“Pressure is a privilege”: Mariecarmen Rivera on racing in a stacked field, progress & touring with Infinity

Main photo by Philippe Demarsan

Mariecarmen Rivera burst onto the scene with incredible power and hasn’t let go since. Her focus and explosiveness demand attention every time she steps on the start line. A triple gold performance (Sprint, Technical, and Distance) at the ICF World SUP Championships stunned the community, backed up immediately at the ISA World SUP Championships with Sprint Gold and two Silvers – no punches pulled. Representing Puerto Rico and adding Pan American Champion to her résumé, it’s clear she’s not just collecting titles – she’s fully committed to advancing the SUP scene.

Coming fresh from the first stop of the European tour, we dive deeper into what it truly means to be a professional SUP athlete today: how stacked the field is, the physical and mental demands, and what it’s like to tour with the OGs of the SUP world, Infinity SUP, alongside her fellow Speed Freaks.

Photo by Pablo Franco | ISA Worlds

Hi Mariecarmen, welcome back to TotalSUP, and congratulations once again on an outstanding 2025 season and a strong start to the 2026 racing year! After such major successes at the ICF and ISA Worlds, how do you manage expectations heading into a new season – do you approach it with a clean slate or a sense of continuity?

Hi, first of all, thank you to TotalSUP for this opportunity. Last year was truly incredible for me on a professional level. All the achievements, challenges, and championships were the result of a lot of hard work, consistency, and passion for what I do.

I approach this season very much the same way I approached previous ones: with consistency, hard work, determination, and focus. For me, every year is a new beginning — new opportunities and new lessons. I have some similar goals and also some new ones, and I trust that with time and work, they will happen.

Photo by Alex Rod Co

Since June 2023, you’ve been training with Oscar Ruiz and the OR Training team. Are you still working with them, and how has that partnership shaped your performance and approach – particularly your physical preparation, explosive style, and ability to stay injury-free?

Yes, Oscar Ruiz is still my coach, and I’m very grateful to continue working with him. He is communicative and understands the individual needs of each of his athletes. His training is evidence-based, and he always explains the purpose and reasoning behind every session. He is very methodical, and we understand each other really well — I truly feel we are a great team.

I’m also lucky to train alongside an amazing group of athletes in Puerto Rico. My training partners constantly push me to give my best during our sessions, and the support we give each other makes a huge difference. Beyond training, we’re also good friends.

And I have my sports psychologist, Héctor Meléndez, as part of my support team. Being a professional athlete isn’t only about physical training; having your mind focused and strong is just as important to perform at the highest level.

At the end the key is to have all the complements together, technical team, sponsors, equipment, supplements, recovery, wellness, eating healthy food (according to the type of training), discipline, consistency and then the magic will happen.

Image source: EuroTour

Elite athletes face constant demand for results and performance, often tied to sponsorships. Could you tell us more about the pressures that come with this, and how you navigate them?

There is definitely pressure most of the time. Results often influence sponsorships and financial support, and if you don’t perform well, it can directly affect your ability to cover the costs of the following season.

At the same time, there are ways to manage that pressure. Being an athlete is a complex job — you don’t live a “normal” life — but when you understand the system and build strong, honest relationships, it becomes possible to navigate those challenges and continue growing.

With so many amazing achievements already, do you feel there’s added pressure entering 2026 to maintain or surpass your recent successes?

There’s a phrase I really believe in: “Pressure is a privilege.” I love competition and being in that mindset. For me, it’s a privilege to be able to compete at the highest level and to keep pushing myself beyond my previous goals and results.

I wouldn’t say I feel added pressure — I approach it the same way I always do: focus on the work, trust the process, and go into every race ready to fight and give my best.

Image source: EuroTour

You’ve just competed fresh off the EuroTour against Alba Frey and fellow Speed Freak Juliette DuHaime. How do you see the level of competition evolving? What’s your take on the current state of the women’s SUP field as we head into 2026?

I think the level in women’s racing is growing a lot. In the past, there were usually one or two women winning everything by a big margin. Now the field is more even, and the differences between positions come down to seconds.

A great example is the ICF 2025 long-distance race, where a group of six to eight women stayed together until the very last meters. That simply didn’t happen before, and it shows how much the level has risen.

Image source: ICF World SUP Championships

How important is support between women competitors in such a demanding sport?

Support matters. In the end, all the girls competing want the same thing: to win, to be at the top, to being a professional athlete and to keep improving.

In the water, we race hard—no mercy—but always with ethics and respect. Once the race is over, we enjoy the moment and celebrate together.

Image source: EuroTour

At the end of the day, we’re all contributing to the growth of the sport, inspiring new generations. And when all of this is over, what will remain are the good moments we shared.

Photo by Pablo Jimenez

Being part of the Infinity SUP team led by Dave Boehne, the OG crew of SUP 😉, can you share a sneak peek of what life on tour is really like with the Speed Freaks – travelling together, competing at the highest level, and supporting one another on and off the water?

I feel very fortunate to be part of the Infinity SUP team. I will always be grateful to Dave for supporting me from the very beginning, back when I was just a regular paddler. I’ve grown alongside the team, and my results would not be the same without that support. Like I always say, there’s no magic without the right equipment.

Life on tour is a lot of fun — we travel together, share a lot of laughs, and support each other. We’re all very different, but we complement each other really well. It truly feels like a family.

How does being part of the Infinity culture impact your mindset and performance during big events?

During big events, I feel very prepared and confident in my work, my equipment, and myself. I focus on enjoying the moment and remembering that I’m doing what I love.

The Infinity mindset, for me, is about being a Speed Freak — loving what you do, enjoying the process, and always pushing yourself to go faster and better, so that identifies with me.

Photo by Pablo Franco

Looking ahead to 2026, could you walk us through your current gear setup? We’ve seen a new Infinity board being added to the quiver?

Right now, my race quiver includes the Infinity EVERREADY 14 x 21 and the Blackfish 14 x 21, paired with Black Project fins (sonic, condor, tiger) and Quickblade paddles (UV 77, V-drive 71 & V-drive 81)

I also know Dave is always working on new designs, to help us improve even more so I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up adding another great board to my race quiver soon.

Photo by Pablo Jimenez

What’s coming up next on your race calendar?

I have some important competitions in America coming up during the first half of the year, although the exact dates haven’t been confirmed yet. I hope they don’t conflict with the other international events. In the second half of the season, my main focus will be both World Championships.

Photo by Sean Evans

To find out more about Infinity SUP, visit infinity-sup.com

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