APP World Tour Launches New Qualifying Series!

APP World Tour partners with the World Paddle Association to form SUP’s first qualifying series for athletes to gain entry straight onto the APP World Tour! The Association of Paddlesurf Professionals (APP) and the World Paddle Association (WPA) have just announced their newly formed partnership to unify the sport of stand-up paddling. The  APP and the WPA bring a combined 19 years of event management into the sport along with decades of water sports experience and knowledge to combine efforts for the best growth of sport.

The APP World Tour events will continue to feature high profile races across the globe that will ultimately crown the sports Professional World Champions for both Men and Women in Surfing and Racing. While the WPA will continue to support the Open and Juniors to crown the “Champion Paddlers of the Year” at the Pacific Paddle Games on October 12 & 13, 2019. The APP and WPA will work together to grow the sport at every level: this will include increased marketing for events, sponsors and competitors to give us the best opportunity to expand event coverage, grow our audience and increase participation.

But the biggest news is that the APP and WPA are proud to introduce the APP Qualifier Series supported by the WPA. The races in the USA will  feature WPA National races where competitors will earn valuable points towards qualification for the APP World Tour and ultimately, points toward crowning a world champion. 

The WPA will manage the Qualifier Series points as competitors can earn the most points being offered by the Series’ at Prime and marquee events that are as follows:

1. Carolina Cup (April 27th)
2. Salt Life Columbus Cup (May 4th)
3. Olukai Ho’olaulea (June 9th)
4. SIC Columbia Gorge Paddle Challenge (Aug 17th)
5. Battle of the Bay (Oct 6th).

Outside of North America, the qualifier series will eventually feature global events in Asia, Europe and Central & South. America, with more details to follow shortly.

Tristan Boxford, CEO of the APP World Tour commented that “The APP is proud to combine efforts with the WPA at a regional level, to provide further structure and a unique pathway for athletes to work their way towards a career in the ever-growing sport of Stand Up Paddling. Through this partnership and the APP’s sanctioning by the ISA, we can provide a unified front for the sport, that stems from grass roots participation, to World Tour competition, not to mention the potential future prospect of Olympic integration”

Byron Kurt, President/Co-founder of the WPA stated “The WPA is excited to combine efforts with the APP World Tour and to provide one unified platform for the sport. With the experience that both associations bring to the sport, this will create more opportunity for competitors, the events in 2019 and the future”