They’re young, hungry and unapologetically confident about their SUP goals and dreams… On the eve of the APP World Gran Canaria Pro-Am in Las Palmas, TotalSUP caught up with some of the most exciting riders of the young generation ready to shred! Buckle up for some serious SUP surf action that will be unfolding from the 19th November on the stunning beach front of Las Canteras and meet these amazing young athletes debuting at this highly anticipated event.
Age:17
Hometown: Saint-Jean-de-Monts in Vendée, France
Board set-up: Gong Alley 7’4’’
First APP World Tour event? Yes
Fave SUP format? Surf
Top spot to SUP: Killer (A rock spot next to my hometown)
SUP legends: Benoît Carpentier, Kai Lenny
Proud SUP moments: Second at the last European Championships, Junior Division – It was my first SUP contest
Gran Canaria Pro-Am expectations: I’ll just try to do my best and see what’s happening
What motivates you to train? I train because I want to improve my level and learn new tricks. Also I love to be in the water as it makes me calm and happy
SUP goals: I would like to do more contests with the French National Team: The next European Championships and the next ISA World Championships
Age: 17
Hometown: Saint Leu, Réunion Island, France
Board set-up: Gong: Carmen 6’10 -65L
First APP World Tour event? Yess it’s my first one
Fave SUP format? Surf
Top spots to SUP: Spots in Reunion Island: Cimetière, Troi bassins and Manawa in Mauritius
SUP legends: Benoît Carpentier, Izzy Gomez, Kai Lenny
Proud SUP moments: It was in August when I won the European Championship in Denmark in the Junior Girl Division
Gran Canaria Pro-Am expectations: I just started competing in international contests so I’m just going to do my best and enjoy surfing
What motivates you to train? I am motivated to train because I love being in the water and surfing. I really want to improve my level and reach my goals
SUP goals: Participate in more competitions with the French team, improve my level and maybe one day become a World Champion
Age:17
Hometown: Miyazaki, Japan
Board set-up: MEL Surfboards & Quickblade paddle
First APP World Tour event? Yes
Fave SUP format? Surf
Top spots to SUP: Vila Praia de Âncora(Portugal), La Ocho（Puerto Rico）
SUP legends: Taka Inoue, my brother
Proud SUP moments: When I overturned people’s image of SUP
Gran Canaria Pro-Am expectations: Winning a prize
What motivates you to train? The difficulty and fun of using a paddle, which cannot be experienced in surfing
SUP goals: Helping to make SUP surfing world more exciting
Age:21
Hometown: Miyazaki, Japan
Board set-up: MEL Surfboards & Quickblade
First APP World Tour? Yes
Fave SUP format? Surf
Top spots to SUP: El Lloret (Gran Canaria), Vila Praia de Âncora (Portugal), Jinzun Harbor (Taiwan)
SUP legends: Kai Lenny, Wellington Reis, Airton Cozzolino
Proud SUP moments: The moment I can see through the crystal clear water when switching a paddle to complete roundhouse cutback
Gran Canaria Pro-Am expectations: Winning first prize
What motivates you to train? The fact that no one is at the top of the world in more than one discipline at the same time
SUP goals: I want to contribute to making SUP surfing a major sport
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Age: 14
Hometown: Miyazaki, Japan
Board set-up: MEL Surfboards & Quickblade paddle
First APP World Tour? Yes
Fave SUP format: Surf
Top spots to SUP: La Ocho, Puerto Rico
SUP legends: My brother, Taka
Proud SUP moments: When I can use the paddle effectively
Gran Canaria Pro-Am expectations: A good result
What motivates you to train? Pleasure of riding a good wave
SUP goals: Spreading the joy of SUP surfing
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Age: 16
Hometown: Amami Island, Kagoshima Japan
Board set-up: SUNOVA & Blackproject Paddles
First APP World Tour? Yes, this is my first time
Fave SUP format? Surf
Top spots to SUP: Our island Amami, Hawaii
Proud SUP moments: 2022 All Japan SUP Surfing Championship Special Class 2nd
SUP legends: Kai Lenny, Sean Poynter
Gran Canaria Pro-Am expectations: Great Surf condition and doing my best. I wish to win the under 18 Junior and Pro trials
What motivates you to train? I have a dream to be world class SUP Surfer and win APP and ISA SUP surfing championship.
SUP goals: I want to be a best SUP surfer, also SUP foil and SUP foil downwind surfer just as the waterman Kai Lenny
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To find out more about the event and register, visit appworldtour.com
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