‘All in from the first stroke’: Sergio Cantoral targets European SUP League double header in Switzerland & Poland

The 2026 season is shaping up to be a breakthrough year for Sergio Cantoral. Following his signing with the NSP Team, the 21-year-old Spanish Champion has continued to build momentum with standout performances across the European circuit. Training with Club Deportivo Parres – one of Europe’s most successful SUP development programmes – Sergio heads into the peak of the SUP racing season with an impressive European SUP League (ESL) opener on home waters in Santa Pola, followed by sprint gold at the SUP Alps Trophy’s Lake Rocks Festival.

Already established as one of the most exciting talents in international stand-up paddle racing, Sergio is known for his explosive speed and aggressive racing style. His biggest breakthrough came at the 2025 ICF Stand Up Paddle World Championships in Abu Dhabi, where he claimed world championship gold in the 100m sprint with a remarkable time of 23.92 seconds, beating some of the biggest names in the sport.

Now, with two major European SUP League (ESL) stops fast approaching – Switzerland’s Big Paddle Festival (19-21 June) and Poland’s ODRA SUP Cup in Rybnik (26-28 June) – we caught up with Sergio to talk racing mindset, pressure and what’s driving him through one of the biggest seasons of his career so far.

Photo by Andy Klotz | Lake Rocks Festival 2026

Hola Sergio Cantoral, we are now a few months after your Sprint World Title and Gold Medal in Abu Dhabi. How did you savour this victory, and does the feeling today still compare to what you felt right after crossing the finish line?

Hello everyone! That Gold Medal in Abu Dhabi was one of the craziest moments of my life, and honestly it took me some time to realize what I had achieved that day.

Right after crossing the finish line and hearing my name on the beach, it felt like being inside a dream. It was something I had imagined for so long that when it finally happened, it didn’t even feel real. I was super happy, and I couldn’t stop smiling for the whole weekend…

Now, a few months later, the feeling is different. I still feel proud and happy every time I think about it, but now it also feels like I got rid of a pressure that I didn’t even realize I was carrying and it was there. It gave me a lot of confidence and motivation to keep improving and enjoying the sport even more.

You opened your 2026 international season at home in Santa Pola at the World SUP Festival – European SUP League (ESL) stop #1 – with a victory in front of your home crowd. How special was it to start the year with a win in Spain?

It was amazing. I really wanted to perform well and fight for a win at the World SUP Festival at home, surrounded by my club, my family and my people.

Winning the sprint race was already something very special, but what made it even more emotional was seeing my little brother, Rubén, finish 2nd at only 16 years old. Sharing the podium together in an international event of that level, at home, is definitely one of the happiest and most unforgettable moments I’ve ever experienced in racing.

It gave me a huge boost of motivation for the rest of the season and reminded me why I love this sport so much.

Rubén and Sergio Cantoral

Just behind you in that epic sprint final in Santa Pola were some of the best paddlers in the world. Did that race confirm to you that the level in sprint SUP is higher than ever this season?

Definitely. The gaps are getting smaller every single year and you can really feel how much the level is rising in every discipline.

That sprint final in Santa Pola showed exactly that. The level was incredibly high and the race was decided by very small details. Nowadays, if you want to win, you need to be at your absolute best from the first stroke to the finish line because everyone is fast.

Honestly, I can’t even imagine how close the next ESL races and the World Championships will be in a few months.

On the last day in Santa Pola, you finished second. What lessons do you take from that final, and do you think this hierarchy could change at some point during the season?

That day I really enjoyed the technical races. Maybe not at my best in terms of explosiveness after such a long and demanding weekend, but I surprised myself by feeling stronger during the second lap of the final, which is not usually my strongest point but it has been something I have been trying to improve for some time.

From that final I learned a lot, I could feel comfortable without being in front and I was really happy with how I dealt with the situations during the race and I made my movements when I needed to. I think this is part of the experience, it is not that long since I have been into SUP racing so after every event, race and training in the water I always find new situations and experiences to learn from.

Everything is getting closer and closer and there are so many talented riders right now, so depending on the conditions, the format or even the physical state of each athlete that weekend, the results can change and be very different. That’s what makes racing so exciting at the moment. Let’s see how it will be in the second part of the year but I’m sure that it will be quite interesting…

In Santa Pola, you were racing on your NSP setup. Can you tell us more about the gear you chose for each race and why it suits your paddling style?

For this event I chose the Carolina EVO, it is the most versatile board in the NSP range and with the different race formats and the tough conditions we had in Santa Pola, strong wind, a lot of chop and really demanding water conditions during the three days, it was without any doubt the perfect choice for me.

I chose the 22” wide as I’m taller and heavier than most of the riders. With the experience I have learnt that the difference of speed is minimum between a 20” or a 22”, and much more in the ocean. So this year I changed that looking for commodity and it has turned out to be quite good for me.

This board is super versatile so it really adapts to any type of paddling style.

You are known for being incredibly explosive on the start line and over the first strokes of a sprint race. How have you developed that explosiveness over the years, and what specific work are you focusing on this season to become even faster?

It’s something I’ve been developing and gaining confidence in over the years, and now it has become one of the strongest parts of my racing.

Of course that it is something that is part of my physiology but since I realized it could be a strong point I tried to maximize it.

This year I’m really putting attention to the technical aspect as I think that the most important thing to work on, If my stroke can be more efficient not only will improve my top speed but also my average speed during longer efforts like tech races.

Photo by Andy Klotz | Lake Rocks Festival 2026

You couldn’t attend the Taranto event because it clashed with the Spanish National Championships in Barcelona. Was that a difficult decision to make, and how important was it for you to race there and come away with two national titles?

Yes, it was definitely a difficult decision because I would have loved to race both events. The European SUP League is becoming more and more important and competitive, so missing an event is never ideal.

But at the same time, the Spanish National Championships are always a very important race for me and team selection. Racing in Spain, representing my club and fighting for the national titles means a lot.

In the end, coming away with two national titles made the decision worth it. It was a great weekend and another good confidence boost for the rest of the season.

There are still four events left in the European SUP League season. Are you planning to attend all of them, and which locations or races are you most excited about?

Of course my plan is to attend all of them. The level of the ESL this year is amazing, and I really want to stay consistent throughout the whole season and keep fighting at the front in the overall ranking.

Honestly I can’t wait to the Switzerland and Poland events this June. In 2022 I went to both countries for my first international event in Swiss waters and then to my first World Championship experience in Poland where I got my first world title as a junior. So I’m really looking forward to more action of racing next month!

This season it’s going to be an intense one and the calendar is already looking busy so my main goal is to stay healthy, enjoy every session, learn as much as I can and keep doing what I love!

To find out more about NSP, visit nspsurfboards.com 

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To find out more about European SUP League (ESL), visit europeansupleague.com

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European SUP Tour Calendar 2026:

• Switzerland – Zurich | June 19–21
• Poland – Rybnik  | June 26–28
• Spain – Huelva | September 5–6
• Portugal – Sesimbra | September 11–13

*Images courtesy of World SUP Festival / European SUP League (ESL)