Mylo & Tije Van Bakel: How the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) supports youth competition in SUP

We’ve seen a surge of young SUP talent emerging from the Belgian SUP Tour (BST), which puts equal emphasis on all divisions — with a strong spotlight on Juniors and the Under 14 category. Now a key player in the European stand-up paddleboarding scene, the BST offers a dynamic mix of events that welcome elite athletes, amateurs, and young paddlers alike. It has also served as the perfect testing ground for rising stars like Mylo and Tije Van Bakel.

To say the new SUP bros are on the block would be an understatement – the Van Bakel boys have been part of the SUP scene for as long as we can remember. Growing up under the SUP spotlight, Mylo and Tije have paddled alongside some of the sport’s most acclaimed athletes, consistently landing themselves on the podium.

As we gear up for the Paddle of the Kempen (Belgian Championship Long Distance) – part of the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) and BeNe SUP Cup on 27 April  – TotalSUP caught up with Joep Van Bakel, 2023 & 2024 ICF World Long Distance SUP Champion, and proud dad of Mylo (12) and Tije (9), from Wormer, the Netherlands.

These young SUNOVA and Black Project athletes have become household names on the Belgian SUP Tour, showcasing not only talent and drive but also the joy of travelling and competing as a SUP family. We dive into their competitive spirit, family dynamic, and what it’s like to grow up immersed in the world of stand-up paddleboarding.

Hi Joep, welcome back to TotalSUP and congratulations on your World SUP Championship title! We’re coming full circle from last year’s article – what are your biggest takeaways from competing as a SUP family, and how do you feel the SUP scene has evolved over the past year?

It has been a great year for me and the family traveling and racing on many events all over Europe. As a family we really loved the Lake Rocks SUP Festival in Austria, the Planet Baltic SUP race in Poland, the Skrea Strand Paddle race in Sweden and the Bohinj SUP Challenge in Slovenia. Just to mention a few. Besides that, it was amazing to finish the year with another world title in Florida, Sarasota as the icing on the cake.

Looking back at the events we attended last year, they really stepped up their game and bringing the organising to the next level. Most events ask for feedback from the riders and implement this in the upcoming event. This makes it better year after year and great to go back to them.

What are the advantages (and challenges) of training and racing together as a father-and-sons team?

It’s amazing to share the passion of watersports with my boys. It’s an indescribable feeling to see the stoke on my sons’ faces when they are doing the sports that you love so much yourself. Timewise it’s a big advantage that they do the same sport.

Time spend on the water together is quality family time all at ones. But training them can also be really difficult, the father – son relationship isn’t the same as a trainer – pupil relationship. I must say that the other youngsters I train sometimes listen much better to me as a trainer than my own boys.

You’re now a household name on the Belgian SUP Tour – what does it mean to you to compete regularly in this circuit? How has the Belgian SUP Tour grown over the years, and what excites you about being part of it?

Best part about the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) is the good vibes event after event. It’s the competitions that getting more professional every year but still keep their cosy and family friendly feeling.

For me it’s exciting to see my boys growing into the sport and getting stronger during the BST events. I always say that a competition is the best training possible. The BST makes sup racing really accessible for everyone and there are always strong competitors for my boys to race against.

Do you see the Belgian SUP Tour as a good stepping stone for young paddlers aiming for bigger events?

Young paddlers should start to get the taste of racing at competitions close to or at their home club. The Belgian SUP Tour (BST) is a great way to gain race experience before joining world’s biggest events. One of the good things about the BST is that no matter your age or paddle strength you will always find paddlers around your own skill level. It’s the best way to put your race tactics to the test.

How do you handle the attention and expectations that come with being well-known athletes?

We always try to perform at the best of our ability and appreciate the opportunities that we get because of it. We are so fortunate to be able to travel the world, meet amazing people, race so many oceans, lakes and rivers and do it with the best possible gear.

It’s really nice that when you travel to a competition there are always like-minded people. One of the things that makes the SUP community great is that it doesn’t really matter if you’re well-known or showing up for the first time. You can always expect a warm welcome.

What does being a “household name” in SUP mean to you?

It means that SUP is such a big part of your life that other people with the same “limitation” know you and you know them 😉

In chat with Mylo and Tije:

Mylo Van Bakel | Image source: Planet Baltic

Hi Mylo and Tije – welcome to TotalSUP! What’s the most fun part about stand-up paddleboarding and competing?

Mylo: I think that the most fun part is that you can measure where you are compared to the other people, but it’s also really nice to be with all the other people that are doing the same thing. It’s also the tactical game you play during the races; you don’t have that in a training because a race is always 110% of what you can. I really like those parts about stand up paddle boarding.

Tije: Most of all I like the competitions, specially if I can win them. We also travel a lot to nice places, I really like these holidays.

Tije Van Bakel | Photo by: Andy Klotz

Do you remember the first time you competed together? What was that experience like?

Mylo and Tije: We both grew up in it and have no clue when our first sup competition together was. For us it has always been a natural thing to paddle as long as we remember. But it is nice to paddle together and even better our dad brings us to all these nice places.

Who is the most competitive among you, and how do you handle that on race days?

Mylo: I think we are both really competitive, you can notice that on a race day. Then we are all tense and irritated, Its just a complete chaos. You want to have all the best for your own race but you also need to share things with the other.

Especially during Summer holidays we can’t bring all different boards and we do different races and disciplines.

Tije: I’m the most competitive, I always want to beat my older brother.

Mylo Van Bakel | Image source: Planet Baltic

Who is better at handling race-day nerves?

Mylo: I really want to say I am but I have to say Tije. I’m really nervous before a race and also after the race if I lost I need some time for myself. Its also really chaos before a race in my own head but when the start sign is given it’s all over.

Tije: I think I can handle my nerves pretty well, especially during the race I can go in with FULL FOCUS.

Tije Van Bakel | Image source: Planet Baltic

What’s your advice to kids who would like to start racing?

Mylo: I think you really have to do what you like, because otherwise you can never push yourself to train every day. I also think if you want to go racing you don’t have to think: ‘no I can’t race because I am not strong enough.’ You have to go for it because racing is the best and most fun training.

Tije: Go for it and train hard. If you train hard you will have more fun during the competition days.

Thank you all for your time and have an epic season!

UPCOMING BELGIAN SUP TOUR (BST) EVENTS:

27 April – Paddle of the Kempen (Belgian Championship Long Distance) – Belgian SUP Tour (BST) + BeNe SUP Cup > REGISTER NOW! 

NEW for 2025! 8 June – TR Beachclub Blankenberge – The BST team is shaking things up at the Technical Race in Blankenberge with a brand-new format: a mass start followed by a pursuit race. Expect action, strategy, and a whole lot of excitement on the water!

29 June – Belgian Championship Technical Race (Koksijde) – BST + BeNe SUP Cup

30 August – Belgian Championship Ultra Long Distance (Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure) – Belgian SUP Tour (BST) + Double 10 Challenge

6 September – Belgian Championship Sprint + TR Hazewinkel – BST

21 September – Long Distance Nieuwpoort – BST + BeNe SUP Cup

14 December – SUP4Life (Long Distance) – BST

To find out more and register for the Belgian SUP Tour, visit belgiansuptour.be

Join the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) group on Facebook and follow BST on Instagram 

Follow Joep Van Bakel and Mylo Van Bakel on Instagram