Belgian SUP Tour’s secret sauce? Maximus Sijrier proves division flex lets young athletes shine

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

Hi Max, welcome back to TotalSUP! What have you been up to lately, and how is your SUP racing season shaping up this year?

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)

Despite your young age, you’ve become a household name on the Belgian SUP Tour (BST). What keeps you coming back year after year?

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.

How does participating in the Belgian SUP Tour fit into your overall season and training plan?

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.

The Belgian SUP Tour is a comprehensive and format-diverse series that appeals to athletes of all levels, serving as an excellent testing ground for those looking to challenge themselves. What have been the highlights for you at the tour, and why do you think other athletes should compete?

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)

As a young paddler growing up in the SUP limelight, what’s the best part of the Belgian SUP Tour in terms of supporting young SUP athletes and creating a safe and friendly competitive environment?

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

What’s your board and paddle set up this year?

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

In which BST races will we see you competing, and what are your plans for the upcoming months?

I will be competing at the BK Technical Race in Koksijde again and then the BK Technical and Sprints in Hazewinkel.

Thank you for your time Max and good luck with the rest of the season!

Photo by @marloeskaalsportfotografie

UPCOMING BELGIAN SUP TOUR (BST) EVENTS:

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

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 Maximus on Instagram