Don’t sleep on the 50+ as they’re coming in hot: Tamas Buday enters SUP’s rapidly expanding division

As the new season begins to warm up, anticipation is building across the racing community. With many athletes transitioning into new age divisions, the competition is set to take on a fresh dynamic – and all eyes are firmly on the 40+, 50+, and even 60+ categories that have been fuelling conversations throughout 2025.

This year feels especially pivotal for one of the sport’s OGs, Tamas (Tommy) Buday – SIC Maui Rider and Team Manager. A rare athlete who has successfully bridged the worlds of Olympic Canoe Sprint and modern stand-up paddle racing.

From his background in Olympic Sprint Canoeing to his continued involvement in SUP representing Canada, Buday brings elite-level technique and decades of experience, balancing his time between racing and coaching.

With multiple medals at the ICF SUP World Championships – including a standout bronze in Abu Dhabi at the 2025 Long Distance race in the 40+ division – Buday remains a powerful presence on the start line and as he moves into the 50+ division, he’s one to watch this season.

Image courtesy of Tamas Buday

Hi Tamas, welcome back to TotalSUP, we’re pumped to have you here! What still fires you up about getting on the water?

Thank you for having me, it’s always so good to talk about paddling! Wow, right out of the gate a loaded question! Well Every time I get on the water brings me back so many positive memories of when I just started paddling or I’m pushing off the dock for a competition or just going off the beach for a workout that excitement the love for the water all those emotions continuously come out and drives me to gather more memories and conquer more goals.

Being out there alone or with a few training partners paddling, whether it is just for technique or pushing your body to the limits the excitement just never stops.

How would you describe the current energy in the SUP racing scene right now?

I feel that the energy in paddle boarding and SUP racing is very strong, especially within Europe and it’s so nice to see the development of junior programs junior races and not just for 18 under but even younger. This is how we make sure we continue to drive our sport giving opportunities to not just the 18 and under but the 16-14 under categories as well.

In North and South America, it’s really hard to get these programs going, but I know certain coaches and race organizers are really pushing for the younger athletes to have more and more competitions. I’d love to see more and more of this happen on our side of the pond as well, just like in Europe to keep our sport and our brands growing.

It is so important to give young athletes the opportunity to be part of a great organization, not only just to race, but to really be part of that paddling community and if we could all continue drive the force behind junior and open and all age categories we will all be winners.

Image source: Stand Up for the Lake

The spotlight on the 40+ and 50+ divisions (crushing it on the world stage!) is growing fast and we’ve been driving that conversation – what’s your view on this trend?

As an athlete myself turning into the 50+ category this year I absolutely love the power of this group. The 40+ in the last 10 years has been getting stronger and stronger. 50+ is an incredibly tough category as well with amazing strong athletes and I think it’s very important and I love ICF for this and all race organizers that really take the time and have different age categories and recognize them to give everybody a fair shot.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this year or maybe next year we will see a 60+ category as well, again we’re talking about giving more people opportunities to shine. We’re giving them goals. We’re driving these athletes to perform at the highest level. This will only grow the sport and keep it strong.

What do you think the next generation of SUP athletes can learn from the “OGs” like yourself?

I love the fact that I am OG in many ways but I would say that us OG‘s are continuously still learning and growing from our juniors. Watching some of the junior athletes perform at competitions and especially at world championships is so electrifying!

They got so much energy and they are doing things on their boards that always leaves me speechless. Just to encourage them to keep with the Sport to be true to themselves and continue chasing their dreams within this beautiful sport of paddle boarding.

Try to participate in as many competitions as they can throughout the year, be LOYAL to their brands and their sponsors I think that always goes a long way, and recognizing the people that help you grow and be stronger.

Over the years, how has your coaching philosophy evolved – have you noticed any trends in training (e.g., moving from raw power to more explosiveness and technique)?

Coaching has allowed me to learn and grow myself. I love working together with people who are there not just to help themselves but help each other. Our group at home called Lake SUP Gliders do just that. We encourage each other help each other coach each other. I love coaching very specific technique. I love coaching one on one even within a group because everybody paddles and understands things differently.

This is probably the most important thing I’ve learned over the years as we are all different trying to do the same thing in our own ways as a coach you have to adapt and learn from your athletes or the people that you’re helping, which keeps every training very exciting and interesting.

I have also learned that periodization and having a right training program that is well planned out to peek at the right time is very personal, but very important to each athlete where you can add more power and speed work where you can fit in your technique, base work and have good speed endurance.

Are there any new coaching methods or tools you’re particularly excited about right now?

I absolutely love the development of our boards through our trusted brands and shapers! Not a lot of shapers out there but luckily we still have the best ones WORKING super hard! The paddle designers continue to give us great connection to the water and amazing tools to help simplify our Technique and make Athletes understand the biomechanics of a good stroke.

I personally love the Quickblade Stingray that truly simplifies your technique! Of course having lots of videos and programs online that you could use to teach!

Could you tell us about your role as SIC Maui Team Manager?

I absolutely love my role as team SIC manager not only I’ve been with SIC for possibly over 13 years and have seen the development of the brand, but I’ve got the chance to work with so many different international athletes. As an older athlete, I always loved giving back and teaching and helping in any way I can.

My role is really to be a leader and someone they could lean on when they have questions or concerns, especially during big competitions like ICF or ISA World Championships. Also helping athletes manage their equipment different time of the year. During competition just being there if they need me, they could also use my advice for coaching or any other expertise.

We’ve seen sneak peeks of the RS3 – could you give us the inside scoop on what makes it special?

The SIC Maui RS3 will be a special sweet little board as the RS was a great hit, not only with top racing athletes, but globally it was a very stable and fast board to use weather just paddling in lakes and rivers or surfing in the ocean.

The improvement on the board will let paddlers be able to ride waves a lot easier, have less water on the deck with the nose being lifted up and with the little extra volume add to it. It will be a super versatile board that you could use for any kind of condition, but nice strong construction while keeping the SIC colours with the new graphics.

What’s your current board set up?

My absolute go to board is the SIC MAUI RST 21 inch which is built for bigger water conditions that could do down wind and be able to race any style competition but still perfect and fast on flat water as well.

I love using my Quickblade Stingray, which is a very unique design by Jimmy Terrell and this paddle is great in any style of racing. Helps me paddle better and faster!

Image source: Stand Up for the Lake

What’s on deck for 2026, and where can we catch you racing on the European circuit?

For me, 2026 will be a big year as I will be turning and moving on to 50+ category. I’m excited to race in my new age! I will be in Europe in Austria for the Lake Rocks Festival representing SIC Maui, Quickblade and Canada in May.

Of course I cannot wait to go back to the ICF SUP World Championships in October in Italy. Most of my other competitions will be in North America as I am a father of three a husband and a full-time coach for sprint canoe kayak for our younger generation of Olympians!

Thank you so much for your insights Tamas and we can’t wait to cross SUP paths on this year’s circuit!

Explore SIC Maui quiver at sicmaui.com and follow the brand on Instagram and Facebook

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*Images courtesy of Tamas Buday