The power of SUPport: Basssup’s impact on the Polish Junior SUP Team & the road ahead with RTW Racibórz Coach Mariusz Miczek

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 deeply committed to advancing the sport through ISA Surfing and translating that progress locally.

Basssup has been a strong advocate for youth development, providing essential support to the RTW Racibórz team and helping young Polish athletes compete at the ISA World Championships in El Salvador.

We caught up with Mariusz Miczek, Coach and President of RTW Racibórz SUP Club, who has built one of the strongest junior race teams in Europe. His work has not only spotlighted young Polish SUP athletes but, alongside other leading youth clubs, also brought wider media attention to the progress of the junior division in our sport.

Following Poland’s announcement as a key stop on the 2026 European SUP League (ESL) Tour, we spoke with Mariusz, who is also Odra SUP Cup organiser and ESL host, to reflect on Basssup’s impact over the past year and what’s next for Polish SUP racing amid new structural shifts.

Hi Mariusz, welcome back to TotalSUP and congrats on an amazing season! As the racing calendar led into the World Championships, with BassSUP backing the team, how would you describe your preparations for El Salvador?

The preparations, both mine and the whole team’s, were practically planned over the course of a year. From the start, we assumed the final destination would be Peru, and we planned our budget, logistics, and the entire training process around that scenario. Shortly before the championships, however, the information came that the event would be held in El Salvador.

Mariusz Miczek with Takuji and Shuri ‘Shrimpy’ Araki, and Itzel Delgado at ISA SUP Worlds in El Salvador

Regarding physical preparation, training, and the overall season structure, everything was carried out very consistently. Let’s be honest, the whole year was dedicated to international competitions, culminating directly in the World Championships in Abu Dhabi and then in El Salvador.

From left: Krystian Świerkowski, Jakub Kubiak and Mikołaj Miczek

What has the partnership with BassSUP and their support meant for you and your club from a coaching standpoint?

For me, it’s about fulfilling big dreams. Even though we operate in a local, niche environment, our organisational standards and team culture are at a very high level.

It’s thanks to Jędrzej Klafkowski and Małgosia Majda of Basssup, that Polish youth could attend the World Championships. Let’s not hide it – in such a short time and with uncertain financial conditions, it would have been impossible for all athletes to independently gather the necessary funds. That support was crucial.

Mariusz Miczek with Jędrzej Klafkowski and Małgosia Majda of Basssup

For us, this is a huge honour but also a real hope for further development. We sincerely thank everyone for enabling this trip and giving the best juniors in Poland – Krystian Świerkowski, Mikołaj Miczek and Jakub Kubiak – the chance to compete.

Krystian Świerkowski | Image source: King of the Bay

You are a coach, president, and organiser of one of the biggest SUP events in Poland – the Odra SUP Cup. What’s in the pipeline for 2026?

The year 2026 promises to be a breakthrough for Polish SUP. Thanks to consistent work, achieved results, and huge commitment from the whole community, Racibórz received an invitation to participate in a prestigious international competition circuit- the European SUP League (ESL).

This is a huge event for us and a great celebration of sport. We already see strong interest, especially from youth – juniors and younger categories – which is very encouraging and shows that the future of this sport in Poland is truly promising.

Equally important for us is the partnership with our friends from the global SUP community – Daniel Parres and Mariusz Żytel from Taranto, representing some of the strongest clubs in the world, not only in junior categories. This is a great honour.

It’s worth emphasising that Polish SUP is entering a new era. The discipline now functions within the structures of the Polish Surfing Association, we are building new organisational structures, and the Polish Cup is returning. Next season will feature six events where SUP will become an integral part of a large national series – exactly what it should be.

Martyna Drobny of RTW Racibórz

Could you tell us more about the European SUP League (ESL) announcing your Odra SUP race as part of their tour*!

Regarding the European SUP League (ESL) stop being held n Poland in Racibórz, this will be an event that slightly changes its scale. Looking at the previous five editions of Odra SUP race, we cannot yet reveal all the details, but it will definitely be a total surprise. We expect a great turnout. We already have confirmation that the best clubs in Europe will visit us.

We can reveal that we will include both technical and sprint races. More details about the entire event will be released soon. The full details of our SUP activities will be announced on January 30th—everyone is warmly invited to participate. There will be competitive racing, amateur events, masters categories, and recreational paddling. We will have fun, and not just in one place – not only under the dam of the largest reservoir in Poland. More details coming soon 🙂

Maja Bauerek of RTW Racibórz won double U14 gold medals in both sprint and technical race at the ICF World SUP Championships in Abu Dhabi.

What’s your main focus for RTW Racibórz Team heading into the 2026 season?

The European and world calendars are still being finalised, but our goals are clear. We want each season to bring new successes but, above all, for the team to be stable, strong, and well organised.

The most important for me is youth development – the real progress of athletes, high quality of every training session, and joy in practicing the sport. I want everything to happen at the highest level but with a smile.

Strengthening our ties and collaborating with Basssup and gaining new sponsors and partners is key. With their support, we can grow and do what we do best. I’m deeply thankful for their continued backing.

To find out more about Basssup, visit basssup.com

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*The ESL stop in Poland will be hosted between 26 & 28 June at the Odra SUP Cup.