If there’s one word coming to mind when thinking of the SUP sensation Rai Taguchi, is RELENTLESS. His explosive comeback from the fall and exceptional buoy turn in the men’s Sprint final at the APP World Tour’s Busan stop went viral and the SUP world is paying close attention.
With the industry being positively shaken with several announcements from some of the world’s top athletes revealing their new teams, there’s a burning question remaining: Who will sign Rai Taguchi? TotalSUP caught up with this uber-talented SUP athlete to look at his remarkable year and see whether he’s ready for a new chapter.
Hi Rai, welcome to TotalSUP and massive congratulations on your amazing season! What’s the story behind this remarkable SUP journey?
My journey started in Poland at the ICF World Championships in Gdynia. I didn’t qualify, so I did more sprints and technicals than the others. We had a very tough battle against very high-level players. I was fourth in the 180m sprint, but I hurt my shoulder. In the distance race the next day, the unimaginably cold weather dropped us to 10th place and in the final event, the technical race, we were able to catch up and finish in 3rd place.
Image source: Planet Canoe / ICF Worlds
Then it was the APP World Tour London Open. My shoulder was still hurting and I couldn’t put enough strength into it. However, in practice the day before the sprint race, I changed my paddling method and challenged the actual race. As a result, I was able to pass all the qualifying rounds in 1st place and finish in 2nd place behind the World Champion Connor Baxter.
Image source: APP World Tour
In the long-distance race, I had a bad start and managed to catch up to 5th place in the second half, but then I fell into the water 1km from the end and finished 9th. Long distance was done on the Thames. There were many galleries along the river, and it was very lively.
APP World Tour Busan SUP Open, due to the Queen Elizabeth funeral arrangements, all the racers’ boards from London did not arrive. I borrowed a board from a Korean female athlete and participated. It was my first time riding a board, so I fell into the water in the final of the Sprint race, but I was able to win. In the long-distance race, it was my first board to ride, so I couldn’t show my power, but I’m very happy with the final result.
Image source: APP World Tour
After these three races, I am grateful to my family who cheered me on live and my father who accompanied me. Also, I would like to thank the sponsors who always support me and the fans who support me. The races I won and the races I lost taught me a lot, and it was an experience that will lead me to next year.
Your buoy turn video from APP World Tour Busan SUP Open went viral! What happened there?!?! What’s the secret to your explosive paddling and speed?
I was very happy when I finished in the first place. When I fell into the water, I thought I was going to lose, but the race had just started, so I thought I would still make it in time, so I gave it my all.
The distance between the buoys was short and I thought that the three in front would be in a melee, so I took a chance without rushing. When I went around the inside buoy, the tail of the person in front was right in front of me, so I dashed at the right time to overtake.
The fact that I was able to calmly think about it and execute my strategy while racing led to my victory. I always do long distance interval practice when I’m training, so I don’t get tired even if I do a long dash.
Image source: APP World Tour
What’s your favourite SUP format and why?
My favourite format are technical and sprint races. I especially like races with lots of turns and surf races. The reason is that I am good at turning and I like riding waves. Also, people watching these competitions can have fun and get excited, so the people doing the races will naturally have fun too.
What’s your local SUP scene like?
A very young generation is working hard on the Japanese SUP scene. The number of kids participating in the sport is increasing. There were many top teens in the All Japan Championship in October and it’s showing a lot of excitement.
How did you prepare for the 2022 season? Did you plan a strategy for each event?
In preparation for the 2022 season’s races, I graduated from high school and in my first year as a pro, I’ve increased the amount of practice. Except for my days off, I practiced twice a day and then went spearfishing in my free time. I increased my paddle practice so as not to give into the temptation of the waves.
Who’s your biggest influence in the world of SUP and why?
The person who has influenced me the most is Kai Lenny. In addition to racing, he’s doing a lot of other watersports and is an advanced player. He has become a successful man doing his favourite watersports. I want to be like him, so I continue to race.
What’s your advice to the aspiring SUP riders who want to start competing?
The most important thing in keeping racing is having fun!I try to enjoy every race to the fullest. There may be times when your mind becomes negative, but when you think of the cheers and the sense of accomplishment when you reach your goal, you will naturally smile.
Could you tell us more about your collaboration with SIC Maui?
I am very grateful to the SIC Maui Team! I was 14 when I joined SIC Maui. They saw me participating in a PPG youth class and called out to me. Since joining the Team, I have had many experiences. I was able to participate in World Tours and World Championships thanks to the board development, photo shoots in Maui, support for competitions around the world, and board arrangements.
Ahead of Alicante SUP Open, the 5th stop of the APP World Tour and the final battle of the 2022 SUP racing season, TotalSUP caught up with Daniel Parres, World Champion, NSP National Team Rider and the Founder of one of the biggest, most thriving SUP clubs in the world and also the organiser of the […]
[APP World Tour Press Release] Alicante SUP Open, the 5th and final stop of the APP World Tour is just days away and now the World Title is on the line. World Champions will be crowned this weekend at Playa del Postiguet, a venue that will provide a dramatic arena for the World’s best at the […]
The 2022 Gran Canaria Pro Am Finals Day, first and only stop of the 2022 APP SUP Surf World Tour had it all. On day 4 and in front of a huge crowd at El Lloret, 17-year-old Kaede Inoue from Japan claimed the World Title on her debut on tour, only 3 days after winning […]
The first-ever SUP Longboard World Champion was crowned today at the 2022 Gran Canaria Pro Am. After a day of many upsets, huge performances and incredible longboarding at La Cicer, Brazilian SUP surf veteran Leco Salazar claimed the first-ever SUP longboard World Title, while French and Starboard Dream Team rider Benoit Carpentier took home the […]
Japan made a clean sweep on Day 1 of the Gran Canaria Pro Am Kaede Inoue and Kapono Fakuda claim the junior World Titles whilst the longboard division sees both SUP veterans and fresh faces advance into the quarter-finals. When 16-year-old Kapono Fukuda scored a 9.07 in round one of the junior competition the fate […]
They’re young, hungry and unapologetically confident about their SUP goals and dreams… On the eve of the APP World Gran Canaria Pro-Am in Las Palmas, TotalSUP caught up with some of the most exciting riders of the young generation ready to shred! Buckle up for some serious SUP surf action that will be unfolding from […]
‘Injuries can become your greatest teacher,’ Laird Hamilton’s quote has become a mantra for Infinity SUP Rider Kane Degrauw, who returned to the SUP racing circuit after a long recovery caused by his knee surgery. TotalSUP caught up with this talented SUP athlete always on the lookout ‘for the biggest physical and mental challenge’ to go […]
Get ready for some serious carving as the APP World Tour returns for the third time to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to host the #1 stop of the World Surfing Tour. In the run up to the event held between 19th and 27th November, TotalSUP caught up with Björn Dunkerbeck, ocean athlete, windsurfing legend, […]