“SUP: One of the Most Complex Sports Globally” – Daniel Hasulyo

When you think of Stand Up Paddling at its highest level, Daniel Hasulyo is one of the names that immediately comes to mind. A multiple-time SUP World Champion and Pro Athlete, Daniel is known for his intense training discipline, adventurous mindset, and love for all things related to the ocean.

Now based in Khao Lak, Thailand, just a stone’s throw from the Board Factory, where SUNOVA boards are made, Daniel has found the perfect environment to blend his passion for the sport with everyday life.

Whether it’s racing, SUP surfing, or simply embracing the waterman lifestyle, Daniel lives and breathes the sport in every aspect. We sat down with him to learn more about how he balances racing and surfing, what inspires him, and what it really means to live the SUP life to the fullest.

Picture: Ollie Bignell

Hi Daniel, it’s great to have you with us! You’ve been both a world champion in SUP racing and a prominent SUP surfer. Can you share with us how your journey in SUP racing led you to add SUP surfing to your skill set, and how both disciplines complement each other for you?

Hi Sabe and all the readers, paddlers around the world, I’m stoked to share some background stories. I believe surfing is in the DNA of SUP. Feeling the glide of the board beneath your feet, shifting your body weight on a massive, exaggerated surfboard while pushing for high-performance endurance makes Stand Up Paddling one of the most complex sports globally. The freedom of standing on the board is unquestionably tied to surfing more than any other sport. It’s no coincidence that nearly every World Champion SUP athlete is also a proficient surfer. To perform at a high level, you need to feel the water, and surfing fosters that essential connection.

Though I have spent much more time training in controlled flatwater environments, chasing waves and improving my surf has been part of my journey from the start and evolved into a real passion for surfing and a deeper understanding of the ocean. I vividly remember in 2015 when Zane, Connor, and Sean came to the first SEPA training camp in New Zealand, hosted by Jeremy Stephenson and Starboard NZ. Bruno and I were already obsessed with training but still novices in the waves. At Piha, on the West Coast, during a session, we saw Connor and Zane surfing 12’6″ raceboards in solid double overhead conditions, going incredibly fast down the line and paddling out through huge white water. That memory set a high bar and left a lasting impression on how to enjoy and push the limits with the board. Since then, I have never stopped pushing the extremes on my gear and incorporating SUP into a waterman lifestyle, blending endurance and ultra-endurance training with ocean play.

Picture: Nepaka Thongkerd

After coming from the Longboard SUP Revolution competition in Bali, can you share your experience there and how it fits into your overall competition schedule for the year? What’s your current focus in terms of upcoming races or surf events?

What a thrill! The atmosphere was incredible, the setup unique, and it was an absolute joy to ride alongside friends from all over the world. For me, the LSR is a must-do every year because it brings together SUP enthusiasts in a celebration of the sport’s diversity. SUP and SUP surfing have many facets, and Longboard SUP surfing is a beautiful expression of our sport – slightly longer boards, big waves, and smooth, elegant rides.

I truly enjoy Longboard SUP surfing, and practicing on the longboard has helped me improve my 14ft raceboard surfing and board control. Conversely, surfing some serious big waves on my 14ft raceboard has given me confidence to try new moves and embrace the freedom that comes with a lighter setup on bigger waves. These two disciplines definitely complement each other.

That said, much of my focus for the rest of the year will be on racing. As Thailand increasingly feels like home, I’m enjoying the variety of races in the region and will be focusing on events in Asia this year. Confirmed races include:

Nanxung International SUP Race, China
KAPP Seoul, Korea
Paddle Jiangnan Shanghai, China
Lishui 33km Ultra, China
ICF Abu Dhabi, UAE
Jiangle SUP Marathon, China
I expect a few more events will be added as the calendar unfolds.

Picture: Ollie Bignell

As an athlete who competes in both disciplines, do you find any advantages in one over the other? And, in your opinion, can training in one discipline help improve the other?

I believe the two activities are very complementary. Ultimately, greatness comes from passion, dedication, and endless hours of practice – almost an obsession. Over the past ten years, my primary focus has been race training, while surfing was something I did as much as possible in my free time. Some of my friends have taken the opposite approach, focusing mainly on surfing and paddling as a leisure activity. When you choose either path as a career, your focus naturally directs your progress.

At the same time, I truly feel that spending as much time as possible in the ocean: surfing, foiling, longboarding, windsurfing, wingfoiling, freediving, or simply playing in the shore break, is all complementary. It builds confidence and experience in the water, which translates into more comfort and power on the raceboard.

Besides racing and project work, we have spent a lot of time in Bali to deepen our ocean connection. Recently, we moved to Khao Lak, Thailand, to be closer to the beach, and playing in the waves is essential to my SUP performance.

Picture: Nepaka Thongkerd

When it comes to boards, you’re exclusively using SUNOVA boards. Which models do you prefer for racing and surfing, and what makes them stand out for you?

For racing, my go-to boards are:

Flatwater Pro Elite 14’x21”
AllWater Pro 14’x21”
Torpedo 14’x25.5”

For surfing, I ride:

SPX
Revolution
Aviator DW Elite

I feel SUNOVA carries the ocean in its DNA more than any other brand I’ve ridden. Their raceboards, with lower volume and softer edges, offer less bounce and a more connected feel to the water, enabling a smooth and uninterrupted glide in all conditions. They are very predictable, stable yet reactive – I love the new race boards.

The Torpedo is our favorite family board, super stable, surfs beautifully, and is perfect for snorkeling trips, morning paddles around the lagoon, or catching waves over the reef. It’s lightweight, elegant, and the perfect non-race 14ft SUP for me.

SUNOVA’s SUP surfboard range is another level. Coming from a surfing background, their shapes are designed to deliver a true surfing experience on a SUP – rail to rail, always in the pocket, extremely reactive. The boards I currently ride have helped me elevate my surfing, improve my flow on waves, and become a better surfer overall.

Sean Poynter and James Casey are exceptional oceanmen, possibly two of the most experienced in the field, and their expertise helped create these truly beautiful SUP surf and foil boards. I love them all, especially the stunning wood finishes.

Picture: @soulsnapss

Having grown up in Italy but originally being from Hungary, how did your environment shape your passion for SUP surfing? How did you go from being far from the ocean to becoming a SUP surfer?

It all goes back to our parents – both very sporty! Our dad had a mad passion for windsurfing, which became our favorite sport as well. From around ages 9 or 10, we spent all our summers windsurfing in very windy places like Fuerteventura, Mauritius, Jericoacoara, and even Maui when I was 14. Living the Tiki life and becoming watermen has been Bruno’s and my dream since childhood.

Back then, there was no SUP, but we already had a connection to the ocean, surfing big waves on windsurf boards. In 2011, we paddled 2,800 km down the Danube in 38 days – flatwater paddling, but still quite an adventure. It wasn’t until 2014-15, when we moved to New Zealand, that it became clear we needed to learn to surf and SUP surf to become World Champions. This helped us understand how to use the board and elements at a slower pace.

I’ve been lucky to have friends equally passionate and pushing the limits of watersports for generations, so catching up with them and learning to move with confidence and respect in the lineup was a key goal. Since then, I haven’t stopped chasing adrenaline, exploring new breaks, and living as close to the water as possible.

Picture: Nepaka Thongkerd

For someone starting out in SUP surfing, what advice do you have? Can you share some key tips for beginners?

Forget your fears, it’s just water, not asphalt or a hard surface. Embrace falling and the sense of experimentation. You need to get wet to improve, so enjoy the process!

• In steep drops, lower your center of gravity by bending your knees more.
• Always wear a leash.
• Paddle out with a local or more experienced paddler if you want to improve.
• Make sure to fall away from your board and hold your paddle firmly.

Picture: Nepaka Thongkerd

With all your travels and experiences paddling and surfing around the world, what are your top three favorite places to SUP race and surf? What makes these locations stand out for you?

SUP Surf:

Bali
Khao Lak
New Zealand

SUP Race:

Everywhere! (Not a joke – I genuinely love paddling in all environments.)

We moved to Khao Lak because it offers beautiful beaches, proper reefs, river mouths, mangroves, and a great variety of Indian Ocean-powered conditions all within a 15km radius. The lush jungle, clean water, and lovely Thai community make it a perfect base.

I also love Bali, the raw ocean power and volcanoes recharge my energy. I enjoy traveling to China, Korea, Japan, and other Asian countries for city races and exploring new, lesser-known waterways and paddling communities.

I enjoy long flat river paddles and expeditions just as much as true surf missions, hunting swells, timing tides, absorbing ocean energy, and riding waves. Being a waterman has been my dream since childhood, and I’m grateful to pursue this dream and inspire future generations worldwide.

Picture: @soulsnapss

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