Penny Tsaoutou to compete in her first Agios Nikolaos on SUP 2023 x ICF SUP World Cup event

Crete is calling and the countdown is on to the 8th edition of Agios Nikolaos On SUP 2023, a highly stacked ICF SUP World Cup and National Panhellenic SUP Championship event, kicking off on the 7-9 July. With stunning race courses, international elite SUP talent and a grand prize pot of 9000€, Agios Nikolaos On SUP is set to provide an exciting, action packed weekend for stand-up paddleboard and watersport enthusiasts.

TotalSUP caught up with Penny Tsaoutou, ICF SUP Long Distance Champ and NSP Team Rider, to chat about her first Agios Nikolaos on SUP competition (straight after a shoulder surgery!) and the accelerating SUP racing scene in Greece.

Photo credit: Georgia Schofield

Hi Penny, welcome to TotalSUP! Could you tell us more about your watersport background and how did you get into the sport of stand-up paddleboarding?

Actually, my background is in winter sports. I was a race athlete in skiing when I was young and for some years, I was a coach at the local race ski team. Unfortunately, at the age of 15 I tore the ACL and meniscus and since then I had many surgeries. Due to knee osteoarthritis, I was looking for an aerobic sport other than running or cycling. In 2018 I bought an inflatable paddleboard and it was “love at first sight”. After a few months I bought a race board and I started participating in competitions. It is not only the best sport for fitness and injury rehabilitation but also a powerful way to reduce stress and anxiety from your daily life.

Photo credit: Georgia Schofield

Are you hyped about the way your local SUP racing scene is progressing?

The last 2-3 years there has been a great development in the level of many Greek SUP athletes, at all age categories. The ability to paddle 12 months per year definitely helps that direction. We are also very lucky as two of the best races are taking place in Greece, Agios Nikolaos on SUP (ICF SUP World Cup) and Corfu SUP Race (Euro Tour).

Photo credit: Georgia Schofield / ICF SUP Worlds 2022

We’re catching up in the run up to the Agios Nikolaos on SUP event. Could you tell us more about your experience with this event?

It is my first participation at Agios Nikolaos on SUP. I couldn’t take part at the previous years due to work commitments. I am really very excited to be there in a few days as the venue is amazing, it is the only ICF SUP World Cup in Europe and at the same time the National Panhellenic Sup Championship. I hope I can reach the podium in both Championships in the Masters category. Also, it is a great challenge for me as I am just back from a shoulder surgery.

Agios Nikolaos on SUP in 3 words…

Hospitality, Blue Waters, Scenery.

Which race formats will you be competing in during the event?

I will be competing in all disciplines, Technical, Sprint and Long Distance.

What’s your board set up for this event?

NSP Carolina 14X22’ and Black Project Hydro Flow-X paddle will be my weapons for the long distance and technical race. Depending on the weather I will choose one of the Black project fins. In a few days I am expecting a new NSP Ninja which I hope will arrive on time to use it for sprints with the Hydro Sprint-X paddle.

Thank you for your time Penny – Good luck with the event and the rest of the season!

To find out more about Agios Nikolaos On SUP, visit agiosonsup.gr

CHECK OUT THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE EVENT HERE 

>> To REGISTER for the event, click here 

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Join the conversation on social media using the official event hashtags: #AgiosOnSup2023 #AgiosOnSup #AgiosNikolaosCrete #icfsup #icfsupworldcup #icfworlds #planetsup #planetcanoe 

*Images courtesy of Penny Tsaoutou