“Don’t fear the 100”: Ilze Ozolina on the challenge & beauty of Latvia’s SUP King Marathon – Salaca 100

When covering long-distance races and endurance challenges, the goal is often to get to the core of why athletes choose the tougher, more extreme side of the sport. What stood out while working on the story with Ilze Ozolina was not just the physical challenge, but the meditative aspect of long-distance paddling. As she puts it, “It’s just very valuable time with myself.” It’s a unique state – time gained with yourself, fully dialled into your body and the elements, when you push it to the limits.

As registrations open for the SUP King Marathon – Salaca 100, held on 30 May, paddlers are invited to take on one of Latvia’s most scenic and rewarding routes, with the option to tackle the full 100 km challenge or opt for a shorter 44 km distance. The Salaca River carries participants through the vast waters of Lake Burtnieki, past striking sandstone cliffs and dense forests, before delivering a memorable finish where the river meets the Baltic Sea.

For Ilze Ozolina, a Red Ambassador from Riga and a seasoned figure in Latvia’s SUP community, the journey into long-distance paddling began with curiosity. Now 47, she recalls a time when even twenty kilometers felt like a challenge. Step by step, that curiosity turned into progression – longer distances, new goals, and eventually competition. Long before the Salaca 100 existed, it was this very river where she first crossed the 100-kilometer mark. Her first race experience came on the Gauja River, covering 90 kilometers as one of only three SUP paddlers in a kayak-dominated field.

Hi Ilze, welcome to TotalSUP! Let’s dive right in: You’ve already experienced the Salaca 100 in 2024, finishing 3rd in the Sport class and 1st in Inflatable SUP – how do you remember that race?

Hi, Anna! Yes, I signed up for this marathon as soon as it was announced. I was very excited and happy, because finally in Latvia, paddlers also had the opportunity to compete in a long distance, which is my favourite discipline in this sport. I was the first female category to sign up and started with the 1st round number. I didn’t have the obligatory goal of winning the podium… it happened somehow by chance, if I may say so…

I had decided to paddle at my own pace, so as to enjoy the process, which I did. The mood was great, the weather was excellent, the river was fantastic. Along the way, I made friends with a few other paddlers. We supported and encouraged each other throughout the distance. And while enjoying short rest breaks at the pit stops set up by the organizers, I discovered that there were only 15km left until the finish.

From the supporters on the shore, I realized that there were only two ladies ahead of me, so when I noticed another competitor approaching from behind, the competitive spirit woke up in me and I did my best to hold on to my third position. I succeeded! This doesn’t mean there wasn’t competition – in the first year we had around 120 participants. I just want to say – if you enjoy the process, the result might surprise you.

What was the most challenging part of the course for you, the most rewarding moment, and what motivated you to register for this year’s edition of the Salaca 100?

The first year we were very lucky with the weather. The entire distance was very good, except for some sections with a stronger headwind. Therefore, I couldn’t say that any of the sections were particularly difficult. But if I had to mention it, then these last 15km, because I paddled them at a much more intense pace. Of course, also because the final section is relatively faster than the upper part of the river, you have to concentrate more, but the fatigue accumulated during the day makes itself felt.

Meanwhile, the motivation to participate again is the same – to enjoy one of the most beautiful rivers in Latvia in the company of many paddleboarding enthusiasts. As well as to support the “Salaca 100” marathon as an event – I hope that it will be organized many more times in the future 🙂

For first-time participants, what’s one thing they should know before taking on this race?

For those who have never paddled such long distances before – don’t be afraid of the number 100. Give it a try! Salaca is perfect for your first long marathon. However, also prepare yourself, because long distances are only partly about physical fitness, the second most important thing is the mental preparation to endure to the end.

If at some stage you realize that this time you are not able to complete the entire route, the organizers have made sure that there is a possibility to finish the race earlier. So you will be safe. No matter how long the distance you complete, this will be one of your most unforgettable summer adventures. Enjoy it!

What makes the Salaca 100 a special event for Latvian paddlers and international participants?

Definitely the unique natural landscape and river dynamics. I think there is no other marathon in Europe with such a beautiful route.

What attracts you to long-distance paddling?

For me, it’s like meditation for many hours. Finding my rhythm, reading the river, getting to know my body’s capabilities, emptying my head of racing thoughts. It’s just very valuable time with myself.

Do you see more women getting involved in long-distance or adventure paddling?

Yes, definitely. Women in general are very resilient and stubborn, eager to test their abilities 🙂

Can you tell us about the SUP community in your area and how you see the sport developing in Latvia over the next few years? Have international influences helped shape local racing or adventure paddling?

I really hope that the SUP community will only grow. In recent years, this way of spending free time has become very popular. No one is surprised anymore when they see a person standing on their feet sliding down a river, as it was five years ago 🙂 Although many still associate SUP paddling with slow sliding on the surface of the water for fun, more and more people are starting to perceive this activity as a serious sports discipline. Here, a great merit goes to companies like SUPFIT, which have been working hard for a long time to tell people about SUP paddling, teach them how to paddle correctly, and organize various events to popularize SUP paddling as a sport.

Of course, international experience helps. Both when our athletes participate in competitions outside Latvia, and when foreign athletes compete in local competitions. I hope that such interaction will create more good ideas for interesting event and competition models in the future.

And the attention of such a significant channel as TotalSUP is a very valuable support for local organizers, both in attracting new participants and as an inspiration to continue working and develop the Salaca 100 marathon to an even higher level.

Looking beyond the Salaca 100, what are your next goals or events this season?

This year’s goal is to spend as much time as possible on a SUP board 🙂 My passion is exploring new, unexplored rivers and multi-day trips with overnight stays in nature. Since I have already explored almost all possible rivers in Latvia, I plan to expand my experience in the waters of Estonia, Lithuania and also Poland.

Also, using these adventures, I want to show people that a SUP board is just as convenient a means of multi-day river trips as a boat. Because many people still think that carrying a lot of stuff with you and going on, for example, a week-long trip with a SUP board is impossible or difficult. Let that be my little personal mission 🙂

Amazing, thank you so much for sharing your experiences and we can’t wait to see how this year’s event unfolds!

To find out more about the event and REGISTER, visit salaca100marathon.lv

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*Images courtesy of SUP King Marathon – Salaca 100 and Ilze Ozolina