Emmanuelle Marcon: Big wins and a new partnership with Light Board Corp

As we’re publishing this story, Emmanuelle Marcon, the 2024 Ultra SUP Race French Champion, Vice World Sprint Champ SUP,  Coach at Pure Paddle Fitness and expedition guide, will be gearing up to power through the rapids of the Marathon des Gorges de l’Ardèche , the 36km race in the southern Ardèche region of France.

Photo by Alexis Fernet

Hi Emmanuelle, massive congratulations on your recent Alpine Lakes Tour’s Very Flat Race win! We’d love to hear about your board choice – the Light Board Corp PARADOXA 14×21! You also dom

Thank you! I have had the PARADOXA since August. The Lyon Kayak and the Very Flat Race were my first races with this board. I really enjoyed discovering the board on these two flat water races.

Could you tell us more about your relationship with the Light Board Corp brand?

In July, after the Y-Race organized by the Teulade Brothers, I had the chance to try Olivier Comazzi‘s PARADOXA 14×21 in various conditions—on flat water as well as in choppy conditions when the wind picked up. I felt really comfortable on this board, so Olivier gave me the contact for Gerd Weisner, the shaper and head of Light Board Corp. I wrote to him, sharing all my race results and expressing my interest in a partnership with his brand. I was able to get the rider rate for the board and join the Light Board Corp Team.

Photo by Alexis Fernet

What are the key features you prioritize in a high-performance race board? And what makes the PARADOXA stand out?

With my small frame (1.56 m, 54 kg), I prefer lightweight boards. My 14×21 PARADOXA, in naked ud carbon finish with less paint, weighs exactly 9 kg. It’s almost a pleasure to carry! On the water, just one or two well-placed paddle strokes are enough to make it accelerate on flat water or catch even the smallest bump. You can also feel the action of the legs very well: as soon as I engage my legs a little more to help moving the board forward, I can immediately feel the effect on the glide.

Additionally, stability and tracking in side chop and crosswinds have always been my weak points. But this board is incredibly stable in those conditions and stays on course. It’s also very steady in the “chaos” of race starts.

Finally, this board is so stable and manoeuvrable (for my weight) that I can also use it in small swell and wave conditions.

Photo by Alexis Fernet

How has your experience been with the board? You mentioned its exceptional stability—that’s the well-known “paradox” of the PARADOXA!

I just spent a week in the Mediterranean with this board for two races: “Les Ailes de Saint-Tropez” and then the long-distance event at the French Championships. Between the two, I did some recreational paddling and training sessions. Even with swell or small waves, I used the PARADOXA for everything – I never needed to take out my all-water board.

It’s definitely an advantage to know you can go to a race with one board that works in most conditions, rather than needing two or three different boards! Of course, for downwind conditions, you’d still need to switch to a different type of board.

You also shared some stats with Gerd Weisner about increasing your average speed—could you tell us more about that?

The Very Flat Race is a 12 km event I’ve done almost every year for a long time. Each time, Lake Aiguebelette is completely flat with almost no wind, making it a great way to compare my speeds from year to year. My best average speed on this course had been 8.7 km/h (which was also my best average on other flat races with no current or wind).

With the PARADOXA, my average speed at the Very Flat Race 2024 was 8.9 km/h! I think this is due to the board’s incredible glide, as well as the fact that I no longer lose time stabilizing in the wake created by other competitors, whether at the start or in different parts of the course.

Photo by Alexis Fernet

You have an amazing knack for long-distance endurance paddling in challenging, non-flat water conditions. How did the PARADOXA handle in choppier waters and stronger winds?

I haven’t yet had the chance to do any ultra-endurance races with the Paradoxa. However, I did get to test it in choppy conditions during the long-distance event (11 km) at the 2024 French Championships in St. Raphaël. Despite the gusty wind and choppy Mediterranean waters, I really appreciated being able to push without worrying much about stability.

On one part of the course, the wind tended to push us offshore, but the PARADOXA held its direction well. At certain points, there were small bumps, and it was amazing to just take 2 or 3 paddle strokes to feel the board accelerate over each bump, helping me catch up with the competitor ahead!

Is the PARADOXA a good choice for aspiring paddlers looking to step into the competitive side of the sport?

It’s hard to say, as everyone has their own experience. What I do know is that after the Very Flat Race, I let a fellow rider who was in her first race after only a few months on an inflatable board, try the PARADOXA. She immediately felt comfortable and stable on it. However, for some people who are used to flat-deck boards, it can be a bit surprising at first to be on a deeply dugout deck like the one on the PARADOXA.

It’s also worth noting that getting back on a recessed deck after a fall is more challenging (but luckily, the board is so stable that falls are rare!).

Photo by Alexis Fernet

As the season comes to a close, what are your SUP plans moving forward?

I’m wrapping up the season with the Marathon des Gorges de l’Ardèche, a race I love on a stunning river with class II rapids. I’ll test the PARADOXA there the day before the race since I haven’t yet tried it out on a river.

Then it’s time for a two-month break, filled with hiking, cross-country skiing, and ski touring. In 2025, I’m planning to focus on ultra-long distances: the Dordogne Intégrale, 10 Hours of Vassivière, and an exciting new challenge – the SUP 11-City Tour in five stages. I’m looking forward to testing the PARADOXA on these different courses.

I’ll also be leading several SUP trips in amazing locations:

• Two expeditions where I’ll be an assistant guide: on Sweden’s longest river with SUPdriven, and in a fjord in Norway with SUP Norway.
• And two trips that I’m organizing, with day SUP excursions: in Sardinia (as every year) and, if all goes well, I’ll be offering a new trip to Slovenia on the Soča River and nearby lakes.

I hope many of you will join me on these adventures!

Thank you for your time and insights, Emmanuelle! Wishing you an epic finish to the SUP racing season! 

To find out more about LIGHTBOARDCORP® designs, visit lightboardcorp.com  and check out our full interview with Gerd Weisner

Follow Light Board Corp on Facebook and Instagram 

Follow Emmanuelle on Instagram