SUP Cup Kemer 2026: Andrey Kraytor & Hanna Kamińska head to Kemer as international field ramps up for ICF ranking event

With an increasingly stacked ICF European calendar, the final months of the season are becoming a crucial battleground for international elite competitors – and the SUP Cup Kemer 2026 is shaping up to be one of the one-to-watch stops on the Autumn schedule.

The fourth edition of the event, the SUP Cup Kemer 2026: ICF World Ranking & Festival Race, returns to Moonlight Beach in Antalya from 28-31 October 2026, marking a new milestone for Türkiye’s biggest SUP event as it joins the official ICF SUP World Ranking circuit.

Organised by All Together Türkiye, the Kemer SUP Cup is Türkiye’s first and only international SUP event, bringing professional athletes and SUP enthusiasts from around the world together to compete, connect and experience the spectacular Turkish Riviera.

Among those confirmed to make the trip is Hanna Kamińska, a multiple-time Polish National Champion and ICF Junior World Championship Silver and Bronze medallist. We had the chance to watch Kaminska at the historic first ICF World Cup event in Torquay, United Kingdom, in June, where she claimed bronze in the Technical Race. Balancing elite competition with law school, she has now confirmed her participation in Kemer, adding another major international race to an already demanding season.

She will be joined by her coach, Andrey Kraytor, Olympian, 2024 ICF SUP World Sprint Champion, 2024 SUP Cup Kemer winner and a passionate advocate for the growth and development of SUP as a competitive sport. Now increasingly focused on coaching, Kraytor is mentoring the newly formed Riva Team, a rising group of Polish SUP talent founded by Kaminska.

Also heading to Kemer as part of the team is another emerging Polish talent, Miłosz Sytnik, multiple Polish SUP Champ and an ICF World Cup Junior Bronze medallist in both the Technical Race and Sprint. With Kamińska, Kraytor and Sytnik on the start line, the newly formed Riva Team will bring a strong mix of experience and emerging talent to this year’s event.

We caught up with Hanna and Andrey to talk about their preparations and what they are expecting from this year’s SUP Cup Kemer.

Andrey Kraytor said:

First of all, I have to say that Turkey has an absolutely amazing coastline and still so much unlocked potential for watersports, especially paddleboarding.

I’ve been coming to Turkey for training since around 2012-2013, and I’ve also organized my SUP surf camps there for several winters in a row. I’ve watched the whole scene and the locations develop over the years, and I really believe there is huge potential here.

Another thing I really appreciate is Turkish hospitality. The service, accommodation, food and overall experience are at a very high level, which makes it a fantastic destination not only for racing, but also for training camps and simply spending a great week around the event.

Logistically, it’s also very easy. You can fly directly to Antalya from many European cities, or connect through Istanbul, and generally it’s affordable and accessible for international athletes.

Photo courtesy of SUP Cup Kemer

I’ve been involved with the organizers and supporting this event since the very beginning, so I’m especially happy to see how far it has come. This year is already the fourth edition of SUP Cup Kemer, and now it’s an ICF World Ranking event.

I genuinely believe it can grow much bigger in the future. The ambition is there to eventually bring a World Championship to Turkey, and I think the location, organizers, sponsors and entire community have the potential to make that happen.

And the end of October is a fantastic time to be there – great weather, beautiful coastline, lots of activities and an incredible setting for racing.

So I’m really stoked to come back again, bring more international paddlers with us, and especially this year, finally race on hard boards. If you haven’t experienced SUP Cup Kemer yet, this is definitely the year to come.

Photo by Robert Hajduk & Szymon Sikora

Hi Hanna, welcome back to TotalSUP! You’re heading to Kemer for the SUP Cup – how are you feeling as the race gets closer and what are you expecting from the event?

Hi! I’m really excited to be heading to Kemer. I’m feeling good and looking forward to racing in a completely new place and under new conditions. I’m expecting a strong and competitive event, but also a great experience. I’m looking forward to seeing how I perform and enjoying my time there as a season finale.

Photo by Robert Hajduk & Szymon Sikora

Kemer offers a unique race format in a stunning setting – what is it about the event that made you want to venture there?

Definitely the combination of the location and the race format. Kemer looks like an amazing place to race, and I really like events that offer something different from the usual race environment.

It’s also a new experience for me, so I felt it was a great opportunity to challenge myself during the last race of the year.

Photo courtesy of SUP Cup Kemer

It’s the first time Kemer has joined the ICF World Ranking circuit. What are you expecting from the level of competition on the start line?

Once an event becomes part of the ICF World Ranking circuit, you can expect a lot of high level athletes to show up, especially because everyone is looking for good ranking points.

I think the races will be fast and very competitive, which is exactly what I’m looking for.

RIVA SUP Team is a new project that you’ve helped build from the ground up. What does it mean to you to see Miłosz Sytnik and yourself already standing on an international podium wearing the RIVA colours?

It means a lot. Whenever we compete internationally, we are first of all representing Poland, and then our club. At the same time, it’s really satisfying to see that the way our club works and the environment we’ve created are helping us progress. Seeing everything come together and lead to results is something we’re really happy about.

The results are definitely not just our work. There are a lot of people behind them, including our coaches, physiotherapists and parents, and all of their work contributes to what we are able to achieve on the water. Seeing Miłosz and myself on an international podium wearing the RIVA colours represents the work of the whole team around us.

You’ve recently started working with Andrey Kraytor as your coach. How did that partnership come about?

It came quite naturally. I wanted to take another step in my development and work with someone who has a lot of experience at the highest level of sup racing. Andrey has a very strong understanding of the sport and of what it takes to compete internationally.

I felt like my style of paddling as a sprinter and his way of coaching match very well so when we started talking about working together, and it quickly felt like the right direction for me. I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.

Photo by Robert Hajduk & Szymon Sikora

Andrey Kraytor commented on coaching Hanna:

I’ve actually been watching Hania since the beginning of her journey in the sport. She’s an incredibly talented and passionate athlete with huge potential – and she’s already proven that with World Championship medals and victories at major international events.

What I really respect is her determination and commitment to the sport. And I see that same passion throughout the Riva SUP group.

So when the guys asked me to come in, help them and work together, I was genuinely stoked. For me as a coach, it’s also a beautiful challenge because we’re not talking about small ambitions here. The goal is to compete for the highest results and ultimately for world titles.

Image source: ICF World SUP Championships

At the same time, they’re still at a stage where there is a lot to learn and a lot of experience to gain. And honestly, that’s one of my favourite stages to work with as a coach, because you can see transformation happening relatively quickly.

We haven’t been working together for very long, but we can already see physical changes. And there is another part that people probably can’t see yet – the mental transformation. I believe that’s going to become much more visible through their future performances.

For me, it’s a pleasure to be part of that process, to support these athletes in reaching their goals, and to work with such a passionate group of people.

I’m just really happy and excited to see where we can take this together.

Photo by Robert Hajduk & Szymon Sikora

With Andrey Kraytor leading the coaching and a young team around you, where do you see RIVA SUP Team in the next few years?

Honestly, I don’t really know yet. I’m not sure whether we’ll eventually develop RIVA into a club with a youth section or keep it in the form it has now, mainly as a space where Miłosz and I can comfortably develop as athletes.

We don’t feel any pressure to take it in a particular direction. I think it will naturally become clearer with time. For now, it is what it is, and we’re happy with how it works.

As you head into Kemer with this new setup around you, what are you hoping to take from the race – results, experience, confidence, or something else?

Definitely a combination of all of those things. Of course, I always want the best possible result, but I also want to learn as much as possible from the race. It’s the first season that I’m racing on my own terms, so I’m interested in seeing how everything works together under real race pressure.

Hopefully, I’ll come away with a good result, more experience and even more confidence going forward.

Photo courtesy of SUP Cup Kemer

What are the biggest goals you’ve set for yourself for the rest of the season?

The main goals are the European and World Championships. Good results at that level take time, so whatever happens along the way, happens.

For me, all these races, training sessions and experiences are part of the road towards those bigger goals. I just want to keep progressing and make sure that everything I do is moving me in the right direction.

And finally, away from rankings and results – what is it about SUP right now that keeps you excited and hungry to race?

I think it’s the fact that there is always something new to learn. No two races are exactly the same. The conditions, the water, the tactics and even the people you race against can completely change the experience.

I also love the feeling of pushing myself and seeing how far I can go. And honestly, being on the water is finally something I came to enjoy again, which is probably the most important thing.

Photo by Robert Hajduk & Szymon Sikora

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