John Batson: The Last Paddler Standing… and the endurance titan SUP racing needs

Photo by Sarah Thornely / supjunkie.uk

In 2024, many looked beyond the headline that read “the race won” when John Batson – the Flying Fish Board Co. rider, waterman with a background in windsurfing and kayak coaching and an accomplished endurance racer with podiums at events such as Chattajack, the Carolina Cup, and the Goat Boater Race Series – missed the super loop cut off by just 43 seconds.

In the minds of many, he was the winner regardless of the title. That monumental effort captured the SUP world’s imagination, and his return this year – to finally claim the win – felt… almost poetic.

Once again, Greg Wingo‘s Last Paddler Standing proved that ultra-endurance paddling can be a spectacle, showcasing – and in a way romanticising – the lone paddler: athletes pushing far beyond our own projections of what’s possible on a paddleboard.

A simple yet brutal concept: Paddlers race a 3.33-mile loop every hour, starting and finishing within that time, with the next loop beginning on the hour. The competition continues until only one paddler remains standing. After 48 hours, the loop length increases to 4.9 miles. This year’s Last Paddler Standing set records with 33 participants (10 women and 23 men) and a record number of super loops completed.

Covering ultra-endurance races with TotalSUP, I’ve sought to understand what drives paddlers to compete – and return – time and again. With John Batson’s story, I think we’re getting closer. It goes beyond “unfinished business” or a simple rematch, it touches something far deeper.

We had a unique opportunity to catch up with John – known professionally as Dr John Batson, a sports medicine, spine physician and dedicated community builder – to explore his motivation, his hunger for full-circle closure, and to share a heartfelt nod to the support team that helped him get there.

John, welcome to TotalSUP and massive congratulations on your outstanding achievement! Last year you missed the Last Paddler Standing title by just seconds – what stayed with you from that experience heading into this year’s race?

Thanks so much. The 2024 Last Paddler Standing was bitter sweet. My wife and I executed a good overall game plan for most of the 2024 event and given this was our first ultra race I think we did very well. For the 2025 event we further dialled in my nutrition plan. I was also better prepared for potential cold weather.

Going into the 2025 event I knew I could last the 48 hours. I expected some mental and physical low points and tried to limit the emotional swings. Calm and consistent was the theme. Like 2024, I found a pace that was comfortable for me to manage the first 48 hours. After that I had to trust my training and believe there was gas in the tank for the super laps.

Photo by Sarah Thornely / supjunkie.uk

With your background as a physician and years spent in watersports as a windsurfing instructor, kayak guide, and experienced long distance athlete, how has your understanding of the human body influenced the way you train, pace, and manage risk in ultra-endurance paddling?

There is a lot to be said for being comfortable in literally all conditions for an ultra event like Last Paddler Standing. In the span of 50 hours this year it was hot and humid, cooler, rainy/misty, foggy, windy, choppy, dark and dead calm. It was strange how often the wind changed directions! Regardless of the conditions I tried to be consistent with my time on the water, hydration and nutrition plan and emotions.

Growing up on the water participating in various sports helped in this regard. In a somewhat similar fashion as a physician, many different issues are often thrown at you that we have to manage in a calm and consistent manner. It’s easy to get in dark choppy conditions and waste a lot of energy due to stress. Get to the next buoy and take it from there. Training for an ultra event is a complex topic and relatively new in the sports medicine world. Not to over simplify, but it really boils down to balancing between training and rest.

The unique format with Last Paddler Standing to have faster paced super laps after 48 hours of paddling adds a whole new dimension that requires strength after endurance and fatigue has potentially set in. You can’t expect to win Last Paddler Standing by simply outlasting other paddlers. You still have to beat the race and 2024 was a perfect example that is not always possible.

Photo by Sarah Thornely / supjunkie.uk

Many see this performance as a moment where you cemented your place among the sport’s titans of endurance paddling. How do you personally view your evolution as an athlete over the past few seasons?

I’m not sure about that haha, but I’m proud to have put myself in a position to win Last Paddle Standing 2 years in a row and come out on top in 2025. After 2024 it could have been easy to walk away with a negative outlook on the race result. I had some disappointment initially, but my team (Alice, Michael Booth, John Meskauskas) helped keep me on track and motivated for 2025.

I’ve had some excellent results at legendary events like Chattajack, Carolina Cup, Key West and ICF Worlds. I still feel like I have room for improvement in various race disciplines so we’ll keep training and try to stay healthy.

Photo by Sarah Thornely /supjunkie.uk

What do you think is behind the rising popularity of Last Paddler Standing and ultra-endurance formats, drawing more passionate paddlers each year?

Well, I do feel the 5K/10K format is the lifeblood of stand-up paddle racing and I also think we’re at an inflection point with the sport in particular in the United States. We really need to rebuild the base of paddlers that drive the sport’s future. That said, specialty events like Last Paddler Standing introduce many to a unique way to test an athlete and the sport itself. A very important aspect of Last Paddler Standing is having knowledgeable broadcasters on a livestream that know athletes and the sport.

Last Paddler Standing would not be what it is without the livestream. In a way it makes it like a reality TV show. You get to know the participants and can’t wait to see who makes it to the end. As a spectator you pick your favourites and feel their ups and downs. Greg Wingo has created a master class event unlike any other. Some of these features of Last Paddler Standing could be applied to other events and drive more SUP enthusiasm (and event sponsorships!).

Photo by Sarah Thornely / supjunkie.uk

This edition saw a record number of participants and an incredibly deep field. How did the level of competition influence your strategy and mindset throughout the event?

Obviously we are all aware who’s in the race and how they’re doing in each lap. However, the race is so unique in that ultimately you’re racing the clock until the bitter end. I think the fact that this year’s event went on to have 4 super laps required for the win just shows the strength of the field.

Great competition brings out the best in all the competitors and this year’s Last Paddler Standing proved that. On my end I really tried to stick to my game plan regardless of how the others were looking. The last few laps in particular my mindset was “beat the clock”.

The Super Loops were fiercely contested this year, with constant pressure right on your heels. Brad Friesen finished on Lap 49 after completing three Super Loops, Bruce Smith on Lap 48 (two super loops), and both Jeremy Stanton and Lindsey Tilton on Lap 47 with one super loop. At what point did you realise you were truly in the fight for the win?

As the race went on it became pretty obvious Brad and Bruce were going to be pushing it to the end. Both of those guys are legends and very strong paddlers. I could tell Bruce was struggling a bit with the heat. When it was down to Brad and myself I wasn’t sure how he was feeling. He has a good poker face haha. I just had to trust my game plan and my training.

Ultimately with this race format you don’t really know you are in the final fight until you’re the last one leaving the beach. Prior to the final super lap, Alice reminded me “this is what you wanted” and she was right. I wanted a rematch with Greg Wingo and I had worked really hard to get that opportunity again this year.

Photo by Sarah Thornely / supjunkie.uk

Could you tell us more about your collaboration with Flying Fish Board Co and what gear setup you used for your win at Last Paddler Standing? How did the board and equipment support you through such a gruelling race?

I’ve been paddling on a Flying Fish board for the last six years. It’s been a great relationship. John Meskauskas and I have become good friends. He and the team are great supporters of the race I direct on Hilton Head – the Lowcountry Paddlefest. It’s a great team to be a part of and I love my input sometimes influences discussions and design in the “Fish tank“.

From left: John Meskauskas of Flying Fish Board Co and John | Image source: John Batson Instagram

This year I used a 23″ wide Freedom Pro at Last Paddler Standing. It’s the same all water board I’ve used at the Carolina Cup Graveyard course. The key with Last Paddler Standing is you need a board with enough stability for a dark choppy lap and enough speed to get through a super lap in time…and assume your legs will be wobbly! It was a perfect choice this year.

I also used a Quickblade Trifecta paddle. It’s a little softer catch and my go to for longer paddles.

Photo by Sarah Thornely / supjunkie.uk

We’ve always tried to get to the core of what drives athletes to ultra-endurance racing. Ultra-endurance racing hurts – there’s no way around it. When you’re deep in the pain and exhaustion, what keeps you going, and what draws you back to these challenges again and again?

That’s a good question. I think having a challenge that is totally different from the normal life challenges is intriguing to a lot of us. How far or how long can you go? Do you have what it takes? Some of us just want to answer those questions. In a competitive setting you’re potentially pushed even further than you thought possible. To think I paddled a reasonably fast paced 20 miles after being awake almost 48 straight hours and already paddling over 150 miles…it really is amazing.

Endurance athletes often speak of finding the “flow state” or being in “the zone”. It has little to do with other competitors, rather a state where there’s little thought. You’re just performing. I know it sounds crazy, but I definitely entered a surreal mental state during the final lap. I felt no pain. I had no fatigue. At times I felt like tears were coming. My senses were buzzing. I knew the wind changed directions before even turning to paddle into the wind. I knew the line I needed to take to get around the course the fastest. I felt as strong as I ever have. I was watching myself paddle from above and there was no place I would have rather been. I will forever chase that feeling again.

Image source: Last Paddler Standing

What’s in the pipeline for 2026?

I plan on racing in a few more events in 2026 than I did this year. I encourage everyone to do the same. Especially in the States we really need to get our numbers back up in paddle races. I love some of the new formats including shorter tech or sprint events. Oh and Alice and I will be defending our Last Paddler Standing title for sure!

Photo by Sarah Thornely / supjunkie.uk

2025 Last Paddler Standing Results (Total loops completed) (* = # of super loops)

• John Batson – LAP 50 ****
• Brad Friesen – LAP 49 ***
• Bruce Smith – LAP 48 **
• Jeremy Stanton – LAP 47 *
• Lindsey Tilton – LAP 47 *
• Laird Wharton – LAP 46
• Michael Carson – LAP 46
• Gregg Peters- LAP 37
• Meral Amica Akyol – LAP 34
• Michael Dolinar – LAP 30
• Lindsay Leblanc – LAP 27
• Yulia Piatek – LAP 22
• Aleksey Synkov – LAP 19
• John Knippers – LAP 19
• Chris Thomas – LAP 17
• Bobby Johnson – LAP 16
• Michael Barron – LAP 16
• Tim Arehart – LAP 16
• Carlo Arias – LAP 15
• Lenin Henderson – LAP 14
• Tammie Hampton – LAP 14
• Alex Zowacki – LAP 12
• Jackie Gover – LAP 12
• Allen Alquist – LAP 7
• Bryant Ransom – LAP 6
• Chris Logan – LAP 6
• Jeannie Johns – LAP 6
• Robert Fournier – LAP 4
• Colt Reaves – LAP 2
• Julie Mitravich – LAP 2
• Karen Greener – LAP 1
• Chris Noel – LAP 0
• Mike Malone – LAP 0

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*Images courtesy of Sarah Thornely / supjunkie.uk