The second half begins: Belgian SUP Tour enters its decisive phase with national titles & European Championship selection at stake

Built around athlete feedback and recognised as one of Europe’s most progressive SUP circuits, the 2026 Belgian SUP Tour (BST) founded by Vincent Claeskens, continues to raise the bar with its diverse race formats, welcoming atmosphere and strong community spirit.

As the tour enters its decisive second half, the calendar features a packed programme of championship races, ultra-distance challenges, technical courses and community events. The coming months will not only crown Belgium’s National Champions but also play a key role in selecting the Belgian team for the ECA / Paddle Europe European SUP Championships (18-20 September), followed by the ICF World Cup (20-23 September) in Crete.

Belgian Technical Championships set the stage

The Belgian Technical Race Championships provided a fitting start to the second half of the season, delivering almost every type of weather imaginable – from intense heat and thunderstorms to heavy rain before finishing under blue skies. the championships highlighted the strength of Belgium’s emerging talent.

Kjell De Bruyn claimed the men’s national title ahead of Under-18 paddlers Iben Rosselle and Louis Pierre, completing an all-Belgian podium. Fellow U18 athlete Gus Wouters also impressed, underlining the depth of the country’s next generation.

In the women’s race, Loranne Vleminckx successfully defended her Belgian title, once again confirming her position among the country’s leading paddlers. The overall podium was completed by France’s Léna Demonté and Anne-Sophie Quennesson, while Nathalie Van Olmen secured second place in the Belgian rankings, just one second behind Quennesson. Tine Eyssen completed the Belgian podium through a determined performance.

Loranne Vleminckx & Kjell De Bruyn

Loranne said:

“I gave it my all to defend my title as Belgian champion. First, all the women started together. We had to complete three 1 km laps, with two beach runs during each lap. It was a great battle, and I managed to finish in first place.

After that, we raced again, but this time with a staggered start. Each participant started one minute apart. The paddler who finished last in the first race started first, while the winner started last, so I was the final one to leave the line. Luckily, I managed to stay close enough to the paddler in front of me and eventually recorded the fastest overall time.

This year, I’ll be competing in the Sprint and Technical Race Championships at Hazewinkel, as well as the Battle of the Yser and SUP4Life.

I believe international paddlers should join the Belgian SUP Tour because it’s a great opportunity to push each other to improve while having fun both on and off the water.”

Loranne Vleminckx

A diverse calendar ahead

The second half of the Belgian SUP Tour reflects the diversity and continued growth of stand up paddling in Belgium. From ultra-endurance adventures and national championship races to technical courses and community-focused events, the calendar offers opportunities for elite racers, developing athletes and recreational paddlers alike.

22 August – The Longest Day (Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure)

The first major highlight is the second edition of The Longest Day, Belgium’s premier ultra-long-distance SUP race.
Together with France’s iconic 10 Hours of Vassivière, the event forms the Double 10 Challenge, regarded as one of Europe’s toughest endurance tests. Paddlers complete two demanding 10-hour races over consecutive weekends, where consistency, endurance and race strategy are just as important as speed.

Competitors face ten laps covering more than 56 kilometres, with the prestigious Double 10 Trophy up for grabs.

Returning champions are expected to include Michel Keersmaekers-Michiels (Belgium) in the men’s solo category, Catherine Salinoc (France) in the women’s solo division and French duo Johan Breton and Denis Faurio (Celestheo) in the team category.

29 August – Antwerp on Water: Belgian Long Distance Championships

One week later, the tour heads to Antwerp’s spectacular redeveloped waterfront for the Belgian Long Distance Championships.

The new venue combines a challenging urban race course with the backdrop of one of Europe’s largest harbour cities, where athletes will compete for national titles and valuable Belgian SUP Tour ranking points.

5 September – Hazewinkel: Technical Race & Belgian Sprint Championships

Belgium’s legendary Olympic canoe and kayak venue returns to the calendar with one of the season’s flagship events.

The morning programme features a technical race where buoy turns, acceleration and tactical racing are key, before attention turns to the Belgian Sprint Championships, where the country’s fastest paddlers compete head-to-head in spectacular elimination racing.

26 September – L’Enfer des Canaux: Belgian & French Ultra Long Distance Championships

A brand-new international event joins the calendar in 2026.

Covering 52 kilometres along the River Lys and its canal network, L’Enfer des Canaux will host both the Belgian and French Ultra Long Distance Championships simultaneously – the first time the two nations have combined their championship events.

Open to both stand up paddlers and kayakers, the race promises to become one of the season’s premier endurance events.

11 October – Battle of the Yser

Returning for its fourth edition, the Battle of the Yser has firmly established itself as one of Belgium’s most popular races.

Held on the historic River Yser, the event regularly attracts many of the strongest paddlers from Belgium, France and the Netherlands, delivering fast racing in a unique setting.

13 December – SUP4Life

The Belgian SUP Tour concludes in Ghent with SUP4Life, an event that combines racing with community spirit during Belgium’s famous Warmste Week.

Alongside the racing programme, the event hosts the official Belgian SUP Tour awards ceremony, celebrating the season’s overall rankings and recognising the athletes who have shaped another memorable year of stand-up paddling.

Built in Belgium, Open to Europe

The Belgian SUP Tour has grown into one of Europe’s most exciting and progressive race circuits, combining high-quality competition with innovative race formats and a welcoming community atmosphere. International paddlers are invited to experience first-hand what has been built locally – with ambition, purpose and a commitment to growing the sport.

Racing alongside Belgium’s best, as well as athletes from France, the Netherlands and beyond, provides the perfect opportunity to test yourself, gain valuable race experience and become part of a thriving European SUP community.

With Belgian Championship titles, BST ranking points and places on the Belgian team for the ECA / Paddle Europe European SUP Championships and the ICF World Cup in Crete still to be decided, the second half of the season promises competitive racing, memorable events and plenty of reasons to make Belgium part of your 2026 race calendar.

Elin Van Der Sar (The Netherlands) and Benyam Bossack (Germany)

To find out more about the Belgian SUP Tour race series, visit belgiansuptour.be

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

*Images courtesy of Belgian SUP Tour (BST)