Highlights from the 2024 Czech SUP and PARASUP Championship

The 2024 Czech SUP and PARASUP Championship, held from July 12-14th at Bezdrev Lake, showcased the best of stand-up paddleboarding talent. Organized by Lucie Raab, general secretary  of the Czech Federation SURF and SUP, the event drew 90 competitors, including 17 international athletes from Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Germany, and Spain. This year, the event faced some challenges such as reduced water levels, but succeeded in creating a competitive yet friendly atmosphere. Highlights included the inspiring participation of ParaSUP athletes. I talked to Lucie and two junior Czech talents, Linda Syrovátková and Jakub Petržílek. See the result list below!

Lucie, how was the overall experience of organizing the 2024 Czech SUP and PARASUP Championship? 

I am absolutely thrilled. I feel that it was a successful international event, and the athletes really enjoyed it!

What significant challenges did you face? What were the most successful aspects of the event’s organization and execution?

The biggest challenge was dealing with the reduced water level due to the lake reservoir system repair. We had to give up beach starts and create a small sandy beach. I see international participation as a success – 17 foreign competitors from Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Germany, and Spain. I also commend the well-executed work of the track judges.

Can you describe the atmosphere and energy at Bezdrev Lake during the event?

The atmosphere was very friendly on the shore and healthily competitive on the water. The weather was favorable during the day for the athletes, with Friday and Saturday not being too hot. However, the evenings were rainy, and we constantly monitored thunderstorms. Nonetheless, all the athletes were so tired from the all-day races that they preferred to rest.

Mistrovství České Republiky v paddleboardingu, 13.7.2024, Bezdrev

How did the participation and performance of athletes compare to previous years?

Participation was quite similar to last year but significantly different in composition. This year, 90 competitors participated. There was an increase in the main OPEN category, but the hobby SPORT category was practically missing. 15% of the participants were foreign competitors. Quite a few Czech SUP and PARASUP athletes were missing due to injuries or illnesses. Also, there was a lack of strong representation from German competitors, who had their championship at the same time.

Mistrovství České Republiky v paddleboardingu, 13.7.2024, Bezdrev

Were there any surprising outcomes in this year’s races?

There were surprising results in the overall of the three disciplines during the awarding of championship titles. Long-term stalwarts Iva Dundová and Ondra Petrák were replaced by new champions – Linda Syrovátková and Samuel Peška. It was also interesting to watch our children under 15 competing. Their technical and racing skills are growing and improving. I think if they keep it up, we have an elite Czech top secured for the coming years!

How did the inclusion of ParaSUP races impact the event?

PARASUP athletes competed with us only on Saturday. We have been doing this together for five years now, and it’s a great community with a specific sense of humor and a strong determination to deliver their best performances. We share the same motto as the Czech Paralympic Committee, of which we are a member, “Sport is just one.” Parasup athletes had their sprint heats on the same track as SUP athletes. Their long-distance race was shortened to 3km. Same podiums, same beach, same water. One ParaSUP athlete, Martin Maverick Zikmund, participated in all disciplines in the SPORT/OPEN category with us.

What feedback have you received from participants and spectators about the event location and facilities?

I would say very positive. It was evident on social media. Many smiling photos and stories. It’s also noticeable during the farewell when there’s a long line of participants waiting to warmly say goodbye to us organizers and promise to see us soon.

Mistrovství České Republiky v paddleboardingu, 13.7.2024, Bezdrev

Can you share some memorable moments or highlights from the three days of competition?

Perhaps the most valuable was the sense of fair play in a few heated moments and mistakes on the track that went beyond a “race incident.” But when the race emotions subsided, everything was resolved calmly. And also that moment when the competitors on the winner’s podium started spraying champagne on the new SUP champion Samuel Peška dressed in white, and two of the bottles were red…

How did international competitors influence the dynamics of the races?

They influenced it a lot. The women’s OPEN category was dominated by Polish athletes from Raciborz – Maja Bauerek, Hanna Kaminska, Marta Apanaszewicz, and Hungarian Réka Slekta. Our Czech athletes performed better in the sprint and technical race, where Iva Dundová and Linda Syrovátková placed in the top 3. In the men’s OPEN, Polish athletes Mikolaj Majdan and Ruslan Huseinov challenged our strong Czech trio: Tomáš Grošup, Ondřej Petrák, and Samuel Peška. Additionally, during the races, Czech riders had to face a slightly different nature and racing style of foreign riders than they are used to in Czech races. That is the added value of international races.

Mistrovství České Republiky v paddleboardingu, 13.7.2024, Bezdrev

I had the honour to talk to the two young Czech prodigies, Linda and Jakub, who will be the junior racers on Team Czechia at the 2024 ISA World SUP & Paddleboard Championship, between September 16-22 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Linda Syrovátková (17), from Mladá Boleslav, Czechia, competes for SUPMB TJ Autoškoda Mladá Boleslav and has excelled on both national and international stages. In 2023, she competed at the ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship in France, securing a 12th place finish in the junior finals. Linda’s achievements include dominating the Czech Cup 2023, where she won multiple disciplines in junior and women’s categories. Her biggest successes so far are securing third place at the 2023 national championship in the women’s category and third place in the sprint at the Baltic SUP race in the women’s category (second in juniors). Remarkably, Linda has only been competing for four years, yet she has fought her way to the top of the Czech Cup, even in the women’s category. Linda actively promotes SUP through workshops and events, inspiring young paddlers via her social media presence.

Jakub Petržílek (16), from Pardubice, Czechia, competes for the club Pádlujte.cz SK Pardubice. Jakub has quickly made a name for himself in the sport. In 2022, Jakub secured the title of vice-champion in the Czech Paddleboarding Championships for the junior category. His performance in national competitions has been consistently strong, earning him top spots in various races, including winning both the technical race in the 2023 Czech Championship and the overall Junior Czech Cup in 2023.  Jakub’s dedication to SUP is evident in his rigorous training regimen and participation in numerous events throughout the year. His efforts paid off when he placed third in the Baltic SUP Race, demonstrating his ability to compete under challenging conditions.

What were your main goals for the upcoming Czech SUP and PARASUP Championship?

Linda: My main goal was to defend the third place in the women’s category from last year, and even better to fight my way even higher. Since the championship is calculated from the overall of all three disciplines, it’s  not easy because I am better at short distances, but there were many strong women in long distance, in which I am not that strong. I was really looking forward to the sprint, my strongest discipline, where I had the best chance for the best result.

Jakub: My main goal in the Czech Championship was to win the sprint and technical race because these are my strong disciplines. For the long-distance race, I aimed to finish in the top 3. These positions secure me the champion title in juniors.

How did you prepare for this important race? What was your training and nutrition strategy? What gear did you bring?

Linda: My preparation has actually been towards these races since the beginning of this year. I train with Training week, and thanks to him my results and my paddling technique have improved since last year. Lately, my training has focused a lot on sprints, but I have also been training other things. Last week, I was in Italy where I had the opportunity to train even on the waves, and I think that week helped me a lot in preparation. My nutrition strategy is nothing special: I try to eat a balanced diet and I eat oatmeal before races, but that is probably the only specific food I focus on. My board is the NSP Ninja 14×20 and my paddle is Quickblade UV77.

Jakub: My preparation was mainly on the water, but I also focused on good regeneration and a balanced diet. I paddled almost every day in the weeks before this race. With my trainer, Vincent Guillaume, we focused mainly on sprints, power increase, and improving my endurance. The gear that I brought is my NSP Ninja 14×21 and QB UV 77 paddle.

What are your next moves? What are your goals for the CPH ISA Worlds? How will you train for the waves?

Linda: My next steps will definitely be towards the ISA Worlds. I would like to qualify there not only for the junior technical race but also compete in the women’s category in the technical race and the sprint. My dream result would be to finish in the top 10 in the junior category because last year I missed that result by only two places. After the national championship, I will go to Spain for a training camp, where I would definitely like to practice my technique in the waves so that I can possibly use it at the ISA Worlds.

Jakub: I want to get a week of rest after this race and then go back to training. At the end of July, we are heading to Kolobrzeg to train and race on the Baltic Sea. Because Copenhagen is going to be my first ISA race, my main goal for the CPH ISA Worlds will be to focus on the sprint and technical race more and finish in the top 10 juniors. After that, I will go to Croatia for two weeks and prepare for the ICF World Championship.

Thank you and good luck with the 2024 ISA World Championships in Copenhagen!

Results of 2024 Czech SUP & PARASUP championship

Men Long Distance

1. Tomáš Grošup
2. Ondřej Petrák
3. Mikołaj Majdan

Women Long Distance

1. Réka Slekta
2. Lena Nowak
3. Hanna Kaminska

Men Sprint

1. Samuel Peška CZ
2. Ruslan Huseinov PL
3. Ondřej Petrák CZ

Women Sprint

1. Marta Apanasewicz PL
2. Réka Slekta HU
3. Linda Syrovátková CZ

Men technical race

1. Samuel Peška CZ
2. Tomas Grošup CZ
3. Mikołaj Majdan PL

Women technical race

1. Marta Apanasewicz
2. Lena Nowak
3. Hanna Kaminska

Men’s  Czech PARASUP CHAMPS   overall

1. Miroslav Šperk
2. Ivan Nestával
3. Štepán Karásek

Women’s Czech PARASUP CHAMPS overall

1. Lucie Dugová
2. Jitka Pivarčiová

CZECH OVERALL CHAMPIONS 2024

Men

1. Samuel Peška
2. Ondřej Petrák
3. Tomáš Grošup

Women

1. Linda Syrovátková
2. Iva Dundová
3. Andrea Kämmerer

Mistrovství České Republiky v paddleboardingu, 13.7.2024, Bezdrev

Mistrovství České Republiky v paddleboardingu, 13.7.2024, Bezdrev

For more information:

TotalSUP event page

Event page

Facebook page

Linda on instagram

Jakub on instagram

Photos by the courtesy of: Czech Surf and SUP Federation, martinhladik.com