“Be ready to adapt on the Adriatic”: Daniele Cani returns to defend his titles as SUP Race Lignano joins the ICF World Ranking

“If the Adriatic calls and there are waves, I’ll go surfing; if there’s wind, I’ll go kitesurfing; and when it’s time to race, I’ll be on my race board!” says Daniele Cani, 53, an Italian SUP racer from Bologna, coach and lifelong waterman, who is returning to the  SUP Race Lignano with his sights set on the Technical and Long Race titles.

A regular international competitor, Cani brings decades of experience to the start line – experience put to the test at the 2025 ICF World Championships, where he finished fourth in the Men’s 50+ Technical Race, behind Peter Weidert, Santi Canto and Gabor Szabo. But competition is only part of Cani’s connection to the Adriatic: as a lifelong waterman, the sea, its conditions and the community around it are as much a part of his story as racing itself.

On 12-13 September 2026, the SUP Race Lignano will take another major step forward, with both the Technical Race and Long Race becoming official stops on the International Canoe Federation (ICF) SUP World Ranking Circuit. The move is expected to bring elite international athletes to the Adriatic, all chasing valuable ranking points and a place among the sport’s leading competitors.

We caught up with Daniele to talk about the event’s legacy, the Lignano course and its ever-changing conditions, the growth of the surrounding SUP scene, and the increasing spotlight on the sport’s Masters divisions.

Photo by Tiziano Guerrino Faggiani

Hi Daniele, welcome to TotalSUP! How did you get into competitive SUP racing?

My passion for water sports started when I was 14 years old with windsurfing. Around the early 2000s, I moved into kitesurfing, and later I discovered surfing and SUP wave.

I actually got into SUP racing because of SUP wave. Living on the Adriatic, where good surfing conditions don’t come around very often, I was looking for another discipline that could keep me fit and ready for those few days when the waves finally arrived. So, at first, SUP racing was mainly a way for me to train and stay in shape. But then I discovered how amazing this discipline is and I became really passionate about it.

At heart, though, I’m still a true lover of the sea and water sports in general. Even today, if the Adriatic calls and there are waves, I’ll go surfing; if there’s wind, I’ll go kitesurfing; and when it’s time to race, I’ll be on my race board!

Photo by Tiziano Guerrino Faggiani

What brings you back to the SUP Race Lignano?

I’m coming back to Lignano to defend the titles I won last year, when I took first place in both the Technical Race and the Long Distance in the 50+ category. So… hopefully this year someone will finally manage to beat me!

Joking aside, Lignano is a very special race for me. I’m part of the Wild SUP Team, and every time I come here I really feel at home. Of course, my goal is to achieve the best possible result and, if possible, get back on the podium.

But I always try to approach racing with the right balance: I want to compete seriously, push myself and do my best, but without ever losing the fun. I think that’s actually one of my little secrets. When I’m relaxed, enjoying the race and doing what I love, that’s often when I perform at my best.

Photo by Tiziano Guerrino Faggiani

What makes Lignano a special event on the SUP calendar?

Lignano has an incredible history in Italian SUP. Between 2010 and 2013, it was probably the most famous SUP race in Italy, with around 200-300 competitors and some of the strongest Italian and European paddlers taking part.

It wasn’t just a race: it was a real SUP festival, with an incredible atmosphere and a fantastic location. Over the last few years,  Romina Mariotto and Alberto Sammarco, Co-Founders of The Wild SUP, have been working extremely hard to bring this event back to the level and prestige it had in those years.

And I really believe Lignano deserves it. The location is fantastic, the beach is beautiful, and everything is perfect for combining racing with a great weekend by the sea.

I really hope more Italian and international athletes will come to Lignano and discover this event. I think it has everything it needs to become one of the important SUP events again. So, if you have never raced here before, come and experience Lignano. I think you will quickly understand why this place and this race are so special!

Photo by Tiziano Guerrino Faggiani

What makes racing on the Adriatic different from other venues you’ve competed at?

Most of the time, the Adriatic is considered quite an easy sea because it is often flat and calm. But when the weather changes or the wind picks up, it can become one of the most difficult seas to race on.

The seabed is relatively shallow, and this can create short, crossed and messy waves. The water can become very difficult to read, and finding the best line is not always easy.

Personally, these are conditions where I feel quite comfortable because I come from many different water sports. Windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfing and SUP wave have taught me how to read the sea and adapt when the conditions become difficult. This experience definitely helps me when the water gets complicated.

Many ICF races are held on lakes or in flat-water conditions. Here in Lignano, you can potentially find almost everything: completely flat water, wind, chop or waves.

For me, this is one of the most interesting things about racing on the Adriatic: you have to be ready to adapt because you never really know what conditions you are going to find.

Photo by Tiziano Guerrino Faggiani

How would you describe the race course/s to someone competing here for the first time?

The courses should be quite similar to last year. The Technical Race is very technical and is based almost on the same format we saw at the World Championships in Abu Dhabi, with a start and several buoy turns in both directions, right and left. This makes the race very dynamic and requires good technique, especially around the buoys.

The Long Distance has a triangle-shaped course. There is also a passage under the pier, followed by a beach run, which makes the race even more interesting and spectacular.

The course consists of four laps along the Lignano coastline, so spectators can also follow a good part of the race from the beach.
Of course, the Adriatic can always add something to the race! We could have completely flat water or some light chop, and even a small change in conditions can make the course more technical.

So my advice for someone racing here for the first time is to be ready for a technical race and, as always on the Adriatic, be ready to adapt to the conditions.

Photo by Tiziano Guerrino Faggiani

In recent years, the spotlight has increasingly shifted toward the Masters division, with athletes delivering remarkable performances. Why do you think Masters racing has become such an exciting part of the sport?

I think Masters racing has become much more important because there are more and more athletes who want to continue competing as they get older.

Many Masters come from other sports, including canoeing, kayaking and other endurance or water sports, so they already have a lot of experience and a strong sporting background.

They don’t just want to participate. They still want to train, improve themselves and compete. I think this is one of the great things about SUP. It is a sport where you can continue to perform at a very good level even when you are no longer 20 or 30 years old.

Experience also becomes very important. As you get older, maybe you don’t have exactly the same physical capabilities s as a younger athlete, but you know your body better, you understand racing better and you learn how to use your energy and technique more efficiently. That makes Masters racing very competitive, but also very interesting.

Photo by Tiziano Guerrino Faggiani

How do you think the level of competition has evolved? Especially in the Masters class?

First of all, I think we “old guys” simply don’t want to get old! And maybe that’s one of the reasons why the level in the Masters categories keeps getting higher.

More seriously, I believe that competitive sport, together with good nutrition, is one of the best ways to stay physically fit and fight the effects of ageing.

But getting good results in SUP doesn’t happen just because you train a lot. Like in many sports, you need to work consistently, and you need good cardiovascular training, strength and, above all, a lot of work on technique.

For me, paddling technique makes a huge difference in this sport. Every paddle stroke counts, and being efficient can make a big difference during a race.

Today, Masters athletes train very seriously. The level has increased a lot, and you can see athletes over 40, 50 and even older producing really impressive performances.

Experience also helps. With time, you learn to understand your body better, manage your energy and race in a smarter way.
So yes, maybe we are getting older… but we are definitely not ready to slow down yet!

What are your goals for this year’s race?

If I have to be sincere, I’m not the kind of person who races only because I want to win. My main goal is to have fun, do something I love and enjoy some healthy competition.

Every race is also a very important test for me. It helps me understand if the training I have done is working well. I look at my performance and my result, and from there I understand what I need to work on and what I can improve.

Of course, everybody likes winning, and I like it too! But if I lose a race and I have enjoyed myself, I can still come out of the water with a smile on my face and hug the athlete who finished ahead of me.

For me, this is a positive motivation. It makes me want to train more, work harder and continue improving myself. So, of course, in Lignano I will try to get the best possible result and defend my titles, but I want to do it in my way: competing seriously, enjoying the race and hopefully coming out of the water with a big smile on my face.

Photo by Tiziano Guerrino Faggiani

Thank you Daniele for your insights – We can’t wait to catch you on the beach!

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*Images courtesy of Lignano SUP Race