Tommaso Pampinella: Agios Nikolaos on SUP 2026 – Two championships, one major test ground

After a season balancing SUP racing with a growing focus on surfing and foiling, Italian National Champion, prestigious Molokai 2 Oahu Winner and professional Coach, Tommaso Pampinella is set to return to the international stage in Crete. The Civitavecchia-based athlete will be looking to build on a year of training and dialling in his racing as he takes on the European and ICF World Cup events in Agios Nikolaos.

Back in June, we had a unique opportunity to watch Tommaso in action at the inaugural ICF SUP World Cup in Torquay. Known for his exceptional technical skill and powerful style on the board, he delivered a memorable performance, claiming silver in the Sprints and bronze in both the Technical and Long Distance races.

Now, Tommaso has confirmed his participation in Agios Nikolaos on SUP, where he will line up for a double bill of championship racing. The ECA / Paddle Europe European SUP Championships take place from 18-20 September, followed by the ICF World Cup from 20-23 September. The two events will share the Long Distance race, creating a packed week of international competition on the waters of Crete.

Hi Tommaso, welcome back to TotalSUP! Agios Nikolaos is coming up fast – how are you feeling heading into the race?

Hi, I’m feeling good and excited for the last part of the season. I had some physical problems with my back, but it’s not my first time fighting this injury, and I already know how to be ready. I’ve had a very good preparation from January until now, and I hope that all the hard work will pay off.

You competed in 2024 edition. What makes Agios such a special event for you, and what do you enjoy most about racing there?

Agios Nikolaos is a very beautiful place, where you can find flat water for the sprint course and very good downwind conditions for the Long Distance. I think it is one of the best places in Europe to paddle.

With valuable World Ranking points on the line, does that change your approach or mindset going into the weekend?

Right now, I am just thinking about doing my best in every race. I know that I am feeling good in the Sprint race, so I am more confident now and I know that I can have a good race. I have worked a lot on every detail, but I know that I still have things to work on.

What are you expecting from the conditions in Crete, and how are you preparing for them?

Crete is a very windy island and everything can change immediately, so the mindset is “train for the worst and hope for the best”. Where I live, in Civitavecchia, we have similar conditions, so it’s easy to be ready for that.

I am testing the training plans that I have studied and developed through the last 14 years as a sports coach, and every year I always learn something new. It’s good to see that my knowledge and experience are useful, even with my sister Cecilia and my other athletes.

With the ICF World Championships in Sabaudia coming shortly after Agios, is this race part of your build-up towards the Worlds?

For sure, it will be interesting to see the level of the athletes in Agios Nikolaos because the ICF Worlds in Sabaudia will take place just a few weeks later, and I am sure that every athlete will be 100% ready for that race.

So, Agios Nikolaos will be a test or a warm-up for the Worlds, because after this race we can only work on the details to be more ready than ever.

Are you using these final World Cup races to test equipment, tactics or race strategy ahead of Sabaudia? You’ve just announced your partnership with Blackfish Paddles and we’ve seen you on the new Starboard All Star.

One thing is for sure, I am going to use Blackfish Paddles in every race! About the board, I still don’t know because we’ve had some problems with SIC boards, and I am free to use the board that I want.

The new Starboard All Star is for sure one of the best boards to use, but it always depends on the race and the water conditions. I have different options, but I will decide at least two days before the race!

Agios Nikolaos always attracts a strong international field – what level of competition are you expecting this year, and what do you think will make the racing particularly interesting?

I think that over the last few years, the level of the SUP scene has increased a lot, and I am sure that everybody will be ready for that.

The junior guys are improving a lot, and this is a very important thing for our sport, so I think that we will see lots of new strong athletes making their debut in the Open category.

You’re an incredibly versatile athlete and true all-round waterman – which discipline is exciting you most right now? Is it foiling, racing, downwinding, or something else that really keeps your heart pumping?

This is a very difficult question! I love all the watersports and I like to do everything that makes me feel good on the water, not just what helps me get a “good result”. As you can see on my social pages, during the last year I have been focusing a lot on downwind SUP foiling because I have lots of things to work on, and the feeling of gliding is something special.

Wing foiling is very fun and easy to do at my home spot, and surfing (SUP or real surfing) is what really makes me feel good, so I need this mix of sports to feel good with myself.

I don’t know where this will bring me, or if I will be more of a SUP racer or not, but I have decided that I will do what makes me feel good.

Thank you Tommaso – we can’t wait to catch up with you in Crete!

To find out more about the event and REGISTER, visit agiosonsup.gr

The official event bulletin is now available here 

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*Images courtesy by Agios Nikolaos on SUP and Tommaso Pampinella