K-SUP Cup’s Debut: a New Dawn for SUP Racing in Korea

The inaugural K-SUP Cup has been hailed as a resounding success, marking a new milestone in the growth of SUP racing in South Korea. Held in the stunning locations of Gangneung and Danyang, the series showcased the country’s top talent, drawing in over 140 paddlers, including international competitors from seven different nations. The positive feedback from athletes, partners, and local communities underscores the event’s impact on the national SUP scene. Building on this momentum, all eyes now turn to the upcoming Busan SUP Open, scheduled for October 4th-6th and set to be a highlight of the SUP calendar.

Hello Andrew! What inspired you to launch the K-SUP Cup this year, and what are the main goals you aim to achieve with this new event series?

Hello Mathieu! The mission of KAPP (Korean Association of Paddlesurf Professionals) is to develop the sport of SUP in Korea, and organizing competitions is an essential part of that process. We also aim to make the sport accessible to everyone. Athletes need these competitions to demonstrate the results of their hard work and dedicated training. Competitions provide them with a platform to rise and shine, and the exposure and results they achieve are part of their motivation.

Since 2022, we have been organizing an APP World Tour event annually, which has significantly contributed to the development of SUP in Korea. Although this event primarily focuses on the top athletes, the festival includes a variety of races and activities so that anyone can participate, regardless of their experience.

However, since it is an international event, some people might feel overwhelmed. To continue providing opportunities for athletes and participants, we decided to create a new series of events at the national level and link them together, hence the launch of the K-SUP Cup. Based on the participation and very positive feedback we received from athletes, partners, and the cities where the events were held, I am pleased to say that the first edition of the K-SUP Cup has been a real success!

Why did you choose Gangneung and Danyang as the two Korean locations for the K-SUP Cup? How do they differ from one another in terms of what they offer to participants and spectators?

The concept of the K-SUP Cup is to provide athletes the opportunity to demonstrate their talent on different courses and in various locations with different conditions and environments.

Gangneung, a beautiful coastal city on the east coast, offered the ideal spot for an open water competition, featuring beach starts and challenging conditions such as currents and choppy waters.

On the other hand, Danyang offered a flat-water race with water starts, where athletes had to contend with river currents and light winds. As a result, the overall standings provide a good representation of who the best SUP paddlers in Korea are.

What is the long-term plan for the K-SUP Cup? Are there any plans to expand the series by adding more stops in the future?

Absolutely. We plan to make it an annual event, ideally including three different locations around Korea. These varied locations will add diversity to the competition in terms of race environments and conditions. As mentioned earlier, our goal is to determine the best overall SUP paddlers in Korea and crown the Korean champions!

The K-SUP Cup offered a substantial amount of prize money across all categories, which is quite unusual. What was the motivation behind this decision?

Organizing an event requires a lot of work, preparation, and organization. From logistics, manpower, accommodation, installations, equipment rental, marketing, and so on, financing these events is definitely a tough challenge. Additionally, participating in competitions can represent a financial burden for athletes and participants, as they have to cover their own costs, such as transportation and accommodation. This can be a reason why some people might not be able to join the event, even if they would like to.

In our ongoing efforts to make the events accessible to everyone, we believe that offering attractive prize money while keeping registration fees low helps alleviate financial burdens and promotes the growth of the sport. Furthermore, with the support of the Gangneung and Danyang organizations, which co-hosted the K-SUP Cup with KAPP, the event shone even brighter.

Are you satisfied with the turnout for the K-SUP Cup, both in terms of participant numbers and international involvement?

The K-SUP Cup is a national event primarily aimed at Korean athletes, although it was open to anyone regardless of nationality. We did not expect a high level of international participation. However, among the 140+ paddlers who joined us for the weekend event in Danyang, eleven athletes from seven different countries were represented (UK, Russia, Mongolia, Thailand, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary).

Considering that both events were held in small cities far from the capital, the turnout from national participants was impressive, as was the unexpectedly high turnout from international athletes!

No event is perfect, and there are always improvements that can be made. However, what is important is that the athletes, partners, and everyone involved were really enthusiastic about these two new events and enjoyed being a part of them. Receiving feedback after the events is essential, and it is always gratifying to receive positive comments, which keep us motivated to continue the hard work and organize these events for the community!

What is the next big thing for KAPP? Are there any upcoming initiatives or events that we should be looking forward to?

With the 2024 K-SUP Cup now complete, our next focus will be on preparing for the 2024 APP World Tour Busan SUP Open, which will take place on October 4th-6th. This will be the third year we organize this competition, and you can expect the same level of quality, with races from the Youth to the Pro category, along with several activities and entertainment, including the opening ceremony, lucky draws, and a DJ party.

As usual, the three-day festival will welcome everyone and offer fun and challenges for all, regardless of their SUP experience and skills. Registrations will start soon, and as we get closer to the event date, more details will be shared on our website and Instagram account. Hope to see you there!

Don’t miss the next KAPP event in Korea:
www.kappworldtour.com
www.facebook.com/KAPPKOREA
www.instagram.com/kapp_korea/