National Champion Mikołaj Majdan joins Light Board Corp, bringing PARADOXA to the Polish race scene

What keeps stand-up paddling moving forward isn’t just podium finishes – it’s the people behind them. Every new athlete signing tells a story of shared ambition, where a rider’s mindset aligns with a brand’s philosophy. For aspiring paddlers, it’s also an opportunity to dig deeper and understand why elite athletes choose a particular board or paddle to help push them further.

For 24-year-old Mikołaj Majdan from Gdańsk, a multiple Polish SUP Champion, that philosophy is built on persistence. His defining moment came at the 2025 ISA World Championships in Salvador. After a difficult opening lap and an early fall, Majdan refused to let his race slip away, digging deep to overtake multiple competitors through the surf to earn a place in the world championship final.

That same determination has now led him to the next chapter of his career. Mikołaj has joined Light Board Corp – the pioneers of hollow construction and the team behind PARADOXA, the SUP Alps Trophy race series and one of the sport’s most talked-about events, the Lake Rocks Festival. In doing so, he also becomes the first athlete to bring the PARADOXA board to the Polish racing circuit.

We caught up with Mikołaj to discuss the partnership, what drew him to PARADOXA and the goals he’s chasing in the second half of the season.

Hi Mikołaj, welcome back to TotalSUP! We’re stoked to officially announce your joining the Light Board Corp team – congratulations! How did you arrive at this decision, and what convinced you that this was the right time to start a new chapter?

I have been feeling like I need some sort of a change for some time now. I feel like my technique and weight have changed overtime and I was looking for a board, which could synergize with my style best. After having the opportunity to try the Light Corp during this year’s Lake Rocks Festival and I really like the board.

I took some time to think about which board models fit my style and after a lot of talks with my parents and friends I came to the conclusion that PARADOXA will be the board of choice for me. Additionally, Gerd Weisner – the owner of the Light Board Corp – made a really good impression on me and that’s as important as the board for me, as I really value having supportive and likeminded crew surrounding me and my sport endeavours.

Mikołaj Majdan at the 2026 World SUP Festival | Image source: European SUP League (ESL)

You were associated with NSP for many years. Looking back, how do you remember that stage of your career, and what are the biggest lessons or experiences you took away from that partnership?

The years spent as a NSP rider has been awesome. I had an opportunity to meet the team full of talented and great people. The chance I got from NSP – to get onto their boards so early in my career – has pushed my career in the right direction I think. Generally, both the equipment and the NSP crew are awesome and I’m really wishing nothing but the best for them.

I’m especially thankful to Petr, our direct NSP dealer whose support and positive influence on our local racing community is irreplaceable.

Changing equipment after so many years is always a major challenge for an athlete. What were you most concerned about before making the switch, and what has turned out to be the biggest difference?

It is never easy to make a big change. It’s hard for me right now to say how precisely the changes will look like, as I’m still ahead of my first race on the PARADOXA.

What I can tell now for sure, is for the last three weeks during my training session my times and average speeds improved significantly, so I’m really looking forward to see how that translates to racing.

What was it about the philosophy of Light Board Corp that resonated with you the most?

I think that’s a simple answer. The board is the stiffest and lightest from the ones I tried.

The philosophy of challenging the current standards of the industry is exciting and I believe it will push me as an athlete to also push further.

You are the first athlete in Poland to receive a Light Board Corp PARADOXA. What was your first impression when you got it on the water?

The first impression was really positive. The PARADOXA felt stable and responsive, with a great glide. Initially, the turns felt a bit challenging, as I was used to a different deck shape, but over those few weeks paddling the Light Board Corp I’ve actually grown to enjoy the way the board turns – quickly and easily.

Can you share some technical details about your PARADOXA? What size, width, and volume did you choose, and why did you go with that particular setup?

I have decided to go for the 14 x 22 size. I’m pretty sure the 21 or even the 20 would also feel great for me, but for the biggest races of year I like to have this confidence in the back of my head, that no matter what happens on the water I can feel confident and push with everything I have instead of worrying about stabilizing and fighting for my balance.

What testing conditions have you had the opportunity to try it in – flat water, wind, waves, downwind? In which conditions did the PARADOXA impress you the most?

I have paddled the PARADOXA in everything from pure flat to medium Baltic chop and some knee high swell. The board obviously shines in flat water and small chop but I’m also positively surprised by its downwind performance.

It steers nicely on the waves and feels really stable. Obviously, the behaviour of a hollow board on a choppy water is different, so it takes a few paddles to get used to it, but afterwards it feels great.

What will be the first major race where we’ll see you competing on the PARADOXA?

My next race will be the Open Czech Championships, followed by the Planet Baltic SUP Race in Kołobrzeg.

The first major event will then be the Academic World Championships in Hungary this August.

What are your goals for this season with your new equipment and your new team?

Well, the biggest objectives for me this year are the Academic World Championships, the Polish Championships, and then the ECA / Paddle Europe SUP European Championships as part of Agios Nikolaos on SUP 2026, alongside the ICF SUP World Cup Agios Nikolaos.

Then, of course, there are the ICF World SUP Championships in Italy at the end of the 2026 season. It’s an exciting perspective to be heading into these events on my new amazing PARADOXA!

Thank you for your time and we’re looking forward to seeing you at Planet Baltic!

To find out more about LIGHTBOARDCORP® designs, visit lightboardcorp.com 

Follow Light Board Corp on Facebook and Instagram   

Check out the SUP Alps Trophy calendar here

Follow Mikołaj Majdan on Instagram 

*Images courtesy of Mikołaj Majdan