We caught a glimpse on social media inside the shaping process of a new custom board – where shaper Jędrzej Klafkowski spends most of his time when he’s not on the water, refining designs and pushing performance forward. This time, he had a sidekick: 16-year-old talent Jakub Kubiak from Racibórz, closely involved in the creation of his new BassSUP board.
As Poland’s SUP scene continues to grow, Basssup – premium SUP brand founded in 2016 by Jedrzej Klafkowski and Małgosia Majda – has been one of the key supporters from the very beginning – touring events, providing equipment, donating gear and supporting international travel for young SUP athletes – playing an instrumental role in developing both the sport and the national scene.
A key moment at the start of the season for BassSUP will be the World SUP Festival Costa Blanca, the opening stop of the European SUP League, where the entire team is set to line up. The event will offer an early benchmark for both riders and equipment, as the brand looks to carry its momentum onto the international stage.
With the 2026 season taking shape and clubs planning their calendars, we caught up with Jakub and Mariusz Miczek, Coach and President of RTW Racibórz SUP Club – who has built one of the strongest junior race teams in Europe – to see which events will serve as key test grounds for both the club and Jakub, as he prepares to debut his new custom BassSUP board.
I saw people training on boards and it caught my interest. I signed up for my first training session, really enjoyed it, and stayed with it. After a month, I took part in my first competition – it was Odra SUP. In the long-distance race, I finished near the back, but it motivated me to work harder. A year later, in the same event, I won my first gold medal.
I enjoy everything about the training. I have a great time, even though the sessions are exhausting.
The board is new and professional, made especially for me, so I hope it will help me achieve the best possible results.
For me, the biggest difference is in the turns – they’re faster and more dynamic. Over time, I’ll be able to say more.
There are many great athletes and you can learn something from each of them.
The next one is the World SUP Festival in Costa Blanca. I plan to prepare as well as possible and give 100%.
I’m happy I could be part of designing my own board – it’s a huge honour and I’m grateful for the opportunity. Jędrzej shared a lot of valuable knowledge with me. We worked very well together, and I’d love to collaborate again in the future.
From left: Jędrzej Klafkowski and Jakub Kubiak
I think it’s support that really helps us grow. Thanks to it, young athletes can spread their wings. They have access to very good equipment – custom-made boards and paddles, which unfortunately wear out quickly in our conditions.
Since last year, BassSUP has been our main sponsor, and thanks to this cooperation, three athletes were able to travel to El Salvador for the 2025 ISA World SUP Championships. It’s been very significant support.
Mariusz Miczek and Jakub Kubiak at the 2025 ISA Worlds in El Salvador
I try not to favour any athlete, regardless of titles. What matters most to me is commitment, friendship and respect. Of course, I have my thoughts, and I believe that continued support will strongly contribute to development. The season will show that it’s worth supporting the passion we nurture.
We kick off in April with a trip to the European SUP League’s World SUP Festival Costa Blanca – the circuit’s first stop. I also hope a small group will make the trip to Taranto to visit our friends.
In May, we begin the Polish Cup (PZSurf). June includes the 2026 ICF SUP Junior International Cup in Romania and our own event, Odra SUP Cup held on June 26-28, as part of the European SUP League race circuit. We will also compete in the Czech Cup.
2 Apr 2026
Putting the spotlight on the next generation of SUP talent, Mario Tagarelli has transformed junior racing and athlete development in Italy. As Coach and President of SUP Academy Taranto, based at Lido Gandoli in Taranto, southern Italy, he is the mastermind behind a training programme that cultivates young paddlers and elevates clubs dedicated to developing […]
27 Mar 2026
Welcome to the very first episode of the TotalSUP.Training Podcast! Let’s be honest right from the start: this is our debut episode, and we’re very much in trial-and-error mode. We’re figuring things out as we go — format, rhythm, tone — and we’re learning in public. We don’t even have an official name for […]
22 Mar 2026
Like every year, Spain will become the center of the international SUP race scene this April, as the World SUP Festival Costa Blanca returns from April 24 to 26, 2026, in Santa Pola, Alicante. Now in its sixth edition, the festival has established itself as one of the world’s largest SUP events, bringing together extensive […]
13 Mar 2026
Following its successful launch in 2025, the European SUP League (ESL) returns in 2026 with a broader international footprint and an expanded competitive structure. The inaugural season featured four events across two countries — three in Spain and one in Portugal — and marked the first step toward creating a unified professional circuit for SUP […]
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One of Italy’s most versatile pro SUP & surf athletes, all-round waterman and Coach, Tommaso Pampinella, is now celebrating a decade of competitive racing. Signing with SIC Maui marks a full circle for the athlete, who has firmly stepped into the world of ocean endurance racing. With an impressive roster of ocean events under his […]
23 Dec 2025
To capture the ongoing growth of the Polish SUP scene, Basssup – premium SUP brand launched in 2016 by founders Jędrzej Klafkowski and Małgosia Majda – has played a key role in Poland’s SUP development from the very start. Jędrzej, who also leads the SUP committee at the Polish Surfing Association (Polski Związek Surfingu), is […]
2 Dec 2025
The first edition of the Sesimbra SUP Festival delivered a 4th stop and a spectacular finale to the inaugural European SUP League (ESL), uniting more than 100 athletes from 10 nations at Praia do Ouro for a decisive weekend of racing. Organized by the Sesimbra Surf Club, the European Surfing Federation, and the ESL, the […]
17 Oct 2025
Basssup, the premium Polish watersport brand launched in 2016 as an inflatable SUP board company, has been a fundamental part of building the country’s SUP scene from its very beginning. So, it felt only natural for them to get involved in supporting and developing young SUP athletes. They’ve been equipping the youth with high-performance, custom-made […]
2 Oct 2025
The brand new European SUP League (ESL), in collaboration with the European Surfing Federation, has just announced that its 2025 inaugural season will conclude in Sesimbra (Portugal), on November 29–30 at the iconic Praia do Ouro. This date adjustment follows the recent scheduling of the ISA World SUP & Paddleboard Championship (November 10–15, El Salvador), […]
