletes: 200
Total Men Participation (Multiple Disciplines Included): 181
Total Women Participation (Multiple Disciplines Included): 125
Total Athlete Participation (Multiple Disciplines Included): 306

9. The Schedule

September 23 – Press Conference, 10:00am (La Grande Plage Hospitality Area)

September 24 – Opening Ceremony, 5:00pm (La Grande Plage)

September 25-27 – SUP Surfing (Plage du Tanchet)

September 28-29 – Technical Racing (La Grande Plage)

September 30 – Long Distance Racing (La Grande Plage)

October 1 – Sprint Races, Relay Races, Closing Ceremony (La Grande Plage)

10. The ISA, France and the Olympics

The ISA is excited to host this championship in such an incredible location that is steeped in surfing and SUP culture. As the home of the reigning Team World Champions, the choice to host this event in Les Sables d’Olonne reinforces France’s reputation as a powerhouse surfing nation that celebrates the sport’s SUP and surfing heritage.

The ISA has been committed to the development and promotion of SUP for over a decade, including having organized the World Championship for SUP and Paddleboard since 2012.

In a landmark decision in August 2020, the Court of Arbitration confirmed the ISA’s authority and governance of SUP at an Olympic Level.

The ISA has presented SUP Technical Racing to the IOC and LA28 Organizing Committee for inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Sports Program. Achievements such as inclusion of SUP in the 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima and the upcoming 2023 Pan American Games, under the ISA’s leadership, add momentum to the ISA’s push for inclusion in LA28 and beyond.