Could Korea become the next SUPer Power? SUNOVA’s Daniel Hasulyo pops the question!

Back from Gangneung, South Korea, where he participated and won the men’s division in the first leg of the brand-new K-SUP Cup, a two-event circuit in South Korea, international SUNOVA SUP racer Daniel Hasulyo, couldn’t wait to share his impressions with the world. He clearly was thoroughly impressed by the popularity and the high level of competition he encountered locally.

Could Korea Become the Next SUP Power?

Predicting the future is never easy, but observing trends and learning from experiences can paint a clear picture of development.

I had the chance to participate in the 2024 K-SUP Cup organized by KAPP last weekend in Gangneung and witnessed firsthand the growth of the sport in Korea.

In 2019, Jerry invited me to an international SUP race in Seoul. At that time, only a handful of juniors and a group of very enthusiastic paddlers were pushing the sport forward.

Last week, with over 50 junior athletes racing in open waters and an ever-rising competitive level in the Open age groups, it was evident that all the hard work KAPP has put into supporting the sport is starting to pay off.

Gangneung is a beautiful coastal city on the East Coast of South Korea. Soft sand, pine trees along the shoreline, and crystal-clear waters are some of the most characteristic features of the beach. A vibrant and newly found attachment to the surfing culture welcomes all visitors.

I couldn’t wait to get in the water and go for a paddle as soon as I arrived.

The inaugural event of the K-SUP Cup kicked off a new national race championship that will crown a KAPP National Champion at the end of the season. This is a great way to keep paddlers motivated and busy throughout the year. Furthermore, mixing open water paddling and flat water showdowns in different locations will truly highlight the strongest paddlers in the nation.

This time, two main events happened on the same day. With all the paddlers and participants, we paddled out in honor of World Ocean Day, “Paddle for the Oceans,” to create connections and good memories among all of us. It also served as a warm-up for the race course, after which the day was all about racing. An exciting 1 km lap, repeated multiple times depending on the category (6x for the Open), featured a mass participation start, many buoy turns, and beach runs, setting the stage for an incredible race.

The conditions were challenging, with a small ground swell, light wind chop, and currents making the race extra exciting and demanding for all.

I was happy to finish the race in front, leading from start to finish, followed by multiple-time Thai National Champion Pluem Komang Nataphat, and young Korean hero Jang Dong Ha. However, I was even happier to be on the same course with the army of youth athletes battling for their glory.

Looking at their performance and knowing their passion, I wouldn’t be surprised if, in the coming years, we see more and more young Korean athletes on international podiums. The fact that many of them practice multiple sports and combine their SUP training with triathlon and other endurance sports gives me hope for their fighting spirit and understanding of performance. Parents, coaches, and the organization are truly supporting their development, and it is clear they are having a lot of fun!

In Japan, the trend was clear. For multiple years, Japan hosted international and world tour events, which led to super enthusiastic junior groups being inspired firsthand by their idols. Years later, they proved to have grown up to the task and overtook the world.

I see and would like to draw similarities with Korea. We are facing an extremely strong nation with great waters both inland and on the waves. A strong organization with vision, hosting and organizing the APP World Tour for the third year in a row, securing the presence of the best athletes in the world in Busan, and now setting the ground for a new national tour with dedicated attention to the junior categories. Importantly, the national education system is starting to recognize and support the sport of SUP in the country, creating a complete recipe for success. I believe they will succeed and am happy to witness their growth firsthand.

The second race of the season will be held in Danyang, a beautiful river in the middle of the country where I’ve heard even more participants will come together to race in glassy conditions.

I can’t wait to return, battle with many of the best paddlers in Asia, and keep living the stoke with the youngsters!

To find out more the KAPP and the K-SUP Cup, please visit:
www.kappworldtour.com

To find out more about SUNOVA, go to:
www.sunovasurfboards.com