The inaugural ICF SUP World Cup in the UK is now part of history. Spearheaded by Brendon Prince – extreme adventurer, water safety and Blue Mind advocate, and holder of eight world records – with the backing of Paddle UK and local partners including the English Riviera BID Company, Torbay Council and Tor Bay Harbour Authority, the English Riviera was selected by the International Canoe Federation as the host venue for this landmark event. The selection marked a significant milestone, firmly placing the UK on the international SUP radar.
From 24-28 June 2026, the English Riviera welcomed athletes, paddlers and spectators to the ICF SUP World Cup and SUPER Festival 2026. in Torquay. Set against the turquoise waters and sheltered bays of Torquay and Paignton, the five‑day celebration showcased what makes stand‑up paddleboarding unique: its ability to unite elite racers, community paddlers and complete newcomers in one shared event. Competitors represented 15 countries, including Denmark, France, Germany, India, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Bulgaria and Switzerland.
Photo by Garry Bowden
One of the defining features of the event was its inclusive atmosphere. Participants of all abilities shared the same beach, the same launch area and the same race courses as the world’s best paddlers. For many festival participants, it was a unique opportunity to paddle alongside athletes they normally only follow through social media and international competition. Everyone shared the same excitement, the same finish line and the same passion for the sport, creating an atmosphere that was both inspiring and welcoming.
Beyond the ICF World Cup competition, the SUPER Festival offered a full programme of races and activities for recreational paddlers. Festival competitors raced on the same venue and celebrated on the same podiums as the ICF World Cup medallists, reinforcing the event’s philosophy of making high-level competition accessible to everyone.
Brendon Prince with the SUPER Festival participants
The Festival Village served as the heart of the event throughout the week. Open to both participants and the general public, it featured exhibitors showcasing the latest SUP equipment, boards, paddles, apparel and accessories, alongside partner activations, community activities and opportunities to connect with brands, clubs and fellow paddlers. The village created a vibrant festival atmosphere that extended well beyond the racing and helped introduce many new visitors to the sport.
In the official ICF World Cup competition, the standout story was the remarkable dominance of the triple gold medallists. Cecilia Pampinella (Italy), Manuel Hoyuela (Spain), Susanne Lier (Germany) and Marie Buchanan (United Kingdom) each completed a clean sweep of the Sprint, Technical and Long Distance disciplines, headlining a memorable first ICF SUP World Cup & SUPER Festival on UK shores.
The junior competitions also produced breakthrough performances. Portugal’s Lourenço Viveiros announced himself as one of the sport’s rising stars by claiming gold in both the Sprint and Technical races. Representing the host nation, Alfred Gregory delivered one of Great Britain’s standout performances, winning Long Distance gold and adding silver medals in both the Sprint and Technical races to finish third overall in the men’s standings.
Lourenço Viveiros and Alfred Gregory | Photo by Garry Bowden
Among the event’s most memorable moments was the performance of French talent Greg Limelette, who claimed bronze in the Sprint and Silver in the Technical race in the Open division. Adding to the occasion was the opportunity to see Greg competing alongside his father, Yann Limelette, who raced in the Masters 50+ division – an aspiring reminder of the family spirit and inclusive nature of stand-up paddleboarding.
Throughout the week, we had the pleasure of catching up with many paddlers on the beach and in the Festival Village. From world champions to rising stars, they shared their experiences of racing, the atmosphere and what made this historic event so special. Here are reflections from Cecilia Pampinella, Manuel Hoyuela, Susanne Lier, Marie Buchanan, Tommaso Pampinella, Emily Evans and Bruce Smith following an unforgettable week on the English Riviera.
Cecilia Pampinella, Italy | Photo by Garry Bowden
“My experience at the ICF World Cup in Torquay was definitely positive! I really liked the location. I had never been to England before the race, and I have to say it surprised me. Torquay is a seaside town with lots of nature and wonderful people. The event was well organized; it was three days of intense racing with windy conditions and bumps, just the way I like them, and I had a lot of fun.
I didn’t expect so many people to cheer me on without even knowing me. This surprised me and made me really happy. The UK community is truly genuine and beautiful, everyone is so respectful and always smiling. Lots of people stopped me to take photos and made me feel important, as if I were a role model for them. This makes me very happy.”
Manuel Hoyuela, Spain | Photo by Garry Bowden
“The UK always makes my heart happy. Last week I travelled to Torquay for the ICF World Cup, and the experience was amazing. I shared so many great moments with awesome people.
A huge thank you to all the organisers, volunteers, and staff for making it all possible.”
Susanne Lier, Switzerland | Photo by Garry Bowden
“The ICF SUP World Cup & SUPER Festival 2026 was a very big surprise for me, in only positive ways.
The location and conditions are not easy for creating a top event where every level of paddler is able to give their best. In all three disciplines, we had challenging conditions, and I loved every minute of being back racing in my total comfort zone. Big up to the race direction for keeping the promised formats in such conditions while ensuring everyone’s safety.
I’ve rarely been to an international event where we had so much positive energy on the water and on the beach. Everyone cheered for everyone. High fives, hugs, and lots of smiles and laughs at the finish line are really something special and show that we are a great community.
The UK SUP community has always welcomed me warmly, and I’m happy to be able to come back every year to teach and race.”
Marie Buchanan, United Kingdom | Photo by Garry Bowden
“Just a week following on from the weekend’s ICF World Cup Event in Torbay, South Devon – I am still buzzing from the experience!
The event took place at Torre Abby Sands in Torquay. Torbay – AKA ‘the Bay’ is where I grew up, went to school and college and where my watersports journey began way back in my teens in the late 80’s!
Since winning two gold medals at the ICF World Championships, Thailand in 2023, I had taken a step back from the international SUP racing scene to focus on my physiotherapy career and return to practice. I have of course not stopped or lost my passion for paddling, with the odd local race event here and there just to keep my hand in and sup race fitness up alongside my other loves of SUP Surfing, wing foiling and learning to surf and downwind paddle on a foil!
Marie Buchanan with Susanne Lier | Photo by Garry Bowden
Last weekends, ICF World Cup Event was the perfect opener for me back to international SUP competition. Having competed in just 2 local races this year, I decided to enter all three disciplines: sprint, technical and distance and to use the first sprint event as a warmup to get me back into the racing zone. My plan worked perfectly!
I was absolutely delighted to come away with three goals in all three disciplines in the 50+ masters category amongst a Strong competitive Field of 50+ ladies, far exceeding my pre- event expectations. My starboard Allstar worked perfectly in the bouncy, windy conditions and it felt great to be back racing again especially on home waters where I grew up!
There was an incredible vibe on the beach and in the bandstand where the medal ceremony took place over the three days of competition. It was fabulous to have the festival racing taking place alongside the elite racing, together with demo sessions, trade stands and paddlers of all abilities all enjoying the beach and altogether sharing the SUP Stoke at Torre Abby Sands.”
Tommaso Pampinella, Italy | Photo by Garry Bowden
“The ICF World Cup in Torbay has been a race to remember for me. This race was on my bucket list since the beginning of the year, and I decided to try to be in my best physical shape for it.
I love travelling around the world, especially for my SUP race adventures, and I love racing in places where I’ve never raced before. That was one of the reasons I decided to race in Torbay. SUP is not only about winning races but also about meeting new people and discovering new places, and in Torbay I found exactly what I was looking for.
I dreamed about and worked hard to experience days like this, and I am proud of myself for making it happen. Even if everything may have looked easy, it wasn’t. There were many unexpected things and difficulties for me before and during the event. It has been a very challenging year, and every year it becomes more difficult to maintain my highest standards. I can honestly say that I gave 100% of myself to be prepared for this race.
Tommaso with his sister, Cecilia Pampinella| Photo by Garry Bowden
I am mainly preparing for the 100m sprint races, and most of my training is focused on that distance. So I was hoping for flat water and a 100m course, but only two hours before the race I discovered that it wasn’t going to be as I had hoped. The race course was over 200m, and the ocean was very choppy and windy, so I had to change my technique, equipment, and mindset only two hours before the start. Luckily, the race directors did a great job and respected the race schedule, giving me enough time to prepare everything and be ready at my best on the starting line.
The place was amazing. I loved Torbay and the English Riviera in general, and I am very happy to have paddled there. The energy from the people watching the races from the beach was incredible – better than at many other international events – and the atmosphere was fantastic.
The SUPER Festival Village was one of the best I have seen in the last three years, and everyone was very friendly. It was great to see so many stands in the village, and it reminded me of my very first SUP races back in 2016. I hope to be back soon!”
Bruce ‘Ironsmith’ Smith, United Kingdom | Photo by Garry Bowden
“I’d been looking forward to the racing all year, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Thankfully, the extreme heat of earlier in the week had eased, and we were treated to some fantastic conditions come the weekend.
Friday’s sprints were super fun. The wind and backwash from the pier made for some interesting starts. I hadn’t sprinted for a couple of years, but I’ve loved getting back into it this year. I felt I raced well in both the heats and the final, and I was stoked to come a close second to Kiran Raval, who was on fire.
I chose not to race on Saturday and instead had a much-needed beach day holiday with Karen, but I was back for the distance race on Sunday. For the Festival race, the conditions looked pretty calm, but I knew the wind would be picking up by the time my race started. That prediction came true, and we were treated to a hard grind up to Paignton into the wind, followed by a nice downwind run back. I can’t remember the last time my body hurt so much!
It was great fun catching the bumps and trying to keep Sebastian in my sights while not letting the chasing pack come past. Fortunately, at the last turn I picked a good line to the beach and just managed to pip Seb in another sprint for the win.
Overall, it was a fantastic event with so much more going on than just the racing. I’d just like to say a big thank you to the ICF, Paddle UK, Brenon Prince and the whole team for working together and putting on a masterclass of an event, both on the water and in the event village.
Lastly, thank you to my sponsors, Naish and Blackfish Paddles, for their continued support.”
Emily Evans, Wales | Photo by SUPJunkie.uk
“The World Cup in Torquay had such a brilliant atmosphere, it was lovely to see all paddlers supporting one another and everybody challenging themselves on the water.
I had such a good time racing all three events, and I really want to thank Brendon Prince and the whole Paddle UK and race crew for putting on such a good event!”
Sarah with Nicola Volani, racer from Italy | Photo by SUPJunkie.uk
“It was an honour to broadcast the ICF SUP World Cup and SUPer Festival with my co-host Simon from SUPfm Podcast. Watching our UK paddlers battle it out with International athletes from 12 other nations, made for some exciting commentary.
The location and weather were perfect and over the three days we saw some incredible paddling from them all. From World Champions to those who had never paddled on the sea before, it really was a very inclusive event.
Upsets, surprises and total domination from others; let us hope that the footage and photos from this event, the stories we and others will tell, will lead to more participation in our wonderful sport of SUP racing. Thanks again Anna and awesome job on all of your coverage for the event!”
Susanne Lier | Photo by Garry Bowden
Long Distance Women Open
1st – Cecilia Pampinella – 48:40.1
2nd – Annabel Page – 49:28.4 (+0:48.3)
3rd – Skadi Langbein – 52:06.8 (+3:26.7)
4th – Emily Louise Evans – 52:51.1 (+4:11.0)
5th – Michelle Kimbler – 55:15.0 (+6:34.9)
6th – Felicity Hurst – 1:04:40.2 (+16:00.1)
7th – Leanne Bisson – 1:19:38.8 (+30:58.7)
Long Distance Women 40+
1st – Susanne Lier – 55:24.1
2nd – Louise Court – 1:02:36.4 (+7:12.3)
3rd – Gemma Palmer-Dighton – 1:17:24.9 (+22:00.8)
4th – Merle Wilson – 1:18:22.2 (+22:58.1)
5th – Helen Nightingale – 1:28:12.9 (+32:48.8)
6th – Beckey Wighton – 1:28:37.9 (+33:13.8)
7th – Helen Ambler – 1:34:40.6 (+39:16.5)
Long Distance Women 50+
1st – Marie Buchanan – 55:53.4
2nd – Sara Oddera – 57:57.2 (+2:03.8)
3rd – Sonya Brotherton – 1:04:22.5 (+8:29.1)
4th – Sara Maxey – 1:06:32.6 (+10:39.2)
5th – Sarah Perkins – 1:06:34.6 (+10:41.2)
6th – Sarah Marshall – 1:15:07.9 (+19:14.5)
7th – Marianne Sonnichsen – 1:15:17.0 (+19:23.6)
8th – Lee-Ann Williams – 1:15:48.3 (+19:54.9)
Long Distance Junior Men
1st – Alfred Gregory – 44:46.2
2nd – Drew Barber – 50:46.1 (+5:59.9)
Long Distance Men Open
1st – Manuel Hoyuela Rojas – 43:41.4
2nd – Greg Limelette – 44:20.1 (+0:38.7)
3rd – Tommaso Pampinella – 45:00.1 (+1:18.7)
4th – Joe Jones – 50:41.7 (+7:00.3)
5th – Tom Moran – 51:00.6 (+7:19.2)
6th – Charlie Wagg – 51:03.7 (+7:22.3)
Long Distance Men 40+
1st — Padhraic O’Connor — 55:14.1
2nd — Glen Sloss — 56:38.9
3rd — Jonathan Sherwin — 58:09.8
4th — Maurice Roberts — 59:54.3
5th — Dave Scott — 1:00:27.1
6th — Nicola Volani — 1:09:33.6
7th — Steven Dodd — 1:26:52.7
Long Distance Men 50+
1st — Bruce Smith — 52:23.9
2nd — Sebastian Monserrat Orell — 52:26.8
3rd — Denzil Williams — 53:32.8
4th — Kiran Raval — 54:07.6
5th — Paul Drake — 56:15.1
6th — Eric Amada — 1:00:39.0
7th — Karl Eugster — 1:04:09.4
8th — Keith Gorman — 1:09:31.6
9th — Yann Limelette — 1:09:35.6
10th — Darren Cox — 1:12:35.5
11th — Kevin Jackson — 1:15:28.8
12th — Aiyaroo Sathish Kumar — 1:20:09.4
Tech Race Women Open – From left: Annabel Page, Cecilia Pampinella and Hanna Kaminska | Photo by Garry Bowden
Tech Race Women Open – Top 5
1st — Cecilia Pampinella — 7:05.3
2nd — Annabel Page — 7:32.3
3rd — Hanna Kaminska — 7:49.4
4th — Emily Louise Evans — 7:58.8
5th — Michelle Kimbler — 8:07.1
Tech Race Women 40+ – Top 5
1st — Susanne Lier — 8:21.1
2nd — Louise Court — 8:48.2
3rd — Holly Grist — 9:11.6
4th — Merle Wilson — 10:28.2
5th — Helen Nightingale — 10:30.0
Tech Race Women 50+ – From left: Sara Oddera, Marie Buchanan and Sara Maxey | Photo by Garry Bowden
Tech Race Women 50+ – Top 5
1st — Marie Buchanan — 8:29.9
2nd — Sara Oddera — 8:42.3
3rd — Sara Maxey — 8:55.9
4th — Sarah Perkins — 9:16.0
5th — Sonya Brotherton — 9:40.1
Tech Race Junior Divison – From left: Alfred Gregory, Lourenço Viveiros and Miłosz Sytnik | Photo by Garry Bowden
Tech Race Junior Men
1st — Lourenço Viveiros — 6:26.1
2nd — Alfred Gregory — 6:26.8
3rd — Miłosz Sytnik — 7:33.4
4th — Drew Barber — 8:05.8
Tech Race Men Open – From left: Greg Limelette, Manuel Hoyuela and Tommaso Pampinella | Photo by Garry Bowden
Tech Race Men Open – Top 5
1st — Manuel Hoyuela Rojas — 6:20.5
2nd — Greg Limelette — 6:26.4
3rd — Tommaso Pampinella — 6:39.8
4th — Charlie Wagg — 7:42.4
5th — Tom Moran — 7:56.7
Tech Race Men 40+ – From left: Padhraic O’Connor, Dave Scott and Glen Sloss | Photo by Garry Bowden
Tech Race Men 40+ – Top 5
1st — Dave Scott — 8:35.5
2nd — Padhraic O’Connor — 8:41.6
3rd — Glen Sloss — 8:45.9
4th — Jonathan Sherwin — 9:12.0
5th — Maurice Roberts — 9:47.7
Tech Race Men 50+ – From left: Paul Drake and Kiran Raval | Photo by Garry Bowden
Tech Race Men 50+ – Top 5
1st — Sebastian Monserrat Orell — 8:14.4
2nd — Paul Drake — 8:19.0
3rd — Kiran Raval — 8:20.5
4th — Denzil Williams — 8:22.6
5th — Matthew Brookes — 8:34.3
Sprint Race Women Open – From left: Michelle Kimbler, Cecilia Pampinella and Emily Evans | Photo by Garry Bowden
Sprint Race Women Open – Top 5
1st — Cecilia Pampinella — 1:03.6
2nd — Michelle Kimbler — 1:10.3
3rd — Emily Louise Evans — 1:15.9
4th — Skadi Langbein — 1:21.7
5th — Hanna Kaminska — 1:39.9
Sprint Race Women 40+ – Top 5
1st — Susanne Lier — 1:25.3
2nd — Holly Grist — 1:31.5
3rd — Merle Wilson — 1:38.1
4th — Nicola Park — 1:47.9
5th — Helen Nightingale — 1:50.7
Sprint Race Women 50+ – Top 5
1st — Marie Buchanan — 1:22.7
2nd — Sara Oddera — 1:25.1
3rd — Sonya Brotherton — 1:30.7
4th — Sarah Perkins — 1:42.6
5th — Sara Maxey — 1:47.4
Sprint Race Junior Men
1st — Lourenço Viveiros — 1:04.3
2nd — Alfred Gregory — 1:06.5
3rd — Miłosz Sytnik — 2:29.0
Sprint Race Men Open – Top 5
1st — Manuel Hoyuela Rojas — 0:59.9
2nd — Tommaso Pampinella — 1:02.9
3rd — Greg Limelette — 1:05.8
4th — Joe Jones — 1:24.5
5th — Tom Moran — 1:43.5
Sprint Race Men 40+ – Top 5
1st — Padhraic O’Connor — 1:18.4
2nd — Glen Sloss — 1:21.1
3rd — Dave Scott — 1:23.1
4th — Jonathan Sherwin — 1:23.8
5th — Chris Lambert — 1:48.4
Sprint Race Men 50+ – From left: Bruce Smith, Kiran Raval and Karl Eugster | Photo by Garry Bowden
Sprint Race Men 50+ – Top 5
1st — Kiran Raval — 1:18.3
2nd — Bruce Smith — 1:23.2
3rd — Karl Eugster — 1:28.0
4th — Eric Amada — 1:30.3
5th — Paul Drake — 1:31.1
*Images courtesy of Paddle UK / ICF SUP World Cup & SUPER Festival 2026
3 Jul 2026
The future of stand-up paddling took centre stage in Bascov, Romania, as the first-ever International Canoe Federation (ICF) event dedicated exclusively to junior SUP athletes welcomed the world’s top U14, U16 and U18 racers. More than just another competition, the inaugural 2026 ICF SUP Junior International Cup marked a groundbreaking step in the sport’s development, […]
25 Jun 2026
This weekend, 24-28 June, the English Riviera takes centre stage as the ICF SUP World Cup and SUPER Festival get underway in Torquay and Paignton. Set against the turquoise waters and sheltered bays of South Devon, the five-day festival brings together elite international athletes, grassroots paddlers, and newcomers eager to experience stand-up paddleboarding. The event […]
15 May 2026
In 2023, Brendon Prince, extreme adventurer, water safety & ‘blue mind’ crusader, World Record holder (8 WR to date!), set out to establish an international SUP event in the UK, driven by a simple premise: that young athletes needed a pathway, and the sport needed ambition on home waters. What followed was a rapid and […]
11 May 2026
The SUP calendar has never been more dynamic – but every so often, an event comes along that places stand-up paddling firmly and unapologetically at the heart of the experience. That’s exactly the vision behind the inaugural Gorge Ultra Distance, a 17-mile endurance challenge held on 12 July and set against one of the world’s […]
7 May 2026
The UK SUP racing scene has long been one of the most established in the sport – home to world-class athletes, active training hubs and events that bring together not only elite racers, but also aspiring athletes, recreational paddlers, and adventure seekers alike. Now, the scene reaches a historic new milestone. The English Riviera has […]
30 Apr 2026
As the European SUP League (ESL) circuit heads to southern Italy, Lido Gandoli in Marina di Leporano will host three days of top-level stand-up paddle racing from 1-3 May. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Ionian Sea, the event will feature over €7,000 in prize money and bring together some of Europe’s best athletes. […]
15 Apr 2026
Both the athletes under Light Board Corp and the team – pioneers of hollow board construction and organisers of the SUP Alps Trophy series – are gearing up for one of the most anticipated stops of the season: the Lake Rocks Festival, taking place from 14 – 17 May on Faaker See in Austria, which […]
3 Apr 2026
The 2026 SUP race season is officially on! In today’s episode, we take a deep dive into the first major Stand Up Paddleboard events of the year. Whether you lined up on the start or followed the action via the livestreams or TotalSUP’s Facebook and Instagram pages, we break down the key tactics, equipment choices, […]
14 Feb 2026
One of Italy’s most versatile pro SUP & surf athletes, all-round waterman and Coach, Tommaso Pampinella, is now celebrating a decade of competitive racing. Signing with SIC Maui marks a full circle for the athlete, who has firmly stepped into the world of ocean endurance racing. With an impressive roster of ocean events under his […]
