GlaGla Race 2024: Timo Hage & the Light Board Corp squad all set for the iconic event

The iconic GlaGla Race 2024 kicking off on the 19 January on Lake Annecy, France, is a staple on the Light Board Corp  Race Team SUP calendar. In the run up to this “arctic” race and an undisputed, SUP community-driven phenomenon on the racing map, we catch up with Timo Hage, the Light Rider and an all-round waterman based in Germany, to chat about the upcoming event and his take on the sport of stand-up paddleboarding.

Photo by Andy Klotz Photography

Hi Timo, welcome to TotalSUP! Could you tell us more about your watersport background and how did you get into the sport of stand-up paddleboarding and then progressed into SUP racing?

Hello Anna, thank you for the invitation, I’m glad to talk to you about our loved sport. I learned windsurfing as a child and took part in the race board regattas at the age of twelve. Since 1989 I have been an active member of a windsurfing and sailing clubs, and I take part in the regattas three times a year.

For a long time I didn’t really take SUP seriously but it got me more and more on the water even on windless days. SUP complements wind sports perfectly and brings regularity to training. In 2019, I finally borrowed a 14 foot SUP race board and participated in the first SUP Alps Trophy race at the Tegernsee. I’m currently learning wing foiling which unfortunately takes some time away from windsurfing.

Photo by Andy Klotz Photography

We catch up in the run up to the GlaGla race. What’s unique about this event?

The GlaGla is a special challenge. The GlaGla is a good test to find out your personal training level, especially during the off-season. But it is also a New Year’s meeting of the European SUP scene. I’m looking forward to it!

Any GlaGla race tips?

As mentioned, this is a special SUP racing challenge. Not because of the cold, you can definitely dress too warmly and overheat. Ok, your feet definitely will be cold. Getting to the first buoy is already a challenge for most people, so it’s important not to choose a board that’s too narrow. Once you have made it past the Castel without a dip, you should be able to listen to your body, the race is still going on.

At the end, you pass a rock wall, which may reflect motorboat waves. Once you have passed this, the finish is already within reach, soon it’s time for the final sprint.

What’s your local SUP scene like and do you see a lot of interest in the competitive side of our sport?

At my home spot we have a very cool Surf and SUP center and a wakeboard center great events are held there. But it’s more about beach lifestyle there than competitive sports.

We’ve seen a lot of stoke and true talent coming out of the SUP Alps Trophy series. You all seem like a close-knit community. Could you tell us more about these SUP racing events?

Yes that’s right, the SUP Alps Trophy weekend almost feels like a little family vacation. The sport level is high and everyone respects each other very much. We have also a high-level athletes in the older age groups, it is remarkable how fast some “old gentlemen” can still be.

Photo by Andy Klotz Photography

What makes the series special and why should other paddlers get involved?

Our sport takes us to beautiful places, you can see that the organization of the races is done out of pure passion. At the races we also have short distance fun races to give people access to the competitive side of the sport. With Andy Klotz involved in the events, we have the best photographer on the ground and everyone gets beautiful souvenir photos after the race.

Photo by Andy Klotz Photography

We also saw a great photo of you training and paddling with your son – Is he into SUP racing too?

I have three soccer players at home, they are always competitive with each other and I think the team sport is very important for personal development. Our individual sport, on the other hand is pure soul food for them. It’s important to me to teach my kids to treat mother nature with respect and enjoy it.

Image source: Light Board Corp

What’s needed to get the young generation into the sport and grow it as a competitive discipline?

For young paddlers SUP is something very special, kids learn quickly and love the idea of competition. It is the responsibility of us adults that kids also get the necessary support, in my younger years I always had a lot of support from my surf club. So clubs and SUP Teams like the SUP Kids Makkum, Havel Racer, SUPer, SUP Team Ingolstadt, SUP Kids Berlin do this in an exemplary way.

Could you tell us about your collaboration with Light Board Corp?

We have some of the Germany’s best SUP athletes on the team and I can learn a lot from them. The Light Board Corp Founder Gerd Weisner is at the start of every race, he provides the most innovative boards on the market. We even have a board doctor on the Team as well who helps when there are smaller repairs to do. I’m happy to be part of the team as a racer as the team spirit is great.

What’s your Light Board Corp set up?

I have now already tried a few different boards, due to my weight and my relatively high center of gravity, I can either choose a wider board, or a lower stand area. A wider tail also gives the board some extra stability. I ride the  LIGHTBOARDCORP®PARADOXA  14’x23” and I feel very comfortable on it.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by TotalSUP (@totalsup)

What are your 2024 SUP goals?

We have a traditional Winter Cup race series here in Germany and the Netherlands with one race per month, this keeps the motivation up over winter. My goal for 2024 is to defend my top 10 place in the SUP Alps Trophy ranking. In the end what counts for me is time on the water, the key is always to have fun and be passionate.

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

Follow Light Board Corp on Facebook and Instagram 

Follow Timo Hage on Instagram 

*Images courtesy of Timo Hago