Jimmy Lewis racing comeback at the PW World SUP Championships: Linus Karlsson & Stefan Kiraj lead the European charge

When a legacy brand returns to the starting line at one of the biggest events of the year, the SUP world takes notice. Taking place in Sabaudia, Italy, from 14-18 October, the Paddle Worldwide SUP Championships (formerly the ICF World SUP Championships) will mark a new chapter for Jimmy Lewis with the European team making its debut on the international stage.

Two new race board models, designed by shaper I-Wen Chen, will join the line-up at the PW SUP Worlds. Jimmy Lewis’s philosophy has been centred on functional
design for more than five decades and I-Wen Chen has clearly focused on adapting this philosophy with every curve and contour working in harmony to deliver smooth glide, stability and performance on the water.

Behind this return is Jan Muellers, Founder of HAIKU Sports, a dedicated watersports enthusiast with a clear vision and a focused approach.

After spending over a decade in the USA, running a SUP and surf store in South Carolina, Jan went on to become the official European distributor for Jimmy Lewis. Today, he is laying the groundwork for Jimmy Lewis’s next chapter in European SUP racing.

Jan’s vision behind the European SUP Racing Team is to combine competition with real-world feedback from experienced athletes as the Jimmy Lewis racing programme develops.

Jan Muellers, Founder of HAIKU Sports

The choice of riders was no coincidence. Leading the team is Linus Karlsson, a 15-time Swedish SUP Champion, alongside new team rider 37-year-old Stefan Kiraj, a former C4 Canoe World Champion who is based in Potsdam, Germany, where he trains with Martin Teichmann at KC Potsdam.

Both riders bring their own strengths to the team and will race on different boards from the new Jimmy Lewis quiver. Linus will take on all-water racing conditions on the Jimmy Lewis HellFire, featuring a new dugout design, while Stefan has chosen the Jimmy Lewis StormShadow, the dedicated flat water race board in the range.

Jan said: “This is an exciting moment for us. We wanted to bring Jimmy Lewis back into European SUP racing with athletes who don’t just race fast, but who also understand equipment at a very high level.

With Linus and Stefan, we have exactly that combination. Linus brings enormous experience from years of international SUP racing. Stefan comes from elite canoe competition and brings a different perspective on paddling efficiency, board speed and performance. Having the HellFire and StormShadow on the start line at the PW World SUP Championships gives us the perfect opportunity to kick off the new Jimmy Lewis European SUP Racing Team.”

In the run-up to their big debut, we caught up with Linus and Stefan to talk about the new boards, their racing ambitions and the next chapter for Jimmy Lewis SUP Racing.

In chat with Linus Karlsson:

Hi Linus, welcome back to TotalSUP! After many successful years with Starboard, what made you decide the time was right for a new challenge with Jimmy Lewis? What convinced you that the HellFire was the right board for your next chapter?

I’ve been happy with Starboard and everyone involved, but I felt I needed a change to keep myself motivated.

When I met Jan from Jimmy Lewis and tried the boards, I immediately felt that this could be my next step. A familiar team with a bright future ahead, where I can be part of the journey and help grow the brand in Northern Europe.

On top of that, I fell in love with the board straight away. It’s lightweight, stable, responsive, and has the perfect width and volume for my weight.

You tested the board at Planet Baltic. What were your first impressions of the board on the water, how did the testing confirm your choice?

Correct! I knew straight away that it was a great board for me. The conditions were rough, but I already felt comfortable from my very first take-off!

My board of choice is the HellFire 22.5″. I wanted one board that I could use in pretty much all conditions and for different races, and that’s exactly what the HellFire offers me.

With the upcoming PW World Championships in Sabaudia, what does it mean to be spearheading the new Jimmy Lewis European SUP Racing Team alongside Stefan Kiraj, and what are your ambitions for the team and the brand’s presence in European SUP racing?

I’m really looking forward to the ICF! It will be a lot of fun to bring this new board to the European racing scene. Stefan is a great guy whom I met for the first time in Poland this year, so it will be great to team up with him at the races!

My goal is to showcase the board as much as possible in Northern Europe and help the brand grow for the future!

In chat with Stefan Kiraj:

Hi Stefan, welcome to TotalSUP! Coming from a C4 Canoe World Championship background, what attracted you to the Jimmy Lewis brand and their StormShadow board? Were you looking for something specific in the board’s speed, glide or efficiency?

I was looking for a board that makes paddling feel easier for me. During my time as a canoeist, I always knew from the very first start whether I liked a boat or not.

When I started stand-up paddleboarding in 2025, I tested several boards, but I never had the feeling that I had found the right one for me.

As a sprint paddler, stability and glide during a sprint race are the most important things for me. I didn’t know the Jimmy Lewis brand before, but I loved the design, so I knew I had to test it.

You tested the board at Planet Baltic. What were your first impressions of the board on the water, how did the testing confirm your choice?

Actually, the first time I met Jan from Haiku Sports with his Jimmy Lewis boards was in Eckernförde at the Sprottenrennen. It’s an ocean race that I started to improve my skills in the waves. After 20 years of paddling on flat water, this was probably my biggest weakness.

At first, I tested different boards, but all of them had things I wanted to change straight away to suit my paddling style. Then I saw the Stormshadow and decided to take it for a ride.

By the way, it was the longest test ride of all the boards! Even in the small waves, it felt stable without losing speed. So I went back to Jan and told him, “We need to talk.” And that was the beginning of my Jimmy Lewis story.

With the upcoming PW World Championships in Sabaudia, what does it mean to be spearheading the new Jimmy Lewis European SUP Racing Team alongside Linus Karlsson, and what are your ambitions for the team and the brand’s presence in European SUP racing?

I am excited and proud to be part of the Jimmy Lewis European SUP Racing Team. I see a great opportunity to showcase these awesome boards on the international stage and make other paddlers aware that there is a different option on the market for fast paddling.

The best way to do this is to prove it with strong results at the World Championships and in the competitions that follow. I met Linus at Planet Baltic, and I am happy to have such an experienced SUP paddler and great person by my side.

For now, we are two European team riders, but we are ready to help the team grow even bigger!

To find out more about the Jimmy Lewis brand, visit HAIKU Sports

Explore Jimmy Lewis race board designs: HellFire and StormShadow

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Follow Linus Karlsson and Stefan Kiraj on Instagram