From Belgian SUP Tour regular to endurance challenger: Marin Hoeboer takes on The Longest Day – But that’s just the beginning

We’ve been witnessing a growing maturity and ambition among the next generation of SUP athletes. Young paddlers are no longer simply choosing between flat water and open sea – they are becoming true all-rounders, moving confidently between disciplines while increasingly taking on the sport’s toughest formats. More importantly, they are showing the maturity to understand where their strengths lie and where they want to specialise.

At just 15 years old, Marin Hoeboer is already following that path. Based in Wormer, the Netherlands, she trains and develops within the structured club environment at KV de Zwetplassers while also receiving additional support from Sup.training, programme developed by Christian Taucher. This combination of consistent club training, competition experience and specialised support has helped Marin steadily develop into a versatile and accomplished racer.

Her progression has been particularly noteworthy. At just 14, Marin made a major breakthrough at the Dutch SUP Championships, taking the junior title while also finishing ahead of the entire women’s field in the 10 km race, including two-time world and national champion Petronella van Malsen.

Known for her precision, consistency and quiet determination, Marin has continued to establish herself among the world’s leading young distance racers. She successfully defended her Dutch Championship titles this year, taking the 12 km Long Distance Open title, as well as winning the 8 km Long Distance U18 and U18 Sprint titles.

We caught up with Marin at Planet Baltic, where she took on some of the Baltic Sea’s most gruelling conditions, finishing 11th overall in the Long Distance. Now, straight from Poland, Marin heads back to Belgium this weekend, 22 August, to take on The Longest Day – Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure, marking the opening of the second half of the Belgian SUP Tour and another serious endurance challenge.

We caught up with Marin to talk about her experience on the Belgian SUP Tour (BST), the upcoming stops she plans to compete in, and the milestone challenge that lies ahead.

Marin at Planet Baltic SUP Race | Photo by Piotr Roszak

Hi Marin, welcome back to TotalSUP! You’ve been building your experience by consistently showing up, racing different formats and taking on new challenges. How would you describe your own progression over the past year, both as a paddler and as a competitor?

I think the amount of racing I do each year, of course gives my more experience and it teaches me new things every time.

I keep learning new tactics, I get to know my opponents better every time. This really helps me to understand racing more and progress further again.

Photo by Merel 

What do you think has changed most in your racing – your confidence, your approach, your training, or simply learning how to deal with different race situations?

I think my confidence has increased since I’ve started racing. I was always careful and maybe a little scared. But now I know most of the people I race against and I know what is possible and allowed, and what isn’t.

This also changes my approach in every race. I know more, also about myself, about my limits and strengths. I’ve also started training with Sup.Training, which really helped my with progressing and getting even stronger and faster.

Photo by Robert Hajduk & Szymon Sikora

The Belgian SUP Tour has become a big part of your racing season. What keeps bringing you back to the Tour, and what do you enjoy most about racing in Belgium?

Some of my first races were part of the Belgian Sup Tour. It’s always been nice for me because is close to home, and because I know almost everybody.

But even if you don’t, these races are great, always great vibes. The races are also very accessible for beginners.

Image source: Belgian SUP Tour (BST)

What do you think makes the Belgian SUP Tour worth following – both for competitive paddlers and for people who are thinking about entering their first race?

As I already mentioned, the Belgian Sup Tour races are great for beginner paddlers. Sometimes those big events can maybe be a bit overwhelming. So it can be nice to start off a bit smaller. No less fun here at the Belgian Sup Tour.

Image source: Belgian SUP Tour (BST)

You’re now adding endurance to your racing mix with The Longest Day in Belgium – impressive! What drew you to the longer-distance side of SUP, and how different does it feel from your Belgian SUP Tour races?

I’ve always liked long-distance races, and I don’t really know why. Maybe it’s because the Belgian SUP Tour races I started with were also long-distance races. Now that I’m doing longer distances, I do feel like there are some differences.

After the Longest Day, what other Belgian SUP Tour stops are on your radar — and which ones are you most looking forward to?

I will probably go to Hazewinkel for the Technical and Sprint races, and I will definitely be at the Battle of the Yser and SUP4Life. Next year, you will see me at almost every one of them.

Image source: Belgian SUP Tour (BST)

And finally, you mentioned the SUP 11-City Tour – wow! What does taking on a challenge like that mean to you, and how are the preparations going?

It’s going very well! There are almost three weeks left until the start of the first day. I’ve been training for quite some time now, and I’m really looking forward to it.

Finishing the SUP 11-City Tour was and still is my biggest goal this year, and I’ll be really happy when I accomplish it. Especially because I will be the youngest female racer to ever participate in the five-day competition.

It looks like you’re building towards becoming a truly versatile waterwoman. What kind of paddler do you want to become over the next few years, and where do you hope this journey takes you?

I hope to keep progressing every year, race as much as possible and, most importantly, have as much fun as I can. I think that’s crucial for racing – having fun. It will also be my first time at the ICF World Championships in Italy this year, so I’m really excited about that.

Photo by Merel 

Thank you Marin – we wish you all the best with your plans, have an epic rest of the season!

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

Upcoming Belgian SUP Tour (BST) events:

• 22 August – The Longest Day (Long Distance)
• 29 August – Antwerp on Water – Belgian Championships Long Distance (Antwerp)
• 5 September – Belgian Championships Sprint & Technical Race (Hazewinkel)
• 26 September – Belgian Championships Ultra Long Distance (L’Enfer des Canaux)
• 4 October – The Battle of the Yser
• 13 December – SUP4Life 2026

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

Follow Marin on Instagram

*Images courtesy of Belgian SUP Tour (BST) and Marin