29 hours. 220km. Non-stop: Marco Teodosio’s SUP 11-Tour City Tour dream realised

At 41, Marco Teodosio divides his time between the waves of Foz do Arelho, Portugal, and the canals of Amersfoort, Netherlands, where he coaches at Lakeside SUP, sharing his knowledge and training the next generation of paddlers.

Once a surfer turned ultra endurance SUP racer, Marco swapped crowded breaks for endless waterways—and thanks to the encouragement of his local surf break, friends Filipe and Tiago, he’s been hooked ever since. He has now written his name in the SUP 11-City Tour’s history, winning the 12th edition of the gruelling non-stop challenge in 29 hours, using the SIC Maui RST 14×21 board, paired with Black Project SynergyX Paddle.

Marco took on the 2022 and 2023 editions, came back for the trophy, and made his mark on the sport. Finishing the SUP 11-City Tour once is a monumental achievement – but to do it more than once and then crush the non-stop race is on another level and the measure of a true competitor.

We caught up with Marco right at the finish line, both celebrating and decompressing, and claiming, that he’s “taking it easy”… at least for now.

First of all, massive congratulations on your amazing achievement and welcome back to TotalSUP – we’re stoked to have you! How does it feel to conquer the Non-Stop Solo in 29 hours over 200 km?

Thank you so much, it is very good to be back! I am super super happy with it, the non stop was on my bucket list since my first 5-day SUP 11-City in 2022 so it was very special for me!

What was going through your mind in the final kilometers before the finish?

The final kilometers were the hardest ones, my legs were tired and there was a crazy head and cross wind, but the finish was close and in my mind and I just wanted to get there.

The non-stop solo is considered one of the toughest feats in SUP. What made you decide to take it on?

Well, I love the ultra-racing part of SUP so as an endurance paddler, you’ve got to take on the queen of ultra races. I’m all about embracing a good challenge!

With your previous SUP 11 Cities experience, how did it prepare you mentally and physically for the Non-Stop Solo?

I had the advantage of paddling both the 5-day edition and the non-stop race as part of a team, so mentally I knew what to expect. Paddling alone for so long is like meditation, it’s just you and Mother Nature. Physically, I spent a lot of time on the water and in the gym preparing for it.

What did your training look like leading up to this attempt? Did you have a strategy for pacing, rest, or nutrition along the way?

My training consisted of four sessions per week on the water, some lasting 3 to 4 hours, and three gym sessions focused on strength. The strategy was to maintain a steady pace from the start and keep nutrition on point, which was possible thanks to the support of my girlfriend, Ghislaine, who was an incredible part of my team.

Were there any lessons you learned from past editions that proved crucial this time?

Sure, there was. One lesson is that pacing wisely is crucial—the SUP 11-City Tour is always more a race against yourself than against others, and Friesland always finds ways to keep you humble.

Was there a moment you thought of stopping, and what kept you going?

I felt pretty good till the last 20/25km and once you get to that phase of the race there is only one way, and it is to finish, so stopping was never on my mind.

Who or what inspired you to believe you could complete this challenge?

Seeing other paddlers take it on year after year with such determination and success inspired me to give it a try! With the right training and mindset, you can achieve anything.

What does this achievement mean to you personally, and for your SUP journey?

This means a lot. Like I said, it’s been on my bucket list for a long time, and it’s considered one of the most epic ultra races in the stand-up paddle world! So, it’s an honour to have it under my belt.

How do you see the role of the SUP 11-City Tour in pushing the limits of the sport?

The SUP 11-City Tour is magical in so many ways, and if you’ve been there, you know what I mean! It holds major importance in the SUP ultra world, as it was the first “next level” ultra race.

After this massive milestone – what’s next for you?

For now I will enjoy the moment and take it easy for a bit! I will set my next goals later in the year.

Once again, huge congratulations, Marco! We’re excited to see what incredible challenge you take on next!

Find out more about SUP 11-City Tour here 

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To learn more about Black Project visit blackprojectsup.com;

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*Photos by Edwin Wekstra, M A Y O L A I phtgrphcdsgnr and Jeanine Leguit via SUP 11-City Tour