Sitia & Agios Nikolaos Deliver World-Class ICF SUP Action in Crete

From May 1 to 4, 2025, the island of Crete became the meeting point for SUP Racers from around the world, with two major events of the ICF SUP World Series taking place in Sitia and Agios Nikolaos. A total of 235 athletes from 23 countries took part, making it one of the biggest SUP gatherings ever held in Greece. Over €18,000 in prize money was up for grabs across four packed days of racing — from tight technical battles to all-out sprints and long-distance tests. The standout stars of the week were Puerto Rico’s Infinity SUP racer Mariecarmen Rivera and Japan’s Shuri Araki, now a free agent, who both claimed a dominant three-win sweep across Technical and Long Distance races. With thrilling sprints, gritty long-distance duels, and youth categories packed with emerging talent, these four days showed why Crete and Greece are fast becoming a favorite on the global SUP map.

Sitia SUP World Cup – May 1 & 2: Big Names, Big Effort, Big Rain

May 1 – Technical Race:
The action kicked off in Sitia under stormy skies, with strong winds and rain putting everyone to the test. The racecourse was just 1 km long but packed with sharp turns and tough conditions. Despite the weather, the competition was on fire.

Japan’s Shuri Araki, now a free agent, led the way from start to finish in the men’s race, followed by Dutch powerhouse and Infinity team racer Donato Freens, who made a huge push in the final stretch, and Brazil’s Eri Tenorio in third on his Flying Fish Freedom Pro. Italy’s Filippo Mercuriali also made the top five.

In the women’s race, an Infinity duo in 1st and 2nd with Puerto Rico’s Marie Carmen Rivera who looked unbeatable and Hungarian youngster Csillag Kocsis who is now making it a habit to score an international open women’s podium every weekend, despite being still a junior racer. SUNOVA racer Susak Molinero from Spain used all her experience to climb back from a shaky start and grab 3rd. Greece’s former Sprint Junior World Champion Kyriaki “Rea” Logothetis and Natalia Novitskaia also finished strong.

May 2 – Sprint Race:
The next day was all about speed. Sitia’s marina turned into a 150-meter straight-line sprint zone. The level was high and the races were tight.

In the men’s, it was a showdown between the 2024 Open and Junior world champions Andrey Kraitor representing Bulgaria and Matei Barbu from Romania. Greece’s Phaedon Doukas, Donato Freens and another Greek athlete Nikolaos Malekakis finished just behind.

In the women’s final, Infinith Speek Freak Katniss Paris from Florida, USA took gold, with another Infinity rider, MarieCarmen Rivera close behind for her second podium. Polish Junior athlete Hannah Kaminska finished 3rd, followed by Novitskaia and Logothetis.

Agios Nikolaos – May 3 & 4: Sun, Surf and Long Hauls

May 3 – Technical Beach Race:
The event moved west to Agios Nikolaos for its 10th anniversary event. With the sun shining but the wind still blowing, the racecourse at Almyros Beach included buoy turns, fun surf, and beach runs — a mix of everything.

Japan’s Shuri Araki grabbed his second win of the week, ahead of Donnie Freens, Eri Tenorio, and NSP SUP racer from the UK, Blue Ewer. Paolo Marconi finished 5th.

On the women’s side, Rivera made it 3 wins in a row with yet another victory in the final. Csillag Kocsis was right behind, with Rea Logothetis in third. Susak Molinero and Katniss Paris also put in strong performances.

May 4 – Long Distance:
The final day featured a tough 13.5 km point-to-point race along the coast of Agios Nikolaos. The men paddled in the morning against some light headwinds; the women had more variety, with wind in all directions and plenty of physical challenges.

Shuri Araki once again came out on top, capping a near-perfect week. Donato Freens finished second, followed by young Greek paddler Tasos Tsouris (3rd), Eri Tenorio from Brazil (4th), and Italian SUNOVA rider Paolo Marconi (5th).

In the women’s race, MarieCarmen Rivera took yet another win, while Susak Molinero had a strong paddle to finish 2nd. Rea Logothetis earned another 3rd-place finish, with Natalia Novitskaia and promising German paddler Skadi Langbein completing the top five.

SUP in Crete: The Future Looks Bright

From young talent to international stars, the energy around SUP in Crete was incredible. The local support, natural beauty, and strong performances across all categories proved once again that Crete isn’t just a great place to race — it’s a key part of SUP’s future.

📊 Full Results: my.esportevents.gr
📸 Photo Gallery: bit.ly/agiosnikolaos2025