Le dimanche 5 mai 2024 a marqué le coup d’envoi de la 3ème édition du Paddle of the Kempen, un événement désormais incontournable du Belgian SUP Tour (BST). Cette compétition, qui sert également de l’une des six étapes du classement annuel des Pays-Bas et de la Belgique, a inauguré la saison de manière spectaculaire. Organisée par Kempen SUP, dirigée par le couple de SUP racers Nathalie Van Olmen et Michel Keersmaekers, cette course de 12 km a attiré un niveau de compétition impressionnant, avec la participation de 2 champions du monde Master +40 et de champions nationaux.
Cette année a également marqué une grande première avec l’organisation des Championnats de Belgique jeunes, comprenant des catégories U14, U16 et U18, offrant ainsi aux jeunes talents une plateforme pour rivaliser et se distinguer.
[ENGLISH
On Sunday, May 5th, 2024, the 3rd edition of the Paddle of the Kempen took place. This now-classic event of the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) marks the true beginning of the season. This race is also one of the 6 races counting towards the annual ranking of the low countries: Belgium and the Netherlands. A 12 km race organized by Kempen SUP, the club managed by the SUP Racers duo Nathalie Van Olmen and Michel Keersmaekers.
This year, the level was truly impressive with two World Champions in the Master +40 category, along with national champions at the starting line.
It was also the occasion for a major first: the organization of the Belgian Youth Championships: U14, U16, and U18.
2024 Paddle of the Kempen Results
Open Hommes :
1. Joep van Bakel (NL)
2. Kjell De Bruyn (B)
3. Thomas Dusart (Fr – U18)
Open Dames:
1. Petronella van Malsen (NL)
2. Nathalie Van Olmen (B)
3. Froukje Wichgers-Mariën (NL)
Kids U14 boys
1. Mylo Van Bakel (NL)
2. Tije van Bakel (NL)
3. Gus Wouters (B – Champion de Belgique)
Kids U14 girls
1. Marin Hoeboer (NL)
2. Mila Laeveren (B – Championne de Belgique)
3. Madelon De Wachtercadets (B)
Cadets U16 boys
1. Selwyn Pritchard (NL)
2. Louis Pierre (B – Champion de Belgique)
3. Robin Hoekstra (NL)
Built around athlete feedback and recognised as one of Europe’s most progressive SUP circuits, the 2026 Belgian SUP Tour (BST) founded by Vincent Claeskens, continues to raise the bar with its diverse race formats, welcoming atmosphere and strong community spirit. As the tour enters its decisive second half, the calendar features a packed programme of […]
With just a few months to go, major announcements have already been made for the 9th edition of Planet Baltic SUP Race, set to take place from 5-8 August in Kołobrzeg, Poland. As the country’s longest-running ocean SUP race and one of the few remaining major sea-racing events in Northern Europe, Planet Baltic SUP Race […]
The European SUP scene is all fired up! On Saturday, 27 June, the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) heads to Surfclub Windekind in Oostduinkerke for one of the most anticipated events of the season: the Belgian SUP Tour (BST)’s Championship Technical Race. As the fourth stop of the twelve-race Belgian SUP Tour calendar and a counting […]
A new wave of athletes is beginning to shift the traditional timeline of elite sport – where experience, progression, and maturity are usually built over years. Ambitious and hungry, they’re stepping up early, already competing simultaneously in junior and open divisions and holding their own at both levels. Since its inception, the Belgian SUP Tour […]
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 […]
As the competitive year winds down and many federations ease into their winter break, the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) is preparing for one final highlight. On Sunday, 14 December, the community will gather in Ghent for SUP4Life – a now iconic end-of-season event that blends high-level competition with festive, family-friendly spirit. Far more than a […]
Gunther De Bin, 55, from Flanders, a racer and Coach at SUP Club Supfever, is one of the Belgian SUP scene’s most respected figures. Known to many simply as GUN, he was once a regular at the front of the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) pack. While injuries led him to step back from regular racing, […]
We’re getting an inside look at the SUP Alps Trophy, the legendary race series drawing paddlers from across the globe since 2014. With stunning alpine lakes and a festival-like atmosphere, each stop is unforgettable – and as the series motto goes: “The SUP Alps Trophy is a matter of the heart and is organised by […]
One of the events that have been sparking some serious FOMO* for a while now, both for elite athletes and SUP enthusiasts is Planet Baltic SUP Race. I may be biased – it’s in my homeland, Poland – but with rave reviews and striking photography, Planet Baltic stands out as an experience any SUP fan […]
