Basssup Rider Emilia Daszewska: Riding narrow, racing long

Photo by: Piotr Roszak

We’ve just met 10x Junior SUP Champion, Emilia Daszewska at Planet Baltic SUP Race in Kołobrzeg, Poland, where the 16-year-old was awarded the long-distance gold in the demanding Polish SUP Tour.

Narrow boards and gruelling courses are her forte. A Basssup Rider, the brand championing youth SUP development in Poland, and proud member of RTW Racibórz SUP Club, Emilia embodies a new generation of paddlers, who are multiskilled racers across all SUP formats, with a growing appetite for big international challenges.

Her SUP story began with love at first paddle: “The very first time I stood on a board, I fell in love with the sport. From that moment, SUP became my passion and my way of life, something I dedicate myself to fully.”
With national titles, a historic bronze at the 2023 ICF Worlds in Pattaya (U-15) – Poland’s first medal at that time and that level – and a silver in the U-18 team category in Sarasota, Emilia is carving a path defined by both promise and purpose.

Hi Emilia, welcome to TotalSUP! Could you tell us about yourself and how did you get into stand-up paddleboarding?

My SUP journey actually started with kayaking at age 8. I was looking for after-school activities, and my parents found a kayaking club. That’s how I first got into paddle sports – we trained on a lake in the city park, and at the time I was convinced I’d become a kayaker. But fate had other plans: Our coach brought in three SUP boards, put us on them, and from that moment I discovered my true passion.

Photo by: Robert Hajduk x Szymon Sikora

You’ve recently switched to a custom BassSUP board – what influenced that decision and how has it changed your paddling experience?

Basssup became our club’s sponsor, and we received several boards from the owner, Mr Jędrzej Klafkowski. I had the chance to test them during training, and one model really stood out for me – the Basssup California 14×20.5.

That’s how my BassSUP journey started. I’ve always been open to testing new equipment, and this was a new and exciting experience that I’ll remember.

What do you love most about your Basssup board, and how does it complement or enhance your SUP style?

It feels like this board was made for me, especially because of its narrow build, that’s what I like most. It hasn’t really changed my paddling style, since that comes from years of training, but it feels like a perfect fit.

You’re known for handling ultra-narrow boards with ease. What’s your secret to staying balanced and fast in different conditions?

I’ve always paddled narrow boards. My first carbon board was a Starboard Sprint 19.75, which I trained on for a long time in all kinds of conditions – from open ocean swells to downwind and upwind paddling. It’s really a matter of patience and practice. Starting on such a narrow board made every other narrow board feel manageable. That’s my secret: time, training, and experience.

Photo by: Piotr Roszak

How important is it for young athletes like you to have access to high-quality, custom gear early in their SUP journey?

I think access to good equipment is really important, especially since young athletes usually don’t know much about gear at the beginning. High-quality boards also mean higher safety on the water, which is crucial for beginners. After years on the water, I’ve seen this for myself.

What’s your favourite race format – and what do you look for in a board when choosing gear for different types of races like tech, distance, or downwind?

My favourite format is long distance, I feel most fulfilled in that. For sprints, I prefer streamlined, lightweight boards.

For technical races, more stability and good manoeuvrability for buoy turns are key. Long distance is very specific, so I always pick the board I feel most comfortable on.

Photo by: Piotr Roszak

Your club is making waves, with more junior athletes showing up on international leaderboards. What’s driving that rise?

SUP racing isn’t very well known in Poland, many people see boards only as recreational gear. But step by step, the sport is gaining popularity, and more kids are getting interested.

I also think our team is becoming more recognised thanks to our national and international achievements.

Photo by: Robert Hajduk x Szymon Sikora

How does being part of a strong, youth-focused club environment influence your training and motivation?

Our Coach, Mariusz Miczek, works hard to recruit new young paddlers. Training is divided into two groups: beginners and advanced.

Each group has its own goals, training volume, and intensity. The beginner group learns through fun, while the advanced group trains specifically for competition. That structure helps us all progress.

What are you most excited about for the future – personally and for your team?

This season, I’m most excited to see new faces on the international scene. Competition-wise, I can’t wait for the ICF World Championships in Abu Dhabi, because I believe my team and I can achieve a lot and surprise people in the team rankings. My biggest dream for the future is to see SUP become an Olympic sport.

Emilia Daszewska’s results at Planet Baltic: 2nd place – Junior Long Distance (12 km) 4th place – Open Long Distance (12 km) 5th place – Junior Technical Race | Photo by: Robert Hajduk x Szymon Sikora

Thanks for sharing your story, Emilia – we wish you every success in reaching your dreams

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