The 9th edition of Planet Baltic, the country’s longest-running ocean SUP race and one of the few remaining major sea-racing events in Northern Europe, wrapped up last week – but its ripple effect is still being felt across the SUP community. Outstanding images and footage continue to flood social media, alongside personal accounts from athletes who took on the unpredictable and often unforgiving Baltic Sea.
And this year, the Baltic delivered everything. From flat-water Sprint conditions to overhead waves in the Technical Race, followed by gruelling wind and swell for the Long Distance, Planet Baltic once again demonstrated exactly why ocean racing is a discipline of its own. It demands fitness and technical ability, but also adaptability and sound judgement – with a little luck often proving to be the final factor.
Photo by Robert Hajduk & Szymon Sikora
For the second consecutive year, TotalSUP was on the ground at Planet Baltic, not only to experience the racing but, importantly, to soak up the atmosphere. And that atmosphere is exceptional from the moment you pass through the SUP Village gates and are welcomed by Founder and Race Director Marcin Koc, alongside his closest team, Ewa and Maciej Koc, and an incredible army of volunteers.
This year, 112 athletes – 74 men, 38 women and 50 juniors – from 11 countries took to the start line. Planet Baltic hosted the Polish Championships, in partnership with the Polski Związek Surfingu (Polish Surfing Federation), while also serving for the third consecutive year as a stop on the Czech Cup.
Photo by Robert Hajduk & Szymon Sikora
One of the defining features of this year’s event was the strength and visibility of the junior field. Young athletes arrived in numbers, racing alongside seasoned competitors and established names from across Europe.
Among them was Kjell De Bruyn (Belgium), who delivered an impressive performance, taking victories in the Technical and SUP Foil races while also sharing his experience through SUP clinics. Yet perhaps more impressive than the results was his humility and willingness to shine a spotlight on the next generation.
“It was beautiful to race with all those young SUP athletes. Sometimes experience takes the cake, but they’re the future of the sport and we need to keep focusing on that and keep pushing it.”
That sense of community between generations runs deep at Planet Baltic. It is not simply about who crosses the finish line first, but about creating an environment where the next generation can learn, compete and belong.
Kjell De Bruyn | Photo by Robert Hajduk & Szymon Sikora
The racing itself produced plenty of standout performances.Germany’s Normen Weber dominated the Masters Sprint division, taking gold, with fellow German competitor Martin Teichmann claiming silver. Belgium’s Michel Keersmaekers took Technical gold in the Grand Masters division, while Czechia’s Tomáš Grosup produced a superb all-round performance, securing Long Distance silver and Technical bronze.
Another memorable presence was Joep van Bakel, who arrived with his sons Tije and Mylo. The family proved a tough team to beat on the water and added another layer to the increasingly international and family-oriented character of Planet Baltic.
But the breakthrough performance of the event came in the Open Men’s division, where Krystian Świerkowski (BassSUP Team Rider hailing from the renowned RTW SUP Club) claimed Sprint gold after an intense final against 2025 MVP Benyam Bossack (Germany) and Mikołaj Majdan (Poland).
Krystian Świerkowski celebrated by his RTW SUP Club Team | Photo by Robert Hajduk & Szymon Sikora
The women’s Sprint final was arguably even more dramatic. Defending MVP Marta Apanasewicz faced Poland’s Hanna Kamińska and Germany’s Skadi Langbein in a fiercely contested final. Both Hanna and Skadi looked to have gold within reach, but unexpected falls and lost paddles dramatically changed the race. Marta kept her composure and drove through to the finish to take the win.
This year’s edition also saw the debut of Downwind SUP Foiling, adding another discipline to an already diverse programme and further establishing Planet Baltic as a testing ground for new formats within the sport.
But the organisers’ ambition goes well beyond the racing itself. One of the most distinctive events of the week took place away from the water, at the Kołobrzeg Lighthouse – the symbol of the city.
Athletes, locals and visitors were invited to the opening of “Paddle Sea You – Planet Baltic SUP Race Through the Lenses”, an exhibition showcasing the work of photographers Robert Hajduk and Szymon Sikora, whose exceptional imagery has helped capture and communicate the spirit of Planet Baltic.
Both Hajduk and Sikora are established sports photographers whose work extends to major international events, including World Cups and the Olympic Games.
The exhibition opened on 6 August and was attended by Kołobrzeg Mayor Anna Mieczkowska, underlining the connection between Planet Baltic, the city and the wider community.
From left: Szymon Sikora, Robert Hajduk, Kołobrzeg Mayor Anna Mieczkowska, Marcin Koc and Marek Rowiński
Planet Baltic is also probably one of the few SUP races where the official banquet is an integral part of the event. The traditional Planet Baltic event brings together athletes, sponsors, officials, organisers and volunteers for an evening that feels very different from the intensity of the race course. Cocktail attire replaces race kit, the MVP titles are announced, stories from the week are shared – and, inevitably, the evening continues long after the podium ceremonies are over.
It is this combination that makes Planet Baltic stand apart. Yes, it is a serious international race. Yes, the competition is fierce. And yes, the Baltic Sea can be brutal. But beyond the results, Planet Baltic has created something increasingly valuable in SUP: a community built around competition, friendship, inclusion and a genuine connection to the sea.
After nine editions, the event is no longer simply a race on the Baltic. It has become a destination, a meeting point and a celebration of what ocean SUP can be. We caught up with Planet Baltic athletes and organisers to hear their perspectives and find out what makes this event so special form them.
Marta Apanasewicz | Photo by Robert Hajduk & Szymon Sikora
Like every year, Planet Baltic feels like coming home to me. I’ve been coming here for so many years now, and I like the organisers so much that it’s always great to come back.
As for the event as a whole, it’s at a very high level. Everything is clearly explained in the rules, and every day, before each distance, the rules are explained really well.
I’m happy that every year there are more people from our region coming along, and I hope the rest of the world will also make the trip to Kołobrzeg, because I think the only other place that really puts on such a strong open-water wave experience over the longer distances is Santa Pola in Spain.
Benyam Bossack | Photo by Robert Hajduk & Szymon Sikora
Racing on the Baltic Sea is always challenging because the conditions can be tricky. When you have waves, they are not organised but mostly chaotic. Last weekend, the Baltic Sea delivered some gnarly conditions, with a big swell during the Tech Race. It was awesome to see all the paddlers sharing boards, helping each other and cheering for each other. I think a lot of people had never paddled in waves this big. But in the end, I saw a lot of smiles and proud people. The Long Distance was amazing as well, with a big swell still out there.
Planet Baltic is special because the team, Marcin and Marek, aim to organise everything in detail. They put the sport and the athletes first.
The highlight again was the banquet, with good food and drinks and all the international juniors sharing the dancefloor together!
I am super stoked to have prolonged my MVP title and will be back next year for the 10th edition. I hope more people will take the step into open-water racing.
It is so different, more challenging and dynamic than racing on a canal or lake. I think you are even more connected to the elements.”
For me, what makes Planet Baltic so special is definitely the whole atmosphere and also the perfect organisation. Open water racing can be very unpredictable and you never really know what to expect. The wind and the waves can change so much during the race, which makes it challenging but also really exciting.
I think everyone should give open water racing a try because it’s really different from flat water racing. You have to be more aware of everything happening around you and for me, that’s what makes it so interesting.
I was really looking forward to the race because it was held by the sea, and I really like the sea.
From the very beginning, the organization of the event was very good. For example, on the first day, we could leave our boards on the beach, where they were safely supervised.
I really enjoyed the races because they were different from many other competitions. The qualification for the final races was based on time. Every racer had a timing chip that was detected at the start. The racer then completed the course alone, and when they crossed the finish line, their time appeared on a screen near the finish or on a website on their phone. This was a very fair way to divide the racers into the final heats.
There were four attempts to get the best time in the sprint and three attempts in the technical race. The final heats went smoothly and were also very interesting for the spectators.
During the long-distance race, there was a lot of wind and big waves, which made it really difficult for most of the racers. That is why there were rescue boats ready on the water along the whole course.
The award ceremonies were always very well organized, and everything went smoothly. I am already looking forward to the next edition of the Planet Baltic SUP Race, and I hope to see you there!
Joep Van Bakel | Photo by Robert Hajduk & Szymon Sikora
Planet Baltic is one of the most varied SUP competitions worldwide.
Planet Baltic is incredibly well organised, and I think it’s one of the most varied SUP competitions in the world. It’s three full days of racing, from early morning until late afternoon.
We raced sprints, technical, long distance and foil downwind — and not just once! First, everyone fights for positions in the Open category, and afterwards you race again in your age group. This system creates a full day of action and keeps the competition going from start to finish.
Marcin and the whole team are amazing. They are true professionals, but at the same time they are deeply connected to the SUP scene. I love how they keep improving the event, really listen to feedback and put together such an amazing competition for the whole family.
The ocean and challenging conditions give the event that extra. And the organisers always have an exciting plan that suits the circumstances and conditions.
Absolutely love this event. See you all at Planet Baltic 2027!
Elin Van Der Sar | Photo by Robert Hajduk & Szymon Sikora
Planet Baltic, what a race. Lots of racing in this event. And the Baltic Sea is a surprise every time. As a flat water paddler, this was a great learning experience. A weekend where I learned so much, pushed my limits, and had an incredible amount of fun. By far this year’s hardest, coolest, excited race I’ve done. I’ll be back next year for sure!!!
Marrit Miedema | Photo by Piotr Roszak
What made Planet Baltic special for me was the great organisation and all the different races, with both open and age categories.
The changing and challenging open-water conditions also make it extra exciting. You never know what the water is going to be like, which makes the races even more exciting and fun.
For me, the highlight was definitely the technical races. They were challenging, exciting and really fun to do.
I would definitely recommend open-water racing to other paddlers because it’s a great way to challenge yourself and have a lot of fun on the water.
Anton Birkicht | Photo by Robert Hajduk & Szymon Sikora
It was great to be part of Planet Baltic! For me, what made the event special was the combination of a great atmosphere, strong competition and the unpredictability of open water. The conditions made the race challenging, but that’s also what makes it so exciting.
I think open water racing is something every paddler should try. You never know exactly what the water, wind and other conditions will bring, so you have to adapt and stay focused throughout the race. Planet Baltic really showed how challenging and rewarding SUP racing on open water can be.
Marlon Daskiran | Photo by Robert Hajduk & Szymon Sikora
The Planet Baltic Race is, in my opinion, one of the best-organised races in Europe. I would even say that the level of organisation is comparable to that of a World Championship event. From registration to race execution, everything was managed in a highly professional and efficient way.
What makes this race so special is its qualification format. To reach the finals, athletes compete in time trials against the clock rather than directly against other competitors. This creates a very fair system, as everyone has the same opportunity to achieve their best result based on their own performance.
For me personally, it was challenging to adapt to the waves. Since I do not have many opportunities to train at the sea, paddling in these conditions was quite different from what I am used to. However, after a few runs, I became more comfortable and my performance improved as I adjusted to the conditions.
I would recommend that everyone try training at the sea at least once or consider taking part in the Planet Baltic Race next year. Paddling in ocean conditions is completely different from flatwater paddling and offers a unique experience. This special challenge is exactly what makes the Planet Baltic Race such a memorable event for me.
Marin Hoeboer | Photo by Piotr Roszak
Planet Baltic is one of my favourite races of the year. Very good organisation, nice people, and amazing vibes. I’m used to flat water, so a race like this is always a nice and fun challenge.
Mikolaj Majdan | Photo by Robert Hajduk & Szymon Sikora
This year’s Planet Baltic served us awesome, challenging wavy conditions, paired with great organisation and high level competition. I’m not particularly stoked with my results (3rd, 4th, 4th), but mistakes and unfortunate situations happen. I am, however very happy with the performance of my Light Board Corp PARADOXA board.
I have completed all three events on it and the board did surprisingly well even in the heavy waves of the Baltic Sea. The goal for the next year for me is clear – reclaim the yellow jersey.
Marek Rowiński | Photo by Robert Hajduk & Szymon Sikora
We guaranteed smooth organisation, the athletes created an amazing atmosphere, and Neptune added perfect weather to the mix. So I can honestly say that everyone performed perfectly.
Planet Baltic stands out in many ways. We have our own original competition formats which, on the one hand, are fair and, on the other, allow athletes to compete as many times as they want, rather than only as many times as the play-off system allows.
Mixed Relay is probably one of the craziest relay formats out there. Pairs are selected based on the reversed rankings of the women and men, which makes it difficult to predict who will race with whom until the very last moment – let alone who will win. This year, a record 18 pairs took part!
A new feature this year was the introduction of GPS trackers for the Sprint and Technical finals. However, the absolute hit was providing trackers for every participant in the Distance and Mini Distance races.
This is particularly important because our races take place on the open sea, and some athletes do not yet have much experience in such conditions. We respect that. That is why athletes are not forced to complete the distance they originally declared. If, during the race, they decide that the conditions are too difficult for them, they can abandon the long distance and safely finish the Mini Distance instead.
Thanks to this system, this year we avoided approximately 25% of potential DNFs. For me, that is a huge success, because safety must always come before the result.
For me, however, the most emotional moment of the Distance race is the synchronised start from three lines. It is almost impossible to describe – you have to see it to understand what happens during the first kilometre. The athletes paddle across completely flat water and then suddenly enter the sea, precisely where the waves meet the river current. This year, I called this passage “the Gates of Mordor.”
I would especially like to thank the athletes. They adapt very quickly to our sometimes unusual rules and, above all, respect them. They understand that through this cooperation we can run better competitions and raise the bar even higher every year.
I take my hat off to their professionalism and to the fantastic advice they give us. It is incredibly rewarding to hear athletes say that we organise some of the best SUP races in the world. Words like that provide enormous motivation.
But Planet Baltic would not be what it is without the people behind the project. Without Ewa and Marcin’s vision, our cooperation with our experienced Czech partners, and the enormous commitment of the friends who make up the PBSR team.
Thank you to Maciej Koc, Łukasz Kolasa, Łukasz and Bogdan Jałoszyński, Mariusz Marzewski, Żenia Gladyn, Ela Rowińska, Edyta Moskwa and Michał.
They are the ones who make Planet Baltic something more than a competition. It is a community, an atmosphere, and a shared vision of what modern SUP racing can look like.
Marcin Koc with Polish pro racer Małgorzata Cieplińska, who has competed in the event since its very first edition | Photo by Robert Hajduk & Szymon Sikora
Our athletes are always what makes the event special for us. This year, we met many new and wonderful people who decided to come and see what “the main course on the SUP racing calendar for August” is all about. It’s great to keep seeing new faces and to give them what they come for – racing on the open sea, a well-organised event and, of course, plenty of great emotions at the finish line (you know what I mean!).
At a certain point, all editions of a sporting event become quite similar. You have established, proven standards and well-tested ways of organising the starts. The only thing you can’t predict is the weather.
This year, we had fantastic almost-flat water for the sprints, surf waves for the technical races, and a long ocean swell for the distance race. In our opinion, we couldn’t have wished for better conditions. Today I can say it: perfect, ideal PBSR™ conditions!
The 10th edition of Planet Baltic is coming up. What are your ambitions and plans for this special anniversary — can we expect something special?
Ania, 10 years… I always tell the athletes and fans to look for the video from 2017 – 8 boards, 15 people, a river and so much joy, in a sport that was only just beginning to find its feet…
As for ambitions, I’d love the weather to be as good as it was this year – honestly, it was fantastic. As for something special, I already have a few ideas, but please give me a moment to breathe and put everything together so it all comes together properly.
For now, let’s enjoy the fantastic photos by Szymon Sikora and Robert Hajduk and the videos by Wojtek Kosmala on Instagram. We’ll certainly do everything we can to make the 10th edition one for the history books and one that stays in the hearts of our athletes.
Because they are the ones who will create it – making it full of surprises, unique, unforgettable and truly special.
MEN OVERALL
WOMEN OVERALL
WOMEN OPEN – TOP 5
1. Skadi Langbein
2. Marrit Miedema
3. Marta Apanasewicz
4. Hanna Kaminska
5. Linda Syrovatkova
MEN OPEN – TOP 5
JUNIOR GIRLS – TOP 5
1. Marrit Miedema
2. Pavlína Kaňková
3. Emilia Daszewska
4. Martyna Drobny
5. Lena Nowak
JUNIOR BOYS – TOP 5
1. Marlon Cem Daskiran
2. Mylo van Bakel
3. David Veis
4. Selwyn Pritchard
5. Andri Hack
WOMEN MASTER – TOP 3
1. Kateřina Trdlová
2. Małgorzata Cieplińska
3. Karolina Rypina
MEN MASTER – TOP 5
1. Normen Weber
2. Martin Teichmann
3. Joep van Bakel
4. Damian Bartos
5. Tytus Smoliński
MEN GRAND MASTER – TOP 5
1. Michel Keersmaekers-Michiels
2. Andrzej Siewierski
3. Jan Šesták
4. Henrik Carstens
5. David Raab
KIDS BOYS – TOP 3
1. David Veis
2. Ondřej Ošmera
3. Mylo van Bakel
KIDS GIRLS – TOP 3
1. Marrit Miedema
2. Maja Bauerek
3. Alena Hympanova
FOIL MEN – TOP 3
1. Kjell de Bruyn
2. Joep van Bakel
3. Marlon Cem Daskiran
PRONE MEN – TOP 3
1. Filip Orłowski
2. Grzegorz Monczak
3. Bartosz Zimny
WOMEN OPEN – TOP 5
MEN OPEN – TOP 5
MEN JUNIOR – TOP 5
WOMEN JUNIOR – TOP 5
MEN MASTER – TOP 5
WOMEN MASTER – TOP 5
MEN GRAND MASTER – TOP 5
MEN KIDS – TOP 5
WOMEN KIDS – TOP 5
Lena Nowak (Poland) and Valerie Soukupová (Czechia) battling it out | Photo by Piotr Roszak
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