The finale of the 2022 APP SUP Racing World Tour saw April Zilg and Connor Baxter claim the World Titles while Shuri ‘Shrimpy’ Araki and Mélanie Lafenêtre got their first win on an APP World Tour event to close a sensational season! Recap, Results, overall World Rankings, highlights and full LIVE FEED presented by Travis Grant and Mathieu Astier below!
2022 Alicante SUP Open – Day 1 – Sprints
On Day 1 of the Alicante SUP Open, Connor Baxter won the sprints securing him the overall 2022 Sprint Title, and in a turn-up for the books, APP World Tour debutant Alba Alonso Frey from Fuerteventura took everyone by surprise on her only 3rd international race and won the sprint competition in a stacked women’s final. The Alicante SUP Open sprints saw huge upsets, stacked heats and a thrilling tournament between the best sprinters in the world. On the women’s side, 2022 World Champion April Zilg was knocked out in the semi-finals by Italy’s junior wonder girl Cecilia Pampinella. In the finals, we saw a fierce battle between Mélanie Lafenêtre and Alba Alonso Frey, but it was Frey who was victorious in what was an impressive debut on the APP World Tour. Juliette Duhaime, the most consistent athlete in this year’s tour finished in 4th place.
We had to ask: “Who are you Alba Alonso Frey??”
On the men’s side every heat felt like a final as the world’s best assembled on Playa del Postiguet for the season finale. After a thrillingly competitive run of heats, four familiar faces made it to the final: 2018 App World Champion Arthur Arutkin, Peruvian Prince, Infinity Speed Freak and 2nd in the APP rankings Itzel Delgado, 16 year old and 2 x ISA gold winner Shuri Araki and 3 x APP World Tour winner Connor Baxter. It was the ultimate battle, championed by the ultimate sprinter as Connor Baxter clinched the Alicante SUP Open sprint title, as well as the Overall Sprint Title for 2022.
Outside of the professional division, we saw hundreds of junior and open racers partake in the sprints in what is one of the most vibrant SUP communities we have seen on Tour.
2022 Alicante SUP Open – Day 2 – Long Distance
On Sunday, the 42 APP World Tour competitors embarked upon an 11km technical long distance race at Playa Del Postiguet. Connor needed to get in the top 11 to secure the World Title and in a stacked field of the world’s best paddlers, the stakes were high. In the end, It was 16-year-old Shuri Araki who claimed his first, and long overdue win on Tour and France’s Mélanie Lafenêtre who took the women’s title in what was a tight battle until the very end with both Juliette DuHaime and Alba Alonso Frey.
Baxter managed to finish exactly where he needed to, 11th place, to secure his 4th APP World Tour Title. April Zilg had already secured the World Title coming into the weekend after an impressively dominant season that made Alicante somewhat of a victory lap here in Alicante.
It was a day to remember on the water at Playa del Postiguet: with both World and Event Champions crowned and spectacular performances across the board, from Pros right through to the U10s, it all amounted to a thrilling close to the season here in Alicante.With the 2023 Alicante SUP Open already set as next year’s tour opening event in April, make sure to join in Alicante when we do it all over again.
REPLAY 2022 Alicante SUP Open – DAY 1 – Sprints
REPLAY 2022 Alicante SUP Open – DAY 2 – Longue Distance
When Maui meets Cali, Synergy happens (pun intended). When two independent SUP innovators – Black Project and Infinity SUP – come together with a shared vision to redefine performance paddles and develop an exclusive line, the SUP community can expect the highest-quality and purpose-built paddles for every scenario – powered by Black Project R&D, wrapped […]
Japan well known for it’s harmonizing culture, respect for elders, and collectivism invites you to join the 13th annual O2Y Race this upcoming June 28th 2025 (25km and 13km downwind distances). Today on TotalSUP we sit down with Takuji, the passionate race director of the Okinawa Downwind Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Race. With deep roots in […]
When the SUP and all-waterman legend Zane Kekoa Schweitzer says, “It made me excited to SUP surf again… Yeah, I kinda don’t want to ride any other board,” the SUP world is listening and it’s about to be hit with a seismic delivery from Starboard. We’ve all seen the slick teaser drops building the hype […]
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 […]
When you grow up in Gran Canaria with a father who’s a local SUP & surf legend, Coach and the Founder of one of the hottest SUP events in Canary Islands, Gran Canaria PRO – you’re practically wired for the sport, and your blood runs salty. We’ve been following young SUP athlete and Starboard Rider […]
The sport’s competitive edge is sharper than ever, driven by relentless performance optimisation. As specialisation takes centre stage, brands must do more than keep pace – they need to disrupt. We’ve been witnessing new approaches to developing SUP-specific gear, influenced by the principles of design thinking and disruptive innovation. The SUP R&D (Research and Development) […]
For Infinity, SUP surfing isn’t just a discipline – it’s what they derive from. The culture, the vibes, the gear – it’s all in their roots. And when Infinity gets involved and supports SUP surf events, you know there are some real hitters in the pipeline. The 34th Santa Cruz Paddlefest (28-30 March, Santa Cruz, […]
The UK SUP racing scene has long been one of the most established in the sport, but to stay ahead, it needed a fresh approach. The challenge? Retaining top local talent, growing grassroots participation, and developing the junior division – all while strengthening key stakeholder partnerships. From the very beginning, the GBSUP National Paddle Racing […]
The International Canoe Federation (ICF) has finalized the locations and dates for this year’s Stand Up Paddling World Ranking Series. Four key events will take place across Europe, offering ranking points that will play a crucial role in the lead-up to the 2025 ICF SUP World Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The competition […]