Emmanuelle Marcon to defend her SUP 11-City Tour Grand Diva Title

Few races in the world of stand-up paddling exert the same magnetic pull as the SUP 11-City Tour. Over the years, TotalSUP has documented countless stories of paddlers returning to the event again and again. For many, it becomes far more than a race – it’s a lifetime bucket-list challenge that often evolves into a recurring personal quest. Some come back to improve their performance, others to reconnect with the unique atmosphere and community and an increasing number make the progression from the traditional multi-day format to the ultimate test: the NON-STOP race.

That enduring appeal continues to attract some of the sport’s biggest names. Emmanuelle Marcon, Ultra SUP Race French Champion, Vice World Sprint SUP Champion, Coach at Pure Paddle Fitness, expedition guide and Light Board Corp athlete, has confirmed her participation for 2026. She returns not only to defend her 2025 Grand Divas title but also to once again embrace one of the sport’s most iconic and demanding challenges.

In its 18th edition, the SUP 11 City Tour is held in two formats this September: the NON-STOP event on 5-6 September, followed by the classic 5-day stage race from 9-13 September. Together, they offer paddlers a choice between an uncompromising endurance challenge and the legendary multi-day experience that has made the event a cornerstone of the international SUP calendar.

Hi Emmanuelle, welcome back to TotalSUP! You won the Grand Divas category at the SUP 11-City Tour in 2025 – massive congrats! How many times have you competed in the Tour, and what keeps bringing you back to such a demanding ultra-endurance race? Will you be defending your title this year?

Thank you! 2025 was my first time participating in the 5-stage SUP 11-City Tour. I’d wanted to do this race for a long time, but each time there were other events that also interested me at the same time of year. But after this first participation, I only had one desire: to go back! It was the most extraordinary event I’ve ever participated in.

I will, of course, defend my Grand Divas title. And now that all categories will be combined in the overall standings, I’ll also try to finish on the women’s podium across all age categories.

What is it about the event itself – the distance, the canals, the atmosphere – that makes it so special compared to other races?

This event is exceptional, firstly because it’s run in 5 stages, and there are very few multi-day SUP races. I also participated in the Loire 725 (in relay), where 5 out of 7 stages are around 120 km, which is very long for a woman on a SUP (about 12 hours of paddling per day). At the SUP 11-City Tour, the stages are about 45 km per day “only” and 27 km on the 5th day. So, depending on the wind, this meant my stages lasted between 5 and 6 hours 15 minutes (and less than 4 hours on the 5th day). It’s almost comfortable!

In the morning, the races start around 9 am. By 3 or 4 pm, the stage is finished. So there’s really time to unwind and rest between each stage, and to start the next day feeling refreshed. The final 27 km stage is a time trial, with everyone starting one minute apart, from slowest to fastest. It’s a fun twist towards the end of the week. It’s the last day, but you need to find the energy to achieve the best possible time.

Moreover, the organization is so efficient that you hardly have to worry about anything. Each stage (except the 5th) includes a mandatory 15-minute stop where you can use the restroom, refill your water bladder, have a snack, or enjoy a hot soup. At the end of the first four stages, about ten massage therapists or physiotherapists are set up in a room, and each racer receives a 20-minute massage: pure bliss!

Then, a hot and hearty meal is provided by the organizers, allowing you to relax and take the time to chat with the other participants. In the evening, the boards are left there for the next day’s stage. All these elements mean there’s absolutely no logistics to manage all day. It’s incredibly relaxing mentally and allows you to stay focused on the race.

What’s also fantastic is the landscape and surroundings!  The canals are anything but boring. Some are very narrow, others very wide, some are very quiet, and others teeming with all kinds of boats. On the first two stages, some canals cross fairly large lakes. Sometimes you’re surrounded by nature, seeing horses, sheep, and other times you pass through charming villages and see windmills.

There is also an impressive number of bridges. Some bridges are raised to allow large boats to pass, so you can remain standing to pass them. Other bridges are lowered, and sometimes you practically have to lie down on your board!

The atmosphere during the races is incredible. At every bridge, in every village, there are tons of people cheering you on, shouting… There are even people waving to you from inside their houses! There are also many volunteers along the entire race route on boats, some with music playing.

In addition, many people choose to do the SUP 11-City Tour in “tour” mode, meaning without rankings. They start before the competitors, around 8 am. This means that throughout the day, you will pass other racers (or they will pass you). All these elements mean that you rarely feel alone in the middle of nowhere, as it is often the case in ultra endurance races.

The atmosphere before and after the races is also fantastic. The organizing team and volunteers are top-notch. The racers come from all over the world.

Finally, the accommodation is also unique, as there’s the option of sleeping in cabins on magnificent vintage boats that follow the race.

You’ve been racing on the Light Board Corp PARADOXA – has it influenced your racing style at all, and if so, how?

I’ve been using the PARADOXA for nearly two years now and I love it. Before, I often drove to race with a flatwater board and an all-water board, just in case the wind and chop would pick up. Now, I know that with my 21-inch PARADOXA, I can handle almost any conditions, even if the weather changes (it even holds up well in small downwind runs).

The board is so stable that I can focus on my paddling stroke without wasting energy trying to find my balance. Also, being very light, it reacts very quickly when you accelerate, for example, to try and catch someone’s draft. This lightness is also very welcome in upwind sections, allowing you to get less tired.

You also used your 14×21 PARADOXA board for that 2025 win, the board is known as a demanding, performance-focused machine – how did it feel to race it, especially in such a long multi-day endurance race?

The PARADOXA was perfect for the conditions at the SUP 11-City Tour, which can be very varied. We’re on the North Sea coast, so the wind is very often a factor.

Depending on the orientation of the channels, we can have it head-on, at our backs, or from the side. The first two stages also involve crossing lakes. If the wind is blowing, those lakes can be quite choppy. So it’s really great to have the PARADOXA, which is so versatile.

Choosing a race board means business – were you aiming for the win from the start, and what do you think really clicked for you to achieve it?

Honestly, for my first time participating, I didn’t really know what to expect. Generally, my goal is first and foremost to enjoy myself and give it my all, but of course, I try to get the best possible ranking! In the Grand Divas category, there was Dorthe Nielsen, who has won this race many times. I tried to distance myself from her on each stage, but sometimes she was really close behind (or even ahead), so I didn’t give up!

In a single-stage race, you always have a general idea of where you stand compared to the other competitors. But here, the final ranking is based on the cumulative times of the 5 stages. So, on each stage, I tried to set the best possible time, rather than drafting with Dorthe, in order to try and gain a few minutes’ advantage, in case I wasn’t feeling as good on a later stage (but that didn’t happen).

What would you say to women out there who are thinking about taking on the SUP 11-City challenge?

I would tell them that it’s truly a race not to be missed. In fact, it’s not just a race, it’s a complete experience! It’s less demanding than a 100 or 120 km ultra-marathon in a single day. Even though it lasts several days, all the conditions are in place for proper recovery between each stage.

And for those coming from afar, it’s possible to arrive by train or plane and rent a board from the organizers. It certainly requires taking almost a week of vacation, but it will be an unforgettable holiday!

What’s still the biggest unknown or challenge when you go back to SUP 11-City Tour this year?

I think the biggest unknown is the weather and the wind! Any type of weather is possible during this week of racing, every day can be different.

The other exciting challenge is that now all the women will be able to race together, without any restrictions on drafting between age groups (the same applies to the men). I think that will be even more fun!

To find out more about SUP 11-City Tour and register for the event, visit sup11citytour.com

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To find out more about LIGHTBOARDCORP® designs, visit lightboardcorp.com 

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*Images courtesy of SUP 11-City Tour