Decathlon x BassSUP: Inside the rollout of the B-Light inflatable SUP range with Małgorzata Majda

BassSUP, the premium Polish watersports brand launched in 2016 as an inflatable SUP company, has grown alongside the sport itself and become one of the driving forces behind the development of stand-up paddling in Poland.

As the brand continues to expand its reach across Europe, we caught up with Małgorzata Majda, who oversees BassSUP’s inflatable board division, to discuss the latest developments. Among them is the successful rollout of BassSUP boards into Decathlon stores across the Baltic region.

“The boards have already arrived in Decathlon stores in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. In Poland, they’ve been available since March and, despite the unpredictable weather, have been proving very popular with customers,” says Majda.

Małgorzata Majda, together with Jędrzej Klafkowski (Shaper & Co-Founder) and the BassSUP team, will also be present at the upcoming Odra SUP Cup this weekend (26-28 June) – an official European SUP League stop – where visitors will have the opportunity to test both the inflatable boards and the race fleet.

Several BassSUP riders will also be on the start line, including Krystian Świerkowski, Maja Bauerek, Jakub Kubiak and Lena Nowak.

Hi Małgosia, welcome back to TotalSUP! How has the market changed since you started and what is needed to remain a leading brand in the country?

It’s already been 10 years since we started. It has been a decade of enormous change. When we first appeared with SUP boards on Polish beaches in 2016, many people didn’t yet know what stand-up paddling was. Today, it’s hard to find someone who hasn’t seen a paddleboard or tried it at least once.

The biggest change has been customer awareness. More and more people pay attention to technology, build quality, durability, and safety. This makes us very happy, because these have always been our core priorities.

At the same time, the market has become much more competitive. That’s why our goal remains the same as 10 years ago – to create good products, listen to our customers, and grow together with them. I believe it is passion, consistency, and a readiness to continuously develop that allow us to maintain a strong market position.

Could you tell us more about your role as the Director of the ISUP Division in Basssup?

I’ll answer a bit differently. Instead of talking about my role in Bass, I prefer to talk about the role Bass has played in my life. When we started, it was a break from the corporate world for me. Over time, it became a way of life, a space for development, and a way to fulfil the dream of building our own brand.

On a daily basis, I am responsible for running the company and the entire inflatable SUP segment – both Bass and B Light by Bass. I handle marketing, sales, finance, product development, and brand communication.

Jędrek, who is the creator of our designs and co-founder of the brand, often says I am “the brain of the operation.” I think that accurately reflects our division of roles. Each of us brings different skills, but from the beginning we have built the company together and share every success.

It is the combination of his creativity, technical experience, and design passion with my organisational, business, and marketing skills that allowed us to build the brand Bass is today.

How did the collaboration with Decathlon come about and what makes your partnership so well aligned?

Our cooperation with Decathlon has two chapters. The first began five years ago in Poland, and the second is now in the Baltic countries – Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

How did it happen? I think like many good things in business – the right people met at the right time. But before that came years of building the brand, gaining experience, and developing products.

What makes the partnership work so well is mutual trust. Decathlon trusted our experience, and we were given space to create products aligned with the Bass philosophy.

I am especially happy about the development in the Baltic countries. For us, it is more than entering new markets. We were recommended by people who had already experienced our brand, products, and way of working. That is a huge satisfaction and proof that quality, passion, and consistency build trust beyond Poland’s borders.

It is one of the most beautiful moments in a brand’s development – when new opportunities come not through aggressive sales, but through recommendations and trust built over years.

Has Decathlon’s involvement led to specific improvements in the design or technology of your SUP boards?

Of course. Although I must say that because we are very demanding with ourselves and have always focused on creating high-quality products, the B Light by Bass 10’6” model we delivered to Decathlon five years ago was already a very high-quality product. There wasn’t much to improve.

At the same time, we always listen to user and partner feedback, so there is always something that can be developed rather than fundamentally changed. Over the years, we introduced small improvements – from more durable EVA pads, to stronger backpacks, to a new dual-action pump. I believe a good product evolves this way – not through revolutions every season, but through consistent refinement and listening to users.

Decathlon’s involvement, however, had a huge impact on the development of the entire collection. The first B Light by Bass 10’6” was already very refined, but the collaboration allowed us to develop further products within the line and respond to the needs of new user groups. This led to the creation of the 11’1” model and the 11’9” SUP-kayak, which is now one of the biggest hits in our range.

Let’s take a closer look at the B Light by Bass series – what makes it so popular?

I think we managed to create a product that meets real market needs. Many people want to start SUP or paddle recreationally a few times a year. They are looking for good quality, but at a reasonable price.

From the beginning, our goal was to create boards that are affordable but without compromising quality. That’s why the entire B Light by Bass series is made using modern welded technology and materials we trust ourselves.
Customers quickly noticed the difference. They receive a product of higher quality than they would expect in this price segment. I think that is the foundation of the collection’s success.

Over time, the collection expanded. Today, it is not just for beginners. We have models for more ambitious users, lighter paddlers, families, and also for those who have been paddling for years but don’t need the most advanced premium equipment. We wanted to create a collection accessible to everyone – both in terms of use and affordability.

And I think that is exactly what drives its success. For many people, B Light by Bass is simply the optimal choice – offering quality, safety, and functionality without paying for features they will never use.

Which B Light by Bass model is your bestseller and what makes it so popular?

Over the years, the answer has changed as the collection developed. It all started with the 10’6” model, which was for a long time the most popular beginner board.

Currently, the biggest bestseller among Decathlon customers is the B Light by Bass 11’9” SUP-kayak. It is a family board, very versatile and stable, allowing both SUP and kayak configurations. Its success comes from how well it matches modern user needs. For many people, SUP is primarily about active leisure, spending time together, and exploring new places.

Interestingly, from our own store perspective, the 11’9” model shares the top position with the touring 12’2” model, which has been in the B Light by Bass collection from the very beginning. This shows that many users see SUP not only as recreation but also as a way for longer trips and more ambitious paddling.

Interestingly, the 12’2” model only entered Decathlon’s offer this season. I am very curious how customers will receive it, as it has long been appreciated by users looking for a faster, touring-style board while still offering great value for money.

I also hope for the strong return of the 10’6” model, which reappeared in Decathlon’s offer after two years. It is where the B Light by Bass story began and for years it was the first choice for thousands of beginners.

We believe it will stand out thanks to what has always been its strength – build quality, durability, safety, and a very competitive price. This combination made it the first choice for thousands of people starting their SUP journey, and I hope it will continue to do so.

Given the growing saturation of the global inflatable board market, what strategies will you implement to maintain your position as a leading brand?

We constantly look for new opportunities and new customer groups. Sometimes the best strategy is not competing in the most crowded segment, but creating products for users whose needs have not yet been properly addressed.

At the same time, we place even greater emphasis on quality and safety. For years we have invested in product testing, research, and safety procedures. We believe that responsibility and transparency will be among the most important factors building customer trust.

After 10 years in business, we are still developing with the same passion as at the beginning and intend to remain true to that philosophy.

What do you have planned for this season and where can people test the B Light boards?

This season is special for us because we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of BassSUP. As part of our Bass Demo Tour, we will be present at most major SUP events in Poland. We have already attended SUP Silesia and King of the Bay, and upcoming events include Odra SUP Cup (part of the European SUP League), Planet Baltic SUP Race, Beskidzka Masa Krytyczna, and others we will communicate along the way.

At the same time, we are expanding the network of locations where our boards can be tested throughout the season. We are especially happy about two new test centres in southern Poland – Sup Kultura Kraków and Sport District at Lake Żywieckie.

We always say the best way to choose a board is to test it. That’s why we encourage everyone to visit our events, test centres, and partners. Nothing replaces personal experience and time spent on the water with the board itself.

To find out more about Basssup, visit basssup.com

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*Images courtesy of BassSUP