Photo by @marloeskaalsportfotografie
When they’re on the scene for as long as we watch grom rise, you easily forget how young the junior SUP riders – and how much they’ve already achieved. One standout athlete in this category is Maximus Sijrier, based in the northern Dutch city of Workum. are and how much they have achieved.
Paddling since the age of 9, Maximus is no stranger to a challenge. At just 13 years old, he became the youngest paddler ever to complete the gruelling 5-day SUP 11 City Tour, not only finishing but taking first place in the Tour Division. It was a milestone that signalled to the SUP world that this was no ordinary junior.
With expert coaching and a long-term development focus from SEPA Training – a renowned SUP academy with a performance-driven program – Maximus is well-positioned to achieve his goals.
Now 16, Maximus is a household name on the Belgian SUP Tour (BST), where he’s benefitted from the tour’s unique flexibility – allowing juniors to choose their division and test themselves against top-tier competition. Since the age of 13, he’s been racing in the elite division, proving he belongs among the sport’s fiercest paddlers.
Photo by @marloeskaalsportfotografie
Hey Anna, thanks for having me again! I have been training most of the winter and attended some winter races to keep myself sharp and see friends and it’s always good to see where you and the competition stands during Winter. My first big race of the season was the Spring SUP Race in Italy where I took 2nd in the Long Distance Junior Race. Doing the interview from the Azores I’m preparing for the 2025 season with the SEPA Team.
Image source: Belgian SUP Tour (BST)
The Belgian SUP Tour (BST) races have everything I like about stand-up paddling: great competition, a variety of race formats and water conditions, and an amazing community. The people at these events are just super cool.
As I’m trying to focus more and more on international racing it is hard to race all the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) races such as the Paddle of the Kempen which I couldn’t do because of my training camp. But for sure, I’ll take part in all the other races because it’s great fun. Plus, it really helps me improve – the level of racers is strong and diverse.
It’s hard to pick just one highlight because all the races are so different. For example, I really enjoy racing in the city of Gent, but I also had a great time at Koksijde during the technical races. Even with the storm that hit us, I was still pushing through and making my way up to the top mark.
I figured as long as they didn’t cancel the race, I was still in it. When they did cancel, I was the only one left on the water – but I still managed to secure 3rd place. Just after I got back to the beach the wind really picked up and my dad and me had to sit on my board to hold it down.
Another great memory was the sprint race on a real canoe track with automatic gates and everything! It was awesome because when I went to Florida for the ICF Worlds, I already had an idea of how those worked, so it really helped.
Image source: Belgian SUP Tour (BST)
What I really like is the fact that Vincent Claeskens, the Belgian SUP Tour Director, gives juniors the freedom to choose their racing division. I’ve been competing in the elite category since I was 14 because I enjoy the longer races and the higher level of competition.
But he also makes sure there are great races for the really young paddlers and beginners too. Everyone- on the water and on land – makes you feel like part of one big family. And with some of the best racers in Europe competing, it’s really cool that they share their knowledge with me. It helps me get smarter about racing as I go.
Photo by @marloeskaalsportfotografie
My setup for this season is going to be a little bit of everything depending on the conditions. I have the BR1 for the flat water, Infinity for beach and tech racing and NSP for downwind and ocean racing but I’m always using my Quickblade UV paddle and my Larry Allison racing fins.
Photo by @marloeskaalsportfotografie
I will be competing at the BK Technical Race in Koksijde again and then the BK Technical and Sprints in Hazewinkel.
Photo by @marloeskaalsportfotografie
New date to be confirmed – 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
9 Mar 2026
The Belgian SUP Tour (BST) has released its new race calendar as the circuit enters a new chapter in its evolution, alongside the development of new international partnerships. Over the past four years, the series has grown rapidly — not only in the number of events but also in the strength of its community and […]
10 Feb 2026
Before the SUP 11 City Tour became one of the most legendary Stand Up Paddle races, there was a quiet, almost forgotten chapter that few people know. In 2008, long before start lines, live tracking or international podium battles, Anne-Marie Reichmann-Totah paddled the entire 11 Cities route alone. No race. No crowd. Just a board, the […]
18 Dec 2025
In 2024, many looked beyond the headline that read “the race won” when John Batson – the Flying Fish Board Co. rider, waterman with a background in windsurfing and kayak coaching and an accomplished endurance racer with podiums at events such as Chattajack, the Carolina Cup, and the Goat Boater Race Series – missed the […]
16 Dec 2025
With hard-board demo opportunities still limited, Yster SUP’s recent move into the French comes as very welcome news for paddlers. Yster SUP, a Swedish brand based in Malmö, is known for its focus on design and performance, and a proven track record in some of the toughest ultra-endurance races, including the legendary Yukon 1000, Last […]
4 Dec 2025
Founder-led stories carry a unique weight in any sport – especially when those founders step onto the start line themselves. When leaders test their own equipment in some of the toughest conditions in the world, it shows a level of commitment that goes far beyond product design. That’s exactly the case with Yster SUP, the […]
27 Nov 2025
As the competitive year winds down and many federations ease into their winter break, the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) is preparing for one final highlight. On Sunday, 14 December, the community will gather in Ghent for SUP4Life – a now iconic end-of-season event that blends high-level competition with festive, family-friendly spirit. Far more than a […]
15 Oct 2025
Allistair Swinsco and Alison Rennie are in their 50s and absolutely shredding – so what’s our excuse? Hailing from Loch SUP in Scotland, this seasoned endurance paddling duo continues to impress the SUP world with their grit, humour and unmistakable team spirit. Fresh off smashing the SUP 11-City Tour, they didn’t just participate, they dominated. Competing […]
6 Oct 2025
Gunther De Bin, 55, from Flanders, a racer and Coach at SUP Club Supfever, is one of the Belgian SUP scene’s most respected figures. Known to many simply as GUN, he was once a regular at the front of the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) pack. While injuries led him to step back from regular racing, […]
13 Sep 2025
At 41, Marco Teodosio divides his time between the waves of Foz do Arelho, Portugal, and the canals of Amersfoort, Netherlands, where he coaches at Lakeside SUP, sharing his knowledge and training the next generation of paddlers. Once a surfer turned ultra endurance SUP racer, Marco swapped crowded breaks for endless waterways—and thanks to the […]
