The gear, the trials, the errors, the stoke: Rethinking SUP racing entry with Francisco Miguel Carvalho

For Francisco Miguel Carvalho (aka The Man), 46, former Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athlete turned SUP racer from Windsor, stand-up paddleboarding is more than a sport – it’s a lifeline. In just four years, he has transitioned from curious beginner to a familiar face on the UK race circuits, navigating the same highs and lows that define the journey for so many newcomers.

“Mentally and physically, SUP has become my anchor,” he says. “It’s not just about paddling; it’s about patience, learning, and growth.”

Francisco’s SUP story is the story of many paddlers: self-taught, starting out on inflatables, and – if lucky – getting the chance to try a few high-quality boards from established brands. Still, the path is rarely smooth. It’s built on trial and error: travelling to demo days, paddling with other clubs, swapping gear with whoever’s willing to lend a board. These small opportunities become the foundation for upgrading once the hook of racing and competition sets in.

But this stage of the process is also where reality bites. Race gear is expensive, difficult to access, and often impossible to test properly before buying. For newcomers, the first race board is almost always a gamble. Too often the choice is driven by hype, narrow specs that promise speed, or simply what’s available second-hand from paddlers moving on to the next model.

The result? Boards that don’t fit the paddler – mismatched to their weight, height, or skill level. Too twitchy, too unforgiving, and instead of being a tool to build skills and progress, it turns every session into a fight for survival.

This is one of SUP racing’s open secrets: accessibility is limited, and the learning curve can be brutal. Without the right guidance or access to the right gear, too many paddlers burn out before they ever get the chance to grow.

Discovering the competitive edge

Francisco’s introduction to racing wasn’t part of some grand plan – it came by chance. When COVID-19 put a hard stop to his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training, he looked for another outlet. SUP started as fitness, but quickly turned into more.

“I joined a local lake and started seeing others on race boards. That’s when I decided to give it a go. The competitive side hooked me.”

The leap into racing is one many paddlers can relate to: it doesn’t happen in isolation. Access to the community and, crucially, to knowledge passed down from those further along the curve makes the difference. For Francisco, clinics with elite athletes like Michael Booth (7x World SUP Champion) and Blue Ewer (9x British SUP Racing Champion) became stepping stones.

“Meeting these paddlers, training on boards like the Starboard Sprint 14×20 (Editor’s note: Francisco actually bought this directly from Connor Baxter himself at the APP World Tour London stop!), it opened my eyes to what’s possible.”

Photos by Amanda Roberts @ P3T Photography

The trials of finding the right board

This is where the story gets tougher – and familiar. Transitioning from inflatables to a second-hand hardboard is often the first serious step for aspiring racers. Francisco’s experience mirrors that of many: eye-opening, transformative, but also filled with missteps.

“The feedback from a hardboard is completely different. It’s faster, more responsive, and it opened up a whole new world of possibilities,” he explains.

But here lies one of SUP racing’s biggest barriers: access. Testing boards is rarely straightforward, demo opportunities are scarce, and most models are built for the mass market rather than the individual paddler. “It’s not easy to demo boards, and most are mass-produced, not tailored for the individual. I went through five or six boards before finding one that suits me. You think it’s ‘the one,’ only to realise it’s too narrow or unstable.”

That cycle – of buying, failing, and selling on – is a quiet tax many paddlers pay. It exposes the limited access to proper equipment testing, where hype, marketing, or whatever happens to be available second-hand often shapes first purchases more than suitability.

When we caught up with Francisco at one of the GBSUP races, he had just added the Indiana 14×25 Open Water Race Carbon board to his quiver, from Indiana Paddle & Surf, the Swiss makers pushing cool gear for SUP, winging, pumping, and surfing. A rider- and shaper-owned brand, born from skateboarders and evolved into full-blown watersports diehards.

This flat-deck board – built to master rough and choppy conditions – is a rare find on the UK market, and the Indiana immediately sparked our interest.

“I wanted a board that forces me to rely on my own stability and technique, rather than secondary stability. It’s incredibly responsive and allows me to move freely while refining my stroke.”

The Indiana’s design features – a lightweight build, stability in chop, a pin-tail for glide – offered him both challenge and progression.

Francisco on the Indiana 14×25 Open Water SUP:

• Stability: Very stable on flat water and handles choppy conditions well, though it requires some footwork
• Acceleration: Surprising speed in low-wind conditions; the board rides more on top of the water
• Handling: Excellent performance on flat water, easy to turn, with strong primary stability
• Skill Level: Best suited for intermediate to advanced paddlers; more challenging conditions demand more footwork.

“It’s great for sprints and longer races. It challenges me, but that’s how you grow as a paddler.”

Takeaways for newcomers

Francisco’s journey, with its trials and breakthroughs, underscores the essentials: patience, persistence, and community. What he tells newcomers also speaks to the realities of the system around the sport.

• Find your crew: “Join a group or club where you can learn and grow together.”
• Take your time: “Don’t rush into buying the first board you see. Test as many as you can and find what feels right for you.”
• Focus on stability: “A stable board allows you to focus on your stroke, not your balance.”
• Embrace your own journey: “Don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone progresses at their own pace.”

These aren’t just personal tips, they’re reminders there’s still plenty of room to build smoother entry points for newcomers in our sport. Too often, progression depends on persistence and personal resources rather than structured support.

Looking ahead

“The trials and mistakes are all part of it,” Francisco reflects. “In the end, it’s about finding what works for you and enjoying the ride.”

To find out more about Indiana Paddle & Surf, visit  Indiana Paddle & Surf

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