The Lignano SUP Race is back, and with it, one of Europe’s most iconic stand up paddling events. First launched 12 years ago by a small but passionate crew, the race quickly grew into the continent’s biggest SUP gathering, attracting over 300 athletes from around the world. More than just competition, it became a festival, a mix of sport, fun, and community on the shores of the Adriatic. After Covid put the event on hold and the original organizers stepped back, it was thanks to Romina and Alberto, co-founders of The Wild SUP, that the race found new life. Their vision: to restore its former glory and make Lignano once again a highlight of the Italian SUP scene.
Hello, I’m Romina, 35 years old, president and co-founder of The Wild SUP association born in 2020. I started paddling in 2016 and literally fell in love with this sport, but I also practice swimming, running, trail running, gym and cycling since years… I consider myself a hybrid athlete, as people like to call me, lol.
The Lignano SUP Race was born 12 years ago from a passionate local SUP crew that created the biggest SUP event in Europe. In its best years, the race attracted more than 300 participants from all over the world, with many racing on 12’6’’ boards since it was the favorite size of that time. But Lignano SUP Race was never just a race, it was also a big gathering and party for everyone. Unfortunately, after Covid, nobody wanted to reorganize the event, and the historical crew disbanded. That’s when Alberto and I decided to revive the Lignano SUP Race… and here we are!
The two top races are the Technical Race and the Long Distance Race, both valid for ICF qualifications. The Technical Race is a 1 km time trial with heats around four buoys, the first round clockwise and the second counterclockwise. The Long Distance Race takes place on a 3 km loop, repeated four times for a total of 12 km, all clockwise. The Fun Race and Big SUP Team are designed for everyone who just wants to participate, have fun, and enjoy time on the water with friends.
For sure, our goal is to restore the Lignano SUP Race to its former glory and make the event one of the most beautiful and important SUP gatherings in Italy.
The Lignano SUP Race takes place on the Adriatic Sea, so of course we hope to be lucky with weather conditions. Typically, the wind blows from the east-southeast in the morning and from the south-southwest in the afternoon, but waves are never as big as the ocean, lol.
People can register on our website www.thewildsup.com using the Keepsporting platform, or they can email us with any questions at info@thewildsup.com.
Everybody can follow us on Instagram @thewildsup or on Facebook @The Wild SUP. In my opinion, our club is neither better nor worse than others we simply love stand up paddling and enjoy sharing our time with people who want to race or just have fun with the activities.
27 Sep 2025
The Lignano SUP Race has long been one of Italy’s most iconic events, a gathering that combines competition, community, and the beauty of the Adriatic coast. After years of absence, the race has been revived with the ambition of bringing it back to its former glory and this year it welcomed some of the country’s […]
