Daniel Hasulyo on the SUP racing boom in China, emerging talent & his two weeks of competing

From coaching to racing arm in arm and paddle in paddle, Daniel Hasulyo, World SUP Champion, Coach, entrepreneur and SUNOVA Team Rider, unlocks an exciting SUP racing scene in China and its large and active paddleboarding communities. Daniel’s account of two weeks of racing is a celebration of high performance, camaraderie and shared passion for the sport while exploring the country’s rich natural and cultural landscapes.

TotalSUP caught up with Daniel to gain insights on the  growth of competitive SUP in China, as well as the key athletes we’ll be seeing more of in the upcoming year. We also dived deep into his personal experience of major events: The 2024 International Qingtian SUP Open and the 800 miles – Li OuJiang (Lishui) River Landscape Poetry Road SUP Race, the 2024 Lishui 33km Ultra Distance SUP Challenge.

Could you share your view on how SUP racing scene evolved in China over the past few years, and what are the main factors driving its growth?

China’s SUP racing and outdoors endurance sport enthusiast levels are evolving at an extreme speed, and I feel very happy and in parts proud to have had the chance to be part of this development. Since this great country hosted back-to-back 2018 & 2019 the ISA and ICF SUP World Championships where there was big interest towards the sport but little really good users, to now, I have been coming back multiple times every year to participate and be presents at many beautiful events and activities that are really paddling and sport love driven.

I feel that in China people discovered the connection between, freedom of movement, movement culture, incredible sceneries and realized the potential of looking at SUP, like a universal water tool and create happenings where many, and I mean hundreds, can enjoy and have a great paddling experiences and also the top athletes can grow and be challenged by a variety of conditions and racing styles. I think the Chinese development is absolutely beautiful and they are here to leave a mark.

This is my first year, where after six years of conducting workshops and trainings together some of their strongest athletes passed me on 200m and I believe in the next two years, inspired by the possibility of having an Asian SUP World Champion and just as my brother and I managed to master the skills regardless coming from a landlock country and collecting the precious title, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some of the Chinese paddlers on the TOP of major international events in the future.

A growing industry, many users, professional approach to movement control and very well organised mass participation events are all key to success. In China currently you find a vibrant vibe and a very strong and enthusiastic young generation of athletes that are ready push hard and I believe have what it takes to really become among the best of the world.

Who are the up-and-coming local SUP racers we should look out for?

The three main athletes, Zhong Zijin, Chen Chenghao, Guitong Ye, I would highlight and have deep respect for on a personal level. I think they are extremely skilled, fast and strong, and their hearts and minds are in the right place, eager to learn and grow more, and work hard to improve. Love to see their and many other athletes’ passion growing for the sport and see the power and wish to win that they carry to each race!

I like that in China we can race distance that is distance and everyone feels like a winner, conquering mind and body and that all the events sprints, participation city race or extreme endurance event they deliver with great professionalism. Looking forward to be coming back and battle with the boys.

The 2024 Lishui 33km Ultra Distance SUP Challenge: A race through cultural heritage and breathtaking landscapes

This was my second 30+km race this year and after many years of professional racing I am still solidly reassured that distance paddling is what keeps me the most motivated, satisfied and happy on the inside. I wouldn’t say it’s easy. No, it is no joke, but the sense of euphoria crossing the finish line, breaking through the mental walls that you encounter along the journey and the physical numbness that only the ones who dare can live in first person, is what I believe keeps hundreds of participants wishing to come back for more and push me also to keep seeking for this kind of adventures and solid paddle battles with incredible athletes from around the World.

Taking the win was the cherry on top but most honestly this was an incredible challenge, given the rapids, the water conditions, the route and the level of competition among the Chinese paddlers.
The 2024 Lishui 33km, was actually a 2-day event, with the first day dedicated to 200m Sprints, both in Individual and Dragon Board categories. Compared to the race in Qingtian, I managed to put foot on the podium in the Sprint race also (3rd place in Sprints) but hats down to all Chinese sprinters pushing the gears, as with their time sliding under 50 seconds, they are truly up to world class standards when it comes to sprint racing. Great battles throughout the whole day and definitely a beautiful showcase of SUP racing in the heart of Lishui, in front of a vibrant crowd.

The event in Qingtian, the 2024 International QingTian SUP Open and race in Lishui were under the same event management, but with very different characteristics. While the event in Qingtian was set to be a true mass participation event with more than 500 participants paddling in the heart of QingTian, ultra-competitive, the 33km Lishui race was a real ultra endurance challenge showcasing incredible landscapes, surrounded by beautiful mountains, packed with thousand years of historical heritage and very demanding water conditions, that had split the race in three main sections and had put everyone in the spirit ultra racing.

The first 11km were characterised by strong flow of water allowing to paddle with speeds up to 16-17km/hour, after which a mandatory security check up to make sure everyone is ready for the second section. The second part 11-21kms, were probably the most technical part of the race with a couple of level 1-2 rapids and a big variation of narrow and wide parts and some very shallow spots, really effecting the flow drastically, to then meet the last check point at 21kms and hit the “dead” leg of the river, a truly beautiful, very clear water but extremely steady and stiff last 12km to paddle into the beautiful city of Lishui, and were the real competition begun.

After 20km of paddling supported by the river flow, the last 12km were a dramatical battle as fatigued and worked, in the flats you really had to put the hammer down and push hard on each stroke to keep the board gliding above 10km/h. The water was beautiful, see-through, full of fish, the mountains green and the air fresh, but the struggle was also real as I believe all top athletes were trying to beat last year’s course record set by Mr Black, a real exceptional Chinese distance paddler, as there was a solid 10,000 Chinese Yuan RMB bonus on top of an already very impressive prize money on the line. It turned out, the given nature played a big role on the finishing time as with less water on the course, the river wasn’t flowing fast enough on the top section to allow the record to be broken, but with eyes on the prize, I know for sure that each of us in the leading group pushed our heart out and paddled till absolute exhaustion to make up the time on the flat part.

I had a very good race and I am extremely happy with my performance as even with these conditions I only missed the target time by a few minutes and managed to paddle according to my game plan. With a good start, very focused rapid descend, no mistakes on the current choice, only one little buckle as my fin hit the rock on a shallow part, and an extremely strong push on the last 12k, I truly gave it all, I was happy to see that I slowly dismantled the boys behind me, and perhaps with a record to break, with the deep wish to come back next year and give it another go!

The start of the race was extra special as we had to jump off from a floating (fixed) dock, onto our boards, to make sure that we can keep a line in the current, all lined up (about 180 participants) next to each other, a real first for me, but over all a perfect way to keep control.

Open Men, Open Women and the Adventure fleets started in three separate waves. Beside the start, a highlight and other first for me during the race was competing in running shoes, as although I thought all my gear was ready to race, PFD, leash, double fin, double paddle, hydration, compression clothes, studied the map, during the evening’s race-briefing it came up that also “water shoes” were mandatory to enter the race and be allowed on the water, and as I had no other option, I went for what I had and the most sporty solution available in my luggage besides the first couple of minutes I eventually got use to the feel and pushed through my first ultra endurance sup race in shoes.

At an emotional level, the biggest highlight of this trip and possibly of my racing career was hearing the cheering of Sai and Jasmine, as they run almost 2km up the river bank to follow and cheer me in the last push. It was empowering and melting at the same time, their voice, smile and the effort touched my heart and I really had to fight my tears of joy and focus to not cramp up.

Daniel with Sai and Jasmine

Then all of a sudden it all came together and my last 1km I paddled in pure ecstasy, stroke after stroke, with the victory in my pocket and my heart full of joy I was ready to cross and celebrate an incredible journey and a real man proving experience.

The water safety, the course choice, the organization of the race and logistics went all extra smooth and very professional and the whole event really made believe that there is a next generation of SUP experiences on the line and China is setting new standards to the growth of mass participation SUP sports. I have been coming back to experience the growth of the sport since 2018 and I believe that the brilliant minds behind beautiful events and the combination of spectacular sceneries and new waterways will attract more and more paddlers in the future! It’s really next level.

The 2024 International Qingtian SUP Open

The event in QingTian was another demonstration of a major sporting event, happening in the heart of a vibrant city! We had the chance to experience the local characteristics and paddle in safe yet exciting conditions, under the major landmark bridge of QingTian and share this unique racing experience with more than 500 paddlers.

Simple course, 3km and 6km rectangle, with 4x 90* Turns really allowing to push the gears and focus on speed and efficiency, followed by a very intense yet fun day of Sprint Racing, 200m, all categories, relays, Dragon Board race and all set with a very competitive spirit and definitely showcasing the Chinese athletes sprinting power in the Finals.

Our Team got second in the 200m Dragon Board Final, but as for my single 200m i finished 6th, so with combined Long Distance Champion and 6th at the 200m, I got second overall at the event! Congratulations to GuittongYe for taking the win.

Qingtian was lots of fun on and off the water and two days packed with high level racing and action. In addition to racing, the day before the race I had the chance to connect with some of the rising Chinese SUP athletes and paddle enthusiasts and we spent a day together going through some basics and details of movement analysis and SUP tips. I think we all had a great time on and off the water, improving, testing parts of the course and getting ready for the races together.

Truly special mention should be addressed to the media crew, who followed the entire race with extreme accuracy and delivered great LIVE and post-race media content to all participants really helping to remember and take home a piece of the experience.

Big thanks, to SUNOVA China & Langusso for the invitation, the Event organisers for giving me the opportunity to race and be part of this unique experience, all the fans for the warm welcome and all the athletes for the great battles! Looking forward for next year’s edition!

To find out more about SUNOVA, visit sunovasurfboards.com

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*Images courtesy of Daniel Hasulyo / Photo credits: The 2024 International Qingtian SUP Open and the 800 miles – Li OuJiang (Lishui) River Landscape Poetry Road SUP Race, the 2024 Lishui 33km Ultra Distance SUP Challenge