Belgian SUP Tour talent Iben Rosselle and Louis Pierre ready to take on the world stage in Agios Nikolaos

The Belgian SUP Tour (BST), led by Vincent Claeskens, has become one of Europe’s most established and mature SUP racing circuits, while maintaining a strong commitment to developing the next generation of talent. The tour provides a valuable springboard for young athletes, giving them the opportunity to test themselves against some of the strongest and most experienced racers in the Benelux.

Among those emerging talents are 17-year-olds Louis Pierre and Iben Rosselle, two of Belgium’s most promising U18 racers. Both have progressed through the Belgian racing scene and are now ready to take on an even bigger challenge: the international stage at Agios Nikolaos on SUP.

The 2026 edition of Agios Nikolaos on SUP brings a double bill of championship racing to Crete, with the ECA / Paddle Europe European SUP Championships taking place from 18-20 September, followed by the ICF World Cup from 20-23 September. The two events will share the Long Distance race, creating a packed week of international competition on the waters of Crete.

We caught up with Louis and Iben ahead of their trip to find out what motivates them, how they have progressed through the Belgian SUP scene, and what they are looking forward to as they take on some of the best paddlers in the world.

For Louis Pierre, from Antwerp, technical racing is where his passion lies. “Tech! Definitely!” is his immediate answer when asked about his favourite format. He trains with SUP Club Kempen under coach Kjell De Bruyn, continuing to develop his skills on the Belgian racing circuit.

For Iben Rosselle, from Westende, it is the challenge of Long Distance racing where he feels most at home. An all-round waterman, he trains through the Belgian SUP Tour with Vincent Claeskens, as well as with Fiebe Vanheule at ApexLab, while also mixing SUP with surfing and prone paddling. That broad experience across the water gives him a strong foundation as he takes the next step onto the international stage.

We caught up with the two young Belgians as they prepare to step beyond the familiar waters of the Benelux and take on the challenge of international competition. They will make the trip with the support of the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) and Peddelsport Vlaanderen, the Flemish wing of the Belgian Canoe Federation and an organisation affiliated with the ICF (International Canoe Federation).

Hi Iben and Louis, welcome to TotalSUP! How did you get into competitive stand-up paddleboarding? 

Iben Rosselle:

My mom started stand-up paddleboarding on an inflatable board about six years ago, and she took me along whenever she went paddling. When I was younger, I used to sit on her board, but before long I was holding the paddle myself.

Last year, she convinced me to take part in the Battle of the Yser on an inflatable board. That was my first experience with SUP as a competitive sport. There, I saw all the hardboards and became really interested in racing. Florence Claeskens kindly offered us the opportunity to try her hardboard, Vincent Claeskens gave me some advice and that was the start of my competitive SUP journey.

Iben Rosselle

Louis Pierre: I got into competitive stand-up paddleboarding because of my dad, Steven.

He was paddling the SUP 11 City Tour in 2020, and that inspired me to paddle as well. So, in 2021, I went to paddle the Sunday stage of the SUP 11 City Tour, becoming the youngest Belgian ever to do it.

And then, one race led to the next, and I really started liking it. So I kept paddling, kept finding motivation, and just continued from there.

Louis Pierre

You’ve been competing on the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) – how important do you think the circuit is as a springboard for young talent and a place to gain valuable racing experience?

Iben Rosselle: The Belgian SUP Tour has been very important for my development as a paddler. The races are accessible for beginners and provide a great opportunity to gain experience in a friendly and supportive environment.

What I like most is that everyone helps each other. Before, during and after the races, paddlers are always willing to share tips and advice. Even some of the top athletes, like Kjell De Bruyne, take the time to talk to younger paddlers and help them improve.

The races in Belgium are generally smaller than the big international events, which makes them less intimidating and a perfect place to learn. They helped me build confidence, improve my racing skills and prepare for larger competitions abroad. Without the BST, I don’t think I would have progressed as quickly as I did.

A lot of credit also goes to Vincent Claeskens, who works tirelessly to promote SUP in Belgium and organize the Belgian SUP Tour events. Thanks to his efforts, the sport continues to grow and gain visibility. Vincent also encouraged me, Louis and Gus to take part in the European Championships, mainly to gain valuable international racing experience. I am very grateful for that opportunity.

Louis Pierre:  I think it is a very good base to learn how to paddle in competition. You can race, but still learn from your mistakes, because there are many races, so if you make a mistake, it is not going to cost you. For instance, at a Planet Baltic or a Lake Rocks Festival, you only have one chance.

What do you think makes the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) special as a race circuit, and what keeps you coming back to compete?

Iben Rosselle:

The Belgian SUP Tour is very well organized and also very accessible, especially for younger and newer paddlers. What makes it special is the variety of races. Throughout the season, there are events in different disciplines, including long distance, ultra-long distance, sprint, technical races and even sea races.

I live near the coast, so I really enjoy having the opportunity to race on the sea as well. The variety of conditions and race formats helps me develop as a paddler and keeps every event interesting.

Another reason I keep coming back is the friendly atmosphere. The races are competitive, but everyone is supportive and willing to help each other. I would love to see even more paddlers in my age category join the circuit, because racing against more competitors would make it even more exciting and help all of us improve.

Iben Rosselle

Louis Pierre:

Because you are always battling against someone, and they are also one of the few organisers of races in the Benelux.

And as I mentioned in the last question, there are a lot of races, so losing one is not much of a problem, because the next race is not a whole year away. There is always a nice atmosphere and nice people.

Agios Nikolaos on SUP is a major international event bringing together some of the best paddlers from across Europe and beyond. What are you most looking forward to about racing on such a big international stage?

Iben Rosselle:

I’m really looking forward to the strong international competition and experiencing the atmosphere of such a big event. Racing against some of the best paddlers in Europe will be a great challenge and an amazing opportunity to learn and improve. I really enjoyed The Lake Rocks SUP Festival in Austria.

I’m also excited to gain experience at this level of competition, as events like this are very different from the races I usually do in Belgium. Most of all, I’m proud and grateful to be part of the Belgian team and to have the opportunity to represent Belgium in the U18 category. It’s a great honour and an experience I will never forget.

Louis Pierre:

I’m really excited to see how well I can paddle internationally at such a major event. I’ve paddled at Lake Faak with Lake Rocks and at the Planet Baltic SUP Festival, and I’m really looking forward to experiencing how Agios Nikolaos on SUP compares and testing myself against a strong international field.

And, of course, I’m looking forward to meeting new people in this small little SUP world.

Louis Pierre

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

Upcoming Belgian SUP Tour (BST) events:

• 26 September – Belgian Championships Ultra Long Distance (L’Enfer des Canaux)
• 4 October – The Battle of the Yser: The Battle of Yser will now host both the Belgian Championship Long Distance and Sprint races 
• 13 December – SUP4Life 2026

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

Follow Iben Rosselle and Louis Pierre on Instagram 

*Images courtesy of Iben and Louis