As the SUP world prepares for an electrifying season kickoff, all eyes will soon be on Agios Nikolaos on SUP (3-4 May), stop #3 on the ICF World Ranking circuit and the Greek National Championships. Amid the excitement, we caught up with Greece’s top young talent and the 2024 ICF Vice World Sprint Champion, 19-year-old Crete-born Nikolaos Malekakis.
Unfazed by a highly stacked elite field – and making the leap from the Junior to the Open Men’s division – Nikos, the Infinity SUP Rider, remains steadfast in his mantra: Although the Championship title “is a difficult goal, but as an athlete, the higher I aim, the harder I push myself to succeed.”
Photo source: Agios Nikolaos on SUP
It is my honour being here. I am 19 years old and I live in Crete, Chania. I am in my last year of secondary education and I am planning to go to university next year. I started stand-up paddleboarding in 2018 and I got into competitive side of the sport in 2021. The reason I decided to start training more seriously was because I really loved the sport and enjoyed training in the sea.
I’ve always been dreaming of getting a medal at the World Championships. In 2022 despite being disqualified in the quarter finals, I continued. In 2023 I finished 8th and finally in 2024 I was ranked 2nd in the Sprints. Now things will change for me as I’ve moved up to the men’s category and the journey continues for me as I want to achieve more.
Nikos charging at the 2024 ICF World SUP Championships in Sarasota, Florida | Image source: Planet Canoe
SUP is pretty popular in my area , and there are a few clubs that practice regularly. I’m part of Chania Surf Club, which has a lot of members and a great community vibe. When it comes to training, I work with my sister – we push each other to improve every day, and that friendly competition helps us both get better and stay motivated.
Yes, I’ve competed in the Agios Nikolaos on SUP race almost every year. It’s an incredible event, not just because of the high level of competition, but also because of the stunning views along the long distance course. What makes it even more special for me is that it’s the biggest SUP event in Greece, bringing together athletes from all around the world.
Photo source: Agios Nikolaos on SUP
As I mentioned earlier, Agios Nikolaos on SUP is a high-level event. The competition is intense every year, and I believe it’s one of the most challenging and exciting races I take part in.
Photo source: Agios Nikolaos on SUP
Agios Nikolaos is a special place on its own. The most beautiful part of the race is the long distance course. The views of nature is beautiful and the experience paddling through it is unique .
My expectations for this year race is to do my best. More specific this races will also be the Greek Championships so my goal is to become Greek Champion this year. It is a difficult goal but I believe as an athlete, the higher as I aim the harder I push myself to succeed.
Each format is unique in its own way, but if I have to choose one it would be the technical. Technical racing is more than just a race where the strongest always wins. To be more specific, it’s about strategy and playing with the minds of your opponent.
The favourite part about technical racing is that it is so unpredictable, no matter how well your plan is anything can happen. At any point in the race something can happen and you can even end up from the 1st position, on the 8th or even the opposite. That makes it both thrilling and challenging.
I’m currently using the Infinity EVERREADY board, which I really like. It’s a hard board to master, but it’s incredibly fast, especially in ocean conditions.
For my paddle, I’m using the Black Project Hydro SynergyX. It’s a fantastic paddle that helps me gain speed efficiently. I’m also excited to be part of the Black Project team this year.
Photo source: Agios Nikolaos on SUP
My primary goal for 2025 is to establish myself as the top SUP athlete in Greece. On the international stage, I want to see how I perform and give my best in every race. I’m committed to working hard every single day because my ultimate dream is to become the World Champion.
*Images courtesy of Agios Nikolaos on SUP
13 Mar 2026
Our sport needs people who make you want to show up – voices grounded in a deep understanding of the ocean, the disciplines of SUP and surf, and the delicate balance between its limitations and possibilities. In an era often dominated by noise and influencer culture, what truly stands out is authenticity: the raw perspective […]
28 Feb 2026
This could be a breakthrough year for Jacques Thomas. Stepping up from the kids division into juniors and recently named a GBSUP Junior Ambassador, the 14-year-old from the Channel Islands is entering a new chapter. He’s built a reputation for doing the hardest thing in sport: consistently showing up. In all conditions, on every start […]
25 Feb 2026
Miami is one of the most dynamic stand-up paddleboarding destinations in the United States, offering an unbeatable mix of tropical scenery, urban skyline views and year-round warm water. Biscayne Bay sits at the heart of the scene, with calm, protected waters that are perfect for beginners and ideal for sunrise and sunset paddles framed by […]
16 Feb 2026
Infinity SUP returns to Santa Cruz Paddlefest 2026 (27-29 March) as the official SUP surfing division sponsor, continuing their tradition of showing up strong both at the start line and in the break. The longest-running paddle surf competition on the planet, Santa Cruz Paddlefest has been setting the standard since 1985. Its iconic venue, Steamer […]
13 Feb 2026
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 […]
13 Sep 2025
At 41, Marco Teodosio divides his time between the waves of Foz do Arelho, Portugal, and the canals of Amersfoort, Netherlands, where he coaches at Lakeside SUP, sharing his knowledge and training the next generation of paddlers. Once a surfer turned ultra endurance SUP racer, Marco swapped crowded breaks for endless waterways—and thanks to the […]
4 Sep 2025
At just 25, Swansea paddler Joey Jones has carved out one of the fastest progressions in the UK SUP racing scene. Training largely on his own, Joey went all-in on the GBSUP National Paddle Racing Series – using it as both a springboard and a learning curve – and through consistency he’s turned that commitment […]
22 Aug 2025
Guilherme Dos Reis, 27, from Caraguatatuba, São Paulo, Brazil, has carved a name for himself in the country’s watersports scene. He became Brazil’s youngest National Champion at just 17 and has since claimed the title five times. Coming from a windsurfing background, he discovered stand-up paddleboarding in 2012 and our sport quickly captured his passion […]
20 Aug 2025
One of the events that have been sparking some serious FOMO* for a while now, both for elite athletes and SUP enthusiasts is Planet Baltic SUP Race. I may be biased – it’s in my homeland, Poland – but with rave reviews and striking photography, Planet Baltic stands out as an experience any SUP fan […]
