Susanne Lier’s 2026 global SUP camp line-up: Committed to developing complete paddlers with cross-discipline ocean training

There are SUP conversations that stick with you – those that intuitively reveal the direction the sport is headed. Catching up with Susanne Lier, 4x World SUP Champion, elite athlete, Coach, and SUNOVA Team Rider, has always offered nothing short of philosophical depth and insider insight into our sport – and the timing couldn’t be better as the year wraps up.

A straight shooter and passionate advocate for injury-free paddling, Susanne brings a straightforward perspective and a clear, honest approach to coaching. In her pursuit to support paddlers in becoming complete athletes and mastering training in ocean conditions, Susanne has announced a global tour and event series, spanning her home base, Thailand, Brazil, and beyond. This tour also celebrates the 10th anniversary of her leadership at the Watermen Performance Center, a dedicated training hub on Fuerteventura, in the Canary Islands.

Hi Susanne, welcome back to TotalSUP! With a packed schedule of camps and events worldwide in 2026, what keeps your passion alive for coaching and helping paddlers grow at every level?

Thanks for having me again. Yes, I have worked months on this schedule and I’m very excited about some amazing collaborations here in Fuerteventura and oversea.

This will be the 10th birthday of the Watermen Performance Center and I can’t wait to welcome paddlers from all over the world here on the island.

I have to admit, it’s hard work and a huge responsibility to train people in ocean conditions but every smile and every achievement I experience with my customers are worth so much.

A lot of paddlers come back every year and make huge progress. I coach all age groups, which makes my work passionate and exciting. No two days are ever the same.

What are the key elements you believe are often overlooked in typical SUP coaching?

That’s a good question and I think we have a lot of different opinions on that topic. It’s important for me to ask every paddler who wants to work with me about their own goals. Then we plan the training based on their experience, fitness level and also physical conditions. I’m a very honest person and I don’t want to sell goals which we cannot achieve.

It’s also important not to compare ourselves to other paddlers. We’re all physically different and come from different sporting backgrounds.

Across all your camps, what would you say is the key factor that helps participants become ‘more complete paddlers’?

We are leaving our comfort zone in a safe way. It’s easy to say but in the end it’s hard work. I’m coaching almost in all conditions here and also during my clinic tour.

I want every paddler to learn how to adapt their paddle technique and be as efficient as possible without pushing beyond their physical limits in difficult conditions.

For most of my customers, ocean movement is already a challenge, especially when adapting to wind and choppy conditions.

I have a lot of ‘flat water’ paddlers who are used to perfect flat conditions and when they leave they have more confidence and skills to paddle and train even in more difficult conditions.

You’ve said, ‘I’m your guide, but the teacher is the ocean’. How does that philosophy shape your approach to ocean training and instil humility in paddlers?

Yes, that’s my favourite introduction to my sessions. So everyone is on the same page. Technically it means I will be there and help but the ocean gives the rhythm and the intensity of the training.

Working in an environment with elements we can’t predict and which are more powerful than us is a big challenge for my customers and myself.

I know my home location very well: rocks, currents, tides, waves, wind etc. but also I need to adapt my training. Learning to develop an almost 360° vision and awareness in this environment takes time and a lot of training.

We are in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and the forecast is most of the time incorrect or delayed. A lot of people compare the distances on flat water with the km’s we paddled in the ocean and don’t really recognise at the beginning that it almost counts double as we paddle in rougher conditions.

Also speed and distance per stroke are irrelevant if you have a water surface which can change during your training.

You place a strong emphasis on safety and injury-free paddling – how do you integrate that focus into your coaching and training programmes?

Over the years, I’ve had many paddlers tell me they can paddle without pain since training with me. It’s great feedback, but also a big shock for me, because I would never continue a sport with pain without working on what’s causing it. Poor equipment choices and missing technique are the most common reasons.

I work specifically with video analysis to get a global picture when customers come for the first time. We check the videos together and I try to make them understand what is a healthy and efficient movement. I focus on different aspects for the correction but first I want that the paddlers see and feel what should be changed to have a longevity in SUP.

Injury prevention also happens on land, which is why I offer mobility training and gym sessions with my team. The four pillars I train and teach my customers are movement, flexibility, strength, and mobility.

How important is the right gear in maximising a paddler’s performance and safety, and what are the most common mistakes paddlers make when choosing their equipment?

The equipment question is also a big issue, as many people choose the wrong size for their weight and level. Paddle length and blade size are a big discussion in our industry, and I try to help paddlers by letting them test different paddles and boards so they can figure out for themselves what feels better and faster.

With the Watermen Performance Center, I’ve created a place where people can test and train with high-quality equipment, trying different board sizes, volumes, shapes, and paddle options. For many paddlers, stepping onto a bigger board can be tough if they’re used to slimmer boards at home. But once again, the ocean teaches you which board to choose for each session. 😉

What’s your ultimate goal for the paddlers who come through your camps – beyond just race results?

The training camps I offer have different content, goals, and levels. If people spend a week training with me and my team and go home with a higher paddling level, more safety, more confidence, and a real hunger for more, then my work is done.

I have many female paddlers who tell me during the season, ‘Today at the start I was thinking of you’,  or ‘At the buoy turn, I had your words in my mind’.  That means so much to me.

At the Watermen Performance Center, we also have many regulars who come back every year – sometimes even twice. That shows me that I’ve created something special that keeps people coming back.

What key trends do you believe will shape the future of SUP coaching, and how do you see these influencing the way athletes train and develop?

I think the trends in SUP coaching will be defined by the paddlers’ levels. We have different age groups and skill levels, and everyone finds the best coach for themselves. The key is to be honest about how much time you can invest and what your goals are.

I prefer to develop skills across different crafts to keep my training – and my clients’ sessions – interesting and effective. I’m not a gym regular; instead, I focus on balancing all my muscles, endurance, and skills. My coach has tailored a training plan that includes not just SUP, but also outrigger canoe and prone paddling.

We’d like to take a closer look at three of your upcoming events:

SUP Race Ocean Camp with Candice Appleby: You’re teaming up with Candice – what’s the vision behind this collaboration?

Yes, I’m super happy she’s on board and coming back to Europe. We’ve shared many moments racing together in the US and Europe over the years.

I’ve had her on my wish list for a long time to join one of my camps here in the Canary Islands, and a great Zoom call made it happen!

Candice is one of the most influential female paddlers since the beginning of SUP, and she’s doing an amazing job with the Ocean Academy. We share the same ideas about coaching and training, so it’ll be a lot of fun combining our experiences.

It will be an Ocean SUP race camp aimed at intermediate and advanced paddlers who want to improve their skills in ocean conditions. It’s going to be a great group of European and overseas paddlers united for one week.

How do your coaching styles complement each other?

Candice and I are both all-round paddlers who work with different tools. Like me, she trains in outrigger canoe, prone, and SUP. We share the same ideas about technique, coaching approach, and gear choice.

We’re both successful and passionate athletes with many titles and experiences that we’re excited to share.

Our goal is for everyone to have fun while learning new skills, and we’re going to create the best week ever – training and travelling in paradise with two really cool coaches 😉.

Watermen Week – Prone & SUP with Andrew Byatt: The Watermen Week combines prone paddling and SUP – why did you decide to create a camp that integrates both disciplines?

I love training with pros myself – so I just make them come to my island, ha ha! I wanted to create a new training camp for prone and watermen at Watermen Performance Center since I have all the ‘toys’ here, and I’ve been training prone as an extra discipline alongside SUP for quite some time. SUP and prone are a great combo because they work different muscle groups and cardio – totally complementary and a lot of fun.

I had a great call with Andrew Byatt, the 2024 ISA Paddleboard Champion, who I’ve been following for a while. He was super keen to come coach and share his experience. Andrew is an amazing athlete, a busy dad, and a hard worker.

The week with both of us will be a great mix of water and land training, plus some pool sessions. It’s open to all levels and the best way to build clean technique in such a tough sport – directly from a pro. The group will be small so we can work closely with everyone individually.

SUP Race Training Camp Brazil with Analytic Paddle & Aloha Spirit: How does including the Aloha Spirit Race entry as a major highlight of the training camp motivate participants, and what makes this race a must-attend event for SUP racers?

Including the Aloha Spirit Race as the camp’s highlight keeps athletes fully engaged – they know they’ll put every technique and lesson to use by the weekend, which makes them train with more focus and intention.

It’s a must-attend event because it brings together multiple water sports, creating an energetic, community-driven atmosphere that’s inspiring to be part of. With high-level competition, great organization, and that multisport vibe, it’s the perfect stage for athletes to test their progress and see the impact of what they’ve learned during the camp.

The training camp is open to all levels, and the competition is the cherry on top after a great week of training together in a new country and culture. Travel, train, and race!

Arthur, one of the best and most successful coaches in SUP and OC, will welcome us in his hometown of São Sebastião for this amazing week of training.

Thank you so much for your insights Susanne and we can’t wait to follow the updates from your SUP camps!

Susanne Lier’s SUP Camp schedule:

February 2026

• 07–14 February 2026 – Watermen Week: Prone & SUP with Andrew Byatt & Susanne Lier
• 14–20 February 2026 – Junior SUP Race Camp (Intermediate)
• 21 – 28 February 2026 – SPECIAL SUP Race – Ocean Camp – Candice Appleby & Susanne Lier (Intermediate/ Advanced)

March 2026

• 14–21 March 2026 – Ocean Downwind Camp (South Fuerteventura, Intermediate to Advanced)
• 21–28 March 2026 – Ocean Downwind SUP Race Camp (Beginner to Intermediate)

April 2026

• 17–24 April 2026 – SUP Camp Thailand, Khao Lak (Beginner to Advanced in ocean conditions)

August 2026

• 07–16 August 2026 – SUP Race Training Camp Brazil with WPC, Analytic Paddle & Aloha Spirit Race participation

To find out more about, visit watermenperformancecenter.com. Follow WPC on Facebook and Instagram. 

Follow Susanne on Instagram, Facebook and visit her Coaching page

To find out more about SUNOVA, visit sunovasurfboards.com

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*Images courtesy of Susanne Lier